The story begins on the third day of Daekrahm City's festival. Yory was in the market, selling his wares, while Joe was in the guild of adventurers, inquiring about the capital's economic condition and prices with fellow travellers and adventurers who had journeyed from the capital.

Simultaneously, in the demon's kingdom, Jane was deep in conversation with Monroe. Their exchange was interrupted by the head of servants, who bowed and informed Jane, "My queen, a scout requests an urgent audience with your Highness."

Jane replied, "Allow him entry. I hope it brings good news for once."

Meanwhile, in Daekrahm City's castle, Falkor stood with Yufs, the city's noble and lord. Yufs, an average-height man with black hair touched by traces of grey due to age, appeared to be between 45 and 50 years old. He spoke with frustration, "The damn ghoul hasn't provided any information. This is a serious problem."

Yufs was visibly concerned, while Falkor maintained his composure and assured, "I have highly-trained scouts. They will report any significant information. According to their recent report, the ghouls have retreated to their kingdom."

Yufs, looking puzzled, asked, "Then why hasn't the army arrived?"

Falkor, holding a letter, explained, "They believe we've resolved the situation with the ghouls, so they won't intervene unless it becomes a dire circumstance. Also, there's tension with other kingdoms, which is why they're keeping the army at the borders with larger kingdoms."

In a burst of anger, Yufs shouted, "What if something happens here? They'll be too late to act!"

Falkor responded thoughtfully, "Something doesn't add up. The army is occupied with other kingdoms, even though we haven't heard of any issues. The ghouls took a bold risk entering our kingdom disguised as bandits when they were actually soldiers. They're after something and pulling powerful strings to attain it, but what could it be?"

Falkor sat, deep in thought, while Yufs paced, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. Fear coursed through him, making it hard to maintain composure.

In another part of the land, deep within the forests, Grimscar addressed Duskfang and the soldiers in a composed tone, "You all know what to do. Let's return to our land with honour, victory, and most importantly, reunite with our beloved ones who await our return."

The soldiers nodded, determination and unwavering bravery evident on their faces. They were prepared to lay down their lives for the ones they held dear, marching forward with resolve.

Back to Daekrahm's castle, Falkor turned to Yufs and asked, "Lord Yufs, has something like this occurred before? In the previous war with the ghouls, when you were lord, what did they want once the war concluded?"

Yufs grabbed a piece of cloth to wipe his forehead, drenched in sweat, and replied, "They didn't ask for anything. They simply returned to their kingdom."

Falkor nodded thoughtfully. Just then, a scout burst into the room, catching Falkor off guard. He instinctively drew his sword. Yufs swiftly ducked behind his desk, but once the misunderstanding was cleared, Falkor roared, "You reckless child! I was on the verge of striking you down! This is a dire situation, and you storm in here like it's your own home!"

The scout bowed respectfully and said, "I'm sorry, sir! But we are facing a grave situation."

Meanwhile, Jane fixed her gaze on the scout, who kept his eyes on the ground. She asked, "Are you saying the ghouls are assaulting Renolva Kingdom?"

The scout nodded and said, "Yes, their target is Daekrahm City."

Jane shot a worried look at Monroe. "Something truly dire is unfolding," she muttered.

Back in Daekrahm City, Falkor rose from his chair in shock at the news brought by the scout. He could scarcely believe what he'd just heard. He muttered, "The army is half a day's journey from the city?"

The scout confirmed this, and Falkor remained in silent contemplation, pondering his next move.

As Falkor deliberated, Noble Yufs’s anxiety was palpable. He was acutely aware that his city, lacking the strength to fend off a ghoul army, was critically vulnerable, particularly with Renolva’s forces currently unavailable.

Noble Yufs urgently commanded the captain of knights, "Prepare for battle and spread the word for citizens to evacuate."

Swiftly, Falkor interjected, advising the captain, "No! The last thing we need is to create chaos among the populace. We have only half a day before they arrive. We must act quickly and discreetly."

The captain proposed a plan to Falkor, "Sir, why not evacuate the northern half of the city, directing them toward the northern gates, then simultaneously move the southern half toward the southern gates? Due to the festival, we can channel the people in two directions, ensuring a smooth evacuation without risking a stampede."

Falkor agreed with a decisive nod, shouting, "Hurry! We don't have time!"

The captain swiftly departed, and in the meantime, Christana and Eyva entered the room, immediately sensing that something was amiss from Falkor's demeanour.

After nearly eight hours had passed, Christana, having been updated on the situation, voiced her deep concerns about the sudden escalation of the conflict. Meanwhile, Eyva rushed to ensure the safety of the nuns, who, despite being unable to fight, were crucial for providing medical aid to the soldiers and knights.

In Falkor's office, Christana addressed him, saying, "Falkor, our numbers aren't sufficient."

Falkor remained silent, his gaze fixed on the window, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. His breath steadied as an owl arrived, bringing relief.

The owl turned to Falkor and began to cry out, "I've delivered the letter! I've delivered the letter!"

It presented the letter to Falkor, who read it swiftly before sighing, "Christana, the damn army won't be here for another two days. We must hold off the ghouls until then."

Christana nodded, and the captain entered, reporting, "Sir, with the implementation of fear and chaos, we managed to evacuate the citizens without significant issues. The only remaining concern is the festival attendees, many of whom are unaware of the situation outside the market."

Falkor grinned and instructed, "Excellent. Begin evacuating the market-goers. However, Captain, I have a special task for you."

Christana looked puzzled, prompting Falkor to explain with a solemn expression, "You remember the demon who was with us, the merchant named Yory?"

The captain affirmed, "Yes, I recall him."

Falkor continued, "Arrest him and place him near the city walls."

Christana frowned at Falkor. "Why are you doing this? He hasn't done anything wrong."

Falkor responded, "The day I first encountered him, our magic-sensitive knight sensed his formidable powers from a considerable distance. He possessed the strength of a level 9 knight, and he concealed it effortlessly. Even in our battle with the ghouls, he refrained from using magic or showing any signs of distress. He is powerful, astute, and exceptionally dangerous."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The captain, comprehending Falkor's plan, stated, "So when the ghouls attack the walls, it will force him to engage them in combat."

Falkor affirmed, "We will force him to join us in this war and use him to our advantage."

Christana wore a concerned expression, and Falkor acknowledged her apprehension, saying, "I'm sorry, my daughter but this is war. We must utilize every means to secure victory, and our success hinges on holding off the ghouls until the army arrives."

Christana nodded, realizing that the city and its people were in a desperate situation, requiring every available resource to ensure their safety. Yet, she couldn’t escape the sorrow of having to use Yory in this crisis and the fear that he might not survive—the weight of that possibility would linger heavily on her conscience.

Meanwhile, in the southern part of the city, a young girl whom Yory gave her the honey apple wandered the alley with a joyful expression, heading towards a nearby restaurant by the gate in search of discarded food. Unaware of the unfolding chaos, she hoped to find other children her age, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Earlier, as the knights began evacuating the children, she had taken refuge in her old, dilapidated house, clutching a simple drawing of her parents holding her hands.

At the same time, Yory and Joe were engaged in conversation and commerce, but their focus shifted when they saw the knights instructing the merchants to leave. As the captain approached Yory's cart, he looked at Yory and Joe with a stern expression, declaring, "Yory, you're under arrest."

Yory stepped down from his cart and addressed the captain, "Remember me, I'm an ally of Falkor."

The captain met his words with a stern expression, replying, "Doesn't matter, you're under arrest."

In an instant, a swarm of knights encircled Yory, drawing their swords. Joe protested, "What the hell are you doing!? This man hasn't done anything!"

The knights turned to their captain, who spoke calmly but with an underlying threat, "You don't want to get involved in this, lad."

Yory glanced at Joe and reassured him, "No problem, take good care of my cart."

Joe, wearing an angry expression, directed his words at the captain, "I'm not afraid of the likes of you. Arrest me too, because I'm not leaving my friend alone here."

The captain retorted, "He's a demon, maybe you didn't know."

He was taken aback when Joe grinned and responded, "You're late, I already knew. Besides, you're human and not doing a great job yourself, so focus less on those demons and start acting better."

One knight brandished his sword at Joe, warning, "Show respect for the captain, or face consequences."

Joe smirked and retorted, "Give it a try, little bandit."

The knight's face flushed red, and the captain calmly ordered, "Take them."

Yory and Joe reluctantly left their cart, moving slowly while two guards led the way and two followed closely behind.

Once they exited the market, they noticed the southern part of the city was eerily deserted. Joe turned to the knight and demanded, "What the hell is going on here? Has the plague broken out?"

The knight remained silent, offering no response. Yory observed the knights stationed on the walls, while Joe saw that all the houses were vacant. They exchanged serious glances, puzzled by the strange turn of events.

Meanwhile, in the castle, Yufs held a confidential discussion with his right-hand man, far from prying ears.

The right-hand man, named Gyv, cautioned Yufs, "Sir, we can't resort to the secret as we did years ago with the ghouls."

Yufs nodded in agreement, acknowledging, "Yes, if Falkor were to discover it, he would never accept it and might turn against us. But we have a way to secure victory - we must hold off the ghouls until the army arrives. We can do it, Gyv."

Gyv nodded, adding, "Yes, sir. And remember, if push comes to shove, we'll use the secret and eliminate anyone who might be privy to it. We still have a few old, loyal knights who are aware and will safeguard the secret."

A triumphant grin spread across Yufs' face as he declared, "Let Falkor and the ghouls be damned. Our city will rise and shine, just as it always has."

An hour later, the little girl reached the restaurant, only to find it empty of food, even the scraps in the trash were gone. Sitting on the ground, she looked sadly at the dirt. But then she shook her head, resolved, and a bright smile appeared on her face.

Determined, she got up and walked on, until she heard strange, unfamiliar sounds.

At the same time, Yory and Joe, the city’s knights, Falkor and Christana in the castle, and Eyva with the nuns in the temple all heard the disturbing noises.

Then, abruptly, Yory shouted to the knights, "RUN!!!!!!!"

The knights quickly fled from the walls. In an instant, huge, fiery rocks struck the walls, swaying precariously. Some knights on the ramparts were either burned by the flames or struck by the rock, while others used magic to shield themselves and shouted orders.

Then Joe said, "Yory, let's-"

But Joe couldn't finish his sentence as a massive heap of rocks crashed into the walls near them, sending debris tumbling towards Joe and the nearby knights.

Suddenly, Yory extended his hands and bellowed, "Wind magic: itələmək."

The falling walls hovered in the air, giving the knights time to rescue their comrades from the impending collapse. However, some rocks still fell, crushing a few of the injured knights.

Yory maintained his hold, albeit feeling somewhat strained. Meanwhile, Joe surveyed the newly created path formed by the destroyed wall and spotted a horde of ghouls advancing towards the city.

Capitalizing on the opportunity, Joe sprinted towards Yory's cart, vaulted over Boris, and seized a sword from the cart. Swiftly, he severed the ropes binding Boris, exclaiming, "Boris! We must keep them away from that passage! Run, Boris!"

Boris neighed, then surged towards the passage and the approaching army of ghouls, with other knights in tow. Meanwhile, Yory ensured the passage was secure before employing his magic to launch the falling wall into the air, aiming it at the group of 20 ghouls attempting to advance near the passage. The impact crushed many of them.

At the eastern gate, Falkor stood alongside the captain, issuing orders to repel the ghouls.

Back with Joe and the knights, they faced a formidable onslaught of ghouls. Joe deftly dispatched a female ghoul, beheading her, before thrusting his blade into another while astride the experienced warhorse, Boris.

Among the ghouls, Grimscar observed the city and remarked, "The southern gate has a passage. Why aren't they using it?"

Duskfang replied, "The knights are defending it with the aid of a demon, according to our scouts."

Grimscar maintained his focus on the southern front, asserting, "Inform the wizards to hurl more rocks, but this time, I want them aimed at the city."

One of the leaders raised a concern, "Sir, civilians will be in harm's way."

Grimscar nodded and commanded, "We ghouls spare children. However, our scouts reported that they were aware of our approach and had evacuated the city's civilians. Ignite it, lads."

The sorcerers extended their hands and began their incantations. Moments later, they conjured a colossal rock, which the ghouls doused in oil before setting it ablaze.

In the city, Yory snatched a sword from a fallen knight, poised to make his way towards the passage. However, he came to an abrupt stop when he saw the little girl he had given a honey apple to, attempting to venture towards the path leading to the temple. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward her, but a knight's urgent warning cry echoed through the air, forcing him to pause.

Yory pivoted, just in time to parry a ghoul's sword swing. He engaged the ghoul, but many others streamed into the passage, while additional ghouls infiltrated through the open southern gate after dispatching the knights guarding it.

Simultaneously, more rocks crashed into the walls, some striking parts of the city. Falkor urgently called to his men, "Lads, they're breaching through the southern gate! Fight them!"

With the aid of fellow knights, Yory dispatched numerous ghouls, remaining vigilant for more assailants. However, when he looked around, the little girl was nowhere to be seen. He murmured to himself, "I hope you're safe, little one, from the depths of my heart."

Meanwhile, the little girl heard the cacophony of battle, peering from a distance to witness knights clashing with ghouls, the fallen littering the field on both sides. She observed, her smile persisting, hands pressed against her chest, tears streaming down her face. She didn't utter a word but wept for all the lives lost before her.

She continued to hold her chest in a gesture resembling a prayer for peace, encompassing all people without exception. Her tears flowed until a figure drew closer. Turning to identify the approaching presence, she gazed at Duskfang, drenched in blood, his sword still dripping from the knights he'd struck down.

The little girl regarded him with her enduring smile, tears still falling. Duskfang, wearing a sombre expression, looked down at her, seemingly regretful for putting this child in danger.

He began to move towards her, lifting the sword in one hand and cradling the little girl in the other arm as he made his way toward the temple.

The child glanced at him, attempting to wipe away her tears. Duskfang spoke, maintaining a half-smile, as if he were trying too hard, "I'm sorry. We're trying to protect our families. I'll never harm innocent people, even if they threaten to kill me. I have a heart, and I won't forget it."

The little girl smiled and nodded, playfully gripping him in the ear, as though she were toying with him or laughing at the size of his ears.

Upon reaching the vicinity of the temple, he spotted Eyva, who held a sword in her hand and acknowledged, "Thank you for saving her."

Duskfang nodded, then gently set the little girl down on the ground. He addressed her, "Stay safe, little warrior."

The child nodded, proceeding joyfully towards Eyva, who turned to Duskfang and inquired, "Why are the ghouls doing all of this?"

Duskfang responded with a grave expression, "We don't want to fight, but you've left us no choice. If you want to avoid more death, tell your allies to surrender."