Crash Birds Shatter the Walls
Kwaang! The relentless assaults from the Crash Birds pulverized the walls without mercy. Their overwhelming numbers triggered the first cracks, and soon the structure began to crumble.
Kwaaang!
"Hold the line!"
"Don't panic—stay in position!"
The shattered glass from the collapsing walls was a deadly hazard. But the forces, already positioned at a safe distance, held firm. Abandoning the walls and deploying troops this way had been part of the plan from the start. Spacing units at company level had served its purpose too.
"What in the...!"
That's when the city's overseer came rushing into the plaza. Mayor Firnen de Artua gaped in horror at the devastation.
"What happened? Was the report about the wall repairs a lie?"
She stormed up to Gorik, who stood armed and ready, and demanded answers.
The dwarf prince sighed at the sight.
"It's almost pitiful at this point. Do humans get this narrow-minded when they're blindly arrogant?"
"Don't change the subject! And what are the soldiers and adventurers doing just standing around? They should be out there blocking it right now!"
-Sigh...
-Time to break out the executioner's sword.
-Go block it yourself lol
-Cut her off at the goblin line.
Firnen started throwing a hysterical fit. But no one paid her ravings any mind.
Frantically whipping her head around, she locked eyes with Hanbit.
"You!"
Firnen marched right up, having completely forgotten about the Black Dragon's golden bracelet.
"You think I don't know you were the one making all that noise in the city? And this is the result—gathering a bunch of idiots! Plus calling in outside adventurers? What the hell is this?"
"Sharp eye spotting the outsiders. Why don't you use that to take a good look around? There's no place for you here anymore. Unless you plan to throw yourself at the walls."
"Such nonsense...!"
Kwaang! A thunderous boom drowned out her voice—the sound of the wall fully collapsing.
"M-monsters incoming!"
A frantic shout rang out from the makeshift watchtower. Everyone instinctively turned toward the gaping hole in the wall.
Drdrdrdr-!
The ground started trembling. At the edge of their vision, trees in the forest crashed down.
And then—
Kuung!
A colossal horde of monsters burst into view.
"Here they come!"
"Get ready, everyone!"
Tension blanketed the plaza as the wave truly began. Hanbit glanced at Firnen.
"Watch closely if you don't want to die. You abandoned this city, but others didn't."
"I abandoned the city? Me, Firnen de Artua? Wait—where do you think you're going? Stop right there, Black Dragon!"
As Hanbit turned and walked away, she reached out, demanding he stay. But the sight of the oncoming monster swarm froze her feet in place.
'What a coward.'
Her terror was laughably over the top, especially after ignoring the wave warnings. Natural for an ordinary person, sure—but pathetic for the one who ruined the city.
Wooong-
Thankfully, the city's defenses held strong. Up on the watchtower stood a stone-faced man: Lebius from the magic lab.
Srrek-
Several magic stones surrounded him—the cores of the barrier now spread inside the wall perimeter, a joint creation of Lebius and Gorik. Designed to shield the city from monster attacks and the explosions to come.
"Hmm..."
As she approached the commanders, Isis furrowed her brow, lost in thought. Normally, she'd be bragging about the wave by now.
"What's up?"
"Those kids seem more excited than expected. Did something go wrong with the final test tubes?"
"...?"
-Huh?
-Suddenly?
-Variables are par for the course in experiments.
-Why now of all times?
The viewers weren't the only ones shocked by the unexpected twist. Hanbit immediately asked Isis,
"What happens if there's a problem with the test tubes?"
"The enhancers probably got dosed irregularly. They'll be stronger than planned. Especially the yetis—that's gonna hit them hard. What do we do? My spirit research... Ifrit's done for!"
Her mind had already spiraled back into research mania. Ignoring her, Hanbit pondered.
'No wonder the Crash Birds seemed off.'
The birds smashing the walls had been enhanced too. Their destructive power and speed exceeded his memories, making him suspicious. Who knew a variable like this would pop up?
He didn't know the cause, but it wasn't something to take lightly.
Peubang!
Peubeubang!
The charging monsters started triggering traps near the wall. Some exploded on the spot, dying instantly. Most endured, but it slowed their approach—a small mercy.
"I have a report."
Hanbit rushed to the commanders and briefed them swiftly. The enemies were stronger than expected. That summed it up.
"Hm. Worse news than anticipated."
"If they're powered up, holding like this might be tough."
"No way to ramp up output now."
The observers grimaced gravely. But Jinook calmly asked,
"What do you think? Can we hold?"
His trusting gaze carried weight. Tough spot, but Hanbit could deliver.
He touched the sword at his waist and nodded.
"Gonna tweak the plan a bit. Jinook, Kevin—you two come outside the walls with me."
"Got it."
"You've got something in mind."
The two A-rank adventurers nodded without hesitation. Jinook trusted him outright, but Kevin's reasons differed—he wanted to gauge just how impressive this Black Dragon really was. If it seemed hopeless, he'd act solo on the spot.
Drdrdr-!
No attacks flew at the approaching monsters yet. Turrets, mid-sized siege gear, and magic devices stood ready, poised to strike at any moment.
Kuung!
The horde reached the wall rubble. Strangely, the debris-covered ground was pocked with dozens of massive holes.
The monsters, seeing them as paths, funneled into the nearest ones.
Kung!
Kuung!
Overpacked relative to the holes' size, they shoved and climbed over each other. The followers piled in, turning it into chaos. Some clambered atop others. The bottleneck hit its limit fast.
Pit-!
Suddenly, light erupted from all the holes.
Kieak!
"Gah!"
The blinding glare filled their vision. Monsters and humans alike cried out from the intense flash.
And as the light sucked inward—
Peubeubeubang!
Massive explosions rocked the holes.
Whoosh!
A gale from the blasts swept the city. Observers were shoved back en masse.
"Urk!"
"Ugh!"
They hunkered down against the near-knockdown force.
"Whoa! I didn't expect this much...!"
Isis yelped in awe, actually floating off the ground. Hanbit, gripping her arm, kept his eyes forward.
'Solid effect.'
The monsters clustered in the holes died without a scream—shredded by explosions and countless glass shards. Mixing ice spider legs, magic stones, and iron filings into the glass? Dwarf ingenuity.
Maybe Gorik's changed mindset boosted the potency.
"All barriers destroyed!"
Lebius's voice echoed from the watchtower. The wall bombs had worked—the shattered barriers had served their purpose, blocking the fallout.
"Woooah!"
"Weapons up!"
Shaken off by the gust, the defenders rallied instantly. The shared op's success fired them up—the horde in those holes, vanished without a trace.
"Let's move!"
"Reload help over here!"
Trained citizens activated trebuchets and repeating ballistae. Others infused mana, hauled ammo carts—everyone in their role.
"We're going first!"
Gorik led the fully armed dwarves charging out. Their weapons were wildly inventive.
"Jaeha-hyung, keep an eye on Isis. Avant-garde, make sure no casualties. You two, follow me."
Tat!
Quick instructions given, Hanbit dashed off with the two A-rankers. The lead dwarves were already clashing with monsters. Even after wiping tons in the blasts, black waves still surged.
Thwuck!
Fwoosh!
A blue-glowing axe cleaved a kobold's head. Another dwarf torched monsters with a flamethrower.
-Whoa.
-Tech is insane.
-Flamethrower whoa
-Reset Ifrit plz.
-Fr, wanna see it irl just once.
-Lemme shoot! Lemme shoot! Lemme...!
Viewers marveled at the dwarves' feats.
Fwoosh!
Whoosh!
Hanbit's sword whipped up flames and gales. Pure slaughter this time.
"Clearing a path ahead."
Tat!
He kicked off again, charging straight in. Twisting his waist, he swung wide.
Shiiik!
A razor-sharp fiery gale sliced along the arc, piercing the monster-packed view.
Kieeak!
Kreuk!
Neatly severed foes ignited at the cuts. Power leap from the reverse scale fragments. Spirit tech or not, skill efficiency applied fully.
"Ha! Ridiculous power."
Kevin, following, let out a short sigh. One strike wiping that many? Far from ordinary. Impossible for him, at least.
"...He's gotten even stronger?"
Jinook, who knew Hanbit's strength, was equally stunned. The sword's boost made a world of difference.
Kung!
Kruk!
Then, from the forest edge—lopped trees parting—a massive monster lumbered out.
[Twisted Ironclad Lizard (Lv.90)]
[Enhanced Mutant Polar Bear (Lv.92)]
[Rampaging Enhanced Hell Hound (Lv.96)]
-Huh?
-Wtf why like that?
-Look at those faces;
-Scary af...
-Gross.
-Levels are busted lololol
Their mutated forms, prefixed with modifiers, drooled and growled like hellspawn. Unrecognizable from the originals.
Hanbit gripped his sword tighter.
"Big ones first."