...
{3rd Pov}
Ember pushed his way through the streets toward the Adventurers' Guild, where most of the other adventurers were already gathering in response to the sudden alarm.
As he moved, he adjusted the mask he had quickly put on—a mask that covered his entire face except for his eyes.
It looked a little strange paired with his current outfit, he knew that much, but this was hardly the time to care about whether his appearance matched or not.
Practicality mattered more than looks right now.
Fortunately, because he had originally come to Karuna with the intention of traveling near the Alf's Royal Forest—his homeland and to prevent people from recognizing him as the runaway prince—he had prepared a mask in advance.
Now, with the city in chaos and the possibility of a large-scale monster attack looming, he had no intention of holding back his full strength.
The added protection of a disguise would help him avoid unnecessary attention later.
When Ember arrived at the guild and stepped inside, no one questioned him or even looked at him twice.
Despite the mask covering his face, it wasn't strange at all in this environment; in fact, it was extremely common for adventurers to wear masks, hoods, or even full-body armor that hid their entire identity or simply to protect their face.
Because of that, Ember blended in with the rest easily.
Inside, the guild was chaotic—far more chaotic than usual.
Dozens of adventurers were already packed in, and more continued to pour in behind him, forming a crowd that made the room feel smaller by the second.
Many of them were loudly arguing with the guild staff, demanding explanations or shouting complaints.
Some wanted information, others wanted orders, and a few simply wanted to vent their frustration.
The guild employees were doing their best to stay calm and manage the group, but it was clear they were struggling to keep things under control as the tension rose with every passing moment.
"Everyone! Please keep quiet!"
A rough, booming voice suddenly cut through the noise, instantly drawing attention from every corner of the room.
Ember turned his gaze toward the source and saw a rugged, solidly built man standing on a raised platform.
He had short, messy black hair, sharp brown eyes, and a noticeable eyepatch covering his right eye.
His entire presence gave off authority.
Ember heard a few adventurers around him whispering that the man was the guild master of the Karuna branch.
With that information, Ember immediately understood why his voice alone had been enough to silence the entire hall.
"I am the Guild Master appointed to handle this branch, and for those who don't know me, I am a Level 3 Adventurer!" he declared loudly.
The moment those words left his mouth, a noticeable shift swept through the room.
Many of the previously agitated adventurers immediately calmed down, as if simply hearing his Level was enough to reassure them of his capability.
For adventurers, Level directly represented strength and experience, so knowing a Level 3 was in control gave them at least some sense of stability.
"I am here to announce the current situation," he continued, raising his voice so everyone could hear him clearly.
"The city is officially under threat from a monster stampede. According to our scouts and the information we just received, we predict the monsters will reach the city's outer perimeter in roughly half an hour—maybe a bit more, maybe a bit less."
His announcement caused an immediate wave of murmurs to spread through the adventurers.
Voices overlapped, frustration rising again as people whispered, complained, and cursed under their breath.
"Why weren't we informed earlier?!" a female adventurer suddenly shouted, her irritation spilling out openly.
Her voice was sharp enough to carry across the room and push other adventurers to add their own complaints.
"The city gates were closed hours ago! If the danger was this serious, the guild should have issued warnings long before this!"
Her words stoked the crowd, and for a few seconds it seemed like everyone would start yelling.
But the Guild Master slammed his fist against the nearby table and shouted back with even more force:
"Do you think we didn't try anything?!"
His roar silenced the room instantly.
People stared at him, some shocked, others embarrassed. Seeing that they had quieted down, he spoke again, this time slower but still with clear frustration.
"Zeus and Hera Familia are currently engaging the Behemoth dozens of miles away! They are fighting it right now, doing everything in their power to force it away from the direction of Karuna. They promised us they would neutralize the biggest threat, and another group of them truly are holding back an enormous horde of monsters far away from the city—dozens of kilometers out."
He paused, letting that information sink in before adding with a grim expression:
"However, despite their efforts, another group of monsters somehow appeared—one we weren't expecting. This second group changed direction and is now heading straight for the city. That is why the warning is being issued only now. We acted the moment we confirmed the threat, and now we need every available adventurer to cooperate."
However, to many people in the room, it sounded more like an excuse than a proper explanation.
The idea that an entire monster herd had gone unnoticed felt incredibly irresponsible.
Even Ember, who had been quietly observing, couldn't help but question it internally.
Yes, the forest surrounding Karuna was extremely dense—thick layers of trees, twisted vines, and uneven terrain that made visibility difficult even for skilled scouts.
So it was somewhat understandable that tracking movements inside such wilderness posed challenges.
But still… a massive herd of monsters should have been noticeable from kilometers away if proper patrols were in place.
Missing something of that scale was hard to accept.
"Now, I will explain the findings we received about the monster herd," the Guild Master continued, ignoring the growing skepticism on the adventurers' faces.
"The herd consists of a large number of Goblins, Hobgoblins, Orcs, Minotaurs, Frog Shooters, Killer Ants, Needle Rabbits, Imps, and Silverbacks."
As he listed each species one by one, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically.
The crowd, which had already been anxious, became utterly silent.
Some adventurers' eyes widened.
Others clenched their teeth, and a few looked like their souls had left their bodies.
"Are you kidding me?" one man muttered, his voice barely audible at first.
Then, as the reality hit him harder, he exploded, shouting at the top of his lungs, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"
He stomped forward, his boots echoing against the guild floor as he jabbed an accusatory finger straight at the Guild Master's chest.
"Those monsters are definitely from the Dungeon!" he barked, his voice trembling with both fear and fury.
"Especially Needle Rabbits, Imps, and Silverbacks! Those species don't just wander out of nowhere! They're Dungeon monsters!"
The moment he said it, a wave of dread swept through the adventurers.
Realization dawned on them—if Dungeon monsters were mixed into a surface stampede, the situation was far worse than any ordinary monster attack.
People exchanged fearful glances, some whispering nervously while others visibly paled. The fear in the room surged even higher, as everyone now understood exactly what he meant.
Ember understood the situation far better than most of the panicked adventurers around him.
While the surface had its own native versions of monsters, the majority of surface-born creatures were generally weaker and adapted specifically to the outside environment.
Typically, one would encounter monsters like Killer Ants, Goblins, Orcs, and even Minotaurs—those were common enough, especially in forests and mountainous regions.
Minotaurs being present wasn't unheard of either, even though they were dangerous; they still had a surface variant capable of living outside the Dungeon under certain conditions.
However, monsters such as Silverbacks and Imps were a completely different story.
They did exist on the surface, but only in extremely specific circumstances, usually within designated monster breeding grounds managed by certain familias or nations.
The reason was simple: their temperament.
They were too aggressive, too violent, and far too difficult for the natural environment to handle, meaning they rarely survived long without constant conflict.
Silverbacks especially were notorious for attacking anything that moved.
Because of that, although not impossible, it was highly uncommon to find them roaming freely in surface territories.
And if a monster herd contained Imps and Silverbacks mixed in with other Dungeon-based species, then it pointed to a single conclusion—this herd originated from the Dungeon itself.
It wasn't a random mixture of surface monsters.
It was a Dungeon-driven stampede.
Which meant every creature in that herd would be significantly stronger than their surface-dwelling counterparts, possessing sharper instincts, higher aggression, and overall superior danger levels.
"Listen," the Guild Master finally said with a heavy sigh, rubbing his forehead in obvious frustration.
"We can stand around debating what exactly went wrong or arguing about whose fault this is, but none of that matters right now. We are running out of time."
He swept his gaze across the hall, staring at the hundreds of adventurers who had gathered—some seasoned, some clearly rookies, some terrified out of their minds, and a small handful who still looked ready to pick a fight with the world.
"Your choices are simple," he continued, raising his voice so that no one missed a single word.
"Either you run away right now and pray that the gods have mercy on you so you don't cross paths with the herd… or you stand your ground and fight from the safety of the city walls along with the defensive forces. It is completely up to you. No one here is being forced."
A wave of murmurs spread across the hall, though far quieter than before.
"And," the Guild Master added, raising a hand, "to compensate everyone who chooses to stay and fight, the Guild will officially purchase every magic stone at twice the normal rate for the next period of time. Additionally, a separate compensation of 100,000 valis per individual will be issued as a reward for participating in the city's defense."
The moment he mentioned the reward amount, the mood-shift was instant—so fast that even Ember blinked.
Complaints vanished into thin air. Fear seemed to evaporate.
The hostility from earlier transformed into eagerness.
Cheers erupted across the guild hall as more than half the adventurers suddenly looked extremely motivated, as if their previous anxieties had never existed.
Money truly moved hearts.
Ember sighed internally as he watched the sudden shift in atmosphere inside the guild hall.
He had to admit, the Guild Master's tactic was extremely effective.
Throwing money at a crisis always worked—adventurers, no matter how brave or cowardly, shared one universal weakness: they loved large payouts.
The promise of doubled magic stone prices and a guaranteed compensation of 100,000 valis had flipped the entire situation on its head.
Fear had been replaced with greed, uncertainty swapped out for excitement.
However, for Ember, the offer of money held little value.
What mattered more to him was the Falna growth he could gain by killing stronger monsters.
Every battle he survived, every enemy he defeated, would increase his parameters far more meaningfully than any bag of coins.
The monetary rewards were nice, yes, but ultimately irrelevant compared to the long-term benefits carved directly onto his status sheet.
Still, none of that changed his biggest concern—he did not want unnecessary attention.
Not here.
Not in a city where people from the Alf's Royal Forest frequently passed through, and definitely not in a place where hundreds of adventurers were watching each other's every move.
'I need to make sure I can fight at my full strength while keeping my identity hidden,' Ember thought, feeling the pressure settle heavily on him.
No one knew how this upcoming battle would unfold.
Unlike the situation back in Argon Town, where the monster herd had been noticeably weaker, herd being a lot smaller and they even had a Level 4 Adventurer assisting, this fight carried a completely different weight.
The Guild wouldn't be offering outrageous benefits unless they expected serious casualties.
Meaning this battle wouldn't just be tough—it would be brutal, the kind of fight where people could and would die if they were careless.
Because of that, Ember understood he had to be even more cautious than usual.
Using his characteristic magic would immediately draw attention to him.
Anyone who saw it would either recognize the nature of his abilities or at the very least remember him.
Neither outcome was acceptable.
'Perhaps I should even change my clothes discreetly after the battle,' Ember thought with an annoyed grimace.
The idea irritated him more than he wanted to admit.
His equipment—his staff, his sword, and his leather copper-robed armor—were all extremely high-grade.
Each piece had been carefully chosen, carefully crafted, or carefully obtained, and he was used to fighting with them without restraint.
But if he wanted to make sure no one could connect the dots between him and his true identity, he would need to limit how and when he used his own gear.
It was inconvenient, wasteful, and honestly painful to think about, but it was better than risking exposure in a city packed with people who might talk.
Reluctantly, Ember began solidifying a plan in his mind—one that would allow him to fully participate in the battle yet remain completely anonymous once everything was over.
The Guild Master immediately began organizing the adventurers, calling out for all Level 1s to step aside so they could be counted separately.
Almost instantly, roughly eighty-five percent of the gathered adventurers moved to the left side of the hall, creating a massive cluster that made it obvious just how inexperienced the majority of the force really was.
The Guild Master then shouted for all Level 2s to form a line on the opposite side, and another sizable group broke away.
When the dust settled, Ember noticed something… odd.
He was standing completely alone in the middle of the hall.
Not a single person remained beside him.
The Guild Master, who was already under heavy stress, immediately noticed this and looked irritated.
He stomped a few steps forward and barked, "Why are you just standing there?! Move to your group! What Level are you?!"
His voice carried urgency, frustration, and a clear expectation that Ember was simply being slow or confused.
Ember calmly tilted his head and replied, deliberately altering his voice to sound deeper and older, "I'm a Level 3."
The reaction was immediate.
A wave of shocked murmurs swept through the room as dozens of adventurers turned to stare at him.
For a city like Karuna—far from Orario and without a major hunting ground nearby—Level 3 was considered high-tier combat power, practically elite.
It was rare to see one anywhere outside of Orario's influence unless they were on special missions or long-term travel.
And that was exactly what Ember wanted.
This whole thing was part of his plan.
He couldn't fight seriously while pretending to be weak and later suddenly show the prowess of a higher level.
That would draw attention far faster than anything else.
If he held back too much, he wouldn't get enough Falna growth and most importantly he might die with how serious the situation was.
If he fought too well while claiming to be a Level 2, people would bombard him with questions, rumors would spread, and his identity might get leaked.
But if he bumped his "claimed" level up by one?
Everything made sense.
Everything looked normal.
Nobody would question why a supposedly Level 3 adventurer was far stronger than average.
They would simply assume he was either an adventurer from Orario, a roaming high-tier fighter, or some traveler with a decent reputation elsewhere.
And most importantly—
they would not dig any deeper.
This was Ember's favorite strategy: Redirect attention. Mislead without actually lying too boldly. Show strength while hiding identity.
He had used tricks like this before and knew how effective they were.
As long as the lie was believable and matched his displayed combat ability, people naturally accepted it without further thought.
After all, who would doubt a Level 3 adventurer's claim in the middle of a looming crisis?
With this simple declaration, Ember secured everything he needed—freedom to fight at full power, freedom to stay anonymous, and freedom to leave once the battle ended without anyone remembering the specifics of who he was.
"Prove it then," the Guild Master said, narrowing his eyes at Ember, clearly expecting to hear some sort of alias—something most Adventurers usually gain after reaching Level 2 and then building up their reputation as they climb higher.
Ember, however, didn't bother responding with words.
Instead, he simply tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword.
A moment later, his figure blurred, almost as if he vanished from where he stood.
In the blink of an eye, Ember appeared right beside the Guild Master.
The man's eyes widened in genuine surprise.
Instinct took over as he immediately drew his cutlass, barely managing to intercept the strike aimed directly at him.
The force behind Ember's attack was so strong that it pushed the Guild Master backward, dragging him through part of the roof.
A sharp crack followed as a small shockwave spread across the room from the impact, showing just how serious that single exchange had been.
Ember didn't chase after him and instead twisted his body, dodging the Guild Master's retaliatory swing before landing back in his original spot.
The Guild Master looked ready to speak, perhaps to scold him or demand an explanation, but Ember cut him off first.
"Does that prove it?" he asked, his tone flat and direct.
For a few seconds, the Guild Master said nothing.
The silence stretched before he finally let out a low chuckle that turned into a grin.
"A solid Beginner to Mid Level 3, huh… If I wasn't already a Late Level 3, I wouldn't have been able to defend myself at all," he admitted, lowering his cutlass slightly.
"You weren't lying. You really are a Level 3."
Ember blinked, honestly taken aback by the evaluation.
He hadn't expected the Guild Master to categorize him that precisely, let alone give him that much credit.
He had definitely only used about half of his actual strength, yet being evaluated as a Mid Level 3 still meant something significant.
It meant that, at least physically, he was already on par with an average Mid Level 3 Adventurer—the kind you would commonly find operating on the surface.
Ember took the Guild Master's evaluation seriously, especially since it was based on the standards of surface Adventurers rather than the elite ones deeper in the Dungeon.
'At least now I have a clear understanding of where I stand,' Ember thought to himself, feeling a bit relieved that he finally had a proper reference point for his current ability.
When he looked back at the Guild Master, the man nodded firmly and said, "I'll need you to conserve your strength. Focus your energy on fighting the stronger Level 2 monsters, like Minotaurs, and also be prepared to handle the other stronger monsters we'll encounter."
The moment Ember heard "other stronger monsters," he understood exactly what the Guild Master meant.
He wasn't talking about the upper end of Level 2 creatures.
He was referring to Level 3 monsters, the kind that shouldn't normally appear in this situation at all.
'The situation is worse than I thought,' Ember muttered inwardly, realizing the danger level had gone way beyond a simple emergency.
Still, he straightened himself and replied, "Very well. I shall play my part."
A tiny, inconveniently excited part of his brain couldn't help wondering how much falna he would earn from this entire mess.
He questioned whether this chaos would be enough to push some of his stats all the way to S, or maybe even SS, if he somehow got lucky.
If anyone else knew that Ember was thinking about stat gains and parameter jumps at a time like this—during what was essentially a crisis—there was a high chance they would cough up blood on the spot and collapse from sheer disbelief, even though this world wasn't some over-the-top Chinese Xianxia novel.
Finally, after a brief but intense round of planning, the Guild Master finished arranging everyone's roles and shouted for all participants to immediately move to their assigned positions.
Ember followed the Guild Master and the other Level 2 Adventurers toward the direction where the monster herd would be at its absolute thickest.
According to the scouts, that particular front would face the overwhelming bulk of the incoming horde, while the remaining three directions would only be hit by scattered groups—merely the result of the monsters naturally spreading out as they approached the city walls.
Ember climbed up the eight-meter-tall stone wall, and what he saw when he looked outward made his entire body tense.
The sight was genuinely terrifying. T
his was the very first time Ember had witnessed such an enormous, densely packed horde of monsters.
Compared to this, the monster attack on Argon Town felt like a minor incident, practically a small skirmish rather than a real threat.
Out here, the scale was completely different.
There were thousands upon thousands of monsters—an ocean of them—charging straight toward the city with no hesitation or fear.
When he shifted his gaze upward, Ember noticed a massive dark formation spreading across the sky.
It took him a moment to process what it was.
At least several hundreds of wyverns were flying together, forming a huge shadow that blotted out a portion of the evening light.
The entire scene looked absurdly similar to the kind of stereotypical "demon general leading a monster army" scenario from the isekai anime and fantasy games he had watched in his past life.
The only issue was that in this world, there were no demons or demon kings—just pure, mindless monsters that existed for the sole purpose of terrorizing humanity.
Around him, many of the Adventurers—especially the ones with less battlefield experience—began to falter.
Ember could clearly see their legs shaking, their faces turning pale, and their hands trembling as the overwhelming scale of the approaching horde sank in.
Some were even whispering anxiously, unable to accept the reality that they were about to fight something this large.
"We're going to need a large number of Level 1s and Level 2s to descend the wall and fight on the ground once the monsters get closer!" the Guild Master shouted, projecting his voice with force to cut through the fear spreading through the ranks.
"For now, prepare the mages! Get all casters ready!"
Ember glanced toward the group the Guild Master was referring to and noticed something unexpected.
Many of the people gathered there looked more like soldiers—uniformed, disciplined, clearly trained for coordinated combat—rather than the typical Adventurers found in guild taverns and small towns.
Their stance, their gear, and their movements all indicated that they belonged to some kind of official military or defensive force stationed here.
But despite their organized appearance, they were still just ordinary humans—completely normal people without Falna or any kind of supernatural enhancement.
The soldiers were equipped with basic gear, most of them holding simple bows and arrows.
It became obvious that the city's military forces had decided to participate in the defense as well.
However, everyone knew their limitations.
At most, they could provide ranged support by firing arrows into the crowd or deal with the weakest monsters such as goblins, kobolds, or maybe a few stray killer ants.
Anything above that level, especially the stronger or more aggressive monsters, would tear through them instantly.
They might be brave, but bravery alone would not save them against higher-tier monsters.
The mages stationed along the wall weren't doing any better.
Many of them looked completely frozen in place, overwhelmed by the sheer size of the approaching horde.
One frustrated person finally snapped and yelled, "Why aren't you all firing already?! Rain down the arrows! Don't just stand there doing nothing!"
However, Ember immediately recognized how foolish that command was.
The monsters were still advancing at a steady, controlled pace.
If they rained arrows on them too early, it would instantly provoke the entire horde and send the monsters charging into a frenzied sprint.
That would make the situation much worse and won't do much damage due to the distance.
The adventurers were still adjusting their formation, confirming their spacing, and preparing to fight under the best possible conditions.
Triggering a premature stampede before they were ready would only cause chaos and unnecessary casualties.
With a tense expression, Ember lifted his eyes back toward the massive dark cluster in the sky.
The group of wyverns was still maintaining some distance from the ground monsters, which was a small relief.
Even so, he knew that the largest threat to the city was not the monsters on the ground.
'The biggest danger will definitely be the wyverns,' Ember thought grimly.
'They can strike from the air, and the city has absolutely no reliable anti-air defense. The walls might be able to stop the majority of the ground monsters—at least anything at the Level 1 or weak Level 2 range—but the wyverns can simply bypass the walls completely and attack the city directly.'
This reality made the situation far more dangerous than what most of the adventurers seemed to realize.
Thinking quickly and acting before he could second-guess himself, Ember inhaled deeply, stabilized his breathing, and then leapt straight off the city wall, landing directly onto the open plains below.
His sudden movement immediately drew the attention of countless people standing on the wall.
Several adventurers shouted in confusion, and even the Guild Master noticed him instantly.
The man bellowed at the top of his lungs, his voice filled with irritation and disbelief, "What the hell are you doing?! I specifically told you that your role is to deal with the Level 2 monsters and any other stronger targets! Get back up here!"
His anger wasn't without reason.
What he said held absolute logic within the rules of monster combat.
No matter how talented or well-equipped a Level 1 adventurer might be, a Level 1 simply could not defeat a true Level 2 monster in a direct confrontation—at least, not without an overwhelming advantage.
Even if several high-end Level 1 adventurers with excellent equipment attacked a single Level 2 monster at the same time, the best they could hope for was barely managing to bring it down after a difficult and messy battle.
And that kind of advantage only appeared in controlled scenarios, such as ambushing a lone monster or fighting in a narrow space where they could surround it.
However, a monster herd was the complete opposite of those conditions.
In a herd, every monster was moving together in a chaotic mass.
Even if someone attempted to overwhelm a Level 2 monster, the surrounding creatures would instantly interfere, making it nearly impossible to concentrate on a single enemy.
This was why only Level 2 adventurers could reliably handle Level 2 monsters within such uncontrolled environments.
The Guild Master's earlier strategy had been designed around this reality.
The plan was simple but necessary: thin out as many Level 1 monsters as possible using long-range attacks such as arrows, fire-infused oil baskets, and area-of-effect magic.
Then, once the monsters reached the wall and numbers were reduced, the remaining Level 1 adventurers would essentially serve as the frontline to absorb the initial chaos—acting as expendable buffers, whether they wanted to or not.
This sacrificial thinning process would give the Level 2 adventurers enough space to safely locate and eliminate the Level 2 monsters without being swarmed from every direction.
So when Ember jumped from the wall, it wasn't just reckless—it outright disrupted the established plan.
"I am going to lead the attack toward the monsters," Ember announced loudly, his tone firm and filled with determination.
His declaration shocked everyone who heard him, from the beginners trembling on the wall to the more seasoned adventurers who were struggling to maintain their composure.
Even the Guild Master stared at him as if Ember had lost his mind completely.
Ember wasn't unaware of how insane his decision sounded.
In fact, he fully understood how reckless, unreasonable, and outright suicidal it appeared.
But he also recognized that there was no alternative.
With no one taking the initiative to charge, the fear spreading among the adventurers would continue growing.
They would hesitate, freeze, or retreat at the worst possible moment.
Unlike Orario's dungeon adventurers—who were trained to face threats far stronger and far more unpredictable—surface adventurers were accustomed to small skirmishes, manageable encounters, and scattered monster groups.
Facing a massive monster herd was far beyond their usual experience.
Without someone stepping forward and taking the lead, the entire defensive line could collapse before the battle even began.
"Are you insane?! Even if you really are a Level 3, that kind of stunt is nothing short of suicide!" the Guild Master roared, his voice echoing across the wall.
He was both furious and visibly stressed, gripping the stone railing so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"You are the only other Level 3 we have in this entire damn city! Don't mess up the plan I've set up! Get back up here immediately!"
But Ember didn't even flinch at the man's outrage.
Instead, he turned his head slightly, his tone steady and firm as he replied, "That's exactly why I need to lead the charge. A Level 3 standing on the wall isn't worth anything if the front line collapses. You're the Leader, you can't abandon your position—but I can move freely."
The Guild Master froze, clenching his teeth, realizing that Ember wouldn't budge no matter how much he yelled.
He also knew he had no authority to physically drag Ember back up the wall, not without compromising the defensive formation even further.
His frustration only grew, but he couldn't argue with the logic Ember presented.
Another adventurer, this one a trembling Level 2 near the edge of the wall, shouted at him in panic.
"You're completely out of your damn mind! That herd will tear you apart! You're marching straight into your own grave!" Even though the Level 2 was normally proud of his strength, at this moment he looked absolutely terrified.
Among all the people present, he was supposed to be the elite, one of the strongest fighters they had—and even he couldn't imagine surviving a direct charge against the incoming monsters.
Ember didn't seem affected at all.
"Nah," he answered, his voice altered just enough to maintain his disguise.
"I'm not going to die. I'm going to have an adventure."
With that, he unsheathed his sword in one smooth motion.
The metallic ring of the blade being drawn cut through the tense atmosphere like a knife.
Then, without giving anyone another chance to stop him, he broke into a sprint toward the approaching monster herd.
By now, the monsters were roughly a hundred meters away, close enough that their growls and chaotic footfalls rumbled across the plains.
Every single person on the wall—adventurers, soldiers, mages, even the staff—stared in stunned silence.
His words, combined with his absolute confidence and the audacity of charging alone toward the massive herd, struck them harder than anything else in their lives.
It wasn't inspiring or heroic in some poetic way—it was raw, reckless, and incomprehensible.
And yet, despite its absurdity, what he did forced everyone to confront the reality of the situation.
He had just demonstrated something that hit everyone harder than any speech or order could have.
Ember proved that an adventurer doesn't become a true adventurer merely because of superhuman physical strength or impressive parameters.
A real adventurer is shaped by the mindset they carry into battle—the willingness to step forward when everyone else hesitates, the readiness to take risks even when death is staring right at them.
His reckless charge wasn't just bravado; it was the exact reminder everyone in the city desperately needed.
Hearing Ember's words and seeing him sprint straight toward the monstrous wave, many adventurers felt something shift inside them.
Several clenched their fists tightly, as if trying to hold onto the spark of determination that suddenly ignited in their chests.
Others, driven by the sudden surge of courage, began descending down the wall as well.
They didn't rush directly at the herd like Ember—that would be suicide for most of them—but they positioned themselves beside the city wall, preparing to intercept the monsters at close range once the fighting began.
They knew very well they lacked Ember's strength or craziness to charge alone, yet even standing closer to danger felt more meaningful now.
Out of nowhere, a wave of vigor swept through the entire defensive line.
The fear that had been suffocating everyone earlier seemed to evaporate, replaced by a tense but steady resolve.
The mages, who had been frozen in uncertainty before, finally took their designated positions and began chanting.
They increased the length of their spells to cram as much mana and destructive power into their opening volleys as possible, knowing those first blasts could drastically thin the herd.
The city's soldiers—ordinary people without Falna—gripped their bows with renewed determination and pulled their arrows back harder, aiming directly at the monstrous sea approaching them.
The nightmare of a herd that had moments ago felt impossible to fight now felt like something they could at least face without immediately collapsing in panic.
All of this happened because of Ember's reckless, borderline insane action.
His boldness had given them what they had been missing the most at this critical moment… Courage.
He reminded them that they weren't helpless civilians or terrified bystanders.
They were adventurers—individuals blessed by the gods and goddesses themselves, people whose lives revolved around fighting monsters, protecting cities, and pushing forward even when the odds were stacked against them.
They were meant to stand against fear, not run from it.
And with that single charge, Ember had managed to pull them all back to their purpose.
Ember began chanting, activating the magic he had specifically prepared to mask his true identity—magic he had been itching to use properly ever since he copied it.
His voice rose over the thundering footsteps of the approaching monsters.
"I pray to the Great Father of Gods, Zeus—bestow your thunder upon this child!"
Yes, this was the magic belonging to Lance, something he had memorized and adapted for situations exactly like this.
As he sprinted closer to the massive moving wall of monsters, Ember felt his heart pounding wildly in his chest, each beat echoing louder than the roar of the herd.
His chanting accelerated, almost instinctively, as if his nerves were pushing the words out faster.
"Let it pierce my foe like a divine Vajra—"
Was he unafraid? Of course not.
Saying he wasn't scared would be a complete lie.
Ember was definitely scared—terrified, even.
He was scared of dying here in this open field.
He was scared of leaving Aurora behind and making her worry endlessly.
He was scared of disappointing his mother and sister, people who had placed their expectations on him and believed he would reach heights no one else could.
And most of all, he was scared of the possibility that dying here would prove his father right—that Ember was too reckless, too emotional, too unprepared to survive as an adventurer.
That alone was something he absolutely refused to allow, no matter what.
Yet despite all this fear piling inside his head and chest, he still kept running.
Because he knew one thing with absolute certainty: compared to the horrors and dangers he would eventually face in the deeper layers of the Dungeon, this monster herd was nothing more than a warm-up.
It was child's play compared to the terrifying creatures lurking far below.
Even if right now it was a genuine fight for his life, he understood clearly that this was only the beginning.
If he couldn't overcome this, if he chose to play it excessively safe every time danger appeared, then what would he do later in the Dungeon?
The Dungeon doesn't offer second chances.
It never has.
It never will.
Down there, the rule is brutally simple—either he kills the monsters, or the monsters tear him apart.
There is no middle ground.
That is why…
That is why he had to take this leap.
That is why he had to push himself forward despite the fear threatening to paralyze him.
He acknowledged his fear, accepted it, and chose to let adrenaline, resolve, and raw survival instinct take control of his body instead.
Because he is… an adventurer.
"Thunder Bolt!" Ember roared, finishing his chant with force.
The moment the final word left his mouth, the lightning he had gathered surged through his sword, building up in an instant before erupting outward in a massive, crackling blast.
The thunderous bolt shot straight through the incoming monsters, piercing through several rows at once.
Dozens of creatures were instantly fried where they stood, their bodies twitching and smoking as they collapsed.
Without giving himself even a single second to rest, Ember charged directly into the monster herd.
He pushed forward aggressively, swinging his sword in wide arcs as the lingering electricity danced along the blade.
Every swing tore through goblins, hobgoblins, and whatever else was unlucky enough to stand near him.
Monsters shrieked and stumbled over one another trying to reach him, but Ember didn't slow down at all.
As the horde that bypassed him continued rushing toward the wall, the Guild Master reacted immediately.
"Archers! Now!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
In response, the trained archers—city soldiers mixed with a few adventurers—released their arrows all at once.
The sky filled with a clean, uniform line of arrows, almost like a wave of sharp projectiles darkening the air for a brief moment before raining down on the monsters approaching the wall.
The arrows plunged into the herd, killing several creatures instantly and injuring many more, creating openings for the next phase of the defense.
And with that, amidst the thunder of Ember's magic, the screams of monsters, and the coordinated shouts of adventurers and soldiers—
The battle for Karuna City… had officially begun.
To be continued…
(A/N: I will try to update this daily for a month as I have promised, but some personal problems such as grandma's heart attack, Mom's kindey infection happened, and I am suffering from some health problems myself. So please understand my situation.
You can read upto 20 advance chaps in my Patreon: patreon.com/AkrosZero
Discord: Xb47VnFUpQ)