Transmigrated As An Extra In The Apocalypse-Chapter 66 - 65: Positions

The city gate loomed behind us, its massive steel frame casting a long, jagged shadow over the cracked earth.

Beyond it, the world stretched out in shades of gray and green, rolling hills, dense forests, and the faint outline of distant mountains shrouded in mist.

The air always smelled different out here, sharp and wild, carrying the faint tang of damp soil and something else I couldn’t quite place.

Danger, maybe.

It was hard to tell.

I stood with my team, the five of us huddled in a loose circle just outside the gate.

The others were already moving, soldiers and awakened alike fanning out across the open field, their voices carrying on the wind as they organized themselves into groups around the wall.

Some were seasoned fighters, their movements sharp and confident.

Others, newbies, looked lost, their wide eyes and fumbling hands betraying their inexperience or rather fear.

I could see it in the way they clutched their weapons too tightly, the way they glanced over their shoulders as if expecting something to jump out at them any second.

Edward was the first to speak, his voice low but carrying over the noise.

"We should split up," he said, his eyes scanning the field. "Join the newbie groups. They’re going to need all the help they can get."

There was a pause as the rest of us considered his words.

I could see the hesitation on their faces, the slight tightening of jaws, the way their eyes flicked toward the more experienced groups.

It was tempting, I knew, to stick together, to rely on the familiar dynamic of our team.

But Edward was right.

The newbies were out here, same as us, and if we didn’t step in, they’d be easy targets.

"If we don’t help them," I said, breaking the silence, "they’ll panic. They’ll make mistakes. And those mistakes could cost us all."

The words hung in the air, heavy and unyielding.

I didn’t need to spell it out, we all knew what was at stake.

The orc lord armies weren’t something you could face half-prepared.

One wrong move, one moment of hesitation, and it could mean the difference between life and death.

Not just for them, but for everyone.

If we don’t join them, the strongest survivors will be only one side, while the weak will be alone and die.

Mira, one of our newer members, shifted uncomfortably.

"But if we split up," she said, her voice tinged with uncertainty, "we’ll be spread thin. What if we can’t handle it?"

I turned to her, meeting her gaze.

"We’re fighters," I said, my voice steady. "We have been here for long, and experienced battles that they haven’t. If we can guide them, keep them focused, they’ll be an asset instead of a liability. And that gives us a better chance out there."

There was a moment of silence as the weight of my words settled over the group.

Then, slowly, they began to nod.

Edward was the first, his expression hardening.

"Alright," he said. "I’ll take the group on the left side of the wall. Mira, you head to the right side. Jax, you’ve got the back. Amber-"

"I’ll take the front," I said, cutting him off.

It wasn’t a question.

The front was where the action would be, where the first wave of orcs would hit.

If anyone was going to lead there, it had to be me.

Edward hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Fine. But make sure you stay safe, don’t die," Edward said, turning his back and leaving.

"You should know better than anyone, that I won’t die" I said.

With that they all went their separate ways.

I was alone now, the rest of my team scattered among the newbies, each of us taking on the responsibility of leading those who had never faced anything like this before.

The air felt heavier out here, closer to the wall, where the shadows stretched long and the faint hum of the city’s energy fields buzzed faintly in the background.

It was a strange kind of stillness, the kind that made your skin prickle with anticipation.

As I walked close to the city gate to take positions, I noticed the stares.

At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but no, their eyes followed me, lingering a little too long before darting away.

I knew why.

My golden cyber suit caught the light, reflecting it in sharp, glinting flashes.

My hair, the same metallic gold, fell in loose waves over my shoulders, and my eyes, unnaturally bright, like molten gold, stood out more in the sunlight.

Which was very odd.

To them, I must have looked like something not quite real, not quite human.

I didn’t blame them for staring.

I would have done the same.

I offered a polite smile as I passed a group of newbies, their faces a mix of awe and nervousness.

One of them, a girl with short-cropped hair and a rifle slung over her shoulder, managed a small wave.

"Hey," she said, her voice tentative. "You’re... you’re Awakened Amber, right?"

I nodded, slowing my pace just enough to acknowledge her.

"Right that’s me. Stay sharp out there, okay?"

She nodded quickly, her grip tightening on her rifle.

The others in her group murmured greetings, their eyes still wide as they took me in.

I didn’t linger.

There wasn’t time for introductions or small talk.

Not with what was coming.

I found a spot near the gate, the slight rise in the terrain that gave me a clear view of the field ahead.

The ground was uneven, littered with rocks and patches of stubborn grass that had somehow survived the constant tread of boots.

It wasn’t perfect, but it would do.

I crouched down, my fingers brushing against the cool metal of my gun as I pulled it from its holster.

I ran my thumb over the grip, feeling the faint grooves etched into the surface.

This gun had seen me through more fights than I could count.

It has been the gun I had been using ever since.

It even came with my suit.

How long has it been...

Not so long.

Just for a year.

I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I scanned the horizon.

The wall loomed behind me, its massive frame casting a long shadow over the field.

Somewhere beyond it, the city was still alive, still bustling with people who had little or no idea what was about to happen.

I couldn’t afford to think about them right now.

I had to focus.

I had to be ready.

"You’ve done this before," I muttered under my breath, my voice barely audible over the distant hum of activity. "You know what to do. Stay calm. Stay focused. Don’t let them get to you. Fight with all you got."

The words were more for myself than anyone else.

It was easy to get lost in the chaos, to let the fear and uncertainty creep in.

But I couldn’t afford that.

Not now.

I tightened my grip on the gun, feeling the cool metal press into my palm.

"You’ve got this," I whispered. "You’ve always had this."

Suddenly the ground beneath me trembled, a faint but unmistakable rumble that sent a jolt through my chest.

I froze, my eyes snapping to the horizon.

For a moment, there was nothing, just the empty field and the distant treeline.

Then it came again, stronger this time, the vibration traveling up through my boots and into my legs.

The sound followed a second later, a deep, rhythmic thud that echoed across the field like the beat of some monstrous drum.

Footsteps.

Heavy, deliberate, and getting closer.

I rose to my feet, my heart pounding slightly in my chest as I scanned the horizon.

The newbies nearby had gone silent, their faces pale as they turned toward the sound.

One of them, a awakened boy with a mop of dark hair and a sword that looked too big for him, swallowed hard, his knuckles white as he gripped the hilt.

"Is that...?" he started, his voice trembling.

"The orc lord armies," I said, cutting him off.

My voice was calm, but I could feel the tension coiling in my chest, tightening like a spring.

"Get ready. They’re here."

The words were barely out of my mouth when the first figures appeared on the horizon, hulking, shadowy shapes moving with a terrifying speed.

The ground shook with every step they took, the sound of their approach growing louder and louder until it felt like the air itself was vibrating.

The newbies around me tensed, their breaths coming in short, panicked gasps.

I could see the fear in their eyes, the way their hands trembled as they gripped their weapons.

But there was no time to comfort them, no time to offer reassurances.

The orcs and goblins were coming, and we had to be ready.

I raised my gun, the weight of it steady in my hands as I took aim.

My heart was racing, but my mind was clear.

This was it.

No turning back.

The orc lord armies had arrived.