Chapter 19

The roar was a signal. A signal for the initial phase of the attack to stop and the real onslaught to begin.

How did I know? Simple. Less than ten seconds after that all-encompassing, ear-shattering roar, the first wall fell.

It was a few hundred meters away, right next to our stretch of the wall. The HBBVJ Coalition had been doing great so far from what I’d been able to estimate in the chaos. Sure, the impact of their archery volleys from behind the wall couldn’t be seen from here, but their massed spear wielders atop the wall looked way more cohesive than the small groups on our side. Right up until the massive wall segment toppled to the ground.

The roar had me looking around in shock, and I saw it, as if in slow motion. A single shock wave seemed to rock the wall in its foundations. A second made it shudder, a few spearmen tumbling from its height.

The third one smashed the wall to the ground.

It was so fast, it barely registered to the naked eye. One moment, it was there. The next, the wall hit the ground inside the encampment with an impact hard enough to fling anybody nearby from their feet.

Afterimages seared themselves into my brain. Small figures tumbling from the top of the wall. Dozens of people resting against the wall simply… disappearing. One after the other, they rotated, but refused to properly register, to take hold. I couldn’t quite grasp the impact of what had just happened.

Of course, the wave of beasts pouring into the opening did offer my brain a few other things to focus on.

I had to hand it to Major Pain and whatever other commanders we had. When the world turned on its head, they adjusted fast. Seconds after the wall breached, squads rushed in from either side to contain the dozens of monsters who were racing inside.

Then the enemy leader showed itself.

Right at that moment, I lamented gaining that stupid Perception buff. Because the image of the huge, bestial brute placing itself at the centre of the smashed-open wall segment and roaring to the heavens seared itself into my retinas.

It looked like a blend of a rat and a porcupine, if the abomination thrived on a diet of creatine and steroids. The huge teeth looked like they were made for ripping and tearing, and the massive claws would’ve made Freddy Krueger pack up shop in embarrassment. Standing on its hind feet and roaring in abandon, it dwarfed any nearby humans. Even when it dropped down to stand on all fours and lumbered forward, it reached the same height as any of us. That wasn’t what made my insides shiver in fear, though.

Higher Skreeling

Level 32

Further information locked

I identified the beast. Then I just stared for a few seconds. Thirty-two. That was insane. Not a single human in the camp was anywhere near those heights yet.

It didn’t waste any time. Instead, it barrelled ahead, ignoring any of its brethren that got caught underfoot, to close with us.

My throat was dry. I reflexively checked my health, noting that it was just five from being topped out. Then I mentally recalibrated, pushing down hard at the panic that was trying to take over.

We weren’t done. Far from it. In actuality, the other beasts – a mixed bag of something called Lesser Skreelings and other bestial species – were a lot less impressive than that single attacker. A quick round of Identify had me guesstimating an average level of around eight. Pretty high, but likely not insurmountable. In fact, where our people managed to get a foothold against the attackers, they were able to stem the tide.

Rushing in from all sides, humanity fought back against the tide. Magical talents hit the wave of fur and blasted openings everywhere. Buffs hit defenders brave enough to place themselves on the frontlines, helping them settle in and strike back against the overwhelming numbers.

Only the Higher Skreeling seemed to be unstoppable. Its claws tore apart shields and armor with equal ease, and it ignored all its wounds, barrelling forward with furious disregard for the dozens of arrows already stuck in its hide. It was less than fifty meters away from us, and I was already glancing behind myself to see where we’d be able to relocate if it went in our direction.

Then the Titan entered the battle.

It looked like a scene from a movie. Glowing with magical energy, the tall man with the long, flowing locks leapt into battle in a move that would’ve made the Hulk envious. He struck the rat-like beast feet-first, throwing it back several meters. In a swift, inhumanly fluid motion, he rolled back and onto his feet. He raised his sword sky-high and called out a challenge in ringing tones.

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Behind the Titan, his followers held back, a full group of people bristling with weapons and shields, letting other people rush into battle with the other monsters ahead of them. At first, it looked like cowardice. Then I realized that was far from the fact. The Shield of the Titan was just that. People arranged and chosen for their willingness to ignore their own advancement and focus on choosing talents and quirks that would boost their leader.