Reincarnated Ruler: Awakening in a Broken Reality

Chapter 174: Obsidian Wings

"You wouldn't," Selene said. "You were inside the densest zone. It behaves differently there."

Nyxa shifted beside Ren. "It's hard to hear."

"Ohh! I think that's normal," Ren said. "People fill gaps."

Ilyas approached Ervin, voice low but not hidden. "Eastern Watch is mobilizing reserves. They want to know if they should pull civilians back now or wait."

Ervin didn't answer immediately.

He looked around the yard. At bandaged arms. At cracked shields leaned against stone. At Ren, standing when he should probably be sitting.

"Tell them to prepare shelters," Ervin said finally. "No forced movement yet. If we move people too early, roads clog. Then when it really hits, they're trapped."

Ilyas nodded. "Then we will relay."

Another message came in—this one not sealed, just hastily written.

"Merchant guilds suspending long routes," the archivist read. "Compass stones unreliable past midline. Insurance voided."

Seroi exhaled through his nose. "That'll starve towns faster than monsters."

Ren spoke without raising his voice. "So what's the plan if this keeps expanding at the same pace?"

Selene tapped the map. "At current speed? We get days. Maybe a week before major population centers feel pressure."

"And if it speeds up?"

"Then we stop arguing and give our best to solve everything."

Kael rolled her shoulders. "You mean burn corridors. Kill zones. Choke points. We will solve every problems."

"Yes," Selene said. "Ugly ones too."

A horn sounded faintly from the outer watch.

Everyone looked there.

A scout's voice followed, amplified by spell. "At South-southwest monsters starting their attacks."

The air tightened heavier.

"At south-southwest," the scout repeated. "Multiple signatures. Fast movers mixed with heavies."

Ervin didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.

"Archive guard, form up. Two squads to the ridge path. One to the lower farms. No chasing. You hold lines and fall back if needed. Commander Ilyas, hope you are ready."

Boots hit stone. Straps tightened. Someone dropped a helm and cursed, picked it up again. They were ready for that from starting. They expected this type of things but not early.

Ilyas given small smile. He was started moving. "As always captain. Eastern Watch, you're with me."

Ren turned to follow.

Ervin caught him with a look. "You stay behind the first push. Take care of my words."

Ren didn't argue but he didn't want to step back either.

he said. "I'll support."

Ervin nodded once. "Fine. Stay in sight."

So many squads teleported through mana circles. The sky filled with so many teleportation lights. It looked like rays came from the heaven.

After reaching there...

Seroi barked orders to the mixed contingent.

"Terranox front fighters, you anchor the bend. Don't get fancy. Elara, take the right flank."

Elara adjusted her grip. "Got it."

Nyxa stayed close to Ren, quiet but alert.

They moved out together, downhill, toward the low fields where the fog had thinned just enough to see silhouettes breaking through.

The first scream came from a shepherd.

Not loud. Cut off fast.

"Contact!" someone yelled.

The monsters didn't rush.

They came in uneven waves—four-legged things dragging too many joints, something tall and narrow that moved like it didn't care about gravity, smaller shapes darting ahead to test reactions.

News channels covered all the scenes and spreading awareness in public domain.

"Front, brace!" Ilyas shouted.

Shields locked.

The first impact rattled arms to the shoulder. One creature slammed and bounced back, screeching. Another tried to slip between gaps and got pinned by a spear.

Ren felt the pressure spike immediately. Not fear but force of that attack. Like the air itself leaned into him.

"Left side!" Elara called. "They're probing!"

Seroi stepped in, spear flashing. "Hold formation!"

Their formation was simple. Warriors were on the front line. Magicians support them. Tech Machines for help. Healers for healing behind warriors and magicians. To protect them attackers. And behind them commanding team.

A beast lunged low. Ren moved without thinking, shadow tightening around his forearm—not flaring, not expanding. He struck the joint behind its jaw.

Bone cracked. The thing collapsed.

Ren exhaled hard. That felt better. Controlled.

"Nice," someone muttered.

The second wave hit harder.

One shield shattered. Another fighter went down, dragged by claws.

"Pull him back!" Elara shouted.

They did but blood soaked the ground anyway.

"Fall back five steps!" Ilyas ordered. "Slow and together!"

They gave ground, step by step, never turning.

Behind them, bells started ringing.

From the town.

News was already spreading.

A runner passed them, breathless. "Capital reports confirmed attacks near river trade road. Markets closing. City gates half-sealed."

"Tell them to keep routes clear," Ervin snapped. "No mass movement."

The fog shifted again but this time carrying sound.

Low growls. Too many.

"They're not random," Selene said, watching from the rise. "They have intelligence like humans."

"That's comforting," Kael muttered, rolling her neck. "Means they'll come back smarter."

A larger shape pushed through the fog. Thick hide. Crude plates fused into its back like armor that grew wrong.

"Focus fire!" Seroi shouted.

Blades sparked. Magic flared briefly, tightly and controlled. The beast roared and swung, catching two fighters and throwing them aside like debris.

Between all of that nature was calm. The voices of swords, spells and dropping blood heard clearly.

Ren felt the recoil again when he struck—sharp, biting.

Nyxa's hand brushed his sleeve. "You're pushing again."

"I know," he said through clenched teeth. "I am trying to control but it's hard."

He changed angles. Used shadow to trip, not crush. To pull weight sideways. When the creature stumbled, Elara drove her weapon in deep.

It fell.

For a moment, they held.

Then the smaller ones surged.

"Rear pressure!" someone yelled.

They were bending now. Not breaking but close.

Ren's breathing went ragged.

"This isn't stopping," Elara said, voice tight. "We're buying minutes."

"Then buy them," Ilyas said. "That's the job."

A horn sounded—different pitch.

Reinforcements.

Fresh fighters slammed into the field from the eastern path, shields up, movements clean. A second Terranox group followed, heavier weapons, less polish, more force.

Kael reappeared.