image [https://i.imgur.com/XIZL0SH.png]

image [https://i.imgur.com/crcncEi.png]

A black, hound-like magical beast snapped at Victor. He widened his stance, facing it head on.

“Grrrr.” The beast growled

“Come at me!” Victor glanced anxiously behind himself. A mother and her baby stood there, her hands trembled as she held her baby.

“Great Yiho,” she whispered. “Protect my child.”

Why does everyone think this damn Yiho is going to save them? Victor thought, feeling annoyed.

Grabbing a plank of wood in his right arm, Victor swung it like a bat. The beast retreated slightly, wary of his strength. The purple glow in its eyes intensified, and it pounced on him.

Crack

Victor swung the plank squarely on the creature’s neck, a gory sound rang out, and the hound slumped to the floor listlessly.

The baby behind him started crying.

“Now, run!” He shouted.

Howls and echoes filled the village. Several villagers screamed as magical beasts beset them.

Shit, I can’t protect all of them, he thought.

Victor watched as a group of young lads, roughly Yuuki’s age, were surrounded by a pack of 10 beasts. Even if Victor sprinted over, he wouldn’t make it.

“Take this, you fuckers!”

A bleating sound came from behind him, and the ground trembled. Yuuki had at some point climbed onto the Bastodon and was now riding it. The pack of hounds turned to face him.

With its horns, the Bastodon impaled the largest hound. The other hounds trembled at the display. The Bastodon swung its tail, killing 5 instantly as they literally exploded into gore, dyeing the kids in blood.

“Hahahaha!” Yuuki cackled. “What a ride!”

Victor felt his blood run cold watching the site. Just how powerful was that thing? The poor kids looked traumatised.

Yuuki and the Bastodon made quick work of the remaining 4 beasts, smashing them with front limbs. They were all weak, only civilians were in danger at the moment.

The problem, Victor thought. Is that everyone here is a civilian? I need to get them out of here.

“Kamal!” Victor shouted. "We need to regroup."

Kamal was taking on a pack of 3 hounds by himself. His tiny frame looked frail compared to the magic beasts, and he stood with arms behind his back as they surrounded him.

Though he had no magic power, he deftly dodged one of them as it pounced on his neck. He then took a hunting knife and slashed the other two hounds' throats.

“Where can we go?” He said while dodging the last hound.

“We need somewhere safe!” Victor shouted.

Kamal slashed the last hound’s neck. He turned to the villagers that were scattered about.

“Everyone, regroup!” he roared. “Cut a path to the temple!”

All the villagers formed a group behind the two of them.

Good, Victor thought. No casualties.

Some villagers had wounded arms and legs, but other than that, they had made it.

“All 39…” Victor said. “Wait, weren't there 40?”

“Don’t forget us!” Yuuki came riding in behind them on the Bastodon.

Okay, that was everyone.

Victor wanted to feel relieved. But the most dangerous part of his plan was yet to come.

“I will stand at the front,” Victor said. “Yuuki will be behind us, defending the rear. Each of you take up weapons. Don’t. Stop. Moving.”

The villagers muttered and looked between themselves uncertainly.

Mr Kamal cast a meaningful glance at Victor before facing the villagers.

“Well, ye heard him!” He said. “Get a move on ya layabouts!”

The villagers nodded, getting into formation behind him.

Victor didn’t like Kamal, but he had to admit the villagers listened to him.

Victor steadied his breathing. Everything was happening like a whirlwind around him, and his heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

‘Victor,’ His grandmother said. ‘We might fear death, but death is as common as sand in the desert. Your instincts will do everything to fight against it, but sometimes, the only way to win is to roll with the punches. Adapt. Survive. Never remain stagnant.’

Victor steadied himself, determination covering his face.

“CHARGE!” He roared, and started running.

“For Yiho!” the villagers cried and followed behind him.

Like a stampede, they moved down the cobbled paths of Sun Helm. The Magical beasts chased after them from behind, but the Bastodon easily made quick work of them. The alleyways provided protection from the sides, and Victor kicked a hound beast flying that stood in his way.

“4 minutes to the temple!” Kamal shouted, barely audible over the footsteps of the villagers.

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Victor panted. As soon as they exited the alleyways, they would be in danger from the sides. Their group was too big, too defenceless.

“3 minutes!”

They made it out of the alleyways, crimson light from the sunset bathing all of them. The sight before Victor made his heart sink. A crowd of 20–no 30 magical beasts all stood scattered. Some were in the fields, others in the steps to the temple. The footprints from when the Bastodon escaped left small holes in the ground which Victor had to jump over.

A scream came from behind him. Victor felt a pain in his chest, but he stopped himself from looking backwards.

“2 more minutes!”

“KEEP RUNNING!” Victor bellowed. His voice felt hoarse. 3 Magical hounds stood before him, each snarling. They were all grey, and vibrations came from their bodies.

Rank 1 magic beasts? Victor sucked in an icy breath. And three of them.

He had to keep running. The villagers were behind him, and the beasts were in front. They were 10 metres away, 8 metres, 5 metres…

“Victor!” Yuuki rode to the front of the group. “Leave them to us!”

“1 more minute!” Kamal’s voice echoed out.

Victor nodded. He moved to the side, dropping his speed. The villagers passed by him, leaving him at the back.

Yuuki’s Bastodon charged the 3 beasts. The villagers raised their weapons and threw them at the creatures. Victor faced 2 black hounds which came behind him. They both attacked in unison, biting each of Victor’s legs.

“Argh.” Victor’s face contorted in pain. A third hound leapt over Victor from behind them, taking a bite out of one of the kids Yuuki had saved earlier’s throat.

“Damn it!” Victor used his giant palms to snap the neck of the two hounds at his legs. He grabbed the hound, tossing it aside. Victor grabbed the child, running behind the villagers.

“There’s the temple!” someone shouted. Just above the steps, the door was wide open.

“Run!” the villagers shouted.

They all dashed into the temple. Victor followed closely behind them.

Two young men shut the doors as soon as they entered.

Victor put the child down. His eyes widened in shock as he saw the ghastly wound on his neck.

“Rivan!” a lady screamed in horror. Her voice cracked from grief, and she threw herself over the boy. “No! Rivan! Come back to me!” she shook his arm. Victor watched the light fade from his eyes.

Victor shut his eyes and sighed, a deep pain filled his chest.

“I failed to protect him.” He said to her while clenching his fist.

“Great Yiho,” she screamed in tears. “Why did you take my son from me?!”

Yuuki and Kamal approached them. Even Yuuki, who was normally relaxed, had a broken expression on his face. Victor noticed Yuuki, and the boy looked about the same age. They must have known each other.

Kamal sighed. He knelt down and shut the eyes of the boy.

“I’m sorry, Mizuko.” Kamal said.

She wouldn’t let go of the boy’s hand.

“Come,” he said. “Let Rivan rest.”

“My sweet boy…” she said through tears.

Two other ladies came and took the mother away. Victor watched the whole time, an agonising feeling filled his chest.

This is all because I wasn’t strong enough, he thought.

“It’s not your fault,” Yuuki said. “It could have happened to anyone.”

“Yeah,” Victor said.

But it shouldn’t have.

Mr Kamal walked over to the two of them. He heaved a sad sigh.

“What do we do now?” he asked. “We’re sitting ducks if all the beasts attack the temple at once.”

“We don’t have to be,” Victor said. “We can fight back.”

An older man in his forties burst through the temple doors. Despite his tattered clothing, he remained mostly unscathed.

“Khaang!” Kamal said. “You made it back here. Where’s Garyu?”

“We got the return signal,” he said. “I bring news.”

Forty heads turned to face the man, and silence filled the room.

“Ruyi is no more,” he said. “And Taiyo is missing.”

“That cannot be!” a large man, tall and muscular, yelled at Khang. “You must be mistaken!”

“He died like a man,” he said. “By the time I found him, his body was already…”

The man dropped to his knees. A despondent expression covered his face as his tears hit the ground. “My son…”

The sound of murmured praying filled the room.

Taiyo is missing? Victor thought. What did he mean?

“Where are Taiyo and Garyu?” Kamal asked.

“Garyu will come later,” he said. “Taiyo, I could not find her. But there were signs of battle, there is a chance she’s also…”

Victor felt his heart sink. No way. No. It was happening all over again. He was losing everyone. He was going to be alone. They were all dead, dead, dead.

“My sister will be fine,” Yuuki said. “We need to focus on the problem at hand.”

“Yuuki…”

Yuuki’s eyes were red from crying. Victor saw Yuuki’s arms tremble as he stood forward with clenched fists.

Get yourself together, idiot, Victor thought. This is his sister, and here you are wallowing in your own fear?

Victor stood up. He took a deep breath. Other villagers who were on the front lines came in through the main door. Some of them offered news to the families, and wails and prayers created a mess of noise in the room.

“Everyone!” Victor said. “Listen to me.”

The Villagers turned to face him.

“What do you want, foreigner?” The large farmer who had lost his son asked Victor.

“We’ve found temporary refuge here,” he said. “But there will not be much time. We need to thin down the beast’s numbers before the beast king arrives—”

“These are matters of the village, and do not concern yourself,” Khaang interrupted. “We are under orders from Garyu to remain in a safe place until he arrives.”

Howls came from outside the temple, and the ground shook.

The woman’s baby started crying.

“Garyu is not here,” Victor said. “He cannot protect you.”

“Then Yiho will defend us!” Several villagers shouted.

Victor looked at Kamal. He frowned, but ultimately said nothing.

Anger filled Victor’s chest. “People are dead,” he said. “And you’re still waiting for your god to protect you?”

“How dare you!” Several villagers gasped at his words, and Khaang replied. “You speak our god’s name in vain?”

“The same god who let this woman’s child die?” Victor looked at the covered body on the floor, a strong sadness gripping him. “Or the same god that let this farmer's son perish on the battlefield under Garyu’s orders?”

“That’s–”

“Kamal!” Victor said. “Can you really stand by here, watching your friends, your loved ones, die?”

“I cannot,” he replied, a firmness filling his voice.

“Then fight!” Victor shouted, his voice hoarse. “Don’t let anyone else die! If you have any pride left as people, don’t become the shit these monsters feed on!”

The murmuring intensified, and determination came across several of the younger villagers' faces.

“Fight!”

“Defend our village!”

“Send those dogs to hell!”

Victor sighed. His previous anxiety lessened, and his shoulders dropped from being raised. He could work with this.

“This is great and all,” Yuuki said. “But how do we fight back with a room full of civilians?”

“Don’t worry about that.” Victor smiled. “I have a plan.”