We were losing. The square had become a hellscape of chaos and death, the tide of demons seemingly endless. Their grotesque forms surged forward relentlessly, their claws and fangs flashing in the dying light. Each swing of my Shadow Sword felled another enemy, yet for every one that dropped, two more took its place. My breaths came in shallow gasps, my movements slowing as fatigue weighed me down.

  Mana: 231.

  Mana: 214.

  Mana: 201.

  I could feel exhaustion gnawing at me, my muscles burning with every swing. Around me, the others fought valiantly, but they too were faltering. Cuts and bruises adorned their bodies, their faces pale and tight with desperation. The realization hit me like a sledgehammer: we couldn’t win this—not as we were.

  "Fall back!" Lareth's voice cut through the chaos, commanding and desperate. His bloodied face turned toward us, his armor dented and smeared with grime. "We can't hold the square! Fall back to the village!"

  For a moment, I hesitated, my instincts screaming to stay and fight. But a glance at the villagers, their terrified faces frozen in fear as they fled or fell to the demons, spurred me into motion. Gritting my teeth, I turned and ran toward the village gates, every step a battle against the fire in my legs. Around me, the remaining warriors and villagers stumbled after, many clutching their wounds.

  Behind us, the roar of demons rose like a crescendo, their heavy footsteps pounding the earth as they pursued. The village’s archers fired from atop the barricades, arrows whistling through the air, but the effort was barely enough to slow the horde.

  By the time we reached the village center, the grim reality of our situation had settled over us like a suffocating shroud. We were on borrowed time.

  Inside the village hall, the atmosphere was suffocating. The room was dimly lit by flickering lanterns, and the stench of sweat, blood, and fear hung heavy in the air. Warriors slumped against walls, their breaths labored. Mages clutched their staves, their expressions drawn with exhaustion.

  Lareth slammed his fist against the wooden table, the sound echoing through the hall. “This isn’t sustainable!” he growled, his frustration barely contained. “If we keep fighting like this, we’re finished.”

  I stood beside him, leaning on my Shadow Sword for support as I caught my breath. My mana had climbed slightly—210 now—but it wouldn’t be enough for what was to come. Around the table, familiar faces gathered, their expressions grim.

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  Claire, my mother, broke the silence, her voice steady despite the worry in her eyes. “We need to thin their numbers. Meeting them head-on is suicide. We don’t have the strength to outlast them.”

  My father, Caross, leaned over the map spread across the table, his calloused finger tracing the narrow paths leading into the village. “We can use the terrain,” he said, his tone sharp and decisive. “Funnel them through here.” He tapped a chokepoint near the village gates. “Set traps. Use the earth and nature magic users to create barriers. Make them pay for every step.”

  Isonorai, the elven mage who had been training me, nodded. Her voice was calm but urgent. “We’ve been scattering our magic users across the battlefield. It’s inefficient. If we pool our strength, we can erect a barrier strong enough to hold them back. At the very least, it will buy us time.”

  The village elder, his weathered face drawn with lines of fatigue, spoke next. “There are reserves of explosive materials hidden in the storage sheds. If we set them along the main roads, we can collapse structures to block their advance.”

  The room fell silent as the weight of their words sank in. The plan was forming, but it was a desperate gamble. I looked around, taking in the tired, battered faces of the villagers and warriors. They were counting on us to pull through. Failure wasn’t an option.

  I took a step forward, forcing the strength back into my voice. “We don’t have much time,” I said, my tone firm. “The demons will be here soon. If we’re going to hold them off, we need to act now.”

  The villagers murmured in agreement, though fear lingered in their eyes. I could feel the weight of their expectations settling on my shoulders.

  Lareth straightened, his resolve hardening. “Here’s the plan,” he said, his voice cutting through the tension. “Sam, Isonorai, lead the mages and create the barrier. Claire, Caross, take the warriors and set traps along the roads. Use the explosives wisely. I’ll organize the archers and prepare the fallback line at the barricade.”

  A heavy silence followed as everyone absorbed the strategy. It wasn’t perfect—far from it—but it was the best we could do under the circumstances.

  Claire placed a hand on my shoulder, her expression softening. “Stay safe, Sam,” she said quietly. “We’ll need you at full strength for what’s coming.”

  I nodded, my throat tight. “You too.”

  As the room began to clear, I felt a hand on my arm. I turned to find Isonorai standing beside me, her sharp, violet eyes locked onto mine. “Sam,” she said, her voice low, “you’ve already pushed yourself too far. You’re one of our strongest assets, but if you burn out, we lose everything. Remember that.”

  Her words cut through my stubbornness like a blade. “I understand,” I said, exhaling slowly. “I’ll pace myself. I promise.”

  A faint smile touched her lips, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Good. Because if you die, I’ll drag your soul back just to lecture you.”

  Despite the gravity of the situation, a quiet laugh escaped me. “Noted.”

  We exchanged a brief look of understanding before turning to the group of magic users gathered near the hall’s entrance. The tension in the air was palpable, but beneath it was a spark of determination. We weren’t just fighting for survival. We were fighting for our homes, our families, and everything that mattered.

  The demons were coming. But this time, we’d be ready.