Jizo arrived at the watch post and saw the young Mage still sleeping soundly. Fury surged through him. He grabbed the scrawny Mage and roared.
"We're under attack! How can you still be sleeping?!"
The young Mage rubbed his eyes and mumbled groggily.
"Huh? What did you say?"
In his fury, Jizo slapped him hard across the face twice.
The Mage was stunned. He stared at Jizo in disbelief and shouted.
"Are you insane?! Do you know who I am?! How dare you hit me! You..."
Jizo cut him off with another two slaps. Gripping the Mage's collar with both hands, he roared.
"I fucking said we're under attack! Under attack! Do you understand?!"
The Mage snapped awake. Under attack?! I only came here to pad my service record! How could we be under attack?!
Ignoring him, Jizo rang the great alarm bell.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Soldiers already clad in armor poured out of the barracks behind the first defensive line and began gathering at the walls.
A general in more ornate armor emerged from the central tent and shouted.
"Where are the Mages?! Illumination spells! Cast illumination spells!"
Several Mages emerged from another large tent. With a gentle wave of their staffs, balls of light appeared above the camp, allowing the soldiers to see their surroundings and preventing a stampede.
Watching the spiderlike magical beasts pouring out of the forest like a tide, along with the white spheres and points of light constantly shooting from the distance, Old Michael felt utterly helpless for the first time. No one dared expose themselves.
In that brief span alone, several more young men had been mangled beyond recognition by the white points shooting from the forest.
Only after dozens of Mages raised Magic Shields did they dare stand up.
The general reached