Chapter 19: Battle
The presence of the young man immediately drew Athena's attention.
He returned her gaze with a curt nod, acknowledging her arrival.
After a brief pause, Athena and Shirley stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, my lord."
Baron Alexander, seated in his high-backed chair, glanced up and offered them a solemn nod.
"Athena. Shirley. Thank you for coming," he said, his voice edged with urgency. "I assume you've received the summons for the Wave Assault Team?"
"Yes, Lord Baron," Shirley replied with a confident nod. "We're ready to fulfill our duties and defend the town."
Baron Alexander turned to Athena. "And you, Athena? This will be no ordinary battle. From what I've heard, you've only hunted goblins under your aunt's guidance—never in mass numbers. This will be a chance to learn what true combat feels like."
Athena met his gaze without hesitation. "I won't let the town fall. We'll face this beast wave head-on."
He studied her face, then nodded approvingly. "Good. The wave is approaching faster than expected. Scouts report a dense concentration of monsters roughly three kilometers from the outer edge of the Mirage Woodlands. They'll be upon us before evening."
Shirley stepped forward. "Do we have an estimate of the numbers and their composition?"
Baron Alexander's expression darkened. "Not exact figures—but the horde likely exceeds a thousand. Among them, our scouts have spotted more than a dozen high-ranked monsters: orcs, leading the charge. Worse, we suspect a leader is among them. This will be a brutal fight."
Athena's lips pressed into a thin line. She nodded.
"Henry and the Town Police will engage the low- and intermediate-ranked monsters," the Baron continued. "The elite squad—my personal guards—will focus on the higher-ranked threats."
"And the leader?" Athena asked.
"I'll join the scouts and lie in ambush five hundred meters north of the gate," Baron Alexander replied, rising from his seat. "When the opportunity strikes, we'll target the leader from behind and finish it swiftly."
He turned to Shirley. "I need you to speak with the private mercenaries. Most of them are only at Apprentice Walker level, but they can still support the main force."
"They'll need incentive," said a brown-haired man nearby—Baron Alexander's son, Nolen.
"With the right reward, they'll join the front lines."
Baron Alexander shook his head. "Nolen, they may crave coin, but they're not fools. They know that joining the main battle means higher casualties. My personal squad may lack experience against monsters, but they've survived countless life-threatening situations and fight as one. Private mercenaries, on the other hand, are skilled but solitary. When they face a tide of monsters, their lack of cohesion makes them easy targets."
He looked back at Shirley. "Don't make it an order. Present it as a request. Let them choose for themselves."
Baron Alexander turned, his voice firm. "You all have until noon. Prepare, rally your men, and be at the northern gate by then. Dismissed."
Athena and Shirley left without another word, moving swiftly through the administrative building. They relayed the orders to their teams. Athena joined Henry and Inspector Elijah to notify the rest of the police force, while Shirley gathered her private soldiers. Soon after, the two women reunited.
They hurried to the blacksmith's shop in the Merchant District, collecting previously ordered equipment—swords, armor, gauntlets, and helmets—before stopping at a nearby inn for a quick meal. Once geared and nourished, they made their way to the northern gate.
Time passed quickly.
By noon, streams of people poured toward the gate—not civilians, but police officers, elite soldiers, and mercenaries dressed in a patchwork of battle gear. Over 1,300 combatants had assembled, weapons glinting under the sun. Rifles, swords, sabers, and spears were all accounted for. What stood out most, however, were their shields and helms—crafted from a unique alloy, thin yet incredibly resilient, capable of withstanding blows from even intermediate-ranked monsters.
"I didn't expect your aunt's words alone to rally 750 private soldiers," Superintendent Henry said, clearly impressed.
Athena stood beside him and Elijah, her gaze and focused.
"Sir," she said. "If any of them fall into danger, please grant me permission to leave formation and assist."
Henry frowned. "You want to act alone?"
She met his eyes. "I do. I won't be reckless, but if the need arises—yes."
"You're strong, Athena. Maybe stronger than me in terms of raw power. But if you go solo, you'll attract too much attention. You might end up surrounded by intermediate-ranked monsters."
"It's been over a year since I last fought," she said. "I can handle it. I won't get myself killed."
He sighed. "Fine. But stay near our squad. If you're overwhelmed, Elijah will cover you."
"I'll do my best, Sir," Elijah replied.
For the next two hours, they stood ready at the gate, scanning the horizon.
Then, a sharp whistle rang out from the distant woods.
Two knights emerged, galloping full speed toward the town. They surged past the waiting soldiers and vanished inside.
Athena unsheathed her longsword, her eyes narrowing toward the treeline.
"Get ready!" she shouted.
The police officers followed suit, drawing weapons and bracing themselves.
The ground rumbled—not with thunder, but the countless feet of death surging toward them.
A massive dust cloud formed as the land itself seemed to move.
Within minutes, they saw the approaching tide: thousands of goblins, followed by hundreds of kobolds and horned wolves. Though low-ranked, their sheer numbers caused a ripple of unease.
"Hold your ground!" Henry called. "Elijah's team—riflemen—step forward!"
Over a hundred men and women dropped to one knee and took aim.
"Aim!"
"Fire!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A thunderous volley exploded from their rifles, cutting into the monstrous wave. Goblins dropped by the dozens, snarling and tumbling over one another. Chaos rippled through their ranks.
Athena gripped her blade, watching the battlefield carefully. Henry and Elijah stood poised, issuing orders and adjusting formations.
The initial volley gave them precious time, but the wave kept coming.
"Kobolds and wolves up front!" Henry bellowed. "Shields up! Aim for the chest when they lunge!"
He raised a hand and signaled Elijah and the two mercenary squads. "Chase's and Bryson's teams, handle the flanks! Stop the fast movers!"
Swords glinted in the sunlight as Elijah led his team forward, joined by the two mercenary groups. Together, they surged into battle, clashing with the front ranks of kobolds and horned wolves.
Henry's eyes then drifted toward the haze of dust still trailing behind the front lines.
And then he saw them.
"Intermediate Elites," he muttered. "And worse."
Rising behind the lower-ranked creatures were twenty hobgoblins, followed by thirty towering wolves, each over two meters tall, and a dozen humanoids with snarling dog faces and glinting claws.
But they weren't the worst of it.
Behind them marched ten monstrous pig-faced Orcs, each between three and four meters tall. They wore crude animal hides and wielded brutal weapons—cleavers, axes, and jagged swords that shimmered with a dark aura.
Henry's voice dropped to a grim tone. "The high-rank Monsters have arrived."