The stone walls of Elder Helga's house provided a sanctuary from the chaos outside, but the air inside was thick with tension and the weight of unspoken fears.
Hiro groaned, stirring from his unconscious state. He blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings. "What... what happened?" he mumbled, his voice groggy.
Sasa knelt beside him, her face etched with worry. "Hiro, you're safe now. We had to get you out of there."
Memories came rushing back, and Hiro's eyes widened in horror. "Grandma... she..." His voice cracked, the raw pain evident.
Gin placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Hiro. Your grandmother was brave. She wanted us to keep you safe."
Hiro clenched his fists, tears streaming down his face. "I couldn't save her..."
Elder Helga approached, her expression soft but firm. "Hiro, you did all you could. We all did. We need to stay strong now, for each other."
Hiro took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "What do we do now?"
Helga's eyes darkened. "We need to prepare. The undead will be more relentless as the night wears on. They are drawn to life, and they won't stop until they've consumed it."
Sasa's father stepped forward, carrying a bundle of makeshift weapons. "We found these in the storeroom. They might not be much, but they can help us defend ourselves."
Hiro picked up a sturdy iron sword, testing its weight. "We'll make do. We have to."
As the group armed themselves, a faint sound reached their ears—a low, ominous growl, growing louder by the second.
"Everyone, stay alert," Helga warned, her voice a mere whisper.
A series of heavy thuds echoed through the house, followed by a bone-chilling howl. The undead had found them.
"Block the windows!" Gin shouted, grabbing a wooden plank.
The group worked swiftly, reinforcing the barriers and securing the door. The growling grew more intense, and the house shook as the undead began to batter against the walls.
"I guess we can't stay here forever," Sasa's mother said, her voice trembling.
"No! Everyone can stay here," Hiro said, grabbing a sword. "I'll go. I'll make myself a bait."
"Hiro, no! You can't do that. You're being selfless again," Sasa said.
"Yeah, Hiro. Don't do it," Gin added.
"You two, stop. I agree with Hiro's suggestion," their father said.
"Father," Sasa and Gin uttered in unison.
"Ok, but on one condition: you must survive, Hiro," Sasa's father said.
"Yes, uncle," Hiro replied.
Elder Helga and Sasa's parents gathered for a quick meeting. "First, we open the window on the rooftop," Helga instructed.
"Then you go and eliminate those undead that are messing with my house," the elder said.
"I get it," Hiro responded.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the village, Chief Elder Rolf stood at the window of his study, gazing down at the village square.
"It's my fault," he said. "I should have heeded Helga's opinion."
His heart sank as he witnessed the once-festive celebration devolve into chaos. Villagers he had known for years now turned into ravenous undead, attacking each other mindlessly.
Behind him, Erik, his retainer, stood nervously, eyes darting between Rolf and the scene outside. "Elder Rolf, we must defend ourselves. Rally the guards, protect those who remain," Erik urged urgently.
Rolf shook his head, sorrow etched deeply into his features. "No, Erik. It's too late for that. Our focus must be on saving those we can."
Erik hesitated, frustration evident in his voice. "But Elder, we can't just stand by and watch!"
Rolf turned to face him, his gaze steady. "Sometimes, inaction is the hardest choice. Trust in the dawn, Erik. It will bring an end to this nightmare."
Outside, the undead, a grotesque amalgamation of decay and horror, roamed the night of Carowa. Each step echoed with the crunch of brittle bones, and the air around them was thick with the stench of rot and despair.
Back at Elder Helga's house, Hiro successfully exited through the rooftop window.
"I'm out," he said, attracting the undead.
"Good, stay alive," the elder said as she closed the window.
Navigating through the darkened village, Hiro kept to the shadows, his senses on high alert. The distant sounds of moans and shuffling footsteps guided his path as he made his way toward the village square. His heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of fear and resolve driving him forward.
As he approached a corner, Hiro pressed himself against the wall, peering cautiously around the edge. He spotted a group of undead lumbering through the main street, their grotesque forms silhouetted against the flickering torchlight. Hiro took a deep breath, steadying himself before darting across the open space, his movements quick and agile.
He continued his stealthy journey, ducking behind carts and crates, avoiding detection with practiced ease. The village square came into view, a scene of devastation and horror. Fallen villagers and undead littered the cobblestones, the air thick with the stench of death.
Hiro's eyes narrowed as he spotted a group of undead closing in on terrified survivors. Without hesitation, he charged forward, his iron sword gleaming in the moonlight. The blade felt cold and familiar in his hand, its weight a comforting reminder of his grandmother's love and guidance.
Hiro slashed through the first undead with a fierce cry, the blade sinking into decayed flesh.
With swift, precise movements, he fought on, driven by memories of his grandmother's stories of courage and sacrifice.
Each swing of his sword was a tribute to her teachings, a defiance against the darkness that threatened to engulf the village.
As he battled, Hiro's mind remained focused, his determination unwavering. He moved through the village with calculated grace, rescuing survivors and directing them to safety. His every action was fueled by a mix of grief-fueled rage and the unyielding resolve to protect those who remained.
Somewhere in the shadows, the demon watched, its twisted smile growing wider. "Kekekeke. Interesting, I should keep an eye on this brave young warrior," it whispered, vanishing into the darkness once more.
The starless night had ended, giving way to the first light of dawn, a new ray of hope rising on the horizon.