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.

a hard task, ye see

map. More specifically the red dots

a simplified version o' tha map in tha middle o' tha room, an' it

small square appeared on the map displaying the

"Wooow!"

Ryan and Smallsnake who looked

at the two, Bamus's voice filled

task be simple. What ye guys need ta do be report ta me every couple o' minutes how many demons be approaching from tha different sides o' tha

his head,

why cant the device count

the screen, couldn't they have

expecting the

some o' tha demons cou' be using some special techniques that avoid tha detection o' tha device. Sometimes, a discerning eye be better than a

"...So that's why."

turned his attention back towards the

then tilted his head and mumbled

stroked his

leave

56 right, and 329 from

before Bamus could leave, Ryan spoke

darting all

"H..huh?"

to leave almost tripped over.

about? Are

at Bamus, Ryan pointed at the

how many demons are

couple of times, he corrected

it's not 132 left, still 56 on the

"That's wrong Ryan."

"Huh?"

the side,

the tower. Soon an image of the place appeared

that have infiltrated, there's about twenty-two missing from your

head, Smallsnake's

happens when you're trying to

"Sorry."

back of his head, Ryan

from behind, Bamus was

"What the."

the middle of the room,

long, his mouth

"...Ah."

who was still being scolded by Smallsnake, Bamus's eyes opened

they said perfectly matched what the artifact

***

looks of it, the enemy did not have any battle strategy prepared—Like a swarm of locusts, the demons charged

—Rumble! —Rumble!

shook, and a cloud

SHIIIIII—!

the palm of their hands. Before

I was impressed

archery, I instead designed them to

the only different thing that I did in my

archery, it's just that they were far

quite easy to tell how strong an elf

green hair signifying lower affinity with mana, and with silver, which was the hair color that royalty had,

WHIIIM—!

couple of seconds, it soon fell towards the demons in the distance like a

BOOOM—!

ground shook and hundreds of demons died

that it belonged to the elf that had greeted me before; his hair was

"Damn."

mean that they were weak. The

they were still

Xiu—! Xiu—! Xiu—!

damage dealers, as the dwarves

holding did somewhat resemble guns, they operated differently as they shot

devastating as each shot equalled the life

the tower, I found that despite the strong spells and attacks from the dwarves and elves, demons were

simply

"Uuuaargh!"

the orcs were already waiting for them at the entrance as they quickly

bodies, the orcs prevented most of the demons from infiltrating the