Evacuating civilians while the others held the front lines had proven to be a wise decision.
More and more people were getting out of immediate danger—and for a moment, it felt like we were gaining ground.
That's when it happened.
A **second** horde of monsters appeared—this time coming from an entirely different direction.
"We might have to slow down and regroup," one of the adventurers said to the others, his eyes darting nervously toward the side streets. "If the entire city's overrun, we'll be exhausted before we even reach the core."
He wasn't wrong.
The Capital City is vast, and if monsters kept pouring in from all sides, it would stretch our forces too thin.
Still… with the strength of our current group, it was doable. Risky, but doable.
Up ahead, Miss Kaelyn raised her voice, commanding with precision:
"Half of us, break formation and move to intercept the horde from the left! Move fast!"
Without hesitation, the force split, one half breaking off to engage the new horde.
Just as I finished guiding another family toward the northern path, an elderly man paused to thank me.
"Young man! Thank you for helping us!"
I offered him a small nod. "Ah, no worries. I'm just doing what I've been told to do."
I let out a quiet sigh. "Just a bit more... and we'll be done here in this area."
**Crash!**
The sound of splintering wood and shattering stone snapped me out of thought.
I turned just in time to see a **massive orc**, larger than any I'd seen before, burst through the rear of a building with a rusty cleaver in hand.
"Where the hell did _this_ one come from?" I muttered, eyes wide.
"**Behind you!**" I yelled toward the front lines, waving frantically.
But before anyone could react, the giant orc leapt forward with shocking speed—and with a single, brutal swing of his cleaver, cut down a cluster of adventurers and knights from behind.
"What?! How—?!" Miss Sera turned, her voice filled with disbelief as she noticed the rear being torn apart.
And that wasn't the end of it.
Several **more orcs**, though smaller, charged in behind him—crashing through buildings like beasts, bare-handed and mindless, smashing everything in their path.
"AAAHH!"
Panic spread like fire among the back ranks. Several low-ranked adventurers and mages scattered, the formation falling apart.
_Clang!_
A metallic thud rang out as I instinctively raised my sword, deflecting a jagged piece of broken armor thrown my way.
"Thanks, Sir Knight!" a young boy shouted, running past me with tear-filled eyes.
"I'm not a knight kid—just keep moving! Get out of here, quickly!" I called after him.
I exhaled slowly, gripping my sword tightly now.
"I guess... in the end, I have to draw it after all."
---