Facing the Monster Wave Alone
The wind was cold. I sat on a bench in the Adventurer's Guild training grounds, gazing up at the northern sky. Compared to Elena's usual return time, she was still late, but with that one turning point right around the corner, my legs were twitching restlessly.
It's really not long now.
But I didn't know the exact timing. The events from the game stuck in my memory more vividly than expected, yet every incident had varied by time. Whether those differences were game allowances for player immersion or truly variable was something only a god would know.
Squinting against the sunlight as I looked north, I lowered my gaze to the adventurers spilling out onto the training grounds. Some were running laps, others swinging swords. A laid-back senior adventurer on break was sparring with a newbie, shield raised.
They had no idea. About what was coming soon. Even if I warned them now, they wouldn't respond properly. They'd suspect some scheme of mine, hesitate in distrust.
I could bully individuals into compliance with threats. But for organized groups like clans, my intimidation was just the bark of a feral stray dog. Threats like "I killed the former guild master—want to join him?" wouldn't work. That only succeeded because the old guild master had let his guard down around Eck.
It was self-inflicted stupidity, much like Darko—over-relying on their backing, mistaking it for their own power, seeing me as a tamed pet. Eck's notoriety only worked within the realm where his brute force applied. That was the limit of infamy.
That's why I chose a different path, without relying on it.
Now it was time to test the results.
Monster wave. In the original story, the city repelled it—but at great cost. Parts of the walls crumbled, and a huge chunk of the city's forces died or were crippled. Caught unprepared, the whole city flipped into chaos against the monster horde.
The city, having barely blocked the first wave, formed dungeon assault teams. Elena sneaked in as a porter with one of the large-scale parties. And awakened. From an I-rank nobody to power that could kill Eck—an A-rank top-tier. No, even match him.
And the current Elena was overwhelmingly stronger than her original self. Once she mastered that power, S-rank was a given.
"...."
I placed a hand on my chest. Tucked inside was a parchment: the appointment as leader of the dungeon survey team, signed by the lord's daughter.
I'd considered using it to persuade the clans in advance, but decided against it.
Even if the monster wave really hits, it'd just leave unnecessary grudges.
No matter my intentions, as long as their image of me didn't change, it'd twist into suspicion and deepen distrust. Eck's infamy turned everything I did into something sinister.
I'd once seen the world through rose-tinted glasses, ignorant of the truth. But Eck's memories and experiences stripped them away, revealing a cruel, cold reality.
This was only the first monster wave. I couldn't afford that risk right now.
I'd brought the appointment as my biggest leverage—for any contingency today. Flash it, and any clan would move instantly, no grudges if it was sudden.
Rebecca's probably already tipped off the clans anyway...
Even if the wave hit right now, we wouldn't suffer the original disaster. Walls and forces intact, ready for the next.
That was when chaos erupted on the main street. Someone shouted.
"Monsters! A monster horde's coming!!!"
It was Mira. Covered head to toe in dirt, bowstring snapped, she bolted past the palisade onto the street. Between ragged breaths, she screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Monster wave!! Monsters are coming from the north!!"
The training ground adventurers froze, unsure what they were hearing. Those who recognized Mira noticed Elena wasn't with her—stirring alarm, even beyond the crisis itself.
Clan adventurers bolted for their clan halls. Mira spotted me.
She stumbled over and dropped to her knees before me.
"Eck! M-M-Mon...!"
"Calm down."
I grabbed her shoulders. Between gasps, words tumbled out.
"M-Monster wave! It's a monster wave! They're swarming!"
It was finally here. I'd been waiting for the monster wave.
I gripped the appointment in my pocket, ready to dash to the guild—then glanced the way Mira had come. No one followed her.
"Elena?"
"...!"
Mira flinched, shoulders trembling.
"E-Elena's... behind... bringing the others back."
"Then she'll make it in time."
Hans and Duke had trained steadily for this. Slow feet or not, stamina wouldn't fail them.
Mira's eyes wavered.
"B-But Daryl's party got in the way. They showed up right at that moment."
"Daryl?"
"D-Don't worry. Last I saw, she was saving Daryl's party, but Elena'll make it back safe...!"
"Listen, Mira."
I cut her off, pulling the appointment from my pocket and shoving it into her hands.
"Take this to the guild. Hand it straight to Rebecca. She'll know what it is."
"This is..."
"Run with everything you've got. Every second you delay kills someone. Go all out. Now go."
I pressed the parchment into her hand; she gasped, then sprinted off with all her might.
"Elena."
Is that your fate?
I'd expected it. Of course. Having controlled Elena directly in the game, peering into her heart, I understood her better than anyone.
With her personality, she'd never abandon Daryl's party to die. Even in this female-favorable world, monster waves killed without mercy. No one survives hundreds or thousands of monsters thinking "but she's a girl."
Even if they did, gang-rape by monsters left no real life. Elena knew that. Monsters had killed her father, after all.
More murder than rape in her mind, but she'd save them anyway. Classic frustrating protagonist sacrifice.
Playing, I'd raged: Why help? Why that choice?
But having someone like that under me now? I respected it—hell, felt proud. The old Eck in me grumbled like player-me once did, but whatever. Cut her some slack.
Her nature saves the world.
But the real reason I wasn't mad? Something else.
It all comes down to whether you have the power to save them.
But Elena. With your current specs, you can't take them all.
"Filling that gap is my role."
I stepped onto the main street, against the flow of fleeing people. Toward the northern mountains beyond.
Gripped my magic sword.
Elena.
Before your kindness becomes poison, I'll save you.
I kicked off the ground and dashed away.
The open plains of the northern mountains. Plant monsters slowed the horde's advance, but mid-tier and above shook them off and broke through.
I deflected an orc warrior's axe, slashing its nape. Grabbed a wolf lunging from the blind spot by the scruff and slammed it down. Sliced while leaping away.
Grabbed a fallen Daryl party member's shoulder, yanking them up forcibly.
"Th-Thank y—"
"Run!"
"Yes!"
Clang! I batted away a flying axe with my sword. It snapped mid-swing, the tip flying into the brush.
A massive wolf emerged from the shadows, licking its chops greedily at Elena, eyes savoring how it'd devour, lick, and chew her.
Then an ironclad boar charged in like fire, smashing its head where Elena had stood.
Krunch! Trees toppled. In the chaos, she slipped the encirclement—but glanced back at Daryl's party, not far off.
Monsters swept the forest like a tidal wave. Fixing her gaze on them, she reached for Daryl's members helping their own—someone tossed her a sword.
She snatched it mid-air, low stance slicing a leaping wolf.
Chain of ironclad boars. She vaulted over, stepping on one's bulk to retreat bit by bit.
Then—
Shwak! A toad ambushed from the brush, long tongue lashing out. Perfect strike.
Sticky tip grazed her side, yanking her in.
Blade severed the tongue mid-way. Blood sprayed; the toad screamed, bursting from cover.
"Hah... hah..."
Elena's eyes glowed blue. Monsters ignored each other, fixated solely on this human woman.
"Who looks like they're gonna lose?"
She planted her feet, stance firm. But her raised sword tip was shortened, melted blunt.
That damn toad...!
She aimed the stubby blade, but it threatened nothing. Monsters exchanged silent "who first?" glances.
Elena kicked off, breaking free. Ironclad boar pursued, excited by her flight.
Fierce charge—footwork alone insufficient. She threw herself sideways, but it wheeled.
Swing glanced off armor, exposing her flank.
"Hyaak...!"
Elena tumbled. Burning pain filled her side. An orc warrior pinned her head with brute force.
Even strength and mana-enhanced, she couldn't budge its raw power.
Grabbed her armor; joints snapped one by one.
Lower armor peeled away. Monster-heat-warmed air hit bare skin. Horrific future flashed: Daryl ravaged by trolls. Now her turn.
Chills everywhere, cold sweat down her spine.
"U-Uncle..."
Uncle couldn't come. Plan gone wrong.
Original: Spot dungeon emergence, return to city, defend. Even if he rushed, prepping for wave drained stamina racing here.
Preserving energy while gearing up? Mira arrived ages ago—he'd still be delayed.
Cold analysis solidified despair.
"Guak?!?!"
Orc clutched crotch, collapsing. Elena's steel boot connected.
"I won't go down like this! Who loses without fighting to the end?!"
Her eyes blazed. She gripped the orc's axe—huge for her small hands—but swung, caving its skull into the dirt.
Bare thighs quivered. But her aura made monsters hesitate.
Scanning her encirclement, she saw them eyeing the massive wolf. Pack leader, strongest.
It nodded; orc warriors advanced.
Snorting, closing in. Monsters behind, orcs ahead. Unfamiliar axe in hand.
Elena clenched teeth, squeezing max mana.
"You held out well."
Then—an ironclad boar's head thudded before the orcs. The one chasing Daryl's party.
Tongue-flicking toad bisected. Someone strode into the circle's heart.
Man radiating savage mana. Uncle.
Uncle stood by Elena, magic sword in one hand.
"U-Uncle!"
"Talk later."
Or cs charged howling; uncle's blade cleaved them single strokes.
Dodging axes, slipping gaps, sword drank blue energy from their bodies, runes flaring brighter.
Swept three more, then hauled Elena up by the arm.
"Take the rest and run."
"Huh?"
"I'll clear the path. Don't look back—full speed."
Uncle faced the massive wolf head-on. Monsters glared like at a mortal foe, intensity suffocating—mere play before.
"I'm buying your escape. Take every last one. Wasted if any of the ones you fought to save die."
"No."
Elena planted feet, raising sword.
"I'm staying. Can't leave you alone!"
"Elena, don't interfere—go. You blind to your state?"
Sliced dozens. Took hits too. Potions gone now. Replicating entry moves? Stamina limit.
Cold mind assessed.
"B-But!"
"Go. Or you wanna kill me?"
"...!"
"I said go. Since when do brats backtalk adults?"
Pushed her away without turning. Elena's lips quivered.
"Hic...!"
Tears welled; she glared, grinding teeth.
"Don't die! If you do, even you won't get mercy!"
Last gesture sent her running cityward. Magic sword swept blocking monsters; she fled the gap.
Monsters' eyes shifted to fleeing Elena.
Eck shook his blade clean.
"Thanks for waiting."
With Elena gone, their killing intent surged openly. Prime brood escaped—now kill freely.
Massive wolf detached pack part toward her, nodding.
Wolves massed to pursue.
Eck raised left index finger. Slipped on a ring.
It drank his mana, emitting repulsive waves. Vile ripples clung to monster minds.
Ring farmed from back-alley thief clan pulled all aggro.
Eyes snapped back to Eck.
"Come at me, you perverted beast bastards."