I Can Devour Monsters' SSS Talents

Seraphina was still dissatisfied.

”We’ll discuss it later.” Lian finally said.

”I have no problem.” Seris said quietly.

”Of course you don’t.” Liana looked at her.

”The mission is dangerous, that’s why I have no problem, and it’s no place for children.” Seris gave a short smile. This was the first time everyone could see her self-satisfied smile.

And that was enough to make Liana and Seraphina feel like exploding with anger.

”First, we need to hold Ashfall.” Rindo placed his hand on the table. He looked at the district’s map again.

”Escape with the current population is almost impossible. If we can really hold this section, we’ll buy time to organize the groups and gather resources.”

”And when forces from other Cindari cities arrive?” Cassian asked.

Rindo was silent for a moment. This was the biggest problem.

They might be able to defeat Vhalaris’s current forces, but they knew nothing about the number of other cities, their distance, or the strength of their armies.

”We don’t know how far the other cities are, but no matter how close they are, moving an army takes time. We only need a few days to reach the Forgotten Tree and find out what’s happening to it.” Lian said instead.

”If we take Vhalaris, other Cindari will attack immediately.” Cassian said.

”We don’t need to kill everyone. Only kill when necessary. Soldiers who surrender will be imprisoned. Commanders and high-ranking individuals will be kept alive.” Rindo finally made his decision.

”Hostages.” Marcus immediately understood the reason.

”Prisoners of war.” The student council president nodded, his gaze still on the map.

”If other cities send forces, we can use Vhalaris’s commanders to buy time.”

”They might not attack directly if Maelor or their other important people are in our hands.”

”At least they’ll be forced to negotiate, or move slower.” Cassian said.

”Those few days could make a big difference.” Rindo nodded.

”It’s a good idea.” Lian said. He also found no problem with it.

”Are you sure you can defeat them?” Then the student council president looked at him.

”As I said, alone it’s hard, but with the help of all of you and the other awakened ones, defeating the Cindari shouldn’t be a problem.”

”Then everyone needs to know what they’re fighting for.” Rindo took a deep breath.

He came out from behind the table and said to one of the temporary council members waiting outside the door.

”Gather all the Awakeners inside Ashfall in the central square.”

”Everyone?” the man asked.

”Everyone. Hunters, wounded who can walk, guards, and support groups. No one should be left out.”

The man nodded and quickly left. A few moments later, a different bell from the Cindari alarms rang in Ashfall Ward.

This bell was made by the humans themselves for gatherings and warnings. The sound echoed through the old buildings, and the doors of the residences opened.

The Awakeners came out of the medical center, warehouses, resting places, and watchtowers.

Some had not yet put on full armor. Some were fastening their weapons while running.

A few had bandages on their arms, heads, or legs.

The Main Quest had just appeared for everyone, and most of them still didn’t know what it meant.

They only knew the System had warned about the awakening of a Corrupted Titan and The Black Silence entering Earth.

In less than ten minutes, the central square was full. More than forty Awakeners gathered in front of the council platform.

The archers were on one side, the Warriors and Tanks on the other, and the Mages, Healers, and support groups in the back.

Rindo stood on the wooden platform.

Lian, Seraphina, Seris, Liana, Marcus, Ethan, Cassian, and Aren stood behind him.

Aren’s appearance immediately drew everyone’s attention.

A human man with gray hair and chains engraved with Cindari markings.

Murmurs began among the crowd.

”Who is he?”

”Was he brought from the prison?”

”Marcus and the others were really freed? What happened?”

Rindo raised his hand, and the murmurs gradually died down.

”Most of you have received the Main Quest.”

No one answered, but their expressions confirmed it.

”Until a few minutes ago, we didn’t have complete information either.” He pointed at Aren.

”This man is Aren. One of the humans who entered this Special Area in the previous Cycle, and as you might guess, he is a native of the Ruined Realm.”

A new murmur formed.

Natives of the Ruined Realm were a surprise for everyone, and a previous Cycle? That even increased the shock and surprise among everyone.

Rindo let it continue for a few seconds and then said.

”The information we obtained from him and our own group’s investigations has clarified the true situation of this world.” His tone became heavier.

”The Forgotten Tree is dying. The tree that is like the heart of this world.”

”The water cycle of the three forests depends on it, and as the tree dries, the chains of the Corrupted Titan weaken. A very powerful giant that carries a type of disaster called The Black Silence.”

”And if the Titan fully awakens, The Black Silence will contaminate this entire world.”

”According to the Main Quest, after that, it will gain access to Earth. Anyone contaminated by The Black Silence, simply put, turns into a bloodthirsty zombie.”

This time, complete silence fell. Even the Awakeners who had been listening with indifference until that moment changed their expressions.

”So the Main Quest is what you’re talking about?” a young man from the crowd asked.

”Yes. Our goal is to prevent the Corrupted Titan from awakening.” Rindo answered.

”How?” a female archer in the second row asked.

”A group will be sent to the Forgotten Tree. They need to find out why the tree is drying and how to stop it.”

”The Cindari have known about this disaster for a long time.”

”They gathered us in Ashfall, monitored our movements, and were probably waiting for us to find a way out so they could also leave their own world.”

”So they were using us?” one of the Awakeners shouted.

Anger grew among the crowd. Some Awakeners had never trusted the Cindari from the start.

Some had only accepted the rules for the group’s safety and Rindo’s decision.

Now hearing that they were being used as tools turned previous doubts into anger.

”You have two choices. You can stay with us and defend Ashfall Ward, or you can leave the city alone. No one is forced to fight.”

A murmur arose among the crowd.

”The city’s army is much larger than ours.”

”But if we escape alone, they’ll hunt us down in the forest.”

The fear was real. They were not soldiers of an organized army.

They were a group of Awakeners who had gathered in Ashfall from different parts of the Special Area.

Some still had nightmares about seeing their comrades’ bodies in the forest.

A tall hunter stepped forward from the front row.

He was one of the people Rindo had sent forces to save a few days ago.

”I’ll stay.” He raised his axe.

A few people looked at him, and he continued.

”If we escape the city, they’ll tear us apart in the forest. Here at least we have walls and forces.”

”Those Cindari bastards have been trying to use us all this time.” another person said.

”Why should we give Ashfall back to them?”

”Finally, someone understands.” Ethan said with satisfaction.

”Don’t provoke them.” Cassian looked at him.

”They’re already provoked enough.”

A few more people raised their weapons.

”I’ll stay too.”

”We’ll help.”

”If the Titan enters Earth, there’s nowhere to run.”

”I’m not a good fighter, but I can build Barriers.” the female Mage who worked by the medical center said.

”I’ll treat the wounded.” one of the Healers said.

Gradually, more voices of agreement were heard. The fear didn’t disappear, but anger, necessity, and the lack of a sure escape route made most of them decide to stay.

In the end, a large group of Awakeners raised their weapons.

”We won’t give Ashfall back to them!”

”Those Cindari bastards need to learn a lesson!” another person shouted.

The crowd’s voice echoed in the square. Rindo let out a quiet sigh of relief.

For a moment, the pressure on his shoulders lessened, but he didn’t let the crowd’s excitement turn into chaos, and he raised his voice.

”Everyone, arm yourselves and be ready.”

The crowd fell silent.

”Warriors and Tanks will position themselves near the main entrances.”

”Archers and Mages will take positions on the tall buildings.”

”The wounded and support personnel will move to the central buildings.”

”Healers will distribute the Potions, but no one is to use extra without orders.”

Lian watched all these scenes calmly. The student council president of their academy was better at organizing and leading people than he had expected.

Much, much better.

In this short time, he had managed to gain the trust of the majority of the Awakeners present.

This man could be much more useful than he appeared...