Rustle! Rustle!
Just as Nalant was about to say something to the guards, a great commotion suddenly came from the distant wilderness.
"Quiet!" Nalant immediately stopped their cheers.
The guards promptly fell silent, and only then did they notice the rustling coming from the grass.
"What's going on over there?"
"Ah, look! So... so many Dark Creatures!"
"Ah! There must be at least several hundred of them! Look, are those Dark Knights? How... how are there so many?"
They did not have to wait long. Just as they stood there uncertainly, one Dark Creature after another finally emerged from the pitch-black grass.
There were so many Dark Creatures that it was terrifying—at least five or six hundred.
Besides the most common Skeleton Soldiers, there were dozens of Death Knights and Hellhounds among them.
What was more, the most troublesome Dark Knights had appeared as well. There were more than ten of them, and under their lead, the Dark Creatures slowly converged toward the castle's defensive position.
Faced with such an unprecedented horde of Dark Creatures, the guards whose faces had just been bright with joy instantly turned pale.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves! Vivian, have the ranged attack squad begin attacking at once!"
"Quick, Raymond, you two support the spearmen!"
"Yes, my lord! Everyone, stay alert!"
"Ranged attack squad, prioritize the higher-level Dark Creatures! Longbowmen, aim freely and fire!"
As Nalant issued command after command, the leaders of each squad began carrying them out nervously.
"Death is about to descend! Tremble, you lowly creatures!"
Just as the shouts on Nalant's side died down, a deep, emotionless voice rang out from ahead. It came from the Death Knights among the Dark Creatures.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
As the dozen or so Death Knights roared in fury, both the Skeleton Soldiers and the Hellhounds seemed