Merlin straightened on his feet. He was still somewhat unnerved, held by the scruff of his neck by the cold, unyielding hands of the unease that had crept up his body. But he knew better than to remain that way for long. His Perception warned him, not weakened him, and the System had now finally told him what needed to be done for him to clear the first floor of the Tower.

  There was no time to be idling about.

  Merlin’s gaze swept over the scenery, alternating between the approaching horde of the Drachens of Stein, and the shivering bodies of those of Blatt. Krieger no longer had his warrior’s glint in his eyes, and Baba had frozen where he stood.

  The Raubtier was a creature that struck fear in the hearts of the Drachens. Even far more than the sandworms. Merlin could glean that much from the stiffness in the air, and the absurd mass of the monster.

  If no one took the initiative, they would all just stare until the beast arrived and they were trampled to death. Or they would run away with their tails tucked between their legs.

  Neither the former or latter was a good option. Both would result in the death of the Drachens, and the failure of the mission.

  “Are you okay?” Sofia asked, her voice quivering and her arm wrapped around Merlin’s.

  Merlin nodded.

  She turned to the Raubtier. “What is that?” she asked.

  There was only one answer. It was the monster Merlin had to kill.

  “We have to restore the momentum to the warriors,” Merlin noted, grabbing Sofia by the arm and pulling her close. There was a hurry in his words, and even though the young lady had been shocked by his actions, she remained silent. “Hurry to the rest. Tell them not to stand dazed any longer. I’ll try to restore fire in the hearts of the warriors; the guys should show their resolve by moving—doing anything at all. Understand?”

  Sofia gulped.

  “I understand.”

  Merlin nodded and let her go. She immediately hurried over to the second years assigned to their team, while Merlin burst through the cluster of warriors, appearing before them.

  Their dread was palpable. Every single one of them had distant gazes, and their spears trembled in their grasps.

  Merlin glanced Krieger’s way, hoping that the warrior had managed to retrieve his wits, so that he could take control of the situation. But, just like the others, he was lost, and further burdened by the fact that he was the leader of the warriors and could figure out no way for them to tackle the approaching monstrosity. Merlin could read it on the Drachen’s face.

  He turned to Baba next, but the old Drachen was even more lost, and, as for Zauberer, the dragonpriest was petrified.

  Merlin licked his lips. There was no other choice.

  “Warriors of Blatt!” he shouted at the top of his lungs, and yet his words seemed to go unheard. But it was not enough reason for him to give up. “I understand that you all must be frightened. It is only normal. Fear is normal.”

  He glanced his mates’ way. They had begun to shuffle towards the gate as was initially intended when the war was about to start. He gave a slight nod at Sofia and returned his attention to the Drachens.

  “But we cannot keep wallowing in dread when there are lives on the line. We are the last line of defense between the warriors of the village of Stein and those who we have promised to protect. If we let our fear keep us still, to be trampled upon like ants, the mothers, children, the old, all behind us, what will happen to them? Have you all given up before even taking a stand for yourselves?”

  The distant gazes of the warriors had a brief spark of life return to them. Their attention moved from the Raubtier approaching to Merlin, and their foreheads wrinkled. Displeasure fell on their faces shortly after. Merlin understood the expression. It was that which one had when they berated themselves.

  Krieger particularly looked especially disappointed at himself. And he wasn’t alone. Baba and Zauberer were no different.

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  Merlin couldn’t blame them though. He too had been struck by fear, and he knew that this was all just a simulation.

  He gulped and continued, “Whatever fear you have should be discarded, because there is no reason to be scared.” He placed a hand on his chest, and gestured the other at his mates who were at the gate, ready to run out at the signal. “We will fight with you. We will ensure your victory. Do not bother about why. The specifics don’t matter. We made a promise, and we intend to keep it.”

  The warriors glanced between themselves, murmuring. Merlin hadn’t completely rid them of the fear that had stricken them, but he had laid the groundwork. Now was the time for one of the leaders to chime in.

  Baba realized this, and took the initiative. He strode forward, his old body creaking slightly.

  [I apologize, dear warriors], he started. [My fear got the better of me]. The warriors swallowed dryly as they listened. [The Blessed is right. We cannot give up before we have fought. The enemy is right in front of us. They are near. I do not have many words to say, but what I will say is: I shall be on this battlefield with you all. And if this is where I shall draw my last breath, then I shall do so with dignity not cowardice].

  Silence. And then roars.

  Life returned to the warriors.

  Krieger clenched his fist and raised it to the sky with a bellow, [For Blatt!]

  At his signal, the warriors rushed out of the gate, taking their pre-assigned positions on the sandy plains.

  Merlin reached for Krieger before the warrior could leave. He had something to tell him, and the other leaders present.

  “I will fight the Raubtier,” he said. Krieger, as well as Baba and Zauberer blanched. “You should focus on the army before you.”

  Krieger blinked. “The Raubtier is an ancient being that has lived ever since the inception of the Tower. How do you intend to defeat such a force of nature, carved from a full rib of Xéros himself?”

  That brief history lesson made Merlin take a step back in his mind. But even if he wanted to do otherwise, the System had specifically given him the mission to defeat the monster.

  He had no choice.

  “I will do it,” he insisted.

  Krieger hesitated to utter another word for a moment.

  “Then I shall offer you help,” he said.

  Merlin shook his head, disagreeing. “We are outnumbered two to one,” he said. “I cannot take away the one who has to lead his men.”

  Krieger saw sense in those words and remained silent. Merlin, though, wasn’t foolish. Defeating the Raubtier alone would prove to be a steep task. He would definitely ask for help if he needed it, depending on how the battle played out. And, besides, he had Blue. The dragon purred softly from his shoulder as though he had read his thoughts.

  “Understood,” Krieger nodded, respecting Merlin’s wishes.

  Merlin glanced at Baba and Zauberer and nodded at them. They would remain close to the gate, but would not venture fully into the battlefield. Baba couldn’t fight, and the dragonpriest was of no help unless it involved enchantments. And the time for that had passed.

  With Krieger in the lead, Merlin walked out of the boundaries of the village of Blatt, bringing himself onto the rumbling sand beyond the village.

  They all stopped a few steps away from where the rest of the warriors had camped in the sand to ensnare the warriors of Stein, and readied themselves.

  Spears were raised high, and silence fell over the warriors. The pounding of hearts, the hot puffs of breaths, the licking of lips. A mesh of sounds slapped the ears of Merlin, each one coming from his sides.

  No one spoke to another now. The warriors of Stein had arrived. And their attack was not delayed for even a second.

  [Charge]!! Chief Rivale voiced from where he was seated atop the Raubtier, and his warriors roared in return, sprinting forward with their spears at the ready.

  Krieger stepped forward and raised a fist. Everyone stilled, patiently waiting for his signal.

  The warriors of Stein drew closer. Breaths slowed. They drew even closer. Legs dug into the sand. And then…they fell into the trap.

  [Attack]!!! Krieger roared, and the sand rumbled. Out of an arc around the warriors of Stein burst forth thirty warriors, the enchantments on their spears glowing hot-red.

  The warriors of Stein were taken aback. Their formation fell into disarray, and the warriors of Blatt took that opportunity by the scruff of its neck.

  Krieger pointed in the direction of the battle that had begun, and the rest of the warriors flashed forward, emotions sky high, but their logic unfading.

  Senior Sun-Hee and Senior Hyunwoo dashed forward as well, the second years of Prestige Academy following behind them swiftly.

  They would have to fight a bit more shrewdly due to the variation in the atmosphere in compassion to that on earth, and that was why they were close together, so that they could make up for each other’s lapses.

  Merlin, however, didn’t go on the charge with them.

  He lowered his center of gravity, digging his toes into the sand, as he summoned Reader’s Bookmark.

  [Perk: Reader’s Bookmark Activated]

  [Bookmarks (2): Flash Step (Activated)(Requires at least 190 milliseconds reaction time to function). Mana Spring (Requires at least Level 10 Strength, Level 15 Agility, and Level 20 Resilience to function)]

  [Bookmark: Mana Spring, Chosen.]

  [Conditions to function met: Strength Level: Level 39. Agility Level: Level 44. Resilience Level: Level 58]

  [Bookmark: Mana Spring, Activated.]

  Blue unfurled his wings and took flight. Merlin exhaled deeply, put his weight on his legs and the blue spring that had formed beneath them, and exploded into the air.