Macia Town – Midnight
The moon hung silently over the sleeping town. Most homes were quiet. The orphanage lights were out. Even Hazuki, sprawled under the stars behind the orphanage with an empty bottle beside him, was softly snoring.
Elvia and the other children were already asleep.
But outside the town's western perimeter...
Something stirred.
A faint humming filled the air.
A rift tore open mid-air like paper being sliced. A portal. Dark. Swirling. Ominous.
Blades of light flickered inside it—then claws.
Dozens of mid-tier monsters, large battle wolves, ogre-class trolls, red-horned garm, even a minor basilisk began stepping out from the portal one after another.
One of the night patrols, stationed nearby, spotted it first.
"Wha... What the hell is that!?"
Then his eyes widened as the first monster lunged through the portal.
"M-Monsters!!"
His voice cracked.
The squad leader immediately unsheathed his blade.
"Everyone! Formation!! Form a wall now!!"
