I Can Devour Monsters' SSS Talents

While Lian and Seris had reached the Forgotten Tree, the situation in Vhalaris was not going well either.

The sound of hammers hitting Steel could be heard in Ashfall from sunrise until midnight.

The area that a few days ago had only been a temporary place for the Outsiders was now almost impossible to recognize.

The three main bridges were covered with several layers of Barricades, the first barriers were made of wood and metal.

Behind them were heavy Steel plates.

And behind the second layer, the Mages had built Barrier Nodes that could create several Barriers one after another if an attack happened.

The captured Cindari Ballistas had been installed on the high towers.

Some of the Mages had worked on their structures for three nights without proper rest, trying to make the Cindari targeting system work with human Mana.

Rootspire was no longer only a prison.

The upper floors had been turned into storage areas for ammunition, Potions and equipment.

The safer lower floors were being used to keep the prisoners.

Maelor, Kael and Tharos were being kept in three separate areas.

None of them were allowed to communicate with each other and they were under the strictest security, and Cassian had almost completely redesigned the map of Ashfall and the surrounding areas.

Alleys that looked normal at first were now Kill Zones.

Explosives had been placed under the stone roads.

Heavy Barricades had been prepared above some paths so they could fall by cutting a rope.

There were Formations at several entrances that could lock the legs of enemy forces for a few seconds.

For an enemy entering the city, Ashfall was no longer a district, it was a huge trap.

Marcus had divided all the Warriors and Tanks into organized groups.

Every group had a commander, every bridge had reserve forces and every Choke Point had a clear retreat path.

Ethan had formed several Strike Teams that would attack the enemy from the side paths if they passed through the defensive line.

Seraphina was in charge of the quick response force.

If any part of the defense was in danger of collapsing, she and the strongest remaining Awakeners would be sent there.

Liana and Shadow Wolf patrolled at night.

Shadow Wolf moved through the shadows of the buildings and checked paths that normal Awakeners could not safely enter.

The Healers had also built three temporary treatment centers.

The Potions had been divided and organized.

The older wounded had been treated as much as possible.

In terms of preparation, the situation was much better than what they had expected a few days ago, but there was one strange thing.

No army had arrived.

Rindo was standing in front of the map inside the council room, his finger on Cinderhold.

”Maelor said two days for the main forces, and he said the fast forces would arrive even earlier.”

”And according to what Lian said, at least one of the armies should have arrived by now, it’s been three days since I talked to him! So why is there still no news?” The President of the Student Council had a bad feeling.

He did not know where this feeling came from, but he did not like it.

No one had an answer.

They knew the first force that was supposed to reach Vhalaris no longer existed.

Six hundred soldiers of the Cinderhold Advance Legion had encountered Lian in a part of Emberroot a few days ago.

And that encounter had ended so completely that not even one organized unit was left to give an exact report.

But according to what they had guessed, the main army of Cinderhold should have arrived by now.

”Every extra hour they give us is good for us.” Rindo took a slow breath.

And it really was.

Every extra hour meant one more Barrier, one more Trap, one less wounded soldier, one more Potion ready.

Some Awakeners had even gotten several hours of real rest.

Food was being given out in the central area, and several Warriors were sitting beside the walls.

The Mages had slept after their long shifts, and even the city had found something close to peace for a few hours.

Ethan was sitting on one of the main Barricades and eating an apple from the Cindari storage.

”I built all these defenses so that no one would attack?” he said to Marcus, who was checking the position of the Tanks.

”You barely built anything.” Marcus did not even turn around.

”I gave them moral support.” Ethan took another bite of the apple.

”The biggest threat to our morale is also you.” Cassian, who was passing beside them, said.

”Everyone is so ungrateful today.”

For a few seconds, even Marcus smiled.

It was at that peaceful moment that the sound of fast footsteps came from the entrance of the area.

They hoped this peace could last a little longer so Lian and Seris could return with good news, but unfortunately they were not going to be that lucky.

An Awakener Scout entered at full speed.

His clothes were covered in dust, he was breathing heavily and the color of his face was also not something that looked like good news.

”President!”

”What happened?” Rindo immediately came out of the council building.

”Military movement has been seen! Enemy! Enemy!” The Scout put his hands on his knees and took several breaths.

The atmosphere around them changed at once and tension filled the entire area.

”How many?”

The Scout did not answer for a few seconds, he was still in a state of shock and did not know how he should answer.

”How many?” Rindo frowned.

”I don’t know.”

That answer from a professional Scout was much worse than any number.

”What do you mean you don’t know?” Cassian took one step forward.

”There are too many.” He paused for a moment and then added a sentence that destroyed all the remaining peace in the area.

”And they are not coming from only one direction.”

Less than a few minutes later, Rindo, Seraphina, Cassian, Marcus, Ethan and Liana climbed the stairs of one of the highest towers in Vhalaris.

The Scout was also with them.

When they reached the upper platform, the Emberroot forest could be seen for kilometers in front of them.

At first, nothing seemed strange.

Huge trunks.

Mist.

Scattered lights.

”There.” Cassian saw the first movement and pointed to the east.

Light.

One.

Then ten.

Then hundreds.

Organized flames were moving between the trees, and the Forge flags and the Cinderhold forked flame could be seen from far away.

”The main army of Cinderhold.” Marcus said quietly, this was the army they had been waiting for for a long time and there was no need to worry.

”That’s only one.” But the Scout spoke, and everyone turned toward the southeast.

It took a few moments for their eyes to adjust to the distance, then more lights appeared.

Another column.

War Beasts.

Carriages.

Different flags.

Emberwell!

Two of the three armies had appeared! And before they had a chance to react in any way ...

”They are there too.” Liana looked toward the north.

In the northern mist, a third army was moving.

Lighter, faster, and the flags of Ashenreach could be seen above the lines.

And among one of the central columns, there were several smaller flags with the old symbol of Rootcrown, Elite forces.

None of the armies had reached the walls of Vhalaris yet, but it was clear what they were doing.

They were spreading out.

East.

North.

South.

They were slowly closing the exit routes, while armored War Beasts moved in the back lines.

Siege Engines could be seen among the columns.

Dozens of Ballistas and Mage Units whose Mana gathering could be seen even from this distance.

Rindo said nothing for a while, and Ethan, who almost always had something to say, was silent this time.

”This isn’t a Legion anymore, there are at least three thousand of them, maybe more.” Marcus said quietly.

Seraphina moved her eyes across the horizon.

From east to south, from south to north.

”They are surrounding the city.”

”How far are the front forces?” Rindo asked the Scout.

”About thirty minutes, if the main force keeps this speed, they will complete the circle around the city by night.”

”So that’s why they didn’t come, they were waiting, they didn’t want to attack one by one, they waited for several cities to arrive at the same time.” Cassian said with some mockery at their own mistake.

Now the strange delay of the past few days made sense.

They had thought they had bought time, but the Cindari had also used that time.

To gather an army that could surround all of Vhalaris instead of simply taking back one district.

Rindo looked down.

The Barricades, the captured Ballistas, the Barrier Nodes, the formation of the Warriors and everything they had built over the past few days.

Until a few minutes ago, Ashfall had looked like a strong fortress.

Now, against thousands of soldiers and several united armies, it suddenly looked much smaller.

”I think our guests have finally arrived.” Ethan finally broke the silence.

No one laughed.

Seraphina said nothing and only looked toward the east, in the direction where Lian had gone, and for a moment a simple thought passed through her mind.

Come back sooner.

But almost at the same moment, she realized this wish was wrong.

Lian should not come back.

If he returned from the Forgotten Tree because of this war, they might keep Vhalaris, but they would lose the Main Quest.

And if they failed the Main Quest, the Cindari armies would become their smallest problem.

So if Lian did not return ... they would have to survive without him ...

but was that even possible? Even if Lian were here, victory against this army would be impossible.