The human players took defensive positions, preparing themselves for the monster invaders' assault upon them. Players with shields stood at the front with mages and rangers taking the back to provide support. Several of the mages raised their staves and wands, casting multiple spells from Fireballs, Rock Bolts, and Wind blades before hurling them at the incoming enemies. The Rangers joined in the barrage attack, notching several arrows in their bows and loosing them on the invaders.

  The monsters were then bombarded with arrows and spells, inflicting a significant amount of damage on them. A few were taken down in an instant, crumbling to the ground while the rest of their allies trampled over them, not bothering to move out of the way. As for those who weren’t hit by the spell and arrow barrage, they managed to get close to the human players and attacked the vanguards holding the line.

  The goblins weren’t much of a threat as the players with shields and swords simply cut them down and moved on to the next opponent. It was the Gnolls and Orcs that posed a bigger problem for them. The humanoid hyenas and hulking green warriors charged at the human players, barely fazed by the spells and arrows pelting them. A few of the Orc and Gnolls dodged and weaved out of the way of the spells while others blocked with their shields, barely being pushed back from the force.

  Just as they got closer, one of the Orcs wielding a massive hammer, slammed it into the ground, cracking the very earth they stood on. The sudden cracks and tremors from the hammer smash attack caused the vanguard to lose their balance, ruining their defensive formation. That was when the Gnolls took advantage of the chaos and blurred toward them with malicious intent. They got up close and person with the vanguard players before attacking them like a pack of wild animals.

  They swung their weapons down on the vanguard, pushing their shields aside before delivering another strike once they were vulnerable. Even with the human vanguard armor that protected them, the Gnolls relentlessly assaulted them, wailing their weapons without any mercy as they maimed and killed a few.

  Despite the chaos, the remaining vanguards didn’t panic and simply maintained formation, holding back the gnolls and Orcs as much as possible. It didn’t take long before the big guns finally appeared and took action.

  Several of the gnolls that nearly broke through the formation were instantly pushed back as several spells and bullets struck them from the back. Some were instantly killed either getting a bullet through their skull or a blade of wind severing their head from their shoulders. Upon their deaths, two support players emerged from the back. It was Anais and John.

  Instead of a bow, John wielded an old-fashioned rifle. Hazel couldn’t tell what type but it looked old western to her, like something a cowboy would use in the Wild West. Considering that his Class was Gunslinger, it wasn’t surprising that he possessed such a weapon. However, Hazel was curious as to how she obtained the weapon.

  With the two players at the front, they raised their weapons and proceeded to fire more spells and bullets at the monsters. However, when the projectiles got close enough to the Orcs and Gnolls, a magical barrier appeared in front of them, protecting them. Hazel used Astral Eye to take a glance at the Shaman enemy from before.

  When she did, she noticed the Shaman raising its staff while casting a spell. Even its tattooed arm was emitting a sickly green glow upon casting.

  The barrier soon disappeared, allowing the enemy to advance forward. Some of the Orcs and Gnolls even fired their own arrows and spells at the human players, attempting to even the odds. The human side was able to defend themselves against the barrage and stood their ground while facing the enemy.

  Meanwhile, the monster invaders advanced forward, closing the distance and pressing the human players more. When the rearguard tried to fire another volley at the invaders, they were once again protected by a barrier, watching their projectiles harmlessly bounce off the shield. Even John and Anais’s attack barely did anything to the barrier. And just before the rearguard could prepare another attack, the barrier disappeared, allowing the invaders to advance. This time, their steps were more vigorous and heavier, expressing their eager and fierce movements.

  As for the Orc champion, he watched from afar, waiting for his group to completely decimate the human players. He likely did this because he believed that his people would finish the job quickly and without trouble. But that was a mistake on his part.

  Zoe soon joined the fray along with Kane and Chegyaeyi as the three of them jumped in front of the group to face the invaders. The knight was the first to act and slashed her sword while it emitted a familiar bright blue aura, hurling a wave attack toward them. The aura strike made contact with the enemy, pushing back the ones that blocked while instantly killing those that were both slow and unlucky enough to get hit.

  The monster invaders were in a state of disarray, if only for a brief moment. This allowed Kane and Chegyaeyi to take advantage of their weakness and blur toward them. And in a flurry of punches, thrusting, and stabbing, they slain a good amount of the Orc champion’s army and watched them drop like flies.

  Before the duo could proceed, several spells and arrows were hurled in their direction, forcing them to fall back and avoid the barrage. Just then, the Orc champion decided to jump into the battle. Literally.

  Leaping from the spot where he stood and watched the fight unfold, the champion landed in the middle of their battlefield, standing before Chegyaeyi and Kane. With his blood-seeking battleaxe gripped in both hands, he roared at his opponents.

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  “No more, games! You now face Urlgan! Leader of the Orc Tribe and future ruler of this settlement!” He swung his weapon down and directed it at the humans. “None of you will survive my wrath after forsaking my mercy! Now, come and die!”

  The Orc champion then charged at the duo, deeming them as his first sacrifice. Chegyaeyi didn’t back down and simply blurred toward her opponent in toe, meeting him in the middle. Urlgan swung his weapon down on the lizardfolk to cut her in two with a single slash. The spear dancer shifted to the left, effortlessly dodging the swing while thrusting her spear in the Champion’s face.

  Much like before, some kind of magical field materialized around the champion's body, protecting him from the spear thrust. He watched the weapon bound off the protective barrier coating him before swinging his arm back, striking Chegyaeyi’s face. The lizardfolk warrior stumbled back, slightly stunned by the attack. He then swung his axe at her, clashing his weapon against the lizardfolk’s spear.

  Hazel noticed from afar that the Champion’s axe was turning a bright orange color as it rapidly heated up, activating its skill. Chegyaeyi moved the weapon to the side, bringing the axe down, but still got cut in the process. She winced in pain as it sizzled like bacon on a pan. If that got any closer to her body, she would’ve lost that arm.

  Just then Urlgan attempted to swing his axe again and end his opponent’s life before Kane jumped into the fray and landed a solid punch in his face. The champion staggered from the blow, taking a few sluggish steps back while trying to orient himself. Kane attempted to strike the Orc again, only to get pushed back when his fist collided into the magical barrier surrounding him.

  Putting some distance, Chegyaeyi and Kane remained cautious in front of the champion, not sure of what to do in their current situation. Urlgan noticed their hesitation and sneered with delight and glee.

  “Afraid to attack me, humans?! There’s no point in hesitating now because I have no plans to spare any of you vermin!”

  Just when the champion was about to attack, another aura wave attack barreled toward him, forcing him to raise his weapon to block it. Urlgan was pushed back from the strike, making his feet slide across the dirt path they stood on. The Orc lowered his weapon and glared at Zoe, who was now standing with Chegyaeyi and Kane. She shifted her gaze over at the champion, raising her weapon at him.

  Urlgan snarled, glaring daggers at the knight, clearly enraged by her interference. Meanwhile, Hazel kept observing the Shaman who was calmly supporting the Champion and his men on the sidelines. However, that wasn’t going to last very long.

  The Shaman then raised his staff again, casting another spell. Every time he did, the tattoo on his arm would glow brightly, as if responding to his spell activation. However, instead of casting protective shields like before, this time he summoned poison projectiles in the shape of arrows. If Hazel had to hazard a guess, that spell must’ve been Poison Arrow or something.

  Upon summoning the arrows made of poison, the shaman then hurled his spells at the enemy. In this case, Zoe and the others. Just as the arrows barreled toward them with malicious intent, they immediately lost all momentum before crashing into the ground.

  The shaman was flabbergasted by what just happened. Even though his face was concealed under the cloak, Hazel could still hear a slight gasp escape his lips upon witnessing his spells suddenly nose-diving into the ground for some strange reason.

  Even Urlgan was surprised by this. However, his shock was quickly overwritten with anger as she turned around to glare at the shaman.

  “What are you playing at, Shaman?!” He growled, narrowing his eyes at one of his own allies.

  The Shaman flinched in fear, clutching his staff like his life depended on it. “I-I do not know what happen-behind you!”

  Upon his warning, the Champion turned around to face the humans, only to witness Chegyaeyi lunging at him with her spear pointed at his chest. Urlgan responded by raising his battle axe and deflecting the attack. A wave of red exploded upon the clash, forcing the lizardfolk and Orc back from the force.

  Urlgan stumbled backward before whirling his head to once again scold his shaman. “Properly support us, or you will be my next victim!”

  Hazel could tell that the Champion’s words greatly affected the Shaman as he trembled in response. A moment later, he raised his staff again to cast a spell. But Hazel was ready for it. She could tell that the Champion was only having an edge in the fight because of the Shaman supporting him. So, to even the odds, she simply dealt with the support herself.

  She raised her hand and cast several mana bolts, firing them into the sky. Then, with the help of Telekinesis, she swung her arm down, directing the bolts of mana in the direction of the Shaman. Just in time to strike him down before could cast another spell to assist the Champion.

  His screams could be heard, causing Urlgan to turn around once again to see what was wrong. The champion’s eyes then widened upon seeing the Shaman nearly die at the hands of Hazel. The cloaked figure was on the ground, not knowing what to do.

  Seeing the cowardly magic user, the Champion finally had enough of his antics. “Damn you, Shaman! This is what I get for-agh!”

  Kane interrupted him and punched the Orc from behind, sending him tumbling to the ground. Chegyaeyi and Zoe soon joined in along with Astrid and Anais, who attacked the champion together. Despite nearly getting taken down, Urlgan still put up a decent fight, defending himself against all of his enemies.

  While the battle between them raged on, Hazel calmly walked over to the Shaman who was still trembling like a coward. Some of the other invaders that weren’t helping the Champion set their sights on Hazel who was approaching the Shaman.

  Due to their levels being significantly lower than Hazel’s, She easily dispatched them with a mana bolt, not even using her Curse Spear or her newly acquired curse bomb spell. And just to do a bit of flexing, Hazel cast Telekinesis on one of the goblins charging at her, lifted them in the air, and then hurled them at the other goblins coming her way. She knocked them down like bowling pins, practically receiving a Strike.

  The tougher monsters, that being the Gnolls and Orcs attempted to defend the Shaman, standing in front of their ally while facing Hazel. That was their first mistake when she summoned a couple of cursed spears and moved them toward her enemies with Telekinesis. The invaders tried to defend themselves against the cursed spears, but with the help of her increasing the speed of the spells, they easily pierced through the Gnolls and Orcs, killing them instantly.

  Hazel continued to mow down the monsters, whittling their numbers with ease through her spells. It didn’t take long before she finally came face to face with the Shaman. When the cloaked invader looked up at Hazel, he attempted to flee but was pushed against the ground through Telekinesis.

  Despite being trapped, the shaman struggled to break free, hoping to escape. However, Hazel kept a firm hold on her opponent, not giving him a chance to leave. Watching the feeble cloaked figure struggle to escape, a small yet wicked smile formed on her face, finding this incredibly amusing.