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 over

specifically the

tha middle

area of the map, a small square appeared on the map

"Wooow!"

and Smallsnake who looked

the two, Bamus's voice

report ta me every couple o' minutes how many demons be

his head, Smallsnake

cant

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

expecting the

main device can, but we do this just in case tha artifacts miscalculates some o' tha data. After all, some o' tha demons cou' be using some

"...So that's why."

turned his attention back towards the

his head and mumbled something to

arms, Bamus stroked his beard before

leave

and 329

could leave, Ryan

eyes darting all over

"H..huh?"

leave almost tripped over. Turning around, he

talking about?

at Bamus, Ryan

to know how many demons are coming?

a couple of times, he corrected

wait, it's not 132 left, still 56 on the right, and 324

"That's wrong Ryan."

"Huh?"

the

on the tower. Soon an image

you forgot to count the ones that have

Ryan in the head, Smallsnake's head

when you're trying to show

"Sorry."

the back of his head, Ryan dejectedly lowered

at the due from behind, Bamus

"What the."

the middle

long, his mouth opened

"...Ah."

head and looking towards Ryan who was still being scolded by Smallsnake, Bamus's eyes opened in

matched what the

***

swarm of locusts, the demons charged from above. Demons riding onto huge

—Rumble! —Rumble!

a cloud of dust

SHIIIIII—!

appeared on the palm of their hands.

the scene from behind, I was impressed

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

different thing that

that didn't mean elves were bad at archery, it's just that they were far better magicians due

note, it was quite easy to tell how strong an

signifying lower affinity with mana, and with silver, which was the hair

WHIIIM—!

in the air for a couple of

BOOOM—!

shook and hundreds of

I found out that it belonged to the elf that had greeted me before; his hair was a color mix between gold and

"Damn."

though green haired elves had a low affinity with mana, that didn't mean that they were weak. The

to us humans, they

Xiu—! Xiu—! Xiu—!

the elves weren't the only long-distance damage dealers, as the dwarves shot

the things they were holding did somewhat resemble guns, they operated

each shot

despite the strong spells and attacks from the dwarves

simply

"Uuuaargh!"

waiting

their huge bodies, the orcs prevented most of the demons from infiltrating the tower where the weaker dwarves and elves