Toto, who kept running, felt he couldn't catch up to Santana. Frustrated and visibly angry, he stopped abruptly and waited. Nearby, a centaur-like player was dashing past at full speed.
With an idea forming in his mind, Toto took a running start and leaped onto the centaur's back.
–Hey! What are you doing? Get off!
–Keep going, unless you want to die!
Toto brandished the heavy sword he held effortlessly in one hand. Terrified, the centaur reluctantly complied and kept moving forward.
Toto stored his heavy sword in his inventory and grabbed the centaur's mane tightly.
The centaur, whose name was "Blaze," cursed under his breath.
–Damn it!
Grinding his teeth, Blaze ran on, enduring the sharp, stinging sensation.
As they closed in on the target, Toto prepared to retrieve the heavy sword from his inventory. Just a few more meters, and he'd be close to Santana.
Toto was so focused on Santana that he failed to notice what lay ahead.
Blaze, still frustrated, looked forward and saw grotesque creatures. Realizing these were the true targets, he gritted his teeth and pressed on.
The creatures were horrifying. They had massive shark-like teeth protruding from their snouts and an exoskeleton that covered their entire bodies. Their limbs ended in claws over 30 centimeters long, making them even more terrifying.
–I can see them! The demons! – Forgetting the pain of Toto's grip, Blaze was excited.
Black Rose and Dasha were the first to notice them. Standing seven meters tall, nothing escaped their sight.
–Let's kill them, Black Rose! We have to be the first in the group to do it!
Dasha was just as thrilled as the others.
Black Rose understood what needed to be done. He began to pick up speed and, in less than five seconds, reached Santana.
Reacting quickly, he drew his tower shield and sword, aiming at the grotesque creatures ahead.
The creatures weren't larger than an adult wolf; they were about the same size. Black Rose had to swing his sword downward like a hammer, crushing the demons in a single blow and finishing them off.
The rest of the group stood stunned. The demons, supposedly the primary objective, were taken out like insects by Black Rose's sword.
The crushed flesh and the foul stench emanating from the bodies made the others cover their noses. Some players already at the scene gagged, while others couldn't handle the sight and fainted on the spot.
Santana and his followers, however, were fine. They were the only ones in the area unaffected by the stench or the scene.
–Pathetic. They can't handle a smell this mild – Santana scoffed, smirking at the sight.
Black Rose and Dasha were unaffected by the stench, thanks to their racial configurations.
Djin, a ghost-like being, and the stone giant, with a complex structure unlike that of a living creature, lacked all five senses. With only sight and hearing active, these two races had no sense of taste, smell, or touch.
It could be said that they were spared from experiencing the same fate as the other players.
One of Santana's men approached him to report the situation.
–Boss, these creatures are demons of the lowest rank. Killing them is easy, but the problem is their numbers. They appear in large groups, and at least a hundred players are needed to take them down without major issues.
Santana simply listened, assessing the situation on a larger scale. He ordered his men, through the communication chat, to regroup at his current location. He needed more hands to clear the demon-infested plains ahead.
Everyone turned their gaze to the scene. Thousands of demons in various forms wandered aimlessly. It was clear that with such a vast number of creatures, attacking would be futile. They would die faster than the time it had taken them to reach this zone.
With only one stone giant and about 30 players present, a victorious assault seemed impossible.
Drawing everyone's attention, a player suddenly spoke up.
–Wait! I have an AoE ability that can easily wipe out thousands of demons in one go!
The player's words immediately captured everyone's attention. He was the only one in the group of the Elemental race—a blazing fire that could not be easily extinguished.
The player's appearance was striking. His entire body was engulfed in flames, yet the fire caused no harm to his nearby companions.
It had no definite shape. There was no visible face or anything resembling a body—just a walking blaze of intense fire.
The Elemental player, named Mathew, explained his skill and its effects. Santana, with a plan forming in his mind, gathered his group and all the surrounding players.
He devised a strategy where everyone had a role to play, with Mathew as the primary source of power.
–Mathew, you'll wait until all the demons gather at a single point. Black Rose will draw their attention, and the rest will deal with the remaining stragglers. Any player with the appropriate size will mount the centaur-race players and charge directly toward the demons.
Santana outlined the details of the plan to everyone. No one raised objections or questions—they understood their roles clearly.
–We'll attack in an hour. More players are on their way to join the fight. With thousands of demons in the plains, it won't be a problem to wipe them all out if more players join in. With some luck, others might also have wide-range abilities.
Everyone grasped Santana's plan. Toto, who was itching to kill him right then and there, restrained himself. He decided to deal with the demons first and later plot how to eliminate Santana without drawing the attention of his pawns.
An hour later, hundreds of players arrived—Orcs, Centaurs, Humans, and Elves. The majority were Humans.
A Human named Percival led the Humans and Elves. With a pristine appearance, blonde hair, and an impeccable face and physique, Percival stood out. Despite wearing ordinary leather armor, his elegance made the armor appear stylish on him.
Percival was pleased. He had been wandering aimlessly, hoping to encounter the objectives of the main mission. When he found a perfect zone infested with demons, he realized there were already players in the area.
He protested about the space; Percival wanted to claim the plains that Santana had discovered and take the rewards for himself.
However, his plan to monopolize the area fell apart. Percival changed his mind when he noticed even more demons arriving in the plains. What had been hundreds of demons now numbered in the thousands, increasing with each passing second.
Not only were they arriving in vast numbers, but they came in all shapes and sizes—small, large, and even flying ones. All the demons were rushing toward them, alerted to their presence.
With so many players gathering, it was inevitable that the demons would take notice. Santana, reacting swiftly, urged everyone to prepare for a frontal confrontation.
Percival had no other choice. Among the Humans were mages, so he ordered them to prepare area-of-effect spells. Meanwhile, Santana instructed Black Rose to charge toward the demons and draw their attention.
Dasha quickly climbed down from Black Rose's shoulder, unwilling to risk dying alongside him.
The Centaurs and Orcs were ready. Toto, still atop Blaze's back, prepared himself to charge toward the demons.
The battle began. Black Rose, charging directly into the horde of demons, bore the brunt of the attack.
The smaller creatures, like an endless sea, trampled over one another in their attempt to scale Black Rose's massive frame. His enormous shield helped fend off the demons in front of him, but it offered little protection for his flanks.
Despite the overwhelming odds, the players pressed on, their resolve unshaken in the face of the demon horde.
In less than two seconds, the demons began climbing Black Rose's body. Some bit into his tough skin, but to no avail. Others continued scaling, reaching for his head.
The numbers were overwhelming. Black Rose could no longer hold back the tide of demons.
They consumed him. The massive body of the stone giant was swallowed by the swarm. With fear in his eyes, Black Rose let out a deafening scream. It was as if thousands of ants were crawling all over him. Trembling with terror, he watched the small creatures cover every inch of his body.
From the rear positions, all the players watched in stunned silence as the towering 7-meter figure disappeared into the sea of demons.
No one spoke a word. They could only imagine the horror Black Rose endured to buy them this crucial time. Some shuddered at the mere thought of being in his place.
It was time. Santana gave the order to attack.
Percival gritted his teeth and commanded the mages to begin the bombardment.
Three, two, one… *Boom!* The unleashed magic consumed the entire stretch of land where Black Rose had stood moments ago.
Fire, lightning, and earth spells dominated the battlefield, creating a chaotic, destructive scene.
–Attack! – Santana shouted with all his might.
Hearing Santana's yell, the others snapped out of their daze. The mages' magic, like a grand display of fireworks, had momentarily captivated them, making them forget the horrific sight of Black Rose's demise.
Toto was the first to react. Riding on Blaze's back, he kicked the centaur sharply. With no stirrups to control him, this was all he could do.
Blaze bolted toward the surviving demons. Seconds later, the other mounted players followed Toto's lead.
The Human players quickened their pace. With swords in hand, they aimed for anything that wasn't beautiful, ready to cut down the grotesque creatures in their path.