Amidst the cobblestone street and rustic stone houses of the village, the atmosphere was bustling with life and joy. The laughter of children echoed loudly in the narrow streets, having a great time in their close group. The village center, with its houses and wooden roofs, was where they played, a safe spot within the old stone walls of the village.

The children, with their rosy cheeks and untamed hair, seemed impervious to the approaching storm. They raced through the square, their soiled shoes dancing upon weathered ground, their laughter a symphony of youthful cheerfulness.

Beside the village gate, the guards stationed there exchanged stern glances as the storm foreboding clouds loomed closer, casting a dejected shade over the scene. They watched as the children continued their playful dance, oblivious to the gathering storm.

One of the guards, a grizzled veteran with harsh features, called out with a gruff voice that carried both authority and concern, "Kids, hurry inside! Don't you see a storm's coming!"

The children momentarily paused, their laughter fading into a hushed murmur as they glanced at the guard. Their bright eyes held a hint of reluctance, but the proceeding of their game tugged at them.

Another guard, a softer presence added in a gentler tone, "Come on, little ones. We care about your safety. The village gates had been closed to keep us safe from the storm. You can play again tomorrow. For now, head back home to your parents."

Torn between their desire for one more round of play and the guards' well-meaning reprimand Finally, with a collective sigh and giggles, each of them scampered toward the village square's archway, each heading towards the refuge of their homes.

The grizzled guard, watched the retreating children with a furrowed brow. His years of duty had made him a staunch protector of the village's safety, and seeing young ones stirred his protective instincts.

"They've always been a spirited lot, these children." remarked his companion, the gentler of the two guards, as he leaned against the closed gates. "Sometimes, they need to feel the rain on their faces and the wind in their hair to truly appreciate the warmth of their homes." He said.

The grizzled man grumbled under his breath. He couldn't help but voice his unease, "What rain on their face and wind in their hair? This is no ordinary shower, my friend, but a real fierce storm. Lord Van's must've sensed trouble, closing them gates this early in the morning. Let's just hope their folks give 'em a good talking-to when they're all back inside safe and sound."

His companion nodded in agreement, his expression turning somber. "Aye, you speak true. It's a fierce one, no doubt."

Together, the two guards watched the darkening skies with a sense of foreboding, the sound of distant thunder rumbling like an omen of the tempest's wrath.

As the guards continued at their duties, a low, rumbling sensation reverberated beneath their feet. The older guard, initially dismissing it as the tremors caused by the distant thunder. But as the vibrations didn't subside as expected. He turned to his companion, a worried expression forming on his grizzled face.

"Must be the thunder," he muttered, though doubt crept into his voice.

But his fellow guard, the younger one with a keener sense, shook his head, a perplexed look on his face.

"It's not just the thunder." he said, his tone hushed with growing concern. "I don't hear any thunderclaps, but this rumbling, it's getting louder, not softer."

The older guard, now equally alarmed, scanned the skies and the dark clouds gathering above. He, too, realized that something was amiss. The air grew tense as the rumbling beneath their feet intensified, creating an eerie backdrop to the scene before them.

As they exchanged anxious glances, a sense of impending doom settled over the village.

In the distance, the village gates framed a picturesque view of the lush forest, and the guards' eyes widened as they noticed a figure emerging from the shadows of the dense woods. The expanse between the village entrance and the forest was a big open area that could only be traversed with deliberate purpose.

The mysterious figure, cloaked in an eerie darkness that seemed to defy the natural light, appeared minuscule from this distance but cast a long, unsettling shadow as it approached. Its form was indistinct, like a wraith, but there was an undeniable aura of malevolence surrounding it, an aura that extended far beyond its physical presence.

The approaching storm, the rumbling earth, and now this enigmatic figure emerging from the forest all combined to create an atmosphere of mounting dread.

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The guards at the entrance, torn between their duty to protect the village and their own growing apprehension, exchanged another uneasy look, silently acknowledging that whatever was happening was far from ordinary.

The figure continued its approach until it came to a sudden halt, just a few meters from the forest's entrance. A hushed silence fell over the entire area, and the rumbling that had accompanied its advance abruptly ceased the moment the figure stopped.

"What's happening? Why did it stop?" one of the guards whispered, his voice trembling.

"I don't know," the other guard replied, his unease palpable. "But I have a bad feeling about this. Get ready to ring the bell."

"The bell?! Isn't that meant for times of danger?"

The villagers who had been close to the village gate began to notice the unusual commotion near the village entrance.

"This might be one of those moments—"

Suddenly, the enigmatic figure resumed its movement, taking its first step forward after the unnerving pause. The rumbling noise returned with even greater intensity, sending tremors through the ground. To their astonishment, another figure emerged from the forest, this one smaller and with the distinct silhouette of a four-legged creature.

"What is that? A wolf?"

"...There are more coming out!"

As the second figure followed the first, a third one appeared, then a fourth, and in an alarming flurry, it seemed like a cascade of shadows pouring forth from the forest. Within mere seconds, the entire open expanse was covered with an ominous sea of dark figures, signaling the emergence of an overwhelming force.

"R-RING THE BELL!!! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK! SOUND THE ALARM!"

Panicked and realizing the gravity of the situation, his companion rushed to the tall, imposing bell tower located closely to them, at the village entrance. His heart raced as he climbed the rickety wooden stairs.

The approaching figures from the forest continued to multiply. What initially appeared to be a single entity now revealed itself as an entire horde, each creature shrouded in an eerie darkness that made it impossible to discern their true nature.

The guard atop the bell tower finally reached the massive iron bell. With trembling hands, he grasped the heavy rope and pulled it with all his might. The bell's deep, resonating toll echoed through the village, a haunting sound that pierced the hearts of all who heard it

*DONG*

*DONG*

*DONG*

Fear and uncertainty gripped the villagers as they heard the unsettling sound of the bell. a sound they hadn't heard in most of their lives if not ever.

The villagers, now alerted to the impending danger, rushed back to their homes in order to find a safe place to hide themselves.

As the urgent tolling of the bell echoed throughout the village, it didn't take long for other guards on duty throughout the village to rush to the scene. They arrived with concerned expressions, their armored footsteps creating a cacophony on the hard street floor.

"What's happening?" one of the approaching guards demanded, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of danger.

The two guards who had rung the bell exchanged a glance, their faces pale with dread. One of them, struggling to find the words, finally managed to respond, "We... we saw something emerging from the forest. Figures... and something... an entire army of them. We thought it best to warn the village."

The other guard nodded in agreement. "It's unlike anything we've ever seen before. It's heading this way, and it's massive."

The newly arrived guards exchanged grim looks, realizing the severity of the situation. "SOMEONE GO INFROM THE LORD! AND EVERYONE ELSE... GET YOUR WEAPONS READY!"

The guards present held their ground, their weapons drawn, but uncertainty and fear crept into their eyes. This was no ordinary threat; it was a force that seemed beyond their understanding and capabilities to handle.

As the seconds ticked by and the distant figures drew nearer, the villagers and guards began to discern the true nature of the approaching horde. The once-distant forms began to take shape, revealing a nightmarish sight that sent shivers down their spines.

Emerging from the forest were dark creatures, grotesque and spider-like in appearance. They scuttled forward with an unnerving agility, their numerous legs skittering across the ground with unsettling speed. The villagers and guards could now see their anatomy more clearly – elongated bodies covered in mottled, spiky, pitch-black exoskeletons, with eerie, glowing red eyes that pierced the gloom.

These creatures moved in numbers that seemed to have no end. Their many legs propelling them forward in a grotesque, synchronized dance. The ground vibrating even stronger then before, casting a rhythmic tremor.

Fear and disbelief hung heavy in the air as the guards and villagers watched the horde draw closer. The realization that this was no ordinary storm or random occurrence settled upon them. It was a malevolent force, a tide of darkness and dread that threatened to consume everything in its path.

As the realization sank in, panic swept through the villagers like wildfire. Terrified screams pierced the air, echoing in the narrow streets of the village. People began to cry out, their voices trembling with fear and desperation.

"By the gods, what are those things?"

"Run for your lives!"

Girls, boys, young and old, it did not matter, all of them, their faces contorted with terror, screamed for help as they clung to their loved ones.

"I can't find my children! Has anyone seen my daughter?"

Amidst the chaos, parents desperately called out for their missing children, their voices choked with anguish.

"Stay close! Hold onto each other and find a safe place to hide!"

A brave few guards and household leaders tried to rally the others, urging them to seek safety, but the overwhelming fear in the air made it difficult for anyone to think clearly.

"EVERYONE! GET READY! THEIR COMING!"

***

*DONG*

*DONG*

*DONG*

"..."

Inside the grand mansion nestled within the heart of the village, a sudden intrusion shattered the quietude of a lavishly decorated office. A figure burst through the door, breathing heavily, his eyes wide with alarm. At the window overlooking the grounds, a man stood, his gaze fixed upon the ominous sky.

"My lord!"

The man by the window remained silent, his attention fixed on the darkening horizon.

"W-WE'RE BEING INVADED!"

"..."

"...Fetch me my wand."

Time remaining: N/A

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