29. Monster Tide – Part C

"The Subjugation isn't over." Twenny repeats confusing them more.

Chuck squints his eyes, "What do you mean? We killed all the monsters and saved the girls- I mean city."

Twenny shakes her head, "If you observed the monsters closely, you'll notice that they were fleeing." Her words drop like a bomb shocking them.

Aku is the first to recover, "What do you mean? They're too many to be consider that fleeing."

Twenny nods, "You're right, but as you heard from the soldiers. This is subjugation was the easiest, a monster subjugation normally lasts for days since the monsters flee. That did not happen."

Flint makes a fist with his hands, "So what do we do? If the subjugation isn't over then w- "

"Tonight." Twenny cuts in, "Tonight. The leader of the monsters is clearly intelligent, send the weaklings to your enemies to give them a false sense of victory. Then strike when they let their guard down."

Aku is shaken, "S..So what do we do? We have to warn them."

Twenny shakes her head, "That won't do." They ask, "Why?" Twenny continues, "Because we're from the countryside. They expect us to bring proof of this after all country bumpkins don't know how monster tides go just hear results. There's nothing we can do but wait." Her words makes them dishearten but, "Oh, I guess there is one thing. We talk to Razzle, he's at the nobles side. I'll go, you guys keep an eye out."

They nod then Chuck grabs Twenny's arm and speaks in a low voice, "I know you can take care of yourself. But be careful." Twenny giggles and nods then leaves. Chuck slumps down, "This means the monsters are going to attack a defenseless city." His thoughts, "Why do I feel so afraid, how Teacher spoke. I'm worried about her, we all are." He looks at his friends to see the same worried looks.

Flint brings chairs over, "We're to conserve our strength, right? Let's sit and wait." They sit down, watching, waiting. 30 minutes pass but they don't give up, they believe Twenny's words, then at the East gates *KA-BOOOM* a big explosion occurs *ROOARR ROOAARR* the roars of monsters follow.

The trio immediately get up and jump towards the east gate, they run on the roof at full speed like blurs towards the gate. The adventurers and soldiers notice this as those of higher-level rush out to see what happened, they see a big fire at the east and go to find out.

Flint readies his sword running on the roof with Chuck and Aku following, Flint jumps and closes his eyes. "ENERGY MANIPULATION > ENERGY SENSE." A wave spreads from him as Chuck and Aku do same, a map is imprinted in their minds. The map has red flames floating over signifying enemies with blue flames representing civilians, there's a green flame for their trusted allies representing Chuck and Aku. Strangely enough, Twenny is represented by a black flame which can't be explained by the System DC.

Flint lands to see a horde of monsters roaming the streets as civilians are killed in gruesome ways. They see a troll lift a boy above its head about to devour him, *AAGGHH!! MUMMY!! HELP ME!!!* The troll brings the boy down right before his mouth as a punch land on its face tossing it back, the boy falls into Chucks arms as he pats his back. "You're safe little buddy. You're safe."

Behind Chuck closing in is a pack of horned wolves, orcs and bear monsters, Aku lands behind him and enters a sword stance. "WEAPON SKILL ACTIVATE." Her twin swords are covered in flames, "SWORD TECHNIQUE > DANCING SWORDS." Aku glows in blue then she runs at them, she twists herself as she slides on her toes through the monsters *SLASH SLASH SLASH SLAHS* she stops behind the monsters as they're covered in cuts. They bleed out and die.

Flint stands before Chuck with a chimera before him, the monster is half goat, half wolf and bird, S rank. The monster glares at Flint *ROOAARRR!!!* a shockwave leaves the monster as it tries to exert pressure around it, it looks back at Flint to find him missing. It turns to the left and sees Flint in the corner of its eyes, "SWORD TECHNIQUE > MOUNTAINS FALL." He swings his broadsword at the chimera's head as the sword increases in size literally. *BOOOM!* the chimera is forced down as the wolf head is crushed, it pushes itself up shocking Flint.

Flint jumps back, "Teacher said when monsters are cornered, finish it before it can fight back. ENERGY MANIPULATION > *He points his sword at the goat head* CONDENSED ENERGY RAY." A ray shoots out of his sword as the goat head is blasted off, the chimera falls *THUD* Flint peeks at the map, "The eastern side is nearly covered in red flames, at this rate the city will really be overrun. Huh?" Blue flames start to pop up from the central section of the city. It zooms in to show silhouettes of soldiers but their appearance isn't made clear.

Flint walks back to see Chuck using healing runes on a group of people as the boy has been reunited with his mother who's broken leg is healing. Aku appears from thin air startling the people but they calm after seeing she's human. Flint walks up to Chuck, "Chuck, it seems the soldiers are coming."

Chuck keeps healing, "That's faster than expected, I think Miss Twenny managed to convince Razzle." He stops using the runes and makes a runic circle with all the people inside as they heal slowly, they are fascinated by his skill.

Aku looks at Chuck and tilts her head as her thoughts, "He's different from how he normally is. He could actually make a great knight if he didn't have such a flaw." She gives a wry smile then speaks, "Monsters will arrive here soon. I think the people should meet the soldiers." The people are frightened because they think monsters are near.

A man who seems to be a merchant speaks, "But we can't! The monsters will get us if we are separated from you." Aku tilts her head in confusion, "All the monsters around us are dead." The people are taken aback, they observe Aku to see her sword dripping with different colors of blood.

Chuck gives a different smile that reassures them, "Don't worry everyone, she's more capable than you think. Lady knight here has made the place safe, you should leave before the stronger monsters come." The merchant who has become the leader of the bunch nods, "O…Okay. We'll go." He turns to the people, "Quickly everyone, let's leave." He herds them to the center of Frishia.

The trio gets serious as they grip their weapons, Aku breaks the silence. "Do you guys also sense that?"

Chuck takes in a deep breath, "Yeah. It's hard not to notice."

Flint gives a wry smile, "That oppressive pressure from the mountain, it's possible the leader of the monsters. If that thing does attacks, we'll lose. I know Teacher is strong but I doubt she could even beat that thing." He gets in a sword stance.

Aku gets ready, "So what do we do now? It's not like it came to watch."

They are silent then Chuck gets an idea, "How about we bluff our strength?" their confused, "I mean, it's probable gauging our strengths. If we bluff that we're very strong it might make it desist from attacking. That is if it's not confident after our bluff."

Aku nods, "It's the only plan we've got. Let's make it work." She charges ahead as her sword is covered in fire. Flint puts his sword on his shoulders and also runs after Aku. Chuck picks up a pillar? He picks a pillar and puts it on his shoulders