Meanwhile, Tatsu, Haru, and the other classmates were escorted through the streets alongside the civilians, making their way toward the evacuation tunnels. Suddenly, a deep rumble echoed from behind them, followed by a violent tremor that shook the ground beneath their feet.
Tatsu's classmates looked back in fear, their hearts filled with dread at the thought of the unknown monsters their friends were facing. The realization that some of the creatures had breached the city walls and were now heading toward them sent panic through the group.
"A-are they coming for us?"
"Did Commander Corvik and Darius die already?"
"I wanna go home."
"I don't like this."
"Do our friends realize what kind of monsters they're facing?"
"Guys!" Tatsu shouted to his classmates. "We have to keep moving before they catch up to us! If we really want to help our friends out there, we need to get stronger! We have to catch up to them and bring them home, but we have to make it through the tunnel to reach the other side of the forest. Alright?"
Tatsu's classmates looked at him and gave a small, determined nod. One by one, they continued toward the tunnel, passing by him. Tatsu followed after them, with Haru soon catching up and walking beside him.
"But... Tatsu... how can we train ourselves without our instructors, Corvik and Darius?"
"We'll have to figure it out ourselves and put what they taught us into practice. I'm sure it'll come in handy."
"But, Tatsu... you can't train with magic. You practically have no mana."
"Yeah, you're right. I don't have much mana, so I'll have to stick with archery. Besides, I'm starting to get the hang of it."
"I-I'm getting the hang of magic too... So whenever you're in danger, I-I'll protect you!"
Tatsu gave a small chuckle. "Thanks, Haru."
Haru nodded at Tatsu as they continued through the streets alongside their classmates and the civilians. Suddenly, a massive impact shook the rooftop of the keep, startling everyone nearby. The civilians, knights, and students turned toward the noise and saw a colossal eldritch jellyfish perched on the rooftop, lowering its head as eldritch grunts poured from its gaping mouth.
The eldritch grunts crashed onto the ground and immediately began devouring the nearby civilians and knights. The remaining creatures sprinted toward the fleeing civilians, tearing through the streets in pursuit. Horrified, the civilians ran toward the tunnels while the knights charged forward to fight the eldritch grunts and protect them. Tatsu turned toward his classmates, only to see them standing frozen in terror.
"Run!" Tatsu shouted at them as he and his classmates immediately sprinted toward the tunnel.
Three eldritch grunts leapt onto the keep and raced across its walls and windows, effortlessly jumping from one surface to another as they pursued the students. While running, one of the male students glanced back at the creatures closing in. He quickly drew the sword from his waist and raised it toward them.
"G-Get back!"
Two of the creatures pounced on a male student, tearing into him with their claws and teeth as they began to devour him. Meanwhile, the third leapt onto the road and charged toward a female student. She looked back and saw the creature rapidly closing the distance. Panicking, she raised her hand and desperately fired a barrage of wind bullets, but her trembling aim caused every shot to miss. Before she could escape, the grunt lunged at her and drove its bladed tail deep into her stomach.
Haru watched in horror as two of his classmates were killed right behind them while they fled from the creatures. Before he could freeze in fear, Tatsu grabbed his arm and pulled him along.
"Come on! Don't slow down!"
"S-sorry! Oh god!"
An eldritch grunt came sprinting down the road before leaping straight toward Tatsu and Haru. But just as it was about to pounce, a single earthen spike suddenly erupted from the ground and pierced straight through its chest. The creature was killed instantly. Tatsu and Haru looked ahead in shock, wondering who had saved them. Then Tatsu realized that one of Aoi's friends had used a magic spell to protect them. He exchanged a nod with Aoi's friend, and he and Haru quickly continued running.
Twenty knights and three mages escorted King Edward the Second toward the entrance of the tunnel. Just as they entered, screams erupted from behind them, and terrified civilians rushed past the king and his knights, fleeing into the tunnels. The king glanced back and saw eldritch grunts sprinting through the streets, pursuing the civilians in their path. Above the city, two more eldritch jellyfish descended toward the rooftops of the keeps, their grotesque forms seemingly drawn toward the tunnel and toward the king.
Terror filled King Edward as he watched the creatures approach. Without hesitation, he turned to his knights and barked an order.
"C-C-Close the gate now!"
"But, Your Majesty! What about the people and the destined heroes?!"
"I said close the gate! D#mn you!"
After King Edward and his knights and mages entered the tunnel, two knights grabbed the portcullis winch and began turning it, lowering the heavy gate and sealing the entrance. From the road, one of the classmates watched in horror as the knights closed the tunnel before they could reach it.
"T-they're closing it without us!"
"Are they seriously gonna leave us to die out here?"
Just as the gate was about to seal completely, it suddenly stopped. The knights struggled desperately with the winch as the heavy portcullis began to rise again, forced upward by an unknown presence possessing immense strength.
"What are you all doing? Close it!" King Edward shouted.
"We're trying!"
"Something is pulling it up!"
"Well then, what is it?" King Edward suddenly heard the screams of his knights and mages.
King Edward looked over and was horrified by what stood before them. An eldritch monster emerged from the darkness, stood over the slain four knights and two mages, its chest and head stained with blood, while fresh blood dripped from its claws. Its four reptilian eyes gleamed coldly as they fixed their gaze upon the knights, the two mages, and the king. The unseen bloodstained creature was none other than the N'ghftnah.
King Edward was utterly terrified at the sight of the N'ghftnah. He stumbled backward before falling to the ground, then desperately crawled away from the approaching creature. The knights quickly stepped in front of him, raising their weapons as they shielded their king from the N'ghftnah.
The N'ghftnah wiped the blood from its body, and within moments, it vanished from sight once more. It then dashed toward the knights and King Edward, tearing through them with its razor-sharp claws.
Tatsu and his remaining classmates raced toward the tunnel entrance, but they suddenly came to a halt. From inside the tunnel came the screams of dying men, the sickening sounds of flesh being torn apart, and the savage snarls of a N'ghftnah echoing through the darkness. Then, more eldritch grunts sprinted into the tunnel. The students stared in horror as they realized the evacuation tunnel had been overrun by eldritch monsters. There was nowhere left to escape.
"W-what do we do now?"
"There's nowhere to go!"
Four eldritch grunts came sprinting toward Tatsu and the others. Tatsu desperately drew an arrow from his quiver and aimed his bow at them, hoping he could at least kill one. But his fingers refused to let go of the string. His body trembled uncontrollably. After everything he had witnessed the monsters, the bloodshed, and the deaths of his classmates, he was simply too terrified to fight.
Before the grunts could reach Tatsu, a violent gust of wind suddenly blasted them away. Commander Corvik descended at tremendous speed, landing between Tatsu and the creatures as roaring winds spiraled around him. He slowly turned and lowered his greatsword, the blade becoming engulfed in swirling winds. With one powerful swing, he unleashed a gigantic crescent-shaped wind slash that tore through the four grunts, cutting each of them cleanly in half.
"Whoa..." Haru was amazed by Corvik's display of power.
Haru didn't realize that a grunt had leaped from the rooftop and was about to pounce on Tatsu. In an instant, Teba dove down at full speed and drove his short sword straight through the creature's head, impaling it into the ground right beside Haru.
"AAAaahhh!!!"
Commander Corvik stood and swiftly spun his greatsword into a reverse grip. Without hesitation, he thrust the blade backward, piercing something behind him. A burst of blood erupted as the creature was revealed to be a N'ghftnah that had tried to sneak up on him. Corvik yanked his greatsword from its chest and let the lifeless creature drop to the ground.
"Move! It's not safe here! Get to the castle, now!" Commander Corvik ordered the students.
Corvik led the students toward the alleyway as they fled from the approaching eldritch monsters. Teba followed behind, constantly looking back to make sure nothing was pursuing them. Once he was certain they were safe, he hurried into the alleyway and joined the others. Moments later, swarms of eldritch monsters poured into the streets, slaughtering more civilians before sprinting into the tunnel after those who had already entered. The gate remained open, held in place by the N'ghftnah, leaving the civilians with nowhere to escape.