The village woke to the sound of bells.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
Then they stopped.
Arix opened his eyes.
For several seconds, he stared at the ceiling.
He had never heard the morning bell ring like that.
Usually, the bell rang once at sunrise.
Today it had rung three times.
Arix sat up.
“What happened?” He climbed out of bed and rushed toward the window.
The village looked normal.
People were outside.
Farmers were heading toward their fields.
Shopkeepers were opening their stalls.
Nothing seemed wrong.
Then the bell rang again.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
Arix frowned.
“That isn’t normal.” He quickly dressed and ran downstairs.
His father was already standing near the door.
His expression wasn’t normal either.
“Dad?” “Stay inside today.” Arix stopped.
“Why?” His father looked toward the northern road.
“Something happened during the night.” “What?” “We don’t know yet.” Arix’s curiosity immediately awakened.
“What happened?” His father hesitated.
“Some livestock disappeared.” Arix blinked.
“Like cows?” “Yes.” “How many?” “Several.” “Did monsters take them?” “We don’t know.” Arix walked toward the door.
His father blocked him.
“Stay here.” “But—” “No.” Arix frowned.
“I can help.” “You’re six.” “Almost seven.” “That doesn’t change anything.” Arix crossed his arms.
His father looked at him for a moment.
Then his expression softened.
“Listen to me.
Something is wrong near the northern fields.” That was enough to make Arix stop arguing.
The village gathered near the northern edge.
Arix wasn’t supposed to be there.
Naturally, he was there.
He stood behind several adults, trying to see what had happened.
Three cows were missing.
One had been found.
Or rather— What remained of it had been found.
Arix stared.
There was no blood.
That was what bothered him.
The animal simply looked as though it had collapsed.
Several dark marks covered its body.
A farmer crouched beside it.
“What happened here?” A second farmer shook his head.
“Something attacked it.” “Then where are the wounds?” Nobody answered.
An adventurer from the guild arrived.
He wore light armor and carried a short sword.
He examined the animal carefully.
His expression gradually changed.
“Everyone move back.” The farmers obeyed.
Arix watched.
“What is it?” someone asked.
The adventurer didn’t answer immediately.
He touched one of the dark marks.
His fingers immediately pulled away.
“Cold.” “Cold?” “Like ice.” He looked toward the forest.
Then toward the missing animals.
“Were there tracks?” “Yes.” “Show me.” The farmers led him toward the field.
Arix followed.
Nobody noticed.
The tracks were strange.
They weren’t wolf tracks.
They weren’t goblin footprints.
They weren’t from anything Arix recognized.
They were deep impressions in the soil.
Almost like something heavy had dragged itself across the ground.
The adventurer crouched.
He examined them.
Then stood.
“How far?” One farmer pointed.
“Toward the forest.” The adventurer’s face hardened.
“How many animals disappeared?” “Four.” “Did anyone see anything?” “No.” “Any sounds?” A farmer hesitated.
“My son said he heard something.” “What?” “He said it sounded like knocking.” Arix froze.
The adventurer looked up.
“What did you say?” “Knocking.” Arix remembered.
The sound from the forest.
The sound nobody else had heard.
Knock.
Knock.
His stomach tightened.
The adventurer ordered everyone away from the area.
Arix returned home with his father.
Neither spoke for several minutes.
Finally, Arix asked: “Dad?” “Yes?” “Can monsters make sounds like knocking?” His father looked at him.
“Why?” “I heard something yesterday.” “What?” Arix hesitated.
He remembered the sound.
He remembered the forest.
Then he said: “Nothing.” His father stared at him.
“Arix.” “I don’t know.” His father sighed.
“Whatever you heard, don’t go looking for it.” Arix nodded.
But his mind was already racing.
At the Adventurer’s Guild, the atmosphere was completely different from yesterday.
There were no jokes.
No loud stories.
No arguments over food.
The adventurers had gathered around a table.
A map of the surrounding region lay across it.
Kael’s group had finally returned.
Kael stood beside the map.
Mira examined several strange blackened leaves.
Renn looked unusually serious.
Lena was speaking with the guild receptionist.
“What did you find?” Kael asked.
The receptionist shook her head.
“Nothing definitive.” “We’ve been gone for several days.” “And things changed while you were gone.” Kael looked at the map.
“How far has the problem spread?” “Only the northern forest so far.” Mira placed one of the leaves on the table.
“This isn’t normal corruption.” Kael looked at her.
“Explain.” “The plant isn’t dead.” “It looks dead.” “Exactly.” She touched the leaf.
The black surface trembled.
Then a tiny pulse passed through it.
Everyone went silent.
Mira withdrew her hand.
“There’s energy inside it.” “What kind?” She shook her head.
“I don’t know.” Renn leaned forward.
“That’s comforting.” Mira ignored him.
“The energy isn’t behaving like ordinary mana.” Kael frowned.
“Then what is it?” “I don’t know.” For once, Renn didn’t make a joke.
Outside the guild, Arix was listening through the window.
He could barely hear them.
But he could see their expressions.
They were worried.
Very worried.
Arix had seen adventurers before.
They were usually confident.
These people looked different.
Kael suddenly looked toward the window.
Arix ducked.
Too late.
Kael opened the door.
“Arix.” Arix slowly stood.
“Hello.” Kael crossed his arms.
“How long have you been there?” Arix looked away.
“Not long.” “How long?” Arix thought.
“Long.” Renn appeared behind Kael.
“Kid, you’re terrible at lying.” Arix frowned.
“I am not.” “You absolutely are.” Kael sighed.
“Come inside.” Arix’s eyes widened.
“Really?” “Only for a minute.” Arix immediately entered.
Kael crouched beside him.
“Listen carefully.” Arix nodded.
“We’re investigating something in the forest.” “The crack?” Arix froze.
Kael’s expression changed.
“What did you say?” Arix realized his mistake.
“Nothing.” “You said crack.” Arix looked toward Mira.
She was watching him carefully.
“Where did you hear that?” Arix swallowed.
“I don’t know.” Kael exchanged a glance with the others.
Then asked: “Have you been near the northern forest?” “No.” “Have you heard anything strange?” Arix hesitated.
Then nodded.
“What?” “Knocking.” Silence.
Renn’s smile disappeared.
Mira slowly stood.
“What kind of knocking?” Arix imitated the sound.
“Like this.” He tapped the table.
Knock.
Everyone stared.
Arix tapped again.
Knock.
Kael’s face became grim.
“How many times?” “Two.” “Only two?” Arix nodded.
Mira looked toward Kael.
“That matches.” “Matches what?” “The reports.” Arix looked between them.
“What reports?” Nobody answered.
Then the guild door suddenly opened.
A young adventurer stumbled inside.
His armor was torn.
His face was pale.
He was breathing heavily.
Kael immediately stood.
“What happened?” The adventurer looked around.
Then said: “The northern forest.” Everyone became silent.
“What about it?” He swallowed.
“The monsters are moving.” “Moving where?” The adventurer looked toward the village.
“Toward us.” Panic spread through the guild.
Adventurers immediately began preparing weapons.
The receptionist started organizing evacuation routes.
Farmers were told to bring their families inside.
The village guards gathered near the northern road.
Arix watched from the doorway.
He had never seen the village move like this.
People were afraid.
But nobody knew exactly what they were afraid of.
That was worse.
The first monsters appeared just before sunset.
Not hundreds.
Not thousands.
Just a few.
Three goblins emerged from the forest.
They stopped at the tree line.
The guards raised their weapons.
The goblins didn’t attack.
They looked terrified.
One dropped its weapon.
Another turned around.
The third stared into the forest behind them.
Then it began screaming.
Everyone looked.
Nothing appeared.
The goblin screamed again.
Then all three ran toward the village.
The guards immediately raised their weapons.
“Stop!” The goblins didn’t stop.
One guard swung.
The goblin fell.
The other two fled.
Arix stared.
He had never seen a goblin this close before.
And somehow— He wasn’t scared of them.
He was scared of whatever had frightened them.
Then came the wolves.
Five.
Ten.
Twenty.
They emerged from the forest.
But they didn’t attack.
They simply stood there.
Watching.
Among them was the black demonic wolf.
Its eyes glowed faintly.
It stared directly at the village.
Then at Arix.
For one impossible moment, their eyes met.
Arix felt something cold crawl down his spine.
The wolf turned away.
And disappeared into the trees.
Kael noticed Arix’s expression.
“What happened?” Arix pointed.
“The wolf.” Kael looked toward the forest.
“Which one?” “It was looking at me.” Kael’s expression became serious.
“Stay behind me.” The village bells began ringing.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
Again.
Again.
Again.
This time, they didn’t stop.
People rushed into their homes.
Guards formed a line.
Adventurers drew their weapons.
Mages began preparing spells.
And deep within the forest— The ancient wall cracked.
Crack.
A small piece of stone fell.
The fracture had widened again.
Still sealed.
Still not an opening.
But the darkness behind it had become stronger.
The dark essence spread through the forest like an invisible tide.
And something on the other side— Something that had been knocking for days— went silent.
For the first time.
No knock.
No sound.
Nothing.
The forest held its breath.
Then, somewhere far beyond the wall…
something moved.
And the monsters began walking toward the village.
Not running.
Not attacking.
Walking.
As though they were following an order.
As though something had finally told them: Come.