novelraw Chapter 77: Border Town Situation
Chapter 77: Border Town Situation
Two days earlier, before the quiet had settled into the border town, before the massive gate had fully taken shape, a group of travelers approached from the far road.
They did not arrive casually.
They came with purpose.
At the front stood Maxwell, his posture straight, his gaze sharp as it swept across the horizon. Beside him walked Frazanna, calm but alert, her eyes taking in every detail without missing a single movement.
Behind them followed a small force.
Not ordinary soldiers.
Trained.
Disciplined.
Holy Knights.
They had been sent to assist the border town.
Or at least, that was the original plan.
But the moment the town came into view, their steps slowed.
Maxwell stopped completely.
"What..."
His voice trailed off.
Before them stood a towering wall.
Not a simple wooden barrier.
Not a temporary defense.
A massive structure.
Stone layered upon stone, rising high enough to block sight of what lay beyond. Workers moved along its length, hauling materials, reinforcing sections, securing foundations.
It was not finished yet.
But even in its incomplete state, it was imposing.
Frazanna’s brows drew together.
"This was not here before."
Maxwell nodded slowly.
"No."
His eyes narrowed.
"It wasn’t."
He stepped forward again, this time faster.
The group followed.
As they approached, the sounds became clearer.
Hammering.
Voices.
Orders being shouted.
Stone being cut.
Wood being dragged.
A full construction effort.
Maxwell stopped one of the workers.
"You."
The man turned, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Yes?"
Maxwell gestured toward the wall.
"What is this?"
The worker blinked once, then answered casually.
"The wall."
Maxwell’s expression darkened slightly.
"I can see that."
He pointed again.
"Why is it here?"
The worker shrugged.
"Orders."
"From who?"
"Young Master Clay Valmont."
Silence fell over Maxwell’s group.
Frazanna’s eyes flickered.
Maxwell repeated slowly.
"Clay... Valmont?"
The worker nodded.
"Yes."
Maxwell glanced at Frazanna briefly before looking back.
"What happened here?"
The worker scratched his head.
"Well..."
He hesitated.
"There was a fight."
Maxwell leaned in slightly.
"What kind of fight?"
The worker laughed awkwardly.
"A big one."
Maxwell’s patience began to thin.
"Be specific."
The worker raised both hands slightly.
"Look, I don’t really know the details."
Maxwell’s eyes sharpened.
"You were here."
"Yes."
"And you saw nothing?"
"I saw things."
"Then speak."
The worker sighed.
"It started suddenly."
"How?"
"I don’t know."
Maxwell stared at him.
"You don’t know?"
"I’m telling you, I don’t know."
The worker shook his head.
"There was just... noise."
"What kind of noise?"
"Loud."
Maxwell’s jaw tightened.
"Explain."
The worker gestured vaguely.
"Booms."
Maxwell blinked.
"Booms?"
"Yeah."
He nodded.
"Big ones."
Maxwell stared at him in disbelief.
"That’s your explanation?"
The worker shrugged again.
"I was working."
"And then?"
"And then there were more booms."
Maxwell rubbed his temple.
"Anything else?"
The worker thought for a moment.
"People shouting."
"What were they shouting?"
"I couldn’t hear clearly."
Maxwell exhaled slowly.
"You’re not helping."
The worker frowned slightly.
"You didn’t let me finish."
Maxwell paused.
"Then finish."
"I have no idea what happened."
Silence.
Maxwell stared at him.
"...What?"
The worker nodded firmly.
"I’m serious."
He pointed toward the wall.
"We were just told to build."
"That’s it?"
"That’s it."
Maxwell’s patience finally snapped.
"You witnessed a massive fight and you’re telling me all you know is ’boom’?"
The worker crossed his arms.
"Pretty much."
Maxwell took a step back.
Then forward again.
"Who can actually tell me what happened?"
The worker pointed toward the gate.
"The guard knights."
Maxwell exhaled.
"Finally."
He turned.
"Let’s go."
They moved toward the gate, passing more workers, more materials, more signs that something large had occurred.
The atmosphere felt... wrong.
Too calm.
Too organized.
Frazanna spoke quietly.
"This place should not be this stable."
Maxwell nodded.
"I know."
They reached the guards.
Armored knights stood at attention, their presence steady.
Maxwell approached.
"We were sent to assist this town."
The lead guard knight looked at him.
"There is no need."
Maxwell blinked.
"No need?"
"Yes."
The answer came without hesitation.
Maxwell frowned.
"That makes no sense."
He gestured around.
"There was clearly a battle."
The guard knight nodded.
"Yes."
"Then why is there no need?"
The knight met his gaze.
"Because the situation has already been handled."
Maxwell’s eyes narrowed.
"Handled by who?"
The knight paused briefly.
Then answered.
"By Young Master Clay Valmont."
Maxwell’s suspicion deepened.
"How?"
The guard knight took a breath.
"There were beasts."
His voice remained calm.
"A lot of them."
Maxwell listened closely.
"They came in waves."
"From different directions."
"They were not normal beasts."
"They were aggressive."
"Uncontrolled."
"They attacked everything."
"People."
"Structures."
"Anything in their path."
Maxwell’s expression grew serious.
"And?"
"And then an invader came."
Maxwell stiffened.
"What kind of invader?"
"Strong."
"How strong?"
The knight paused.
"Very."
Maxwell pressed further.
"What did he do?"
"He sent beasts."
"More?"
"Yes."
"One after another."
Maxwell’s eyes flickered.
"And then?"
The guard knight continued carefully.
"Young Master Clay intervened."
"How?"
"He spoke to them."
Maxwell blinked.
"Spoke?"
"He gave them a choice."
"What kind of choice?"
"To work for him."
Maxwell stared.
"And they agreed?"
"Yes."
"That’s it?"
"Yes."
Maxwell felt something was missing.
"That doesn’t explain the outcome."
The guard knight held his gaze.
"That is the outcome."
Maxwell frowned deeply.
"You’re leaving something out."
The knight shook his head.
"I am not."
But his tone carried restraint.
Something unsaid.
Maxwell noticed.
But before he could press further—
A commotion drew their attention.
Several guard knights approached from the side.
They were carrying something.
A large shape.
At first, Maxwell did not react.
Then he saw it clearly.
A beast.
Dead.
Massive.
Its body was bound, dragged across the ground by multiple knights.
Maxwell’s eyes widened slightly.
"That is..."
One of the Holy Knights behind him spoke.
"A Razorback Titan..."
The group stiffened.
That was not a weak creature.
That was something capable of wiping out squads.
Yet here it was—
Dragged like a carcass.
Maxwell took a step forward.
"How did they—"
Another group appeared.
This time—
The reaction was immediate.
Maxwell froze.
Frazanna’s breath caught.
The Holy Knights behind them stiffened.
"That one..."
A voice trembled.
"That’s a Stormfang Predator..."
A beast known for speed.
For lethality.
For tearing apart entire groups before they could react.
And yet—
It too was being dragged.
Like it meant nothing.
Maxwell felt a cold sensation creep up his spine.
"What is going on..."
Then—
Another group arrived.
This time—
The air itself seemed to change.
The creature they pulled was larger.
More terrifying.
Its body alone radiated danger even in death.
Maxwell’s eyes widened further.
"No..."
One of the Holy Knights staggered back.
"That’s..."
His voice cracked.
"That’s a Black Maw Devourer..."
Silence fell.
That creature—
Was not meant to exist here.
It belonged to places far more dangerous.
And yet it lay there.
Dead.
Dragged like the others.
The Holy Knights behind Maxwell began to pale.
One of them whispered.
"This is impossible..."
Another.
"This... this doesn’t make sense..."
Another.
"We couldn’t even fight one of these..."
Their voices trembled.
Maxwell clenched his fists.
"This town..."
His eyes moved across the scene.
"The wall..."
"The beasts..."
"The silence..."
Something was very wrong.
Then—
More beasts appeared.
Each one stronger than the last.
Each one more terrifying.
Each one completely defeated.
The Holy Knights could barely stand.
Some swayed.
Some leaned on their weapons.
Some closed their eyes as if trying to deny what they were seeing.
"This..."
One of them whispered.
"We would have died here..."
Another nearly collapsed.
"We can’t..."
"We can’t face this..."
Maxwell’s breathing slowed.
His expression turned serious.
He lowered his head slightly.
Then spoke inwardly.
Master...
His voice carried quiet urgency.
What is going on here?