Loud explosions tore through the chaotic atmosphere. Arrows, Spells, and even streams of boiling liquids were flying all over the place. The fighters on the walls were busy resupplying the mages and ranged attackers. The horde was so dense that every projectile hit, no matter how poorly aimed.

Aenon was greeted with a stray Spell to his face as he stepped onto the wall. Luckily his Magical Barrier blocked it. In the mayhem, it was not even possible to know where the attack came from. The people were in such disarray that no one even seemed to notice that their city leader had returned to the wall.

After an hour-long rest—the most he could afford in the current circumstances—Aenon had decided to return to the front lines. As had Thalindra, who was in her normal form this time. Many of the healers had taken the role of field medics instead of hanging in the back. With their limited numbers, it wasn't possible to play safe.

"WATCH OUT!" someone yelled from down below.

A rain of vicious barbs followed, skewering many of the mages mid cast. Unfortunately, two of them died instantly, not giving the healers enough time to do their job.

"Anyone has Resurrection off cooldown?" one of the healers bellowed.

Aenon recalled the cooldown on the crucial Spell. He had only seen the Spell once, when Faelira had cast it on him. Most other times he was either solo, or in a party without a dedicated healer. Luckily, he hadn't had to rely on the Spell since the time he had died to the former Arbiter.

"I'll go on ahead," Thalindra informed Aenon before walking towards the injured.

She raised her hand, showering the two deceased in a soft white light. Within seconds the two combatants were back to full strength. As were the scores of people with debilitating injuries.

"Healers, to me," Thalindra called out.

The stunned novices quickly fell in line, following her commands. The broken ranks knitted back together as Thalindra walked across the battlefield.

Aenon smiled at the display. The look was in stark contrast to her wraith form. Where once she was the beacon of death, her current form was like a fountain of healing. Everywhere she passed, the battle formations were reforged with precision, a new vigor to the previously weary fighters.

He could have joined but decided to be a passive observer instead. He slid into the Shadow Realm and stalked the battleground. Instead of participating in the fight, he provided back-end support where needed. A protective barrier here; a redirected projectile there; he just glided across the chaos like a casual walk in the park.

Eventually he made his way to the spot where Ignar and the rest were. True to his nature, Ignar was knee deep in a mountain of monster corpses, his berserker's form unleashed. Some dozen paces away, his wife was doing the same. A maelstrom of fire cutting across the monster tide with ease. Even Jenny and the dwarves had carved their own circles amidst the horde.

But in Jenny's case, there was a full company of fighters at her back. The ice mage expertly handled the aggro, while her team dished out the damage. The wolves on the other hand, stayed at the edges of the kill zones. Any monster that was about to break out was consumed in a torrent of darkness.

Aenon noticed that the kill circles were placed strategically to only allow a controlled trickle towards the walls. Enough to keep the ranged fighters on their toes, but not enough to overwhelm them. Aenon realized he had completely underestimated the former vice Guild Leader yet again. The coordination and planning were breathtaking.

And of course, the star of the show were the weapons that Borin crafted. Each Unstable Mana Bomb and Gimmicky Arrow wreaked havoc in the enemy lines. Random Spell effects plagued the lands, leaving nothing but death and destruction. There were even a few spear users who were using the javelins—Wrath of the Fallen—to great effect.

Unfortunately, the one-time use items were in short supply. And once they were exhausted, they had to fall back on ordinary weapons. Which were still effective, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Aenon approached Jenny's group for a closer look. The pressure on their formation had gone up several folds once Borin's magical projectiles had run out. But the red head still managed to hold the line while protecting her team. As he reached them, he noticed the ferocity with which they fought. There was no skill or training involved, many of them were flailing their weapons blindly. But Jenny still managed to minimize the losses.

"Back up on the right," Jenny screamed while ramming her shield into a charging bull type monster. The creature—a level 95 Karnyx, whatever that was—was knocked out cold.

Several of the fighters had serious injuries, and the healers were struggling to keep everyone in fighting form.

"Hey, get back in formation."

Aenon saw that most had gained a dozen levels or so. But their lack of training was showing. The only thing keeping everything in check was Jenny's ice. Several ice walls littered the ground, probably set up to block an attack or provide temporary shelter.

The pressure was getting to Jenny, something that was apparent to Aenon's Soul Sense. She could obviously keep this up for several more hours, but the frustration was another matter. Some of it had begun to slip in through her Awakened state.

Aenon made his presence known, dropping out of the Shadow Realm. No one except Jenny picked up on it, too desperate to just survive. The ice mage's shoulders visibly relaxed as she flexed her sore muscles to fully focus on the three creatures charging at her.

The spike attack that was aimed at the group was blocked by an earth wall instead of an ice one. It was only then that the novice fighters noticed the black armored youth within their ranks. Many jumped back in fright, while others stared with starry eyes. The Korean woman from last night—Yoon On-Ji—had her jaw wide open, her spear hanging limply to the side.

"Take a five-minute break," Aenon said calmly.

He set up a few more walls for protection before walking towards Jenny. Aenon could almost feel the smile on the shield maiden's lips as he got into position behind her. She gave a defiant roar, Taunting several dozen monsters towards her.

What followed was a dizzying display of coordination as Aenon and Jenny tore through the horde easily. Having dropped her shackles, Jenny cut loose with abandonment. She waded into areas with more monsters than before. And with Aenon at her rear, nothing could get close to her from her blind spots.

They fought with their backs to each other for the next five minutes, killing far more monsters than before. Within five minutes, a dead zone was carved around them. An area that the beasts refused to enter despite them keeping their Auras in check.

Jenny stood tall with her sword resting on her shoulder, a broad smile on her face. Aenon had his twin daggers out, a soft smile on his. The two shared a look before turning to the stunned crowd on the side.

"That is what a tank and DPS can do together," Jenny said with authority. "I hold the line, while he wreaks devastation. We are not two entities working in tandem. We are two halves of a whole. Like a sword and shield."

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Aenon could feel the emotions bubbling under the surface. Wonder, awe, and hunger. They all seemed to realize the unsaid words: working together was key.

"Thanks for the reprieve," Jenny spoke to Aenon in secret. "It's been exhausting to keep them alive."

"More difficult than the pups?" Aenon asked with a wink.

"The pups had instinct guiding them," Jenny said with a mental sigh. "I have my work cut out with this lot."

Aenon suppressed his laugh, turning away from the group to maintain his enigmatic image.

"Well, let me know if you need a break," Aenon said. "I'll be around."

He dissolved into the shadows, acknowledging Jenny's nod with a wave before doing so. He had done his part, now it was up to the green fighters to learn something from their example.

"Break's up," Jenny yelled, startling several of the huddled fighters. "Check your gear and follow."

Aenon chuckled quietly. The Jenny of old was almost unidentifiable to the commander who was leading the charge. He doubted anyone who knew her from before the integration would even recognize her. Her mother included.

His mood soured a little when he recalled that woman. Aenon really hoped she had done something using the chance he had given her. He was not looking forward to ending her, purely out of respect for Jenny.

Like Aenon, Thalindra too was passively traversing the battlefield. Her contribution was purely limited to healing and taking charge of areas where things weren't going well. Neither of them took an active part, but their presence made a difference. The boost in morale was almost palpable as the leaders made brief but impactful displays at critical points.

Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, many people still got killed. The cooldown on the Resurrection Spell forcing them to let go of many men and women. Even so, the mood was still positive as the end was within their sights.

The siege went on for hours, forcing the fighters to take little breaks in between. Aenon and Thalindra pitched in when such periods of rest were needed. By nightfall, the entire fiasco was brought under control. A retreat was called from the walls, forcing the exhausted fighters to leave the battlefield behind.

Only a hundred or so monsters were left. And Thalindra had a plan for the closing attack. Apparently, theatrics were an important part of running a city. Something Aenon would have vehemently argued against if he had not personally experienced its effects.

As the soldiers made their way back, Ignar and the others took over. The dwarves corralled the monsters into a central spot, as did the wolves. Jenny led her followers back to the city before hurrying back. She too joined the others in keeping the monsters boxed in. By the end of it, there was a neat circle that the mind-controlled beasts were trying to break out of. But the oppressive Auras prevented a retreat.

But the monsters didn't form a circle. They made a ring. Since at the center stood Aenon. His hands were empty, while his Aura was restrained. Only a brief leak warned the terrified beasts not to approach the apex predator amidst them.

A crowd started to gather on the walls, looking on in wonder at the surreal scene. A hundred blood thirsty monsters being held at bay by a tiny group in comparison. Their city leader was standing at the center like it was his backyard.

The horde they had feared was reduced to almost nothing. But most importantly, their show of strength was a clear sign that things were under control from the start. Had they chosen to, the seven Awakened could have held back the tide by themselves.

"Blooming Earth," Aenon whispered with Aura laced words.

The quiet sound thundered in everyone's ears as sharp spikes began to radiate outwards. The monsters howled in pain as they got skewered by the dozens. None managed to take more than two steps before the attack claimed them. The spikes stopped at the perimeter the others had set up.

The citizens of Pinespire stared with wide eyes at the grim display. A blood red flower blooming outwards with one boy standing at the center. With six figures, and eight shadows surrounding it.

Absolute silence reigned across the empty battleground. The mountains of corpses littered the expanse as the sun set in the background. Everyone was either too stunned, or too exhausted to speak.

Thalindra was the first to move, walking at a casual pace to stand between Aenon's signature attack and the fort walls. She lifted the black orb in the air, sucking in all the death mana into it. Slowly she transformed into a wraith and floated upwards, her haunting eyes closed as she did. Only when she hovered over them all did she open them, a shrill cry ringing out the next instant. The banshee's scream announcing the closure to the epic battle.

But the scream wasn't just symbolic. Something happened then that even Aenon wasn't aware of. Ethereal forms began to rise all over the place. The ghosts of the fallen warriors who had given their lives to defend their home. Their expressions were of confusion as they analyzed their translucent visages.

Everyone's eyes were drawn to the silent specter floating in the air. Aenon could sense the silent chill spreading across the populace. Thalindra only addressed the ghosts.

"You have made the ultimate sacrifice," her raspy voice boomed. "It is only right that you be given a choice. Resurrection can no longer work on you. But the dead still heed my call. In the Multiverse, the undead races are feared by most. But many accept them as well. So, choose. Your lives have ended. But you may have a second chance in undeath. You won't feel warmth, hunger, or pain. But your emotions will be untouched. I promise you that."

The ghosts exchanged looks, surprise and fear apparent on their faces. Aenon could sense that their souls had been reconstructed after dissipating. They didn't look like the living, having lost something in the process. But their free will and consciousness had endured. Something Thalindra had gone to great lengths to ensure.

Several of the dead marched forward and took a knee, while others hung back.

"I only wish to protect my family," a female ghost spoke while kneeling. "My form is not important. I thank you for this opportunity."

"I—," another man spoke, "only wish to explore the cosmos. With so much to explore, I cannot let my journey end here."

Yet others chose not to take up the offer.

"I thank you for giving us the choice," a middle-aged man said solemnly. "Your call pulled back my consciousness against my will. But I can feel that you are forcing yourself to allow us the chance to decide. For that, I will be eternally grateful. But I think I am done. This new reality is not for me."

The others soon made their decision. Either walking up to Thalindra or standing to the side. Several citizens ran out of the city to meet up with their loved ones. Wails echoed through the night as the living desperately tried to convince the dead to stay with them. Some succeeded, while others didn't.

A woman ran up to Thalindra, pleading to make her husband stay.

"Please, he doesn't know what he is doing," she said between sobs. "He will come around. Just anchor him for now."

Thalindra shook her head. "The choice must be his. Neither Lord Fenrast, nor I will ever force upon someone's free will."

The woman's face contorted in pain and anguish.

"You all did this," the desperate woman screamed. "You had the power to stop this on your own. Yet you allowed him to die. And for what? To show how powerful you are? To flaunt your might to those who do not share your gifts."

Her next words died in her throat as an extremely oppressive Aura descended on everyone. Aenon walked forward, not holding back his Aura in the slightest. Several people collapsed in terror, including the woman who even forgot that she was crying.

"I have never made promises of comfort or safety," Aenon's cold voice thundered in the air. "Not because I can't provide it. But because I don't want others to rely on me without a backup. Tell me this, if not for us, how many of you are confident of survival? Do you think any of you could have lived freely? This city would either have been your grave, or your prison."

His words cut out the vestiges of doubt and deep hate towards him. It was human nature to find someone to blame when one lost their loved ones. It was only natural for them to direct that self-loathing towards Aenon, who everyone viewed as the lynchpin of the entire event.

Aenon retracted his Aura, making the people relax a bit. But his tone wasn't soft as he continued chiding them for their false sense of entitlement.

"This entire exercise wasn't a demonstration of my power, or theirs" Aenon said firmly while pointing at Ignar and the rest. "It was a display of yours. Every one of you. Look around. An army of several thousand lay siege to one tiny town filled with inexperienced fighters. And the outcome is the testament to your resilience and strength."

Realization struck everyone's soul at his assessment. For it was true. Aenon and the others may have culled the numbers; watched the battlefield as silent guardians to reduce casualties. But no one could deny that the people of Pinespire had risen for themselves. They protected their lives and freedom using their own tears, sweat, and blood.

The woman looked away in shame as her husband's ghost tried consoling her softly. Aenon turned to the city at large, projecting his voice using magic.

"I am not an unbreachable shield," he said with fierce determination. "The Multiverse is vast; there are many who could eliminate me in a heartbeat. And I have no qualms about it as long as I stay true to myself. Relying on me or anyone else is a fool's errand. And a surefire way to lose your autonomy. I don't need anyone to follow me. I want you all to stand on your own two feet."

Thalindra floated down to the ground, taking up position behind him. As did Ignar and the others. Slowly they followed Aenon towards the city gates, leaving the grieving people to exchange their final words. The ghosts that decided to stay followed in line behind Thalindra.

As the procession entered the city, the mood was solemn despite their victory. The undead were a stark reminder of the price they paid to survive. But it was also a symbol of their city leadership's stance.

This was not a city of unconditional safety. It was a place of opportunity. For any bold enough to grab it.

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