Chapter 16 – First Blood
"Stand your ground!"
Captain Mercer's voice cut through the fields like thunder.
The twelve Watchmen formed a defensive line almost instinctively.
Shields locked together.
Swords were drawn.
The wind carried the growls of the approaching Abominations across the open plains.
Brook counted them.
"…One… two… five…"
More kept emerging from the wheat.
"Twelve," Graves muttered.
"No…"
Brook's stomach tightened.
"Fifteen."
The creatures spread into a wide arc instead of charging all at once.
Their movements were strange.
Calculated.
Mercer noticed it too.
"They're trying to surround us."
Crowley slowly unsheathed his sword.
"Then don't let them."
The first Fast Biter attacked.
It burst from the wheat with terrifying speed, aiming directly for one of the younger Watchmen on the left flank.
The recruit barely managed to raise his shield.
The impact knocked him onto one knee.
Before the creature could strike again—
Brook intercepted it.
Steel met claws with a shower of sparks.
The force traveled through Brook's arms, nearly knocking the sword from his hands.
"They're stronger than the ones from training…"
The creature hissed, exposing rows of jagged teeth.
Brook pushed forward.
The Abomination stumbled backward.
He didn't hesitate.
One clean swing severed its neck.
The body collapsed into the grass.
"There goes the first one!" Graves shouted.
No one celebrated.
There were still fourteen.
Three Weepers attacked the right flank together.
Unlike the Fast Biters, they moved slowly.
Almost lazily.
Their long arms dragged through the dirt as they advanced.
One suddenly let out a piercing shriek.
Every Watchman instinctively covered an ear.
"What was that?"
Before anyone answered—
Fast Biters burst from both sides.
"It was a distraction!" Mercer yelled.
"Hold the line!"
The battlefield erupted.
Steel clashed.
Growls echoed across the plains.
Brook ducked beneath a swipe that would have taken his head off.
He drove his shoulder into the creature's chest before stabbing upward through its jaw.
It collapsed instantly.
Another lunged from behind.
Crowley stepped forward.
Without even looking…
He sidestepped.
The Abomination sailed past him.
Crowley swung once.
The creature split cleanly in half.
Brook stared.
"…How did you—"
"No time."
Crowley was already moving toward another fight.
Lieutenant Graves roared as two Fast Biters rushed him together.
He planted his feet firmly.
The first creature jumped.
Graves caught it with his shield and slammed it into the ground hard enough to crack the earth beneath it.
The second leaped over its companion.
Before it landed—
Brook threw his hunting knife.
The blade buried itself deep in the creature's eye.
It collapsed at Graves' feet.
Graves looked over.
"Nice throw!"
Brook grinned.
"I've been practicing."
"You should practice more."
Brook blinked.
"I just saved you."
"I know."
"You still need practice."
Even during battle, Brook couldn't help laughing.
The laughter disappeared as another scream echoed behind them.
One of the recruits had fallen.
His sword lay several feet away.
A Fast Biter pinned him to the ground.
Its jaws snapped inches from his face.
"Help!"
Brook ran.
He was too far away.
The creature opened its mouth.
Then—
An arrow pierced its skull.
The Abomination dropped instantly.
Brook turned.
Captain Mercer calmly lowered his bow before drawing another arrow.
"Get him up!"
Brook pulled the recruit to his feet.
"You alright?"
The young Watchman nodded, though his hands wouldn't stop shaking.
"I… I froze."
Brook picked up the fallen sword and handed it back.
"Then don't freeze twice."
The recruit swallowed hard.
"I won't."
The battle dragged on.
Minute after minute.
The Watchmen slowly pushed the creatures back across the fields.
Bodies littered the grass.
Everyone was breathing heavily.
Brook wiped blood from his forehead.
"We're winning."
"No," Crowley said quietly.
Brook frowned.
"What?"
"They're testing us."
Almost as if the monsters had heard him—
Every remaining Abomination suddenly stopped attacking.
The battlefield became silent.
No growls.
No movement.
They simply stared.
Not at the Watchmen.
Past them.
Toward the Wall.
Brook slowly turned his head.
"What are they…"
A deep rumble rolled across the earth.
The ground trembled beneath their boots.
Birds burst from the distant forest.
Mercer's eyes widened.
"Back into formation!"
No one argued.
Another rumble.
Closer this time.
Then the wheat fields ahead began to part.
Not because something was running through them.
Because something was so large…
The wheat bent beneath its weight.
Brook tightened his grip on his sword.
A massive silhouette slowly emerged from the sea of gold.
It stood at least twice the height of any Abomination they had ever faced.
Its body was wrapped in black, stone-like armor that seemed fused to its flesh.
Two enormous horns curved backward from its skull.
One glowing crimson eye opened.
Then the other.
The smaller Abominations immediately retreated behind it.
Not in fear.
In obedience.
The giant creature looked directly at the Watchmen.
Then, for the first time in recorded history…
An Abomination spoke.
Its voice was rough, ancient, and carried effortlessly across the battlefield.
"You…"
Its burning eyes settled on Brook.
"…should not have come here."
Silence swallowed the plains.
Every Watchman stood frozen.
Brook's heartbeat echoed in his ears.
The creature knew him.