A low hum in the distance caught Aestus' attention. He looked around, trying to locate the source of the sound. It seemed to be coming from the sky, but from a great distance. Suddenly, as if someone had flipped a switch, the entire area was illuminated. It was possible to see all the way to the edge of the forest now. Aestus looked toward the source of the light and was startled. Baruc's airships were hovering over Silvi, suspended in the air at a low altitude. Each of the airships had two powerful spotlights that were directed straight at the expansive lawn in front of the city. The young man was still impressed by the strength of the lights when he was startled by the screams of the people around him.

Following their gaze and pointing fingers, Aestus could see that some Creatures had already burst out of the forest to the north and were heading toward the city. Some were running at high speeds, while others were walking or flying without haste. There were some large ones, like iron giants and quetzalcoatlas, as well as several smaller creatures, such as slimes and various giant insects. However, Hiner had not yet appeared. Aestus rejoined his group, arriving just in time to hear some final strategies and instructions. The time had come.

The Knights and Fighters positioned themselves side by side, facing the deadly horde. Time seemed to stand still as they waited for some order or signal to begin. Aestus gripped his sword tightly, the veins in his arms pulsating and visible. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple, and as it dropped from his face, several Knights let out war cries, initiating the attack. The groups surged forward, fast but organized.

Suddenly, Aestus felt as if he had been enveloped by a translucent sphere that appeared around him and vanished soon after. He witnessed the same happening to the people around him, suposing it was some form of magic. Looking back, he could see several Light Mages casting spells towards the combatants, their staves emanating rays of light. Aestus felt more confident and secure. He pressed forward, scanning the field ahead, searching for a Creature to engage. A short distance away, a saber-toothed Creature was running toward him.

The Creature resembled a blend of a large feline and a wolf, with massive paws and menacing fangs protruding from its mouth. It was a formidable and ungainly beast, possessing great strength. Its bite was extremely dangerous and had to be avoided at all costs. Its body was covered in a brown fur, with a subtle and disheveled mane. Aestus closed in on the Creature, launching a preemptive strike. The weak blow landed above its left foreleg, eliciting a loud roar. Yet, it was not enough to bring it down.

Locking eyes, the saber-toothed beast and Aestus circled each other, moving laterally in a dance of anticipation. The Creature lunged forward with lightning speed, catching Aestus off guard and sinking its teeth into his right leg. He braced himself for excruciating pain but felt only a dull impact on his calf. The only plausible explanation was the protective magic he had received. It proved to be truly invaluable. However, Aestus couldn't afford to dwell on it now. The Creature swiftly launched another attack, but this time, he held it at bay with his sword. Seizing the opportunity while the saber-toothed beast was momentarily dazed by the blocked strike, Aestus unleashed a rapid horizontal slash, spinning on his axis and immediately following up with a stronger second blow.

The sword cut through the Creature with efficiency, vanquishing it and causing crystalline shards to materialize in its place. Aestus paid no attention to the shards, already seeking another target. Surveying the surroundings, the situation appeared dire for the residents of Silvi. The number of Creatures continued to increase, and unfortunately, the efforts of the combatants were falling short. Some individuals lay fallen upon the grass, with Light Mages nearing the battlefield to heal those they could. However, Aestus' assessment of the situation was abruptly interrupted when a powerful explosion next to him sent him hurtling away, causing him to lose consciousness.

***

Orkan was fighting alongside two other Rogues, dealing with the smaller Creatures. The battles were swift, often ending with one or two strikes of his daggers. His primary targets were giant flies, giant scorpions, and mutualists. These were Creatures that appeared to be a fusion between an animal and a plant, often venomous, with vine-like tendrils resembling tentacles. The most common form Orkan encountered in that battle was the mutualist spider. That place was truly unsuitable for anyone with entomophobia.

When there were no smaller Creatures nearby to engage, Orkan would attempt to assist nearby Knights in defeating the larger Creatures. He was cautious, not focusing solely on solo attacks. He spotted a Knight locked in combat with an armadillo and moved toward her to lend a hand. The armadillo was oversized, larger than a human. It was a massive Creature with a sturdy brown shell and protruding, sharp claws. The armadillo could stand on its hind legs to attack and curl into a ball to defend itself. At that moment, the Knight stood with her sword raised, locked in a stare-down with the Creature, which stood on its hind legs with its front claws bared.

Orkan managed to approach the armadillo unnoticed, stabbing its right side below the front paw, in an area unprotected by its shell. The Creature turned, swiping at the Rogue but missing the strike. Taking advantage of the distraction, the Knight struck the Creature on its left side and quickly stepped back, positioning herself next to Orkan. The armadillo was wounded but showed no sign of being close to defeat. Orkan wanted to suggest attack strategies to the woman beside him, but he didn't want to take his eyes off their opponent and risk a sudden assault. Unexpectedly, the Creature conjured a cloud of dirt and sand, hurling it toward the two combatants, causing temporary blindness for both.

The pain from the attack was negligible, but Orkan couldn't see anything. He rubbed his eyes with his left hand while extending his right arm in front of him, as if his dagger could ward off any attack. Suddenly, a gust of wind emerged between the Knight and Orkan, blowing upwards toward the Creature. It cleared enough of the dirt from the Rogue's eyes for him to open them. Before him stood a shirtless man, lean yet strong. His torso was muscular, his arms outstretched as if shielding Orkan. He had only his left leg, which was formed by a swirling gray cloud. Orkan was astonished to see an Entity before him for the first time.

The Saci was the Entity linked to the element of air. An Invoker must have been nearby, responsible for its appearance. The armadillo reacted to the Saci's arrival, charging at the enemy, leaping with its claws extended in a sweeping arc. The Entity created a sphere of wind in its hand and hurled it towards the Creature, striking it in the chest. The armadillo spun backward in the air, landing on its back with its claws sprawled open, vulnerable to attacks. Orkan seized the opportunity and leaped, driving both daggers into the Creature's abdomen, instantly defeating it.

Realizing his victory, Orkan turned around to express his gratitude to the Saci. But the Entity had already transformed into a whirlwind, moving on to aid other combatants. The Knight, equally bewildered, nodded in acknowledgment to the Rogue and headed back towards her group. Orkan looked around, searching for the people he had entered the battlefield with. It didn't look good for the residents of Silvi.

Several people lay scattered on the grass as the Light Mages did their best to heal the wounded. The number of approaching Creatures was still overwhelming. While Orkan was still attempting to assess their chances of victory, an explosion startled him, drawing his gaze to a location several meters away from where he stood. "Did a Wizard do that? It must be an incredibly powerful spell," Orkan thought. A fireball began to form near the trees to the north. Illuminated by the spell, he recognized Hiner mounted on a large winged Creature he couldn't identify. His right arm was raised, as if feeding the fire, amplifying the effect of his attack.

Orkan didn't know what to do. He knew how to handle Creatures, how to flee from danger, how to deceive people. Defending against spells was something entirely new to him and, in his eyes, seemingly impossible, especially coming from a powerful Wizard like Hiner. With a subtle and delicate motion, Hiner launched the fireball far away from Orkan. The explosion was once again frightening. Before he could make any decision about what to do, three giant flies approached, capturing his attention back to the battlefield.

Orkan focused, dodging the attacks of the insects and swiftly counterattacking. He quickly dispatched them, collecting the crystals left behind by the Creatures. However, this greed proved to be a mistake. As he stood up, Orkan looked towards Hiner and saw him signaling the spot where he was throwing his fireball. It felt as if he was aiming directly at Orkan. The distance didn't allow for precise targeting, but he felt like he looked deep into the Wizard's eyes, having been chosen as a specific target. The spell was cast, and the fireball headed towards the Rogue. Orkan froze in place, crossing his arms in front of his face, bracing himself for the inevitable impact.

Orkan felt something strange in his chest, as if he had swallowed hot air. An explosion occurred a few meters to his right, causing him to lose balance and fall onto the grass. Orkan looked around, seeing a stretch of burning grass where the fireball had struck. He was certain that it was aimed in his direction and that he would have been directly hit. "Seems like it was a bizarre miscalculation," Orkan thought.

He got up, dusting off his clothes and adjusting his boots. A flash of red hair running by caught his attention. That hair color was unmistakable. Spes seemed worried and in a hurry. Orkan looked in the direction that the Mage was running and saw Aestus lying face down. He was trying to get up, seemingly dazed and weakened.

Orkan also ran towards his friend, encountering two small Creatures on the way. He defeated them with minimal effort, wasting very little time. When he reached Aestus, Spes was already finishing healing him. The Mage held a wooden staff with a metal tip, in which a milky white crystal was embedded. The crystal glowed subtly as Spes used his magic.

"What happened?" Aestus asked, getting to his feet. An explosion was heard in the distance. "Which Creature is doing this?"

"Hiner is throwing fireballs at us," Orkan replied, pointing to the figure mounted on the winged Creature. "He almost hit me with one too."

Aestus saw Hiner conjuring another large fireball and hurling it, hitting the backlines where some Mages and Wizards were positioned. Orkan could see the look of defeat on his friend's face. Where were the soldiers of Baruc? If they delayed any longer, there would be nothing left to be done.

"What is he doing?!" Aestus asked, still looking at Hiner.

The Wizard had both his arms flexed and raised to the sky, staring at a point beyond the battlefield. In a sudden motion, he lowered both arms as if pulling two strings. Several thunderous booms were heard from the direction of Silvi. A large number of lightning bolts descended, like an accelerated storm without rain. The grand tree was struck, catching fire. Clouds of smoke formed in different spots, indicating that other trees had been hit.

"Watch out!" Spes shouted while pointing his staff and shooting an energy orb towards a saber-toothed tiger that was leaping towards Aestus. The Creature was hit mid-leap, missing its attack.

Aestus and Orkan positioned themselves for combat, with Spes in the rear. Before the battle could commence, two more saber-toothed tigers approached. A flurry of blows and charges ensued. Spes took charge of protecting the attackers and healing any wounds. It was a frantic fight but much easier with a Mage providing support. They quickly dispatched the three Creatures.

However, as they caught their breath, an iron giant approached. It was an enormous Creature, resembling a misshapen suit of armor standing nearly three meters tall, wielding an immense sword. Its head was a twisted and pointed helmet, and peering through the helm's apertures only revealed a deep darkness. It was a terrifying sight. The Creature raised its sword above its head and struck downward. Aestus and Orkan only had time to throw themselves to the ground, evading the path of the sword.

Spes struck the ground with his staff, creating a translucent dome with a golden glow that covered the three of them. The Creature's sword struck the protection, causing a muffled sound of shattering glass. The dome resisted the impact but was damaged. Spes kept his staff planted on the ground with his right hand while his left hand was held out in the opposite direction, as if holding up a wall. A group of Creatures approached the dome, attacking it. Saber-toothed tigers, giant flies, a flaming deer, and slimes...

Spes was sweating and grunting, visibly exerting himself to keep the dome standing, but it was rapidly cracking, succumbing to the attacks of the different Creatures. Orkan tightly held his daggers, trying to devise a plan of attack. Aestus couldn't decide which Creature to strike first once the protection broke. However, none of that was necessary.

A hail of arrows rained down around the dome, accurately hitting the Creatures. A powerful spell struck the iron giant, causing the armor to explode in a copper-colored cloud. A small group of uniformed individuals ran near the area where the three were, defeating Creatures along the way with astonishing ease. The soldiers of Baruc had finally arrived. Some uniformed figures ran across the field, swiftly dispatching the Creatures as if it were an easy and routine task. The number of soldiers was greater than that of the original party, explaining the delay in their intervention.

The dome protecting the three young men was dispelled by Spes, as there was no immediate danger. Orkan watched in awe as the Rogues's extraordinary performance unfolded, delivering precise dagger strikes to the Creatures. Aestus seemed like a child watching a casual sporting event, rooting for the Knights as if it were a competition. Spes clapped with excitement, pleased to see his city being successfully defended. Suddenly, a small blue energy ball, much smaller than the fireballs that struck the battlefield, hit the winged Creature Hiner was riding, causing them to crash toward the forest.