As the number of hunters following them grew, Kaor approached Ghislain with a question. “It’s great having so many underlings, but... is this really okay? They’re all rough types. They’re not going to be easy to control.” “What’s the matter? Are you scared?” “I’m not scared!” “The more fighters we have, the better. We’ll get hides and resources faster, and they’ll be useful for other things later. Once I leave, it’ll be up to you to manage them. You can handle that, can’t you?” Ghislain wouldn’t have trusted Kaor with most other tasks, but he had some experience leading a small mercenary band. That experience made Ghislain believe Kaor could handle it. Hunters were, in many ways, similar to mercenaries. In fact, they were often even more obedient to strength than mercenaries were. A tough character like Kaor should be more than capable of commanding hundreds of hunters. After all, his victory over Doncard had boosted his reputation and proven his skill. Kaor snorted, wearing a cocky smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll whip them into shape if I have to.” “Good. Men like them resist small fears but bow before something truly terrifying. Remember that.” Kaor nodded, a bit more seriously now. He understood Ghislain’s meaning. After all, wasn’t he himself being pushed around by the overwhelming force that Ghislain represented? *“Argh! It’s humiliating! One day, I’ll have my revenge for this.”* His pride stung, Kaor resolved to surpass not only Gillian but eventually Ghislain as well. While Kaor was fired up with his ambitions, Ghislain paid him little mind. There was much to do before the monster wave arrived. He went to find the Turian knight who managed the fortress. “The monster wave is about to start. You’d better start preparing.” “...The wave shouldn’t begin for another six months or more.” The knight’s tone was noticeably skeptical. As a native of Turian Kingdom, he was confident he knew the monster wave’s cycle better than Ghislain, who hadn’t been here long. To hear someone new speak so confidently about it was laughable. But Ghislain just shrugged off the knight’s skepticism. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Plenty of people have regretted not listening to me.” After Ghislain left, the knight found himself in a dilemma. If the knight were from another kingdom, he’d have dismissed Ghislain’s words as just more nonsense from some lunatic. But Turian folk were different. Their kingdom’s survival depended on their vigilance against monsters, which was why they had fortresses like this one built to intercept the waves. The Turian knight, Grant, who also served as the fortress commander, couldn’t shake his doubt. *“He’s only been here a short time, probably just spouting nonsense he’s heard somewhere.”* *“But he’s already proven himself more capable than most of the hunters who’ve been here for years. Could he actually know something?”* Preparing for a monster wave wasn’t as simple as raising defenses. The fortress would be sealed off, and all transport and trade would halt. Without incoming supplies, they would struggle to sustain themselves for long. Additionally, they needed to inform the royal court and nearby fortresses of the need for a wartime stance in case the fortress was breached. Thanks to this meticulous system, Turian Kingdom had been able to withstand the monstrous invasions from the Shadow Mountains. *“If this turns out to be false, it’ll cause massive financial losses.”* The monster wave’s timing was predictable enough that each fortress could plan accordingly. Since the fortresses had been built, they had never been forced into a premature state of readiness. Relying on the words of someone unproven was risky. After a sleepless night of deliberation, Grant gathered his knights at dawn. “...Prepare for the monster wave.” He wasn’t entirely convinced by Ghislain’s warning. It was more his own obsessive caution that wouldn’t let him ignore the possibility. “Also, keep a close eye on Count Fenris. If the monster wave doesn’t happen within a month, we’ll make him pay for the losses.” Grant didn’t know how wealthy Fenris was, but covering those losses would likely mean a lifetime of monster hunting. As soon as Grant issued the order, the fortress locked down. The gates were sealed, and hunting was prohibited. Knights and soldiers bustled about, preparing for battle. “Hurry up and move those supplies!” “Check the stocks of arrows and stones!” “From today, we’re doubling the watch!” They inspected the ballistae and catapults, stacking munitions all around the walls. Roads and various areas within the fortress were soon under restricted access. The economic activity ground to a halt, and tension gripped the people. Naturally, the sudden changes stirred up complaints. “Why are we doing this now? The monster wave isn’t due yet!” “That new guy—Ghislain, or whatever—said it’s coming soon.” “How would he know that?” With hunting halted, many hunters lost their source of income and directed their frustration at Ghislain. However, those planning to confront him didn’t get the chance—because only days later, the monsters began to swarm. *ROOOOOAR!* A horde of monsters, without regard for type, charged toward the fortress as if driven by some unseen force. Normally, they would attack each other, yet now they moved together, all descending upon the fortress. The Turian knights and soldiers rushed to the walls, and the hunters followed suit. With the wave underway, they couldn’t afford to run. Their fates were bound to the fortress. The sheer number of monsters seemed endless, with visible numbers already well over ten thousand. The hunters were dumbfounded. “What... What’s happening? Why are they suddenly attacking?” “For years, the timing was never this far off. At most, it would be off by a month or two.” “How did he know this?” Even Commander Grant was stunned. He had prepared just in case, but he never thought the threat would be real. While he felt a momentary relief, the danger was far from over. “Prepare for battle! Hunters, ready yourselves!” *Creeeeak!* Snapping back to his senses, Grant shouted commands, and the soldiers loaded the massive ballistae and catapults. The hunters gripped their weapons tightly. They also had to prepare for aerial monsters, as the wave included beasts capable of flight. Ghislain stood atop the wall, watching the approaching swarm. Behind him were the Fenris knights and the 300 hunters he had recently enlisted. The other hunters kept glancing at Ghislain’s side. “There’s Kaor.” “He’s the guy who beat Doncard, right? We’re safer near him.” “Let’s move a little closer to that side.” Ignoring Grant’s orders to hold their positions, hunters quietly shifted toward Ghislain’s side of the wall. Grant noticed and shouted angrily. “Hold your positions, you fools! Stay where you are!” Monsters didn’t need ladders to scale the walls. Plenty of them could leap over once enough bodies piled up. But the hunters ignored Grant, instinctively gravitating toward the strongest among them. In the past, Doncard had been the fortress’s most formidable hunter. While his skill in fighting other men was debatable, his prowess in monster hunting was unmatched. And now, Kaor had taken that position. Being close to him increased their chances of survival. Kaor brushed his hair back with a smug expression. “Hah, these guys know who’s the strongest. This is great.” Despite the oncoming wave of monsters, he felt no tension. He was enjoying the admiration too much. The hunters who had already signed contracts with Ghislain grinned confidently, feeling the envy of those around them. *“This is why it pays to act fast!”* *“Jealous, aren’t you? Shouldn’t have let your pride get in the way!”* Ghislain glanced around at the hunters who had gathered nearby. “So, you all want to fight with us?” All of them nodded, hoping to stay close but avoid the brunt of the fighting. “Alright, since we’re short on time, let’s make a verbal contract. Fight hard with us, and remember, Kaor, the man who beat Doncard, is right here with us. You have nothing to worry about.” “Yeah!!” The hunters’ spirits soared. In the past, getting close to Doncard had been difficult. His party always monopolized the spoils, keeping outsiders at bay. But Ghislain’s group was either generous or naive enough to welcome anyone. To the hunters, this was a dream come true. Watching this, Grant gave up trying to maintain order among the hunters. After all, hunters weren’t soldiers. Forcing them back into position would only spark more resistance. *“Damn it, ever since that guy arrived, everything’s gone off-kilter.”* The unexpected monster wave and the hunters’ sudden loyalty shift were making the entire fortress feel like it was under Ghislain’s control. *Screeeech!* There was no time for more complaints. The monsters were now within range of the ballistae and catapults. “Fire!” At Grant’s command, the ballistae and catapults launched their assault. *Boom! Boom! Boom!* *Screeeech!* Monsters exploded and were torn apart, with the ballistae proving particularly effective against large ones. But it wasn’t enough to stop the seemingly endless horde. Soon, they closed in past the range of the heavy weapons . “Archers! Fire at will!” The archers began their assault, launching a rain of arrows, some aimed at airborne monsters. The thick-skinned creatures took less damage, but the smaller ones were struck down in droves. “Keep firing! Don’t let up!” Until the monsters reached the walls, they had to keep shooting. The few mages in the fortress strained themselves to launch long-range spells at the monsters. *ROAAAAR!* The ground shook with each step of the approaching beasts, and their roars grew deafening. Ghislain, standing atop the wall, eyed the swarm below, gauging their numbers and distance. He nodded to himself. “Alright, it’s time to jump. Everyone, prepare your ‘one-arm breakfall for survival.’” The hunters nearby looked puzzled, while the Fenris knights just looked resigned. *“I knew it.”* *“Of course, there’s no way he’d let us fight this battle normally.”* *“I give up. I don’t even want to think about it anymore.”* The knights, having given up any resistance, simply pulled ropes from their belts. Seeing this, Ghislain smirked. “See? You’re all ready now, aren’t you?” “Yes, sir. It just hurts our shoulders when we fall.” Responding with little enthusiasm, the knights lazily attached ropes to the wall and began to descend, each carrying massive crates strapped to their backs. The hunters, shocked, shouted in confusion. “What... What are they doing?” “Are they insane? Why are they going down there?” “Are they seriously following orders to jump down? Are they out of their minds?” Normally, if a leader ordered you to jump to your death, you’d kill him first instead. Wasn’t that common sense? Grant, watching in horror, screamed at them. “You idiots! What are you doing? Get back up here if you don’t want to die in friendly fire!” The arrows would continue flying, and they could still target areas directly below. But with their own people down there, they couldn’t keep firing. Ghislain, ignoring Grant’s shouts, looked at the bewildered hunters around him. “What are you waiting for? Grab a rope and go down.” “...Why should we?” “Fighting from the wall isn’t always the best choice. That’s true when your opponent is human. But against monsters, it’s often better to take a formation in open ground. Many monsters won’t be stopped by the wall anyway.” “But... isn’t the wall safer...?” “This is your first time, so I’ll explain nicely. When facing this many monsters, it’s better to go down and fight. And there’s another important reason.” “What... reason?” “By going down there, we can keep everything we kill. That’s it for the explanation. Now get down there.” “...” The hunters were speechless. As far as they could tell, this had to be a joke, yet some of their companions had already descended. Confused and unable to fully grasp the situation, the hunters watched as Ghislain called down to the knights below. “They don’t seem to get it, so I’m just going to toss them down. Catch them well!” A loud response came from below. “The monsters are here! Hurry up and toss them down, sir!” With that, Ghislain grabbed the nearest hunter and threw him over the edge.