The Attack

The horse riders, dressed in ancient Chinese warrior uniforms, appeared from behind the hill.

Their banners were fluttering. They sat on horses and wore masks, looking terrifying.

The riders remained on their horses for a while, but then they began to cheer when one rider, wearing red armor and riding a black horse without a mask, seemed to be shouting encouragement to them.

Ash watched their actions through his binoculars. His palms felt sweaty with nervousness.

He turned to his uncle, then to Gabriel, and then to the entire Sassi Hunter team.

Everyone looked serious and focused on the enemy troops. Their expressions showed no fear at all.

'Is this what they call being used to it because of experience?' Ash wondered to himself.

Very different from him, who felt extremely nervous.

John said to Ash, who was next to him, "Can I ask you to send your summoned creatures to face them first?"

Ash turned to his uncle, who was still watching Jiahao's group, and said, "Yes, Uncle."

He then gave a mental command to all his creatures, including Jagu, to confront Jiahao's group.

Spidy, Jagu, the Minotaurs, and Centaurions ran towards the cavalry to block them.

They caused the horses to rear up on their hind legs or turn abruptly, colliding with the horses behind them.

The riders fell on the ground, either stepped at by the terrified horses or collided with their own friends.

The creatures immediately slaughtered Jiahao's members. Jagu tore off one of their heads, while Spidy pierced someone's chest, leaving them hanging from his legs.

Not to be outdone, a Minotaur smashed someone's head with a sickening crack, and a Centaurion impaled one of Jiahao's members with his spear, throwing the person into the troops behind them.

Ash watched in horror through his binoculars as his summoned creatures wreaked havoc.

The Sassi Hunters cheered loudly, then started shouting, "We also want to join in and slaughter them!" with other members agreeing and shouting in support.

Soon, their rhythmic chanting of "Slaughter! Slaughter! Slaughter!" could be heard.

Ash turned to all the members of the Sassi Hunters, who were all waving their weapons in the air, making him shiver. They all looked eager to kill until every drop of their enemies' blood was spilled on the ground.

Accidentally, his eyes caught sight of Liliana, who was sitting on the hood of a car. She wasn't chanting but was instead staring at Ash.

Their eyes met, and Liliana smirked at him.

Suddenly, John's voice rang out, yelling, "Attack!"

Ash glanced in his direction, then at the Sassi Hunters, who immediately spurred their horses and vehicles onto the battlefield.

Including Liliana, who stood confidently yet gracefully on top of a car, with both her kodachis drawn in each hand.

"Call back all your creatures. Let the Sassi Hunters handle the rest," John's voice came from beside him.

Trembling, Ash summoned all his creatures, including Jagu. Spidy, the Minotaurs, and the Centaurions returned to the circle on his forehead, and Jagu ran towards him.

Jagu stood beside him, licking his blood-soaked paws and hands. Ash turned his face away and gave a mental command for Jagu to return to the size of a normal jaguar.

The Sassi Hunters easily defeated the forces of Jiahoa, with little resistance.

The creatures summoned by Ash had thrown their troops into disarray, as the horses they rode on scattered and panicked.

Soon, they returned, with Gabriel bringing back the head of the leader of Jiahoa's forces.

With wide eyes, Ash watched the head that Gabriel carried, and he was holding it by the hair.

The eyes of the head were open, but its mouth was closed. A thin mustache and long black beard, typical of the generals Ash had seen in Eastern films.

Gabriel approached John, who then examined the head and nodded.

John immediately called out to the Sassi Hunters, "You all did an excellent job, especially this time we owe our gratitude to my nephew, Ash. Without the creatures he summoned, we would have faced many difficulties in defeating them."

"Now let's go home and celebrate our absolute victory today!"

"Yes!"

"Hurray!!"

All the members of the Sassi Hunters cheered loudly. Ash awkwardly smiled at each member who patted him on the shoulder or shook his hand.

Ash approached his uncle and asked, "Uncle, what about the victims?"

John looked at him with a smile. His usual expression had returned, friendly and seemingly kind-hearted.

"They will disappear soon because this is in the game. At most, in a day, everything will be clean again," John replied.

Ash nodded. John patted him on the shoulder and said, "Let's go back. The townspeople are waiting for us."

***

At the Town Hall, the residents who had been watching the battle earlier had prepared food for a celebration.

A variety of dishes including steak, cakes, bread, salads, and many other types of food were spread out on the long buffet table.

After finishing their showers, Ash and John walked together towards the Town Hall.

They walked in silence until John finally broke the quiet, saying, "I know what you were thinking earlier when we were fighting."

Ash was surprised by John's sudden statement and immediately turned to look at him.

He saw John staring ahead as he walked, but John did not continue what he had just said.

'What does he mean?' thought Ash.

After a moment, John said, "These attacks happen very often. Sometimes once a week, sometimes once a month. We have lost many people because of them."

Ash gasped and asked, "So, is there a chance there will be another attack from another group next week?"

"Yes," John replied. "That's why we have to eliminate them. If we let them live, they will come back again."

"But I still think it's cruel, Uncle. I am sorry," said Ash, lowering his head, feeling bad for criticizing his uncle.

"You have to learn to be ruthless, Ash. If not, they will finish you off, or you won't return home quickly," John said in a hoarse voice.