Chapter 7: The Monster Stampede
The emergency bell echoed throughout Valoria.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
People abandoned the streets and hurried into their homes.
Merchants closed their shops.
Parents gathered their children.
The atmosphere of the city changed in an instant.
Inside the Adventurers' Guild, dozens of adventurers assembled.
Helena Frost stood before them.
"Listen carefully!"
"A monster stampede is heading toward Eastwood Village."
"Your mission is simple."
"Protect the civilians."
"No unnecessary heroics."
The adventurers answered in unison.
"Yes, Guild Master!"
Abster tightened the strap of the simple sword the guild had lent him.
Lyra stood beside him, gripping a newly issued oak staff.
Garrick rested his hand on the hilt of his greatsword.
Fenrir quietly walked behind Abster, drawing nervous glances from the other adventurers.
"Are we really bringing that wolf?" one asked.
Garrick answered before Abster could.
"If Fenrir wanted us dead, we'd already be dead."
No one argued after that.
An hour later...
The group reached Eastwood Village.
Smoke rose into the sky.
Villagers hurried toward the evacuation wagons.
Children cried as their parents tried to calm them.
The village chief rushed toward Helena.
"They're almost here!"
As if on cue...
A deafening roar shook the forest.
The trees swayed violently.
Then they appeared.
Goblins.
Dire Wolves.
Horned Boars.
Stone Lizards.
Dozens...
Then hundreds.
The ground trembled beneath the advancing horde.
One young adventurer whispered,
"...I've never seen this many monsters."
Helena drew her sword.
"Defensive formation!"
"Protect the villagers!"
The battle began.
Arrows filled the sky.
Fireballs exploded among the monsters.
Steel clashed against claws and fangs.
Abster fought beside Garrick.
A goblin lunged.
Abster sidestepped and struck with the flat of his sword, knocking it unconscious instead of killing it.
Garrick noticed.
"You still hesitate to kill."
Abster didn't answer.
He had only arrived in this world days ago.
Taking a life—even a monster's—wasn't something he could do lightly.
A loud scream came from the left flank.
A young adventurer had fallen.
Three Dire Wolves surrounded him.
Before anyone could reach him—
Fenrir leaped.
With a mighty roar, the wolves scattered in fear.
One fled immediately.
The others were driven back by Fenrir's overwhelming presence.
The rescued adventurer looked up in disbelief.
"...He saved me."
Meanwhile...
Lyra stood atop a small hill, chanting.
"Spirits of flame..."
"Hear my call."
A circle of fire erupted around a group of goblins, forcing them away from the villagers.
Helena smiled faintly.
"She's improving."
Then...
Everything went quiet.
The monsters suddenly stopped attacking.
Even the wounded beasts retreated.
A heavy pressure spread across the battlefield.
The forest parted.
Slow footsteps echoed through the silence.
Step...
Step...
Step...
A massive goblin, nearly three meters tall, emerged from the trees.
Unlike the others, it wore black armor etched with crimson runes.
A long sword rested across its shoulder.
Its yellow eyes locked onto Abster.
"So..."
"The Sovereign truly exists."
The battlefield fell silent.
Even Helena had never seen a goblin speak.
The creature smiled.
"My name is General Gruk, First Commander of the Eastern Legion."
"I have come..."
"...to test you."
Abster narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you?"
General Gruk drove his sword into the ground.
"I serve Lord Zarek."
"The one who has awaited your arrival."
Before Abster could ask another question—
Gruk disappeared.
In the blink of an eye, he reappeared directly in front of Abster.
CLANG!
Abster barely raised his sword in time.
The impact shattered the borrowed blade into pieces.
The force sent him sliding several meters backward.
The battlefield froze.
Helena's eyes widened.
"...That wasn't an ordinary attack."
Gruk looked at Abster and frowned.
"So..."
"You're holding back."
A grin spread across the goblin general's face.
"Excellent."
"Show me why even the gods fear the Hidden Sovereign."
End of Chapter 7
New Character Introduced:
General Gruk – First Commander of Lord Zarek's Eastern Legion. Unlike ordinary goblins, he is intelligent, disciplined, and possesses strength rivaling high-ranked adventurers.