The first to notice the abnormality were the soldiers guarding the gate.

 

“Hm?”

“What? Is something wrong?”

“No, I thought I heard a sound…”

“A sound?”

 

A strange sound could be heard from somewhere far away.

 

It was so faint that it could easily be dismissed as a figment of one’s imagination.

 

In fact, the soldiers at the time only pondered upon it, not taking any immediate action.

 

At first, a small anomaly.

 

However, this anomaly gradually transformed into a calamity.

 

The sound that the soldier felt grew louder over time.

 

Initially, it was a noise no louder than the chirping of insects.

 

But eventually, it swallowed the hustle and bustle of the town, developing into a thunderous roar that even surpassed the rumbling of a million thunderclaps.

 

A tremor akin to an earthquake struck beneath their feet.

 

The residents too, realized that an unusual event was about to unfold.

 

Emerging from the forest, as if tearing through the undergrowth, was a horde of monsters.

 

Their number was unfathomable, in the hundreds, if not thousands.

 

Between the trees, countless shadows squirmed.

 

Thousands, or even tens of thousands of these massive forces surged forward like a cloud of fog.

 

Their destination was the town guarded by the soldiers – Loine.

 

Without any qualms about trampling over their companions, the monsters roared maniacally and stormed towards the town.

 

Their eyes glowed with a bloodthirsty lust.

 

“Ahhhh‼”

“It’s a monster‼”

“This is bad!”

“Close the gate‼”

 

The residents near the gate noticed the anomaly.

 

Fear spread rapidly.

 

Those who screamed.

 

Those who ran in confusion.

 

The soldiers on the city wall who noticed the abnormality rang the bell to alert of the monster’s invasion.

 

The soldiers cooperated and the gate was promptly closed.

 

The monsters who had sprinted nearly a kilometer reached the gate and the city wall.

 

One individual incessantly banged on the gate, while another tried to infiltrate the city by gripping onto the slightest unevenness on the wall.

 

Considering the possibility of a monster flood from the forest, the west gate was designed to be sturdier than the others.

 

Even if the monsters attacked in unison, the gate would remain unscathed.

 

Or so it should have been―

 

“Ooooaahh‼”

 

A roar that pierced the heavens.

 

Not only the residents, but even the trained soldiers were stricken with fear at this.

 

“What is that monster…”

 

Monsters appeared, mowing down the trees of the forest.

 

Monsters with skin as red as blood.

 

Each had a physique equivalent to the wall of Loine, with two horns growing from their heads that reached their wide-open mouths.

 

There were five of them.

 

“⁉ That’s bad, those are ogres‼”

“Call for reinforcements immediately!”

 

The level of ogres on average surpasses 50.

 

Against this class of monsters, no matter how many ordinary soldiers gather, they stand no chance.

 

The arrows shot by the archers are hindered by the ogre’s thick skin.

 

Even the Ballista, designed for large monsters, couldn’t inflict satisfactory damage.

 

By focusing their attacks and continuously hitting them with numerous large arrows, they were finally able to fell one ogre.

 

No matter what, it was necessary to contain the situation at the gates.

 

“Oooohhh！！！”

“! Guh――”

 

One of the soldiers dealing with the monsters was blown away.

 

“What the hell is this⁉”

“It’s a high-rank species! Be careful‼”

“How many of them are there?”

 

If you were to quantify the level of the soldiers, it would be on average in the 20s to 30s.

And unlike Arata, a reincarnated person, they don’t have the means to manipulate their own abilities or skills.

With a few exceptions, typical locals can, through many years of study and effort, achieve slight increases in ability values and acquire skills.

They wouldn’t be able to defeat monsters like ogres, and even goblins would be dangerous if one were surrounded.

 

“Hey! ……He’s not breathing!”

“We have multiple casualties! Where’s the backup?”

 

The ogres swung with their monstrous strength, toppling the soldiers one after another.

As time passed, the situation only got worse.

Everyone was considering the worst-case scenario.

――Then it happened.

 

” Gale‼”

 

A gust of wind rushed through.

The wind ran through the monsters that were just about to overrun the town.

At that moment.

Dozens of monsters’ heads and bodies abruptly slid apart and fell to the ground.

Even the ogres that were rampaging against the soldiers turned into pieces of flesh and ceased breathing.

At the sight of this, the eyes of the soldiers in combat were fixed.

 

“What the hell are you guys doing‼”

“‼”

 

A voice scolding the soldiers.

Those who had been dumbfounded regained their senses at that voice.

 

“””Captain Theo!”””

“Are you guys just standing around while I’m working? You’ve become quite impressive, haven’t you? Hurry up and get to work, damn it‼︎”

“””Yes, sir‼︎”””

 

The reinforcements had arrived, starting with Theo and the other soldiers.

Spurred on by Theo’s encouragement, the soldiers began to eliminate the monsters one after another.

 

“First squad, swiftly eliminate the remaining monsters. Second and third squads, restrain the monsters from the top of the city gate. Fourth squad, send a messenger to the barracks and other gates, and request backup from the Adventurers’ Guild!”

“””Yes, sir‼︎”””

“Don’t let the monsters through. Don’t let them think they can get away with this! Protect this town with your lives‼︎”

“””Yeah！！！ “””

 

Under Theo’s precise instructions, the operation against the Stampede began.

The monsters that had invaded the town were soon exterminated, and a hastily built barricade was constructed at the breached gate.

The monsters gathered at the gate also dwindled in number due to attacks from archers and ballistae from a distance.

However, the momentum of the monsters overflowing from the forest showed no signs of waning.

The Stampede was just beginning―