Malicious Horde

The Rajlina Kingdom was situated between a mountain range shaped like a V, cutting the kingdom off from the rest of the world. The only openly accessible entrance was its coast. It gave the kingdom a near-perfect natural defense. I suppose that gave us confidence; none had suspected our advantage would become a cage.

The tsunami dwarfed even the tallest peaks visible from Ramorza. Panic spread at the sheer size of the tsunami. Mother held you in her arms, stopping you from witnessing the sight. Father grabbed my hand as we climbed onto our roof. Despair racked the city, and everyone had accepted our fate. That was when they appeared. Within the wave, figures could be seen dancing in the water. Eventually, a flag appeared, the flag of the Merfolk Queendom.

♕♛♕♛♕♛♕

The Guild is just as they had left it as the group returns.

The receptionist notices their arrival.

“How did it go? Glad to see you're all safe.”

“It went well, thank you,” Helia says, placing the sheet of paper on the counter.

“That's great to hear.” The receptionist looks at the page. “Wow! That’s a big help, thank you all!”

The receptionist leaves the counter for a moment, returning with two small pieces of paper. “Here! Your reward!”

Helia grabs the two tickets and places them with the others.

“That's five! Only two more.” The five students look at the tickets with determination.

“...Are they?”

“They’re still talking… I wonder if the master brought out her bottle..?”

Wróbel walks towards the door on the back wall.

“Ah! Thank you again, Ms. Wróbel. For everything.” Hiiro says.

“...Hm.” She returns to standing in front of the door.

“If any of you guys wanna become adventurers, let me know ‘kay!” The receptionist says, winking at us.

‘W-we’re okay.”

The group moves to the seating area to the right of the door.

“Okay, we have 5 out of the 7 we need,” Helia reports. “As for the last two… One would be for Nerrisa…”

“I don’t think we should worry,” Eris says dismissively.

“Why?”

“We… Ran into her. She already got one.” Hiiro answers.

“Oh! Then that means we only need one more!” Helia sits back in her chair. “You two didn’t find anything on the southeast road?”

“Well… We ran into complications, so we haven’t gotten the chance.” Hiiro explains.

Helia sighs. “Our last options are to search half of the merchants' aisle you guys haven’t yet or…”

“Or what?” Hiiro asks.

“W-well, the night district should open… B-but I’m not sure that would be helpful…”

“Y-yeah, probably not.”

The two stare awkwardly at the tickets laid out on the table.

“Well, we’re not getting anything done around here,” Neia says, standing from their seat. “Let's go.” The rest nod their heads and stand, agreeing.

Crash!

Suddenly, the double doors are thrown open.

“A HORDE! A HORDE OF MONSTERS IN THE CITY!” A knight screams as he enters.

!What!?!” The Receptionist cries out.

Hiiro quickly runs to the door, the rest following after him.

The sight that greets them is hordes of monsters, stampeding down the three large streets.

♕♛♕♛♕♛♕

Thousands of people gather in the central square.

Approaching them on all sides are monsters big and small.

Bears, deer, boars, and goblins all inhabit the crowd. Amongst them are large, yellow-skinned humanoid creatures, holding the trunks of trees in their hands, smashing carts and stalls as they go.

The people scream and cry out in the square. Asking what they should do, where the adventurers are, and what’s going to happen.

Neia, Hiiro, and the rest approach the crowd.

“Attention, all of you!” A man shouts, standing on a balcony of the central ornamental building.

“It's the mayor!” “He’s finally saying something!” “There he is!” The crowd shouts.

Then the building must be the town hall. Neia thinks to themselves.

“Listen! Fear not the monsters approaching this square. Have faith in Chrysus and pray!” The man, wearing a brown suit, says, bringing the crowd into claps and shouts.

The monsters continue to approach, stomping on carriages and smashing windows.

Their cries ring out down the streets, attacking the crowd's ears.

“Vroro!” “Kyaaaah” “Graaaah.” “Breeeea”, “Roooar!”

The crowd shouts the name, shouts Chrysus.

As if on cue, golden tendrils shoot out from the top of the tree. The liquid metal flies towards the monsters.

“Were saved!” “Chrysus!” “Thank you, Oh Spirit!” The crowd continues.

I should be relieved, but… Neia thinks, looking on. Their feeling is proven right, as the golden tendrils are hit by cascading water from above. The water steams, as if boiling.

“ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “Wha!?!?” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ”

Looking up, the crowd sees the source.

Slithering through the sky, its azure body visible in the golden sunset, a large, serpent-like dragon peers down on the city.

“No…” Someone says.

CRUOOOOR!

The dragon shouts, as if challenging God.

The tendrils pause for a moment before shooting towards the dragon.

CRUOOOOR!

The dragon roars once more, mixing with the monster's cries, becoming a melody of despair blanketing the City of Wealth.