Chapter 6: Battle for Nexus: The Last Stand of the Rabbit Horde
Ash and Evan are ready to attack the monsters.
At this moment, Ash notices the rabbit monsters' eyes are red, like blood, their speed increasing as they lock onto him and Evan.
Ash watches as these monsters charge forward, their movements frantic, as if they have a personal vendetta. It feels as though they're coming after him and Evan, driven by a thirst for revenge.
A cold knot tightens in Ash's stomach, fear creeping in, but he breathes deeply, forcing himself to focus. He glances at his low-grade gun, aiming carefully. He intends to kill the level 1 rabbit monster first, then take care of the others.
In his mind, Ash runs through the plan to handle the situation safely, prioritizing his own and Evan's safety.
First, the monster will be trapped in the spike pit, impaled by the wooden spikes. Then they'll shoot down the level 1 rabbit monster, before turning their attention to the level 0 monsters. Their focus remains on taking out the level 1 monster first, then dealing with the others.
Ash's resolve hardens. In his mind, he repeats, I will survive this attack. I will kill these monsters, no doubt.
He watches as the rabbit monster nears the pit traps, the ground suddenly shifting beneath the monsters. Three level 0 rabbit monsters are impaled on the wooden spikes, their bodies twitching in death. Four others are injured but still moving, undeterred. The level 1 monster pushes forward, fearlessly leading the charge toward the city area where a crack in the golden shield is visible.
Ash takes aim at the level 1 monster, mentally lining up his shot.
He pulls the trigger. The bullet zips toward the level 1 rabbit monster, but it misses and hits a level 0 rabbit monster instead. Ash curses under his breath, taking a quick second shot. The bullet strikes the level 1 monster's shoulder.
A sharp tremor runs down Ash's arm—fear that the level 1 monster is closing in—but he grits his teeth and tightens his grip on the gun. He stands tall, straightening from head to foot, and pulls the trigger three more times.
The bullets tear through the level 1 rabbit monster's belly, and one final shot slams into its head, taking it down instantly. The monster never even had a chance to fight back.
Ash exhales in relief, a small smile creeping onto his face.
He looks over at Evan. Evan mirrors his expression with a small, satisfied smile.
Ash thinks, six bullets used. Fourteen left. The main force of the rabbit monsters is dead. The others will take time, but they pose no real threat to me or Evan.
"Take care of the remaining rabbits with me. Use your sword for the level 0 monsters," Ash orders, his voice steady and commanding. "I only have fourteen bullets left. I'll cover you, but if you're in danger, I'll shoot."
"Okay, my lord. Don't worry—I can handle them with my experience," Evan replies confidently, his voice calm and sure.
Ash raises an eyebrow, surprised by Evan's confidence in taking on the remaining monsters, but he says nothing. Instead, he thinks, I'll watch how Evan handles these level 0 rabbit monsters.
"I hope so. Take them down carefully. Safety is the priority now," Ash says with a small smile, his tone louder as he deliberately draws attention to himself, hoping to attract a few levels 0 rabbit monsters so Evan can face less pressure.
"Okay, my lord." Evan nods, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Ash watches Evan as he battles a level 0 rabbit monster near the entrance area. Evan swings his sword, the blade flashing twice as it slashes into the monster's neck. The rabbit monster collapses, dead, and Evan calmly moves to his next target.
But Evan's movements are slower now. He's panting, sweat beading on his forehead, exhaustion starting to show. Two more level 0 rabbit monsters are coming, closing in on him, and they're too close for Evan to fight both at once. Ash decides to become bait for the other.
He picks up a stone and hurls it at the second rabbit monster, hoping to draw its attention. His face betrays a flicker of nervousness, but he forces himself to act.
The stone hits its mark. The second rabbit monster turns toward Ash, its fangs bared.
Evan doesn't hesitate. With swift precision, he approaches the first level 0 rabbit monster, slashing its neck with two quick strikes. The monster falls, and Evan, breathing heavily, moves on to the next.
The second rabbit monster lunges at Ash, its teeth aimed for his flesh. But just as it's about to strike, Evan leaps forward, his sword slicing through the air to sever the creature's neck in a single, fluid motion. The rabbit monster crumples to the ground, dead.
Ash nods, his voice low, "Five gone. Seven remain."
In his mind, he thinks, Mission accomplished. The most dangerous monsters are dead, but there are still a few lefts. They won't be a problem. I just hope no new monsters show up today.
A sense of relief washes over Ash. He feels safer now, knowing the city is a little more secure.
"Evan, check the pit. See if any more rabbits are coming out or if others are stuck inside. Kill them quickly. Don't fall into the pit. We have to keep the city safe from these monsters' daily attacks."
Evan nods. "Yeah, let's see. Three level 0 rabbit monsters are already dead from the wooden spikes, and four more are trying to climb out of the pit."
Ash begins throwing stones, targeting the most injured rabbit monsters stuck in the pit.
Five minutes later, the first level 0 rabbit monster manages to crawl out of the pit, and Evan swiftly ends its life with two quick slashes to its neck.
Two minutes after that, Ash throws a stone at the second rabbit monster, striking it on its wound. The monster falls, and Ash finishes it off with a clean shot.
Five minutes later, Evan kills the third rabbit monster with another series of swift sword strikes, ending its life as it emerges from the pit.
"Let's patch up here for the rest," Ash says with a smile, his tone light but satisfied. He thinks, I should feel confident about killing these monsters. After all, Evan and I have killed more than ten of them, defending the city. But now I need to think about the next steps—how to strengthen the city's defenses, gather the resources for a market and house. It's starting to bother me to sleep on the floor without a roof or pillow. Maybe I'll find a treasure that makes life here more comfortable. Maybe even a reward from the 'Eldros Will' for defending the city.
"Okay, my lord," Evan responds with a smile.
"Let's see what we can find from this small war," Ash says, his eyes serious, filled with curiosity and determination.