Chapter 81: Monster Siege [1] The base was under full siege. But not quite in the way he’d expected. Moon had anticipated a beast horde, a massive wave of creatures driven by instinct or hunger, the kind of base attacks that happened occasionally when beast populations grew too large or an alpha directed its subordinates toward human settlements. What he saw instead made his blood run cold for a brief moment. Beasts were attacking, yes. Dozens of them, ranging from level what looked like level fifteen to low twenties based on their size and the destruction they caused. They crashed against Ironpeak’s walls, tore through defensive formations, and engaged awakeners in brutal combat. But they weren’t alone. Humans fought alongside them against the awakeners of the base. Awakeners in a unanimous black uniform coordinated their attacks with the beasts, moving in formation as if they’d trained together. A fire mage launched spells that broke defences, and another deliberately herded a pack of wolf-like creatures toward a section of wall where defenders were concentrated. Warriors wielded weapons and fought side-by-side with massive bear variants, covering each other’s flanks like teammates. Others looked more like outcasts or mercenaries, mismatched equipment suggesting they’d been hired rather than recruited from a unified force. But the coordination was too precise to be accidental. It was clear that someone had found a way to work with sanctuary beasts against a human settlement that housed more than a few thousand lives, at least. ’How? How is this possible? Most beasts hate humans instinctively. The reward system itself seems designed to keep us in conflict. So how are they fighting together like this?’ A massive boar charged the main gate while three human warriors followed in its wake, using the beast as a living battering ram to break through the reinforced entrance. Defenders tried to stop it, but they were clearly unprepared for the coordinated beast-human tactics. ’And why target Ironpeak specifically?’ Moon wondered, his eyes scanning the chaos below. Compared to other bases at the same level, Ironpeak wasn’t particularly wealthy or strategically vital. ’Unless...’ ’Is Kael the target? Did someone organise this attack specifically because the Glassy heir is here?’ That would make sense. Assassination or kidnapping disguised as a general assault. Use the chaos to isolate the target, eliminate bodyguards, and complete the objective while everyone else fought for survival. But even that explanation didn’t answer the fundamental question: How did they get beasts to cooperate? Taming individual creatures was possible; Moon’s own Mirage proved that. Another example was the direhorses. The beasts attacking Ironpeak were predators. Creatures whose first instinct was to hunt and kill anything that moved, including humans. Yet they were able to fight alongside humans and didn’t turn on each other despite the chaotic battlefield. Moon had also discarded the thought of a summoner or beast master being behind this attack. Beast masters were powerful, able to tame beasts, forcing them to enact their will. But they all had limitations, and an awakener at the first sanctuary wouldn’t be able to control hundreds of beasts at the same time. The implications were terrifying. If this could be replicated on a larger scale, it could endanger the lives of tens of thousands of awakeners. Human settlements would become targets, and the balance of power would shift entirely. Moon forced himself to stop speculating and focus on the immediate situation. Just a minute had passed since all these questions had formed in his mind. He could see awakeners from Ironpeak fighting desperately on multiple fronts. Some held sections of wall against climbing beasts and scaling attackers. Others had formed defensive formations in the streets, protecting the inside in case of a breach. And somewhere in that chaos, Kael and his team were likely fighting as well. Moon had twenty hours left on the Pyromancer class. A battlefield full of targets to practice Explosive Flame against. And a mystery that demanded answers, even if those answers wouldn’t come today. He remounted Mirage and began descending the hill toward Ironpeak’s embattled walls. "Time to join the war." Moon chose the safest route back to the base. He knew that despite his strength, being surrounded by hundreds of beasts meant death wouldn’t be temporary—it would be permanent. He wouldn’t be able to escape after respawning. The sheer numbers would overwhelm him before he could gain his bearings, killing him repeatedly until his lives ran dry. Better to take extra time finding a viable entry point than rush in recklessly and lose everything. Moon circled around the base’s perimeter, staying far enough from the main assault to avoid detection while close enough to observe the attack. He was searching for the point with the lowest concentration of enemies—a gap in the siege lines where he could push through without facing impossible odds. Within ten minutes of careful scouting, he found it. The northeastern section of the wall had fewer beasts and attackers, likely because the terrain there was rocky and difficult to navigate. The northeastern section was by no means abandoned, but it was thin enough that a fast rider could potentially break through with less damage compared to other zones in the battlefield. Moon glanced down at Mirage, who stood beneath him, breathing heavily from their extended journey. ’Sigh...’ He couldn’t leave the horse anywhere safe. Mirage would be easy prey for any creature once the beasts retreated or if enemy reinforcements arrived to secure the surrounding area. Low-level mounts weren’t combatants; they were easy prey for other beasts. That left Moon with only one real choice: charge directly into the thinnest part of the horde until they reached close proximity to the base walls, where defenders could provide covering fire and relative safety existed. But during that sprint, Mirage was bound to be injured, and it was highly possible that Mirage could die. Despite the short time they’d spent together, Moon had grown attached to the horse. Mirage had been reliable, responsive, and loyal in ways that went above the average mount. And Moon had no doubt in his mind that if he explained the plan, the horse would follow through despite understanding the danger. Animals in the sanctuary possessed intelligence beyond their Earth counterparts. Mirage understood risks, understood death, and would still choose to trust his rider. Moon dismounted and stood before Mirage, meeting the horse’s dark eyes directly. "What do you want to do?" Moon asked quietly. "I can let you go freely right now. You can run away from here, try to survive without a master. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to avoid the predators and find safety somewhere." He paused, letting that option settle. "Or you charge into those beasts with me, and..." Moon didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to. The implication was clear. Mirage neighed sharply in protest, rearing up slightly and raising his front legs before dropping them down with force. Dirt sprayed across the air from the impact, the gesture unmistakably defiant. The message was obvious. Mirage wasn’t going to run. Moon smiled softly despite the grim situation. He reached out and rubbed Mirage’s neck, feeling the powerful muscles beneath the beautiful, soft white coat. "Good boy," Moon said quietly. "Since you’ve made your choice, let’s go in and show these beasts who’s boss."