The Dreamer's POV

Chapter 133: Night Of The Attack

[00 Months: 15 Days: 11 Hours]

I surveyed the faces of my fellow adventurers, their expressions illuminated by the wavering glow of the little source of light we had in the form of a magical orb.

The flickering dim light danced in their eyes, reflecting a range of emotions from apprehension to trust.

"I understand that you're tired," I began, my voice soft yet firm.

"I know that launching an attack now seems counterintuitive when we could wait till dawn, rested and prepared. But let me remind you, our enemies are not fools. They know this terrain better than we do. They are masters of stealth. They could be watching us right now, waiting for us to drop our guard."

I paused, letting my words sink in. "By waiting till dawn, we risk an ambush. Even if we assign watchmen, they can use it against us. It's better to hit them when they least expect it."

I made my valid point known, but all of this was secondary to my plans anyway.

Benard stepped forward, the seriousness of his expression visible even in the dim light.

"Leader," he began, "while I trust your decisions, I must voice my concern. Most of our troops are not prepared for a night attack. The terrain, the darkness, it'll put them at a disadvantage. Plus, the exhaustion is another factor to consider…"

As expected from the Guildmaster of Terance. He spoke well. In fact, considering the disadvantages, it was better to simply be more vigilant at night and wait for dawn where we could comfortably employ a proper strategy and win.

However…

"That's where you're wrong, Benard," I replied, my voice steady.

"Our troops won't need to fight unless absolutely necessary. Their main task is to gather their strength and be ready for my signal."

I could see the surprise on the faces around me. But I continued, "As the leader of this expedition, I'll take the lead. I'll begin the first strike. I won't ask you to fight without guaranteeing your safety first." Continue your saga on M V L

I then looked at each of them, holding their gazes. "What I need from you now is your trust. Can you give me that?"

They appeared stunned beyond words. What I was suggesting was simple…

I would fight. They only had to follow.

Unfortunately, the sheer nature of it all was absurd.

"Leader, I understand that you are our leader, and certainly, the most powerful among us. But we're not just up against a few bandits," Drius broke the silence, concern etched deeply into his worn features.

I saw the knowing gaze he had on his worried face. It was almost as if he was telling me: "This is the Nine Headed Dragon Alliance we're talking about. Are you sure about this?"

I met his gaze, seeing the unspoken knowledge hidden there. I could see that he was hesitant, afraid even, for the well-being of our troops.

'He's being sensible…' I nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

"Drius, I understand your concerns, and I appreciate them," I said, "but you need to trust me. Trust that I won't let any harm come to our people."

Seeing the skepticism still etched on their faces, I knew words weren't enough. I needed to show them that they could have faith in my strength.

'I've been hiding a lot of my strength, even when fighting Drius and Benard, so they must be underestimating me.'

I planned on donning all of my equipment for this battle, and carelessness wasn't even an option.

Perhaps everyone here needed to see a bit of my sincerity…

I stepped away from the group, making a bit of distance between us. I could feel their gazes on me, heavy with anticipation.

Then, looking up at the dark, starless sky, I said, "You needn't worry about our enemy, no matter who they are. I won't lose."

Drawing in a deep breath, I focused on the energy coursing through my veins, the untapped power waiting to be released.

'There are many Skills in my arsenal. But I bet there's one that will shock them the most.' I fought to contain my grin.

Then, in an inaudible whisper, I activated the Skill.

"<Fallen Foe>."

In the murky shadows beneath me, I sensed a stirring, a churning that made the ground beneath my feet tremble with barely restrained energy.

Suddenly, two immense forms rose, the shadows splitting to reveal the lumbering silhouettes of hulking beasts.

They emerged from the darkness like nightmarish apparitions, their flesh dull and grey, veins of crimson energy pulsating just beneath the surface of their skin.

Their eyes, burning coals of red, seemed to pierce through the night.

In the dim light, their bodies appeared even more monstrous — a grotesque parody of life, their forms a riot of muscular sinews and gnarled skin that could not have been sculpted by any natural hand.

'Carnage Beast Demon (Lvl 4)> and <Carnage Beast Demon (Lvl 5)>' I smiled, remembering how much effort it took to kill them.

It also made me remember how much I missed Mr. Stone.

'It looks like my limit is still 2 Minions with <Fallen Foe>... but that's more than plenty for me.'

My summoned beasts, each of them towering over the crowd, emitted a menacing aura that hung heavy in the air.

The quiet murmur of the crowd faltered, then fell silent.

In that silence, the low growls of the creatures echoed, underscored by the frightened rustling of my troops.

My grin widened as I observed the scene before me, the quivering crowd silhouetted against the backdrop of the monstrosities I had just summoned.

Their reactions were to be expected, and though I regretted causing any alarm, I knew it was necessary.

They had to understand, to witness for themselves, the scope of power that lay at their disposal.

"Relax, everyone" I murmured, my voice barely a whisper yet somehow slicing through the dread-charged silence.

"Do you understand now? The full scope of my power?." I let my words hang in the air for a moment, giving them time to let the reality sink in.

Then, I turned back to my creatures, watching as they loomed, waiting for my command.

Their raw, undeniable power sent a thrill through my body.

Yes, we would not lose.

Not tonight. Not ever.

"Let us begin now…" With a mental link directed at the creatures of carnage, I gave my simple command.

'Kill anyone you find.'

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[A/N]

The Hunt begins everyone! Thanks for reading.

Cheers!