Keel surveyed the enemy army from his vantage point, his gaze cold and calculating.
"This is definitely more than 50..." he muttered under his breath.
As he stood silently, Darius approached from behind, his heavy boots crunching against the ground.
"These bandits are quite the force," Darius said gravely. "They number in the mid-70s, with both archers and foot soldiers. It's not too late to cut our losses now, Village Head."
The suggestion wasn't unreasonable. Keel might have even considered it if not for the obligations tied to his territory, and the binding nature of his commitment. He sighed, steeling himself.
"We cannot give up, not like this, Darius."
"Round up the temporary militia. Assign them to key strategic positions. Place half the villagers on the elevated platforms and arm them with spears or anything else we have left."
Keel's voice dropped as he added, "Don't give up yet. If the worst comes to the worst, I'll summon specialized warriors."
The weight of his own words startled him. Without another moment's hesitation, he turned and sprinted toward the Orbital Nexus. Once there, he reached out to its swirling energy and focused
[System Notification: Summoning Requested]
It is detected that the user wishes to summon warriors.
Select Grade:
E-SS - User restrictions implemented.
Available grades: E-C
"Summon 10 C-grade troops," Keel commanded, his tone sharp and resolute. He didn't stop to think about the toll this would take on his resources once the battle was over.
The portal flickered to life, its energy crackling. Though the display was far less dazzling than Darius's earlier departure, Keel could only stand in awe as 10 figures emerged in two neat rows. Hope flickered to life in his chest.
"We swear eternal loyalty to the lord!"
The booming voices snapped him from his reverie. He stepped forward, scanning the group before focusing on its leader.
Name: Felix Story
Age: 30
Level: 48
Loyalty: 75%
Race: Human (1st Evolution, Mortal)
Class: Archer (Squad Leader)
Delighted by the reinforcement, Keel quickly briefed Felix on the dire situation at hand. Felix listened intently before nodding, his expression serious.
"My lord, what is our current reserve of arrows and spears? We've brought 100 arrows each, but that will barely suffice for this battle. We'll be at a serious disadvantage in the skirmishes that follow."
Keel frowned. I haven't had time to prepare properly. No blacksmiths, no forges... We lack the resources to produce more arrows, let alone swords or spears.
"For now, we have no way to replenish our supplies," Keel admitted. "Tomorrow, I will summon blacksmiths and other craftsmen to support us. But for today's battle, there's no need to hold back. Use every arrow you have. I'll personally lead a team to retrieve weapons from the enemy if necessary."
Felix bowed slightly, his sharp gaze filled with determination. Reassured, Keel motioned for him to follow.
"We don't have time for idle chatter. Let's return."
With renewed resolve, Keel and the archers rushed back to the walls. As they approached, a loud, mocking voice carried across the battlefield.
"Hahaha! So the rumors were true! A new village popping up in the middle of nowhere!"
"If this is your defense, me and my brothers will be sleeping in your beds by nightfall!"
Laughter erupted from the enemy camp. Their overconfidence was palpable; they clearly assumed Keel's forces were nothing more than untrained villagers.
The bandit leader gave a signal, and the first group of 10 bandits began their advance, strolling carelessly toward the walls. Keel clenched his fists but maintained his composure, signaling the archers to ready themselves.
125 meters.
100 meters.
75 meters.
At the 70-meter mark, the bandits broke into a sprint. Unease rippled through the villagers, but Keel held firm. They couldn't afford to waste a single arrow.
60 meters.
45 meters.
At the 40-meter mark, Keel gave a sharp whistle.
"Wheee!"
The archers leapt into action, their movements swift and practiced.
In the first second, 10 archers stepped onto the platforms.
By the second, 10 arrows were nocked and drawn.
On the third, 10 targets were locked.
And on the fourth second, 10 arrows flew.
A sickening series of thuds echoed as all 10 bandits fell, some dead, others mortally wounded.
That trick will only work once, Keel thought, impressed by their precision.
The villagers erupted into cheers, their morale soaring at the unexpected show of power. The enemy camp, in stark contrast, was plunged into silence. Tension hung in the air as the bandit leader's expression darkened.
"We'll need the entire force to take this village," the leader muttered. He had underestimated their defenses, and he knew the remaining 60 troops wouldn't stand a chance in a frontal assault.
Just as he began to call for a retreat, his gaze snapped to the village gates. Two figures emerged, walking toward the enemy camp.
"What are they planning now?" he muttered, unease creeping into his voice.
Darius and Felix, disguised as ordinary foot soldiers, moved with unnatural speed toward the enemy ranks.
As the two men approached, an unsettling premonition washed over the enemy leader.
Darius and Felix, now disguised as ordinary foot soldiers, moved toward the enemy ranks with unnatural speed. Darius quickly blended into the chaos of their formation, while Felix observed, waiting for the right moment to strike. He thought back to his earlier conversation with Keel, a sense of admiration stirring for his lord's precision and strategy.
Keel's voice echoed in his mind:
"After you release your arrows, the enemy is most likely going to retreat. They know that taking this village with only 70 bandits is suicide. So, we must inflict serious damage before they have the chance. Darius will hold them off. If you have the opportunity to take out that man who was speaking earlier, do it."
Time passed quickly, the seconds feeling heavier with each one.
[30 seconds]
Darius was beginning to show signs of exhaustion. After dispatching two enemies with swift decapitations, the tide of battle had shifted. Now, his movements were consumed by frantic parries, the pressure mounting with each strike.
[1 minute]
The seconds blurred into a blur of steel and sweat. Keel's deadline was fast approaching. If no chance came by the 90-second mark, they would have to pull back.
[5]
[7]
[11]
[20]
Hope was starting to fade when suddenly, Felix spotted him—the leader. His head popped out from behind enemy lines, eyes wide with disbelief as he watched one man, Darius, holding back dozens of soldiers without so much as an ounce of hesitation. The leader seemed mesmerized, unaware of the deadly danger that was bearing down on him.
In that moment, Felix nocked an arrow, his fingers steady. His eyes locked on the target, the world narrowing to just him and his prey. Then
"Swosh."
The arrow flew, moving faster than anything Felix had ever seen before. The enemy leader, still caught in his daze, barely registered the danger before it was too late. He tried to duck, his body instinctively attempting to evade, but it was as if the arrow was following his every move.
[Homing Arrow - Activated]
"Thud."
The leader collapsed, his surprised expression frozen in place as the arrow found its mark.