The citizens of the settlement we're terrified. The number of beast outside the settlement was huge. This was the first time anyone had seen numbers like this.

"Grab the bunk beds from the barracks. Set them up a long the south wall. We need anyone with any type of ranged attack over here now!" Dave screamed trying to get them on the offensive. People were scrambling around trying to help with what they could. Dave was worried himself. This was beyond any challenge they had faced so far and he was here with just Dan and some very low level fighters. Tiffany's flames were going to be a huge help. Dan could heal but other then that he wasn't sure what to do.

Dave was looking out the gate while everything was getting set up. It had been about 10 minutes and everything was almost ready. That when he saw it. The beasts appeared to be chasing a small monster. It looked almost like a lion cub. Three Dire Wolves were trying to pin it down just outside the gate. Dave wasn't sure why but something about this enraged him. "Dan get over here quick! I need your help!"

Without thinking Dave opened the gate just enough to squeeze out. He then sprinted towards the monster cub. It was so small maybe only 15 pounds. Dave used his shield to bash a wolf away. He let loose a bolt and burned another. The monster froze as Dave got close. He didn't even think he just scooped it up and ran back towards the gate.

"What the hell are you doing Dave?" Dan asked "that things monster"

"It's just a baby those beasts were attacking it. It's not apart of this horde. I don't know why I just had to save it open the gate." Dave said

Dan opened the gate just enough for Dave to slide back in. They closed the gate and put the huge locking wooden plank back in place. Both of them staring at the cub. It was golden and looked like a small lion cub. It appeared to have feathers on its side. It was injured. "Heal it Dan." Dave urged

Dan cast a heal and the cub looked up at Dave. Dave could see intelligence in it's eyes. "It's gonna be ok little buddy." Dave told it. He pulled some meat from his inventory and feed it to the monster. The cub looked even more pleased. This would have to wait. Dave ran towards the town hall and burst inside. "Gina watch this cub for me. It's mine I'm gonna train it. It's still a pup." He didn't wait for an answer he just ran back outside. Heading towards the south side of the wall he could see everything was finally set up.

"Anyone with a ranged attack climb up so you can see and start killing any beasts you can. The Exp will help you level. Most of you don't have enough mana to do much but anything will help. If you have no idea how to use your mana go see Dan by the gate he will give you some pointers." Dave said while climbing up so he could look over the wall. What he saw shocked him it had to be hundreds of beasts. All looking pissed off.

:Now about 15 minutes from the settlement:

"The trail left by these things is huge. Who knows how many beasts are in total. I don't think Joe has much time left. He's lost a lot of blood. He is still breathing but I can't get him to wake up anymore." D said to Rob and Mike

"What do you want to do?" Rob asked "We can't just leave him."

"You and Mike are going to keep carrying him. I'm going to run ahead and grab Dan or Leah. Bring them back this way. Stay on the path cleared by the beasts unless you have to leave it. I'll be back as soon as I can." D said turning to sprint ahead. He equiped his sword and armor and started to run full out. Hoping he could make good time.

"I hope he makes it back in time." Rob said

"Me too"Mike said. They continued on carry Joe was slowing them down. They hoped to not run into to much trouble while it was just to two of them. Before D left they had killed a few more stragglers but nothing that Rob couldn't handle with his bow from range or D couldn't kill quickly with his sword. Mike even killed two boar with his new War hammer. Still they could tell by the prints the beast in front of them was an enormous amount.

D had ran for about 5 minutes at full speed. At his level he was faster then most Olympic athletes. As he was closing in on Providence, he caught his first glimpse of the horde. About a thousand beasts ramping around. Then he could see attacks. The citizens were fighting from the top of the wall. He felt a glimmer of pride that they would hold down the fort while some of the strongest were away. With this pride he sprinted even faster, ran two steps up the wall and launched himself into the air. He came down inside the settlement with an almost superhero style landing. Two men he didn't get the chance to truly meet yet we're scared shitless but his sudden appearance. "Where Dave and Dan?" D asked

"Umm at the south wall area fighting the horde outside." One of the men mumbled

D sprinted towards the wall. As he closed the distance he could see they were using the beds as make shift platforms to be able to see over the wall. He heard a blast of lightning and knew Dave was close. As he was closing in on Dave about to grab his attention he caught sight of Leah. She was hanging back helping rotate people in and out of the attacking groups. D didn't have time to talk to Dave just yet so he ran over to Leah. He was half out of breath. "Leah you have to come with me your father has been injured we don't have much time." D choked out

"What do you mean where is he?" Leah asked in a panic

"About 5 minutes away but we have to go now he's in bad shape." D said already turning to run back the way he came.

Leah was right on D's heels as they made it back to where he cleared the wall. Those two men were still there. "Boost us up to the top of the wall now. We have something we have to do and it can't wait." D ordered them

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The men shared a look of confusion, but did as they were told. They boost Lead and D up so they could clear the wall. They were closer to the horde then D wanted, but he needed to find the tracks and stick to them. They had to get back as soon as they could. Joe didn't have much time.

Dave turned from his spot on the wall to tell Leah to rotate in some fresh attackers. Everyone was gaining Exp. Soon the whole settlement would be leveled enough to keep these attacks going. He couldn't see Leah anywhere. "Damn where did this girl go." He said to himself. "Rotate in fresh attackers now!" He yelled at the top of his lungs. The people started to switch out positions. Dave was practically spent, even he would need a break soon. Hopefully D and Rob would get back soon. If not they would have to let the horde fully circle them. Dave was doing everything he could to keep the gate area clear. He had dropped a few big trees in the way with his lightning to make such the horde didn't move in mass over to the gate. Dan had gotten about 12 people to start to using their mana in an offensive way. Still things weren't looking good.

D and Leah has been sprinting through the forest down the path made by the horde. All of a sudden D heard a whistle. He glanced into the foliage and could see Mike has leaned Joe up against a tree. Leah ran over and cast a heal as fast as she could. Joe was in rough shape. He was pale and barely breathing. Leah cast another heal, his wounds closed up but he didn't appear to be improving. "Where's Rob?" D asked Mike. "He went ahead to scout the horde." Mike replied

"Shit!" D said taking off running. Rob was going to engage them outside the walls he just knew it. D flew down the path until he could see the edge of the horde. A few beasts bodies lie in the path. He could see Rob anywhere. Then he could sight of a mana arrow flying down from a tree. Smart he thought. Firing from an elevated position good move brother. D ran to the edge of the horde and equiped his sword and armor. It was time to dive right in. D started to carve a bloody path into the beasts. Rob was dropping more then his share and had been watching over D. Together they were a wrecking ball of damage. D was covered in blood. Not his but still it was gross.

Rob and D were slaying beast left and right. Finally Mike had ran into the mix. Swinging his Warhammer with fury. They were getting closer to the settlement and the sounds of mana attacks were growing.

Dave was looking over the wall when he heard a loud boom and could see the explosion of D's void mana. Finally some relief hit him. He knew everyone was bringing there force to bare. Dave yelled to Dan "Hold my section cast heals as you can. Tiffany how's your mana?"

"Good she replied I just hit level 3 and used all my points into mana why?" Tiffany asked

We're going over the wall D, Rob and Mike are out there were going to help." Dave said

"That's suicide, are you sure that's smart we're doing just fine here and gaining tons of Exp." Tiffany said

"Fine you stay but don't hit me with your fire while we're out there." Dave responded while jumping over the wall.

Dave flanked to the right of the horde. He could tell the direction the fighting was coming from and he wasn't going to be outdone by his friends. It only took two mins before he could see the battle in front of him. Mike and D were in the thick of things while Rob was sending arrow after arrow into the horde. Dave ran up to the group. "What your not gonna save any for me?" He laughed

"Get into the fight already I'm getting winded but I'll hit level 10 soon and be good to go." D yelled over swinging his sword at a large Dire wolf.

Dave ran into the fray with D and Mike all of them carving a path through the horde of beasts. Within just 5 minutes they laid down almost 200 hundred beasts. Then something happened. D started to glow extra bright. His whole body pulsing with Mana he rose slightly off the ground and yelled. Then he froze. It was only a split second but it seemed an eternity. A large pulse of power exploded out of him and he hit the ground and dropped to one knee. The power coming from him was insane. He equiped his sword and he sword had his void mana swirling around it. Dave knew he must have hit level 10 and gained a new skill. He didn't want to be left behind and started to fight with even more fury. After another few minutes and atleast another hundred beasts the same thing happened to Rob. He hit level 10 and Dave watched as the same power seemed to pulse out of him. After he jumped up from the ground he threw his arms out wide. A wave of shadow mana rolled out of him towards all the closest beasts.

"They're blind for the next 20 seconds make it count." Rob yelled. Dave and Mike started to hit anything they could. A spell like that had to have a cool down and they weren't going to waste the opportunity. Every level Dave gain he put a point into strength and the rest into his mana. His lightning was getting stronger and stronger. Mike had gained several levels as well. Dave had seen him glow with Exp several times. He was now swinging his War Hammer like it weighed nothing.

D wasn't sure how much time had passed when the horde was finally on its last leg. Almost a thousand beasts laid dead all around. It would be enough meat for weeks atleast if they could harvest enough of it. Rob's mana arrows were now one shot killing most beasts he hit. Dave was closing in on level 10. D could feel his power swelling. Mike was like a tornado with his weapon using the momentum from one swing to help deliver the next. This is what they were meant for in this world to do damage. To stop threats to there settlement to grow as strong as possible. D could hear cheering and hadn't realized how close to the settlement they were now. Still the occasional offensive attack came from the walls, but they were finishing off the horde. After another several minutes of battle it was finally done. The horde had been laid to waste. They had gained so much in such a short period of time. D couldn't believe it. What started out as a nightmare turned into a huge boon of Exp. He regretted Joe being so badly hurt. Still he almost wished the battle wasn't over. He called to Mike, Rob and Dave "This battle is over let's get back inside the settlement and take a rest." We have to do a damage report and check on everyone. Rob backtrack with Mike make sure Leah and Joe make it to the gate ok."

"We're on it. Well be back within the walls in a little while." Rob replied. He jumped down from the high branch he was using to lay waste to the horde and Mike ran over to him. They both smiled. Proud at what they were able to do today. They set off back down the path around a bend and out of sight.

"How you feeling Dave." D asked

"A little tired but I'm so close to level 10 I can taste it. What happened to you when you hit level 10? It was different I could tell." Dave said curiously

"You go back before the AI and get to pick a new skill. I chose Void mana infusion so I can infuse mana into my weapons not just my body. It was a huge boost to my killing power." D said "When Rob and Mike get back call a meeting at the barracks. I want to know everyone's level and stats. We did good today. As long as Joe is okay this turned into a huge benefit not a death trap." D said. As D turned to walk to the area of the gate he could see the amount of damage they had done out here. He couldn't wait to see what they would be capable of doing soon.