The Shengbo Defense Line was one of many defenses along the Humans’ border. The powers here were tangled together like interlocking fangs, so conflict was common. Even during truces, there was no peace to be found. Clearly, Kyle and the others’ village had been attacked by the Dark Races.

Of all the races in this world, Humans and the Dark Races had the deepest enmity. Tens of thousands of years ago, the Dark Races had preyed on humans—and that only changed when Humans rose to power.

But that also left the two races with a grudge that was almost impossible to overcome.

Of course, the Dark Races didn’t just have a history of hatred with Humans. They clashed with the other races, too.

As a result, the world was divided into two factions. On one side was Dawn, an alliance of Humans, elves, and beastmen. On the other was Evernight, made up solely of the Dark Races.

As for the Doragons, they stood entirely apart from both factions.

“I smell blood.”

Even from far away, Alina could catch a faint scent of blood.

“We’re here.”

It didn’t take long for Alina to reach the scene. Lamia poked her head out of the backpack.

“A goblin army. Doesn’t look like anything particularly high-level. Boring.”

Lamia glanced at the battle and said it flatly.

The Dark Races had their own ranks and varieties. Monsters like goblins, slimes, and skeleton soldiers were among the weakest, which was why the village had managed to hold out this long. If it had faced stronger foes—werewolves, vampires, or necromancers, for example—it would’ve been wiped off the map already.

“Those villagers won’t last much longer.”

Alina pressed her lips together. From her high vantage point, she had a clear view of the battle below.

The goblins had clearly surrounded the village. Many of its buildings were burning, sending thick clouds of smoke into the air. The able-bodied villagers were still fighting back, but with their weapons and strength, they couldn’t hold out much longer.

“What? You’re going to help them?”

Lamia looked at Alina in surprise. She had no interest in a fight where the average strength was so low. She hadn’t expected Alina to take pity on them.

“Of course.”

Alina answered without hesitation, then added, “But I need to change first.”

As she spoke, Lamia got to witness what a lightning-fast wardrobe change looked like. In no time at all, Alina had changed from head to toe.

A black Gothic dress, black stockings, knee-high riding boots, and a full-coverage silver mask transformed the cute, delicate-looking girl into a cool, mature beauty.

“Well, I have to say, you can pull off just about any style.”

Lamia looked surprised. The girl really could change her whole vibe—just a little styling was enough to make her look completely different.

“Obviously. I’m the best.”

Alina tied her smooth silver hair into a high ponytail, then leaped straight down and dashed toward the village.

“I didn’t expect your voice to change, too. You’re taking this way too seriously.”

Meanwhile, hidden in the backpack, Lamia could only shake her head in disbelief.

……

“Kill! Kill every one of these filthy humans!”

“Kill! The great battle is coming! Capture all the women and children and save them as provisions!”

“Advance! Advance!”

The goblin army kept breaking through the village’s defenses, and the able-bodied villagers were forced back again and again. At last, every villager had retreated into the stockade, and the goblin horde reached the gate.

By then, the village had paid a terrible price and could no longer fight back.

“Where the hell did these guys come from?”

Kyle gripped his sword and stared at the countless goblins outside. Cold sweat soaked his back.

They often moved because of attacks from the Dark Races. This time, they’d gone out of their way to choose a well-hidden location—and the enemy had still found them.

And though their opponents were goblins, they clearly weren’t a ragtag bunch. They were a trained army, fighting in an orderly, methodical way. The villagers were no match for them.

“Ram the gate!”

“Heave! Heave! Heave!”

“Bam!”

The goblins began ramming the stockade gate. Kyle knew better than anyone how poorly built it was. It wouldn’t hold for long.

“At this rate, the whole village will die here.”

Kyle clenched his teeth. He and the remaining able-bodied villagers stood between the goblins and all the village’s old people, women, and children. As captain of the village guard, he was responsible for every villager’s safety.

The women and children trembled behind Kyle and the others. One girl stood apart. Her face was grimy, but it couldn’t hide her beauty, and her vivid, flame-red hair stood out in the crowd.

The girl’s gaze was resolute. She held on to the little girl beside her, who was short enough to cling to her leg. She seemed ready to sacrifice everything to protect her.

“Kyle.”

While everyone was panicking, a dry, bony hand patted Kyle’s broad shoulder.

“Leave us old folks behind. Take the young people and the children and get out of here.”

“Chief!”

Looking at the frail old man before him, whose face was gaunt but kind, Kyle could barely keep from crying.

Of course he didn’t want to abandon the chief and the other elders. But he also knew that in a place like this, survival came first. If even one person made it out today, then a spark of hope would survive—and someday, there might be a future!

“Don’t grieve for us. We’ve lived this way for generations. When we were young and danger came, we survived by leaving the old behind, too. Now it’s simply our turn. Besides, we’ve lived long enough. We’re ready to go.”

There was no sadness on the chief’s face or on the faces of the other elders. Instead, they smiled with a carefree acceptance, as if they’d let go of everything.

“Maybe once we’re dead, we can finally get some real rest,” the chief murmured.

He was so tired. Ever since he’d taken up the burden from the previous village chief, now dead, he hadn’t had a single day of real rest. Every day, he’d worried about the safety of every villager. Now, at last, he could rest.

“Chief Gary!”

At those words, Kyle burst into tears and dropped to one knee. The other villagers knelt with him, bowing their heads in gratitude for everything the elders had done for them.

They knew what would happen next. The elders would charge forward first, using their own bodies to hold back the goblins and give the others a chance to escape.

Life along the border defenses was cruel. Those who lived there faced the threat of death at every moment, and they had made their own rules for survival.

……

Meanwhile, Alina had quietly made her way to the rear of the goblin army. One goblin was standing guard alone, a short distance from the formation.

Perhaps because the enemy seemed so weak, the goblin was focused entirely on what lay ahead. It hadn’t noticed anyone sneaking up behind the army.

“Hey.”

Alina gently tapped an ugly, short goblin on the shoulder. Unfortunately, it didn’t pay her any attention. It pushed her hand away and kept raising its club, hollering, “Yeah!”

“Hey!”

That annoyed Alina. This time, she hit harder, smacking the goblin hard enough to hurt.

Only then did the goblin turn around impatiently, wanting to see what the person who kept tapping it from behind was after.

But when it turned, all it saw was a mask. It didn’t understand what it was looking at, and froze for a moment.

This wasn’t an ordinary mask. It had the power to interfere with perception. The goblin could see that someone was there, but it couldn’t form a clear image of them in its mind.

“Quick question. Who’s the boss around here?”

Still dazed, the goblin instinctively pointed toward a huge, snarling goblin sitting up on a rise in the distance.

“Thanks.”

Alina smiled faintly, then brought her hand down on the goblin’s head and killed it.

“Her voice is so pretty…”

That was the unlucky goblin’s final thought.

“Hmm… about five hundred meters?”

Alina picked up the dead goblin’s club, took aim at the giant goblin, and hurled it with all her strength.

The bloodstained club shot toward its target with a sonic boom. Perhaps some instinct for survival kicked in—the goblin leader turned around.

But by the time it turned, all it saw was a club rapidly growing larger in its pupils. Then its mind went dark.