Chapter 37: The Roar Beneath the Barrier
Ash sees a lion monster sneak attack toward Ram with its dagger-like claws. His breathing slows from nervous tension as he thinks, Ram is the main dealer against a large number of level 0 monsters. If Ram gets injured, we'll face heavy casualties defending the city. And many might start doubting my capability... that would be a disaster for me. But just as the lion strikes, Ash sees Evan use his shield with both hands to block the attack, protecting Ram. A wave of immense relief washes over him.
After a few more minutes of fighting, Ash notices the second lion monster making strange movements. He thinks, Maybe this monster is preparing to attack... He looks toward Evan and sees him locked in battle with the first lion. A cold fear grips Ash's chest. Evan is busy... then who's going to stop the second lion's attack? Based on my calculation, this lion is going for the formation's weak point—that group of new soldiers. They're easier targets and more effective to disrupt than us.
Panic rising, Ash shouts to Ram and Robin, warning them about the second lion's movement. He tells them to prepare for a sneak attack, both on themselves and on the new soldiers.
Seconds later, they respond, "Don't worry! Just focus on killing monsters as fast as you can. Once we finish them off, we can take down the lion monsters too!"
Ash sighs briefly, then continues attacking the monsters, defending as best he can. Their numbers keep increasing, forcing him to cast fireball after fireball. He's launched five so far, and a small headache starts throbbing at his temples. He asks two nearby soldiers to take over the defense at the golden barrier's crack. That gives him two minutes of relief, but the soldiers struggle to hold the line. He's forced to jump back in.
While defending, he keeps an eye on the lion monsters. Ram is fighting the first one alongside other monsters, and Evan stands in the middle of the formation, waiting for the second lion. Relief surges through Ash as he thinks, Joining ram in Nexus City really helped me a lot. I hope I always make good decisions—for myself and for Nexus City.
He pushes himself harder, killing monsters as fast as he can. So far, he's taken down six while defending the barrier's crack.
Thirty minutes pass.
Almost half the monsters on the battlefield are dead, but the two lions remain uninjured. Robin, however, gets wounded by a swift combined strike from both lions. It nearly kills him, but Evan arrives just in time to save his life. Now, Evan takes Robin's place at the barrier crack while Robin, after taking a healing pill, does Evan's previous job as best he can.
Ash clenches his fists in rage. This battle isn't over. These damned lions almost killed my precious internal minister. If I ever get my hands on them in the city, I'll torture them until they beg me for death.
Thinking strategically, Ash unleashes a relentless barrage of fireballs at the two lion monsters, targeting them with calculated precision. It helps Ram and the others fight more effectively. But the nonstop fireball casting weakens Ash's ability to defend his section and kill other monsters. Some slip through—but Robin and the two soldiers clean them up.
Twenty more minutes pass.
Ash's fireballs finally pay off. The first lion monster is badly injured and flees far from the fight, beyond any attack range. Ash watches as it tries to recover, knowing it won't be easy. Without its command, the monsters under its control go berserk, attacking blindly. Ash thinks, We'll handle them. This makes killing them easier.
The second lion is still mostly unharmed, but Ash notices its face showing signs of exhaustion. He keeps to his routine: fireballing the lion, using flame swords to kill nearby monsters, and defending the area.
As the battle drags on, he consumes his one and only recovery pill. It works fast, restoring his strength. He doubles the intensity of his fireballs, wounding the second lion and forcing it out of his spell range. The connection between the lion and the other monsters weakens, causing more chaos. Mindless monsters are easier to kill.
After a ten-minute surge of high-intensity attacks, Ash is exhausted and injured. But he's killed almost twenty monsters directly. A huge wave of relief washes over his face. We survived the most dangerous part of the assault. Nexus City still stands.
He looks around. Nearly everyone is injured—some lightly, some seriously. One soldier is critically wounded. After a moment of thought, Ash orders him to retreat to the altar for healing. The city can manage even if we're one person short.
Minutes later, Ash sees that soldier leave through the crack in the golden barrier. He thinks, Helping that soldier was necessary. Right now, he's more of a burden than a help. In the altar room, he can use mana mist to stabilize and recover, instead of fighting at our side.
As Ash keeps fighting, he notices the lion monsters are preparing for a new attack. He warns the others. A few minutes later, they see both lions moving—this time aiming for Evan's side. Ash is shocked. Evan's side is exposed! I just sent one of his soldiers to the altar!
He panics inside. Can Evan handle both lions at once? But Robin quickly moves in to defend Evan. Together, they hold the line, though Evan gets injured in the attack. Robin now takes the lead while Evan supports from behind. The lions retreat again, but not without taking damage—Robin lands some solid hits.
Ash keeps attacking, watching the lion monsters closely. He guesses they're planning another strike and warns the others, who nod in understanding and respect.
Moments later, Ash is locked in sword combat when a lion monster launches a sneak attack on him. He's ready this time and dodges—but the attacks keep coming. Evan rushes in to help. Ash grits his teeth. These intelligent monsters... how dare they attack me like this? With burning determination, he unleashes another wave of fireballs.
The fire engulfs the lions, burning much of their fur. Ash's head pounds, but he refuses to stop. He knows he's close. The lions begin to retreat, moving so fast they almost seem invisible. Within seconds, they vanish from fireball range. Ash finally stops casting.
He tells Evan to take his position with two soldiers. The headache is overwhelming. But the city's defense is now easier, with the lions gone. Ash scans the battlefield—no sign of the lions near the golden barrier. He thinks, These intelligent monsters are a nightmare. Their coordination with regular monsters is deadly. I need long-range weapons and strong city walls. Otherwise, Nexus City will always be in danger. I hope I can find good blueprints soon.
Twenty more minutes of fighting pass. Ash and the others finally kill the last of the attacking monsters—only the trapped ones in the pit remain. Everyone is injured and exhausted, except Ram. Ash sees that Ram's wounds are not critical due to his higher level, so they don't need urgent healing. He speaks with Ram about finishing off the pit monsters.
Ram agrees. Ash sends the others back to Nexus City to recover while he stays to help finish the fight. Twenty minutes later, he and Ram have killed all remaining monsters—except the two lion beasts.
They search for the lions, but find no trace.
Ash thinks, These intelligent monsters are truly clever. They're giving me a real headache. Still... we've killed nearly all the others. I believe the crack will soon repair itself, and the golden barrier will fully protect the city once more.