A soldier rode his horse swiftly through the bustling city, shouting loudly for the townspeople to clear his path. His face was filled with panic and fear as he arrived at the military barracks and rushed inside. He slammed the door open with such force that it startled the resting soldiers and even the high-ranking officers present.

“THE SULLAR FOREST IS UNDER ATTACK! HUNDREDS OF MONSTERS ARE ATTACKING THE VILLAGERS!”

The entire barracks was shocked by the news, which spread like electricity through a metal chain. Like a well-oiled machine, the soldiers quickly grabbed their weapons and formed orderly lines in the courtyard. Marshal Ipsilas walked to the front, inspecting his troops before giving the command to march. The ground shook as the soldiers moved out, splitting the city in two. The whole city watched as the might of the army marched forward with such discipline and precision, looking like a river of steel and swords ready to butcher any enemy swept under its tide.

Marshal Ipsilas was the city’s top military commander and a trusted advisor to Duke Kleon. He had held the position of Marshal for years and was a veteran of dozens of wars, having witnessed the fall of several kingdoms. His motto, “Discipline above all,” was evident in the demeanor of the soldiers he led.

Ipsilas finally arrived at the edge of the forest. He carefully scanned the green expanse and released a burst of energy that swept through the area, only to receive a similar response from deep within the forest.

“A Stampede...” muttered Ipsilas.

Using his mana, Ipsilas peered through the darkness of the forest and spotted the giant Aap leading the Stampede. Their eyes met, as if acknowledging each other’s strength. Ipsilas smirked. It had been a long time since something like this had happened. Life as a Marshal had become dull for him; there had been no major wars in the past fifty years, as kingdoms and empires seemed reluctant to attack one another amidst a booming global economy.

Deep within the dark forest, Ipsilas noticed a faint glimmer of light. Focusing his vision, he saw Sebastian fighting alone, his body covered in wounds. His weapons and shield were falling apart, but the burning light within him grew brighter instead of fading.

“Who is that boy?!”

“A boy?” asked a commander beside him.

“Ah, never mind. I must be seeing things.”

“What are your orders, Marshal?”

“Battalions One, Two, and Three, surround the forest from all sides. Battalion Four will enter the forest with me. We cannot let these monkeys escape. Send ten soldiers to check Parma Village and see if there are any survivors. Given that the monsters came from the southern forest, I suspect the village has been destroyed.”

“Yes, Marshal!”

“There are still villagers hiding in the forest, as well as soldiers fighting. But who is that? That’s not Nikolaos, is it?” muttered Ipsilas.

“Where is Nikolaos?” Ipsilas demanded.

His voice was filled with anger, and the commanders around him exchanged uneasy glances, hoping someone would speak up. But no one dared. Nikolaos was a nobleman from a branch of Duke Kleon’s family, and no one dared to mistreat him. He had become a soldier at his family’s request, as they hoped he would rise to become the next Marshal after Ipsilas. However, Ipsilas disliked Nikolaos for his lax attitude and incompetence—values completely opposite to his own.

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“He’s probably drunk at a brothel or busy currying favor with other nobles. I worry for you all, who will one day be led by him,” Ipsilas said, glaring at his commanders.

The commanders avoided his gaze, some even bowing their heads in shame. Ipsilas shook his head in disappointment, knowing that some of his commanders had already been bribed by Nikolaos.

“Keep your formations tight! Enter the forest and do not scatter! Sound the war horns!”

Ipsilas’s strategy was to sweep the forest in a straight line until they met another battalion at the opposite end. The battalions would then alternate positions and repeat the process until the Aaps were completely eradicated. Ipsilas led the charge at the front, eager to confront the giant Aap that had dared to challenge him so openly.

Edward heard the war horns echoing through the sky and breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Marshal Ipsilas had arrived. He looked at the soldiers he had brought with him; only two remained, battered and bruised, their armor in tatters. He wasn’t sure they would have survived if Ipsilas had arrived any later.

“Marshal Ipsilas is here! We’re saved!” one of the soldiers exclaimed.

“You two rest here. I’m going ahead.”

Edward ran with the last of his strength, leaving his two soldiers behind. He hoped his wife and son had found a place to hide—or had at least survived this nightmare. As he ran, he passed the bodies of villagers he had known all his life. His heart ached as he saw people he considered family lying dead on the ground, their deaths so brutal. He prayed that his wife and son were safe, knowing he couldn’t bear to live without them.

Suddenly, a massive Aap arm swung toward him. Edward blocked the attack, but the force shattered his left arm. He was sent flying into a tree, his body slamming against the trunk with such force that he lost all strength and collapsed to the ground. His breath was shallow, and the world spun around him. He fought to stay conscious, knowing that if he passed out now, he would die.

Edward felt the ground tremble as the Aap approached, but he couldn’t see the monster. His mind urged him to fight, but his body was spent. The accumulated injuries had taken their toll. Still, he refused to give up, determined to fight until his last breath.

“Human, die.”

Suddenly, Ipsilas appeared, darting through the trees with incredible speed. Sparks flew as his rapier clashed with the Aap’s arm. Ipsilas was surprised by the monster’s strength but not entirely shocked, as he realized the creature before him was no ordinary Aap.

“A Great Simian leading an Aap Stampede? This world never ceases to amaze me!”

“M-Marshal...”

“Rest now! I’ll carve this monkey up!”

Ipsilas swung his rapier relentlessly, his movements so fast that Edward thought he saw hundreds of hands emerging from Ipsilas’s body. The Great Simian swung its massive arm, creating a powerful gust of wind, but Ipsilas dodged with the agility of an eel.

“You damn monster! You never should have come here!”

Dozens of soldiers emerged from the forest, some rushing to Edward’s aid while others joined Ipsilas in the fight. The battle intensified as the might of the Great Simian clashed with Ipsilas and his troops. Ipsilas smiled—he hadn’t felt this much excitement in years.

“What’s your name, soldier?”

“Ed... Edward...”

“You fought well. We’ll get you out of here.”

Edward grabbed the soldier’s hand and said, “Please... find my wife and son... they have... red hair...”

Edward lost consciousness, and the soldiers quickly carried him out of the forest. Suddenly, a group of priests arrived, using their holy magic to provide medical aid. Among them was Father Daniel, who immediately tended to Edward. He couldn’t believe that such a joyous festival had ended in such horror.

“Old priest, you’re from Soldier Village, right?”

“Yes, why?”

“This man was trying to save his wife and son, who are still trapped in the forest. But... we don’t know if they’re...”

Father Daniel’s face grew pale.

“His wife and son?! Let me find them myself!”

Father Daniel ran into the forest, skillfully picking up a discarded weapon along the way. A soldier tried to stop him, but Father Daniel moved with surprising speed and determination for an old man, his face filled with anger and worry. His heart ached as he saw so much death and destruction.

Releasing his mana, Father Daniel searched for Apollonia and Sebastian. Soon, he sensed Sebastian’s holy mana in the distance and rushed toward it. When he finally arrived, he couldn’t believe his eyes. Dozens of Aap corpses lay around Sebastian, their wounds clearly caused by the iron hammer he still held. Beside him was Apollonia, unconscious on the ground.

Father Daniel reached out to Sebastian, who stood tall like an unyielding pillar. But suddenly, Sebastian attacked, striking Father Daniel’s hand with incredible speed and fury.