The village of Black Hollow was restless. Cale could feel it in the air, the way the villagers darted from house to house, their voices hushed, their movements hurried.

The tension was thick, like the charged calm before a thunderstorm.

He stood by a treeline, his eyes scanning the horizon. The Enchanted Forest loomed to the west, its shadow swallowing the last light of the setting sun.

Somewhere out there, the horde was gathering…

“Master,” the Core’s voice murmured in his mind, soft, “the mana density in the forest has spiked. The horde will emerge soon.”

“I know,” Cale nodded and replied, his voice low. His gaze flicked toward the village square, where the ritual was underway.

A group of villagers, led by a gray-robed elder, stood in a circle around the stone well. Their chants were rhythmic, their words laced with mana that vibrated faintly in the air. A protective barrier began to form, its golden glow spreading outward like a dome.

“Will it hold?” Cale asked, his tone neutral.

The Core hesitated before answering. “Temporarily. The quality of the ritual is… adequate. It will weaken with prolonged assault.”

“Figures,” Cale muttered. He adjusted his dark cloak, ensuring it wouldn’t restrict his movements.

Through his investigation earlier, he had already determined that this hoard, it wasnt anything new. It was something mysterious that happened periodically in Black Hollow, that it seemed to have already embedded it’s self into their history and became something like a tradition.

Every period of time, around a decade or so, savage beasts or monsters from the surrounding enchanted forest would go crazy and attack this village. Each time it happened, A good percentage of people would loose their life despite the preparations.

As for the cause, it remained a mystery up for speculation.

That was the reason why the people of Black Hollow were so superstitious and hostile to outsiders. A good portion of them believed outsiders were bad omen, and could bring bad fortune to the village.

Either quickening the impending monster hoard, or jinxing their chances of survival.

No matter how he thought of it, Cale couldn't understand why these people still remained in this cursed place, choosing to wager their chances at survival each advent of the monster hoard.

Was this place that much precious that they couldn't abandon it?

He smelled something awfully amiss here. It screamed ritual, a very complex and foul one.

“I’ll handle the rest.” Cale said to the Core.

As the night deepened, Cale took position high in one of the towering trees near the village edge. From his vantage point, he could see the forest stretching endlessly into the distance, its edges flickering with an eerie green light.

And then, the horde came.

It began with a low rumble, the ground trembling beneath its weight. Shapes emerged from the forest, their forms distorted by the shifting shadows.

Wolves with glowing red eyes. Hulking boar-like creatures, their tusks dripping with what seemed like venom. In the distance, the faint screech of winged predators pierced the night.

[System Notification: Monster Horde Detected.]

[Threat Level: Moderate.]

[Recommended Action: Engage for maximum resource gain.]

Cale’s lips curled into a smirk. “Good. I could use the practice.”

He reached into his cloak, pulling out a small vial filled with shimmering liquid. It was one of the few alchemical concoctions he had managed to craft earlier from gathering some familiar materials around the surrounding forest.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

His knowledge from that other world came in handy as this crude portion was supposed to serve him by increasing Mana flow and efficiency.

He drank it in one quick motion, feeling the surge of mana sharpening his senses.

“Begin,” he murmured, his voice carrying a mental link as he activated his Domain ability and summoned his minions.

An invisible area seemed to be marked around him, it measured a hundred square meters in diameter, exactly the size of his dungeon.

Gloomfang Spiders emerged from the shadows within the domain, skittering toward the advancing horde. Their webs glistened like silver threads in the moonlight, strung between trees to funnel the monsters into choke points.

The advancing horde of wolves were the first to fall, their momentum broken as they were caught in the sticky traps. The spiders descended upon them, fangs flashing, venom coursing through their prey.

From his perch, Cale watched with satisfaction. “Efficient as expected.”

The second wave of monsters hit harder. The boar-like beasts charged through the webs like a storm, their brute strength tearing through the sticky strands. Behind them, the winged predators dove, their shrill cries echoing across the battlefield.

Cale didn’t hesitate. He activated Summoner’s Reach, pulling the two Shadow Imps from the dungeon directly into the fray.

The Imps landed with a gleeful cackle, their grotesque faces lit with excitement. They darted between the boars, their claws slashing tendons and drawing blood. One of them paused to leap onto the back of a winged predator, riding it briefly before driving its claws into the creature’s neck.

“Little devils are too eager,” Cale muttered, shaking his head.

The battle surged closer to the village as several monsters and beasts slipped through his domain. As the horde pressed closer, the golden barrier shimmered under the assault, each impact sending ripples of strain through it.

From his perch, Cale could see the villagers huddled in their homes, their chants growing louder as the ritual seemed to pour mana into the barrier.

The monsters pushed harder, their cries blending into a deafening roar. The barrier wavered, cracks of light spidering across its surface.

The village lived up to its name. Cale now understood.

The charging horde looked like a river of blackness under the pale moonlight, its tide slamming against the glowing hollow of the barrier.

Black Hollow.

It was obvious the barrier wouldn’t last much longer.

—

As the third wave emerged, a swarm of small, lizard-like creatures with razor-sharp claws—Cale decided it was time to descend.

He leapt from the tree, landing silently on the ground below. His dark armor seemed to absorb the faint moonlight, rendering him nearly invisible as he moved.

The lizard creatures turned toward him, their yellow eyes gleaming with predatory hunger. Cale raised a hand, summoning his mana-forged dagger. He was now capable of using this ability with his domain active.

The blade pulsed with sinister energy, its edge glowing faintly.

“Let’s see how you handle this,” he said, his tone almost casual.

The first lizard lunged. Cale sidestepped, his dagger slicing cleanly through its neck. Two more followed, their claws slashing wildly. He ducked low, spinning into a strike that left one creature dead and the other stumbling.

The fight was quick and brutal. Cale moved with both experience and precision, his strikes efficient and calculated. By the time the swarm reached him, they had already lost half their number.

[System Notification: Horde Kill Count: 43]

[Rewards: +50 Dungeon Points, Stat Increase Pending.]

The notification barely registered. Cale’s focus was on the battle, his instincts honed by years of fighting against overwhelming odds.

At that moment, a roar shook the air, deeper and more resonant than the others. Cale turned to see the final wave emerge, a massive beast, its body resembling a mutated bear with jagged, crystalline growths protruding from its back.

“Well,” he muttered, gripping his dagger tighter. “That’s new.”

The creature charged, its sheer size and speed forcing Cale to dive out of the way. Its claws gouged deep trenches into the earth, and its roar sent a wave of pressure that made the trees tremble.

“Master, be cautious,” the Core warned. “That creature is a mana-touched alpha. Its essence would be invaluable, but its strength far exceeds the others.”

“I noticed,” Cale replied dryly.

The alpha roared again, its eyes locking onto him with a feral intelligence that sent a shiver down his spine. This wasn’t just a mindless beast; it was something more.

Cale exhaled slowly, his mind racing. He could summon more minions, but that would drain the limited mana he had. It seemed this was his fight.

The alpha lunged, and Cale met it head-on.

The clash was explosive, mana flaring as their attacks collided. Cale’s dagger sliced through the beast’s crystalline armor, but not without effort. Each strike sent a jolt through his arm, the feedback rattling his bones.

The alpha countered with a swipe that grazed his side, tearing through his armor and drawing blood. Cale hissed, but the pain only sharpened his focus.

He ducked beneath the beast’s next attack, swiftly driving his dagger into the exposed joint of its forelimb. The alpha roared in pain, its massive paw swiping wildly. Cale rolled away, his breathing heavy but controlled.

Then at that moment, something changed. Cale was so familiar with this sensation that he could feel it.

He quickly pulled up the system window to confirm, and then he smiled.

[Commanding Presence (Heroic): Active]

This cheat-like ability, though acting on its own, had never failed him. It always activated at the most precious moments, like now.

With a sharp mental command, he summoned the Imps again. He wouldn’t have done this before, but now was different. He gave a single command:

“Hold the line.”

As soon as his words fell, a system notification flashed.

[Command Activated: “Hold the line!”]

[All allies who obey this command within your domain receive the following effects for 1 minute:]

Strength Increase: +50%.

Speed Increase: +40%.

Resistance Increase: Slight protection against fear, confusion, and mental effects.

Blessing of Luck: 70% chance to trigger critical hits or dodge incoming attacks.

The two creatures materialized beside the alpha, their gleeful cackles cutting through the tension.

They darted around the beast, seemingly boosted by an unknown force, slashing at its legs and distracting it long enough for Cale to recover.

The subtle aura radiated outward, amplifying the Imps’ speed and precision. They moved in perfect harmony, their attacks coordinated and relentless.

Against the odds, against the strength gap, these creatures now seemed far stronger than they were supposed to.

The alpha staggered, its movements slowing as blood poured from its wounds. Cale seized the moment, lunging forward and driving his dagger into the base of its skull.

The beast let out one final, deafening roar before collapsing.

[System Notification: Alpha Crystalhide Ursus (D) Defeated.]

[Stat Increase Pending: Strength +8, Agility +5.]

Cale stood over the corpse, his chest heaving. Blood dripped from his armor, but his expression was calm, almost satisfied.

“Good hunt,” he muttered.

The village, now safe, erupted in cheers behind him. Villagers who had been watching the fight emerged from their homes, their faces alight with gratitude and awe.

One by one, they began to approach, some bowing, others offering thanks. Leira’s father was among them, his expression a mix of relief and respect.

“You’ve done more for us than we could ever repay,” he said. “But if there’s anything you need—”

“The ruins,” Cale interrupted

; his tone made it seem like he had already prepared this response a long time ago.

The old man nodded slowly. “I’ll tell you everything I know.”

Cale’s lips twitched into a faint smile.