The decision was made quickly. There was no time for lengthy debates.

The air was thick with tension, and the men’s faces reflected the gravity of the situation.

Clavor, Master Thorne, and the remaining six guards would stay in Hill Village throughout the entire night.

The objective was simple. Prevent the infestation from completely overrunning the village.

Prevent the rats from consuming the food and the few resources that still remained, for that would only make the horde and the Rat King grow even stronger.

And above all... Prevent that monstrous tide from advancing toward Dmond Manor.

Clavor turned toward his son. His expression remained firm, but the concern in his eyes was impossible to hide.

The wrinkles around his eyes appeared deeper, and the scar on his cheek seemed more pronounced beneath the torchlight.

"Lukas... go back to the manor."

His voice came out deep, laden with concern.

"Your mother and your sister need you there."

Lukas remained still. His violet eyes, marked by the subtle golden ring, met his father’s.

The night wind stirred his white hair, and the surrounding torches cast dancing shadows across his face.

"No."

The answer came immediately, firm as steel.

"I’m staying here."

Clavor frowned, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.

"Lukas..."

"I’ll be safe. You’ll be here. Master Thorne will be here too. Tilbo and Prata will stay by my side the entire time."

He paused briefly, his eyes still fixed on his father.

"And if something truly dangerous happens... I promise I’ll run straight to the manor."

Clavor remained silent. He looked at Tilbo for a long moment. The enormous ant stood motionless like a black statue, its metallic carapace reflecting the torchlight in silvery patterns. Then he looked at Prata. The spider had already begun anchoring thick silver threads between several nearby buildings, preparing a defensive position.

The warrior sighed. His broad shoulders slumped slightly, a sign of surrender.

"Very well..."

He pointed a finger at Lukas, the gesture stern.

"But only observe. Don’t go to the wall. Don’t take unnecessary risks."

"Yes, Father."

Lukas smiled faintly.

While everyone began making their final preparations, he quietly walked away from the group.

He chose one of the tallest houses in the village, a two-story building with a thatched roof that offered a panoramic view of the entire perimeter.

The wooden walls had darkened with age, and several roof tiles were loose, but the structure appeared sturdy.

He stopped in front of it. With a quick flick of his wrist...

A thick white web shot toward the top of the roof. The thread gleamed beneath the starlight, silver like a strand of moonlight.

He grabbed the thread and pulled himself upward. He climbed swiftly, hand over hand, his feet finding purchase against the wooden wall with an agility that would have astonished anyone watching.

A few seconds later, he was already sitting atop the roof.

From there... he could see nearly the entire village.

The massive earthen wall created by Master Thorne stretched across the landscape like a dark scar, veins of Fire mana pulsing faintly across its surface.

The hidden traps were nearly invisible to ordinary eyes, yet easily distinguishable to Lukas through the subtle streams of mana rising from the ground. The torches scattered throughout the streets created islands of light within the growing darkness.

And above all... the dark line of the forest.

Tilbo and Prata remained on the ground. One on each side of the house. Like two silent guardians. Tilbo kept his antennae raised, sensing every vibration traveling through the earth.

Prata had already woven a network of fine threads among the nearby trees, a warning web that would vibrate at the slightest touch.

Astra landed silently on Lukas’s shoulder, her light talons resting against his robe. The little eagle’s golden eyes were also fixed upon the forest, her keen vision sweeping through the darkness.

Everyone waited. Time itself seemed to crawl.

Night fell completely.

The sky became a black ocean, without moon or stars. The few stars that had appeared at the beginning of the night vanished behind thick, low-hanging clouds, as though the heavens themselves were closing in anticipation.

The air grew colder, heavier, carrying the scent of damp earth and something else, something metallic, like the smell of blood.

The moonlight barely managed to pierce the darkness. The only sources of illumination were a handful of flickering torches scattered throughout the village, their flames dancing in the wind like restless souls. The shadows stretched and twisted, creating shapes that did not exist.

The silence was absolute.

Until...

Crack...

A branch.

Then another.

Crack.

Crack.

Crack.

The sound repeated itself, irregular, yet constant. Something was moving within the forest.

Then came a different sound.

Thousands of tiny feet running all at once. A continuous noise, like heavy rainfall.

Or an entire river rushing through the forest.

Lukas’s eyes widened. His hearing caught everything. His heart began to race.

The sounds grew louder.

Every second. Closer. More numerous. Heavier.

The bushes began to sway.

Entire young trees trembled.

It was as though the forest itself were breathing.

Clavor tightened his grip on his sword. The guards swallowed nervously. Even Master Thorne narrowed his eyes.

Then... Lukas saw them.

While everyone else could see nothing but shadows... his eyes reached far beyond.

Hundreds. No... Thousands. Thousands of tiny red points.

Glowing among the trees. They looked like living embers. Moving rapidly. Black bodies surged forward in waves.

Some were the size of dogs. Others were nearly as large as calves.

Their corrupted tails left faint trails of purple mana as they lashed through the air.

The sight sent a chill racing down Lukas’s spine.

It was like watching an entire ocean advancing toward them.

"They’re here..." he murmured.

Almost at the same instant... Clavor raised his voice.

"Everyone, to your positions!"

The guards braced their spears, their faces pale beneath the torchlight. Master Thorne placed one hand against the earthen wall.

Mana began flowing throughout the entire structure, veins of light racing across its surface like nerves.

The first rats burst through the tree line.

They charged forward in a complete frenzy.

Their red eyes blazed with hunger. Foam dripped from their mouths.

Their enormous teeth clattered together.

Then...

The first trap awakened.