The colossal eldritch manta ray swept over the ruined city walls and flew above the streets. Green energy spheres began forming at the tips of its tendrils, each one charging with ominous light. Without warning, it unleashed a barrage of beams, scorching the streets and killing civilians caught in their path. The remaining eagle knights, still battling the flying monsters in the sky, were struck down one after another.
Corvik, Teba, and the students crept through the dark alleyway, making their way toward the castle while keeping an eye out for nearby monsters. Then Corvik spotted a wrecked cart with several wine barrels scattered around it. An idea came to him. He cautiously peered out into the street, checking both directions for any sign of danger. Once he was sure the way was clear, he dashed toward the cart, seized a barrel, and quickly carried it back into the alleyway.
"C-Commander Corvik? W-what are you doing?" Haru asked nervously
Commander Corvik punched a hole in the top of the barrel and poured wine over his face and his armor. Teba did the same, leaving the students staring at them in confusion. They exchanged bewildered glances, unable to understand what the two eagle knights were planning.
Commander Corvik faced the students. "Cover yourselves with wine. Those gharzthuls can track you by scent, so we need to mask yours before they find us." He pushed the barrel toward them, urging them to hurry.
The teenagers had never realized just how strong wine could smell until now. The overpowering stench made them recoil, but they had no choice except to splash it over their faces and clothes. A minute later, they were completely soaked. Some of them were already regretting it, especially Tatsu and Haru, who could barely stand the smell.
"Eeeghhh..."
"Shush!" Commander Corvik whispered sharply, signaling for Tatsu to be quiet as a sound came from the rooftops.
Corvik and Teba ushered the students beneath the eaves, pressing them close to the wall to keep them hidden. Corvik held a finger to his beak, silently ordering them not to make a sound. A rumbling noise rolled across the rooftops above them. Entire platoons of gharzthuls were leaping from one roof to another. The students had no way of knowing how many were passing overhead, and none of them dared to move. They remained huddled beneath the eaves, holding their breath until the sounds finally faded away.
As soon as the rumbling stopped, Commander Corvik signaled for the others to follow him. He led them through the alleyway, keeping to the shadows to avoid being spotted. Teba and the students followed close behind.
The students carefully followed Corvik through the shadowy alleyway, keeping close to one another and looking out for danger. Yet they were all frightened by the horrors surrounding them. One girl was especially shaken; she gripped her shoulders and trembled so badly that she couldn't even draw the sword at her waist. Only two students had readied their weapons. One of Aoi's friends held her spellbook tight against her chest, while Tatsu nocked an arrow and kept his gaze fixed on the rooftops. Haru clutched his wand with both hands, still far too terrified to calm himself.
Commander Corvik slowly peered out into the main street, cautiously scanning the area for any sign of danger. The street was littered with corpses, civilians, gharzthuls, knights, and even several of his own eagle knights. Some lay sprawled across the road, while others had fallen onto the rooftops. Turning to his left, Corvik spotted the castle gate standing atop a broad, ramped road from the street. They were almost there.
Commander Corvik cautiously stepped out of the alleyway before gesturing for the others to follow. "This way. The castle is just ahead."
They hurried out of the alleyway and raced up the sloping road toward the castle gate, desperate to reach it as quickly as possible. But when one of Aoi's friends slipped and fell, hurting her knee, Tatsu glanced back and saw her sprawled on the ground.
"Emi!" Tatsu shouted, rushing over to her.
Tatsu grabbed Emi's right arm and helped her climb the ramp. Looking back, Haru saw him supporting her as they made their way up, waiting for them.
"Come on, guys!"
Teba glanced back and was about to move in to help Tatsu with Emi when something caught his attention. In the distance, a swarm of gharzthuls was advancing down the road, all of them heading straight for the castle gate.
"Ah, d#mn it!" Teba rushed toward Tatsu and Emi. "Tatsu, let me help you get her up!"
"Ok."
Tatsu stepped aside and let Teba take over. The eagle birdfolk knight lifted Emi into a bridal carry and turned toward the castle. "Come on! Hurry!" he shouted. Tatsu and Haru quickly followed him toward the castle gate, desperate to reach it before the swarm of gharzthuls closed in.
Commander Corvik and the students waited anxiously at the gate. When they saw Teba approaching with Tatsu and Haru, Corvik shouted. "Hurry up!"
Tatsu and Haru ran at full speed alongside Teba, who was carrying Emi. "Screw it!" The eagle birdfolk knight barked. He flung his wings wide and took off, grabbing Tatsu and Haru by their collars with his talons. With all three of them lifted into the air, he flew straight through the castle gate.
"W-woah!"
"AAahhh!"
Teba flew through the castle gate, carrying the three students with him, and landed safely on the other side. Seeing his chance, Commander Corvik raised his greatsword, its blade glowing with spring-green energy, and swung it at the chains. The chains snapped, and the castle gate slammed shut at once.
Commander Corvik spun around to face them. "Let's go!" He shouted.
The eagle birdfolk knights and the students sprinted up the grand brick ramp toward the castle. Once they were safely away from the gate, the swarm of gharzthuls reached the entrance and gathered beneath the walls. Several of the creatures began scrambling up the stonework, trying to climb into the castle.
They finally reached the top of the ramp and approached the castle entrance. There, they saw knights, mages, and eagle knights fighting alongside Darius, cutting down the remaining gharzthuls in front of the castle.
Darius incinerated the final gharzthul with a fireball. Completely exhausted from the battle, he dropped to one knee. Then, hearing their approach, he looked back and saw Commander Corvik arriving with Teba and the students.
"Aren't they supposed to go to the evac tunnel?"
"The gharzthuls have overrun the evacuation tunnel... and the king is dead."
Darius looked down for a moment. "F#ck..."
"Another wave of gharzthuls is approaching! We must hold them off while getting the students to the keep."
"Tch...alright."
Commander Corvik gave Darius a nod, then addressed Teba. "Teba, secure the students and escort them to the keep."
"Wait! Be careful!" Darius warned Teba before he left with the students. "There are still monsters inside the castle. Keep your guard up!"
"But, Commander Corvik-" Tatsu began, moving toward him with a worried expression.
"I understand if you cannot forgive us for bringing you to this world and concealing the truth. But we desperately need your help, all of you. I ask you, please, use your otherworldly energy to help us save our world."
Tatsu remained silent. Then, a deafening boom rang out, followed by a cloud of ash billowing into the air from the direction of the castle gate. Everyone immediately understood what had happened; the gharzthuls had breached the gate.
Commander Corvik looked at the students and pointed toward the castle entrance. "Go now!"
Tatsu and his classmates rushed through the castle entrance, guarded by Teba and several knights. Commander Corvik watched them disappear inside before turning back toward the threat. He advanced slowly, dragging his greatsword across the ground with a harsh metallic scrape. Then he lifted the weapon and gripped its hilt in both hands, lowering himself into a sword-plow stance as he prepared to meet the approaching monsters.
Darius stepped up beside Commander Corvik and spun his wand in his hand. Its tip began to glow brightly as he settled into a fencing stance, holding the wand out before him.
"Do you blame me for bringing them into this world?" Darius asked Corvik.
"A little, yeah. But the king is the one I really blame for coming up with this idea."
"Hm. Fair enough."
Their kingdom lay in ruins beneath the shadow of the colossal manta ray hovering over the streets. Eldritch jellyfish circled through the sky, surrounding the monstrous entity. Commander Corvik and Darius stood firm with three eagle knights, eleven human knights, and one mage at their side. None of them moved. Weapons ready, they braced themselves to face the swarms of gharzthuls and the battle that could be their last.