The Author's POV

The sun started to set, and darkness slowly enveloped the land. A cold breeze brushed through the forest; the paper-like sound of the leaves fluttering sounded across the area.

The scene was rather tranquil, but everyone standing on top of the northern tower, knew that this was the calm before the storm.

Rustle—!

Soon, the silence was broken by the rustling sounds of the vegetation in the distance.

Stationed at the middle levels of the tower, I gazed into the distance. There were many black creatures in the distant forest, approaching our direction. Some were flying, whilst others weren't.

The atmosphere was heavy, and everyone on the middle level of the tower started to take out their weapons, as they quickly got back to their post, readying themselves for the upcoming battle.

"It's time we also get ready."

With the aid of my sword, I slowly stood up. Facing Ava, Leopold and Hein, I looked back towards the forest before muttering.

"This is going to be a long battle."

***

"You two follow me an' dinna touch anything."

Following the dwarf from before deep into the tower, Ryan and Smallsnake soon found themselves inside of what seemed to be the control room of the tower.

The layout of the place was quite simplistic, as the room was about the size of a normal living room. Around ten dwarves or so hurriedly paced around the room, looking through different holographic images, depicting different angles of the tower where the demons could be seen.

In the middle of the room was a large map filled with numerous dots; presumingly depicting the demons that were approaching.

Their number was quite large. Large enough to make Smallsnake gasp in shock.

On the other hand, staring at the room starstruck, Ryan couldn't help but let out an exclamation of surprise.

"Wow."

Running towards the map in the room, Ryan waved his hand over the map. His small hand passed through the holographic image.

"This looks so cool, how does it work?"

"Ryan, calm down."

Smallsnake hurriedly went to stop him.

However, their disturbance did not go unnoticed as an older looking dwarf pointed in their direction and shouted.

"Oy, who let tha two o' them in? An' what be a child doing here?"

"It's me."

The dwarf that led Ryan and Smallsnake in, raised his hand.

"Sir Bamus, I did this under the orders of Sir Orimdus."

"Orimdus? Tsk."

The older looking dwarf, Bamus, clicked his tongue.

"What be that guy thinking? Has he lost his mind?"

"He said ta let them help out with tha miscellaneous stuff. Their combat power be fairly low, an' they may end up being more useful than ye can imagine.

Bamus rolled his eyes.

Although he was the person in charge of the logistics in the northern tower, at the end of the day, Orimdus was the one in charge of the whole northern area.

He had to follow his orders.

"Alright, I'll do it."

"Thank you, sir."

The dwarf gratefully looked at Bamus.

Although Bamus was ill-tempered, he was not someone who would refuse a helping hand. Furthermore, he really needed someone to help him out.

Though he wasn't really sure about the ability of the two humans before him, the tasks he was about to give them wasn't too hard.

"You two follow me."

Following Bamus, Smallsnake and Ryan stopped in front of a large wooden desk. Atop the wooden desk was a similar map to that in the middle of the room; the only difference was that it was much smaller.

guys a hard task, ye see

More specifically the red dots around

in tha middle o' tha room, an' it gives

of the map, a small square appeared on the map

"Wooow!"

startled both Ryan and Smallsnake who looked at

the two, Bamus's voice

be report ta me every couple o' minutes how many demons be approaching from tha different sides o' tha tower.

his head, Smallsnake

cant

dots on the screen, couldn't they have a system that directly counted

the

all, some o' tha demons cou' be

"...So that's why."

his attention back towards

head

his arms, Bamus stroked his beard

I'll leave

and 329 from

Bamus could leave, Ryan

eyes darting all over

"H..huh?"

was just about to leave almost tripped over.

are ye talking about? Are ye

looking at Bamus, Ryan pointed at

wanted to know how many demons are coming? Those

stopped. Blinkin a couple of times,

132 left, still 56 on the

"That's wrong Ryan."

"Huh?"

the side, startling

tapped on the tower. Soon an image

have

Ryan in the head, Smallsnake's head shook in

you're trying to show

"Sorry."

the back of his head, Ryan dejectedly lowered

from behind, Bamus

"What the."

around and walking towards the main map in the middle

his mouth

"...Ah."

who was still being

perfectly matched what the artifact

***

the enemy did not have any battle strategy prepared—Like a swarm of locusts, the demons charged from above. Demons riding onto huge beasts followed

—Rumble! —Rumble!

shook, and a cloud of dust appeared in

SHIIIIII—!

their hands and magic circles soon appeared on the palm of their hands. Before long,

I was impressed by the elves

typical novels that had elves specializing in archery, I instead designed them to be good

the only different thing that I did in

just that they were far better

a different note, it was quite easy

measured by the hair color of an elf, with green hair signifying lower affinity with mana, and with silver, which was the hair color

WHIIIM—!

tremendous spell appeared in the sky. Lingering in the air for a couple of

BOOOM—!

hundreds of demons died

to the elf that had greeted me before; his hair was a color

"Damn."

though green haired elves had a low affinity with mana, that didn't mean that

they

Xiu—! Xiu—! Xiu—!

only long-distance damage dealers, as the dwarves shot the demons from above with an object that resembled a

they operated differently as they

were devastating as each shot equalled the

gazing below the tower, I found that despite the strong spells

simply too

"Uuuaargh!"

that infiltrated, the orcs were already waiting for them at the entrance as they quickly pummeled

the demons from