The Trap Closes In
The pitch-black energy surging from beneath the dozen or so carriages.
It was unmistakably demonic energy—chilling and spine-tingling.
The chieftain and Grombal shouted almost simultaneously.
“Everyone, prepare for battle!”
“Get away from the carriages right now!”
The dwarves guarding the carriages barely had time to react before a sinister hum rose from the wagons.
Ziiiiiiiiiiiiing!
Then they exploded.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The shockwave was catastrophic.
It leveled the entire path and collapsed every nearby building.
“Kwaaaaaaaaah!”
“Kuuuuurgh!”
Amid the chorus of screams, the chieftain ground his teeth.
“Black magic!”
“H-how could this happen!”
Grombal’s face twisted in disbelief.
“Why? Just why would they do something like this?!”
Those carriages had come from Benjamin—the merchant they had traded with for years in mutual trust and goodwill.
That was exactly why it made no sense. Why it was so hard to believe.
Why Benjamin?!
But the nightmare was only beginning.
The demonic energy that had burst outward in every direction sank into the ground in an instant.
Ziiiiiiiiiiiiing!
A colossal magic circle completed itself in the blink of an eye.
The chieftain snatched up the axe that had fallen from his grasp and charged straight at the circle.
I have to stop it. Whatever that thing is, I have to stop it!
He raised the axe high, ready to smash the formation.
At that exact moment, demonic energy erupted from the circle.
Fwooooooooosh!
The chieftain was blasted backward, tumbling across the ground.
“Brother!”
Grombal rushed desperately toward Wolfgang, who was both his chieftain and his older brother.
Spitting blood from the heavy impact, Wolfgang forced out the words.
“Gather… the warriors. Have the rest evacuate.”
“Ugh! All warriors to the central plaza! Everyone else, evacuate to the Fire Sanctuary!”
The moment Grombal’s roar split the air, a heavy drumming sound began to echo across the entire basin.
Doom. Doom. Doom. Doom. Doom!
The warning signal that intruders had entered the village spread in every direction.
At the same time, the demonic energy settled completely.
And what it revealed was horrifying.
Oooooooong.
Roughly five hundred figures materialized atop the faintly humming black magic circle.
Every one of them wore deep black robes pulled low over their faces.
“We must finish this faster than the ones who went to slaughter the elves. Kill them all and gather as much blood as possible.”
A cold voice drifted from somewhere among the black-robed figures.
That was the signal.
The robed silhouettes surged outward in every direction.
“ិយនយឝ៙៧៥ឱ!”
“ᎴᏉᏒᏔᏤᏞ!”
The instant incomprehensible chants left their lips, pale, hazy shapes appeared in the air and began swirling everywhere.
At that moment, dwarf warriors burst out from all sides.
“Chief! How dare you set foot here!”
“Haaah! Begone!”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The dwarf warriors collided violently with the black-robed intruders.
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
The dwarves who slammed into the figures leaping from the black mages’ ranks were sent flying after a single clash.
The result was shocking.
“Kuuuurgh!”
“Kraaaagh!”
The black-robed swordsmen kicked off the ground and chased the tumbling dwarves.
Shrrrrk.
Their hoods flew back from the speed, revealing skeletal masks.
Between the bone-white masks that looked as if they were carved from real skulls, eerie smiles twisted into place.
Ziiiiing!
Mana rose like heat haze from the masked figures’ weapons.
Slaaaaaash! Slice!
“Kwaaaaaah!”
“Kuuuurgh!”
Aura mercilessly carved through dwarf bodies.
“Stop right there!”
Grombal yanked the battle axe from his back and charged the skeletal masks.
Ziiiiing.
Red aura blazed like roaring flames along the axe blade.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The deafening shockwaves from clashing auras shook the entire basin.
The dwarves who had been blasted away rose again and rejoined the fight against the masked assailants.
“Chaaaaah! Die, you bastards!”
“How dare you invade our tribe! We will never forgive this!”
Dwarves and skeletal masks tangled in a chaotic melee.
The masked attackers clearly held the upper hand in skill, but the dwarves refused to yield.
More and more warriors kept pouring in from every direction, rapidly evening the numbers.
“Throw them!”
Dwarves who had arrived late suddenly hurled fist-sized objects toward the black-robed figures standing atop the magic circle.
Tick. Tick. Tick!
The small objects whistled through the air, emitting an ominous mechanical sound. The instant they landed among the robed figures, they detonated.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Kwaaaaang!
Mana bombs.
The very explosives used to carve through mines had been turned into weapons against the invaders.
But that wasn’t all.
From the mid-slopes of the rocky mountains encircling the basin came another ominous roar.
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
The mana cannons installed along the ridges to repel outside threats had opened fire.
Successive explosions blanketed the area where the black-robed figures stood in thick, pale smoke.
It’s over.
The dwarf warriors fighting the skeletal masks clenched their fists tightly.
They knew the destructive power of those mana bombs and cannons better than anyone. There was no way the robed intruders could have survived.
All that’s left is these bastards!
They were about to press the attack even harder when something rolled to a stop beside their feet.
Clatter. Clatter.
The warriors’ eyes trembled as they saw what it was.
Why is this here?
Tick. Tick. Tick!
The object emitting the hard mechanical sound was a mana bomb.
At the same time, soft, youthful voices rang out—voices filled with terror.
“Hwaaaaaang! Daddy! I’m so scared!”
“Uwaaaaaah! D-don’t follow me! Go away!”
“S-stay away from our dad!”
“Honey! Run! Hurry!”
The women and children who should have been safe in the Fire Sanctuary were stumbling out, consumed by anxiety, fear, and raw terror.
Several of them clutched mana bombs in their small hands.
At a glance, it was obvious something was terribly wrong with them.
And the warriors soon learned why.
-Kikikikiki.
With a spine-chilling laugh, they saw the pale, hazy shapes swirling around the women and children.
Mind-type spirits!
Grombal ground his teeth.
So this was their plan from the very beginning!
“Everyone, get back!”
Grombal scooped up the fallen Wolfgang and leaped away.
The other warriors tried to flee as well, but the mana bombs’ timers had already run out.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaang!
Once again, screams and groans tore from the warriors.
Grombal quickly checked on Wolfgang.
“Brother! Are you all right?”
“I-I’m fine. We have to get this situation under control, fast!”
Having somewhat recovered from the shock, Wolfgang struggled to his feet.
Grombal supported him and scanned their surroundings.
Considering the blasts had gone off at close range, remarkably few warriors seemed badly injured.
It was thanks to the bombs detonating late.
The women and children, unfamiliar with the timers, had thrown them too early.
This isn’t over yet!
“Everyone, snap out of it!”
Grombal’s mana-infused shout reverberated across the battlefield.
“Aaaaah!”
“M-mom?”
One by one, the dwarves who had been enthralled by the mind spirits began to regain their senses.
In that moment, Wolfgang steadied himself and roared at the warriors.
“Focus! We finish off the remaining enemies quickly!”
“Yes, Chief!”
The warriors’ resolute reply was met by the sound of magical incantations.
“Yellow lightning that carries the wrath of the heavens. Dancing thunder that shall serve as the hammer of the gods! I call for judgment upon this place—strike down! Punish!”
“Free winds! Blow! Sharp gales! Whirl and rage! Coil around every foe and shake them apart!”
Both Wolfgang and Grombal widened their eyes as they stared at the spot where the mana bombs and cannons had struck.
The dust and smoke settled rapidly, revealing the scene beneath.
The black-robed figures stood completely unharmed beneath a transparent barrier.
Cold smiles curled at the corners of mouths barely visible beneath the deep hoods.
The barrier vanished, and the final words of their spells erupted.
“Giga Raiden!”
“Death Tornado!”
“Chain Lightning!”
“Wind Blade!”
As the 5th- and 6th-circle spells manifested, the skeletal masks entangled with the dwarves quickly retreated.
Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir!
Crackle! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Spaaaaaaat! Pop! Pop!
While the spells tore across the battlefield, another ominous sound exploded from the mountain ridges.
Kwaaaaaang!
Puuuufff!
The mana cannons suddenly detonated and shattered to pieces.
There was no need to wonder who was responsible.
Five hundred more black-robed figures had appeared along the rocky slopes surrounding the basin.
“Gust of Wind!”
“Ice Cannon!”
“Flare!”
More than half of the newly arrived five hundred cast spells.
The remaining half nocked arrows fitted with strange tips and fired them.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Where the arrows landed, massive explosions erupted like mana bombs.
At the same time, the spells began mercilessly destroying the dwarves’ ancestral home.
“Kwaaaaaaaaah!”
“Kuuuurgh!”
“Aaaaaagh!”
“Hwaaaaaaaaang!”
A tribe that had endured for hundreds of years was crumbling in a single day.
Wolfgang, who had barely dodged the spells, trembled with despair and screamed.
“Nooooooooooooooo!”
He tried to throw himself toward his kin caught in the explosions.
At that instant, a skeletal mask stepped in front of him, wearing a mocking smile, and swung its sword.
Kwaaaaaang.
“Kuuuugh.”
Wolfgang barely blocked the strike and bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.
He gripped his axe with both hands, preparing to knock the sword aside.
Then his eyes fell on something.
The bracelet he had received just days ago—practically shoved on him as a “gift.”
He remembered the black-haired human who had smiled innocently and said he was happy to finally have a friend.
Thinking of that human, Wolfgang raised his voice with everything he had.
“My friend—!”