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.

won't give ye guys a

specifically the red dots around the

simplified version o' tha map in tha middle o' tha room, an' it gives us an overall outlook o'

small square appeared

"Wooow!"

and Smallsnake who

Bamus's

me every couple o' minutes how many demons

head, Smallsnake

but why cant the device count

showed the dots on the screen, couldn't

the answer,

miscalculates some o' tha data. After all, some o' tha demons cou' be using some

"...So that's why."

attention

then tilted his head

arms, Bamus stroked his beard before

I'll leave

left, 56 right, and 329 from

Bamus could leave, Ryan

eyes darting all

"H..huh?"

leave almost tripped over.

talking about? Are ye

Bamus, Ryan

demons

stopped. Blinkin a couple of times,

left, still 56 on the right, and 324

"That's wrong Ryan."

"Huh?"

interjected from the

the tower. Soon an image of the place appeared and

to count the ones that have infiltrated, there's about

head, Smallsnake's head shook

you're

"Sorry."

onto the back of his head,

the due from behind,

"What the."

main map in the middle of

long, his mouth

"...Ah."

looking towards Ryan who was still being scolded by

perfectly matched what the artifact

***

a swarm of locusts, the demons charged from above. Demons

—Rumble! —Rumble!

cloud of dust appeared in

SHIIIIII—!

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

behind, I was impressed

in archery, I instead designed

thing that I

just that they were far better magicians due to their affinity with

note, it was quite easy to tell how strong

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

WHIIIM—!

appeared in the sky. Lingering in the air for a couple of seconds, it soon fell towards the demons in the distance like

BOOOM—!

ground shook and hundreds of demons died

my head towards the elf responsible for the attack, I found out that it belonged to the elf that had greeted

"Damn."

that didn't mean that they

they were still a

Xiu—! Xiu—! Xiu—!

weren't the only long-distance damage dealers, as the dwarves shot the demons from above

resemble guns, they operated differently as they shot projectiles made out

devastating as each shot equalled the life

the elf and the dwarves, and gazing below the tower, I found that despite the strong spells and attacks from the dwarves

simply

"Uuuaargh!"

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

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