dum dum dum dum~
The fog around Eldwood thickened as the war drums roared back to life, their rhythm a relentless pulse that set Leon's nerves on edge.
He stood behind the barricade, the smooth stone still warm in his hand, its faint glow a reminder of the magic Saria had recharged in him moments ago.
His body buzzed with energy, but his heart pounded with dread, the memory of her lips and the surge of power doing little to quiet the fear gnawing at his gut.
This is it, he thought, his sneakers scuffing the dirt as he peered into the mist.
Saria stood at the forefront, her black ponytail swaying slightly, her sword drawn and glinting in the moonlight.
Her face remained an unyielding mask, her dark eyes scanning the fog for movement.
The fiery aura around her hands flickered, ready to unleash hell.
The townsfolk around her—archers, spearmen, and a few mages—gripped their weapons, their faces pale but resolute.
The air was thick with smoke, blood, and the acrid stench of burning monster flesh, and Leon's stomach churned as he clutched the stone tighter.
"Stay sharp," Saria said, her voice flat but carrying over the din.
"This is Vraxus's final wave tonight. We hold the line, or Eldwood falls." She didn't look at Leon, but her words felt directed at him, a reminder that he was no longer just a bystander, or a weak side character, he had to fight.
Leon swallowed hard, his throat dry. "No pressure, right?" he muttered, his voice trembling. He tried to muster the bravado he'd leaned on back on Earth, but it felt hollow.
I'm not a hero. But I have to try.
The fog parted, and the enemy surged forward—green goblins skittering like roaches, their yellow eyes glinting with malice; red-scaled kobolds, armored and agile, darting between trees; and fire-spitting imps, their leathery wings beating the air as they screeched.
The ground trembled under their advance, and Leon's heart leapt into his throat. "Oh, crap," he whispered, his hands shaking.
"That's a lot of them."
Saria moved first, her fiery aura flaring bright.
She raised her hands, and a torrent of flames roared forward, engulfing a cluster of goblins.
Their screeches turned to agonized wails as they burned, the stench of charred flesh filling the air. The townsfolk sprang into action, arrows flying and spears thrusting, but the monsters kept coming, their numbers overwhelming.
"Leon!" Saria's voice cut through the chaos, her face still expressionless as she incinerated an imp mid-dive. "Heal the wounded! Keep them fighting!"
Leon's legs felt like jelly, but he scrambled toward a fallen archer, her arm gashed open by a kobold's claw.
He knelt beside her, his hands trembling as he touched the wound.
"Okay, okay, I got this," he muttered, closing his eyes and focusing on the warmth of his magic.
The memory of Saria's lips flashed unbidden, and a flush of arousal sparked the power in his chest.
The stone glowed in his hand, and a warm tingle flowed into the archer's arm, knitting the wound closed.
She gasped, her eyes wide, and grabbed her bow, nodding at him before rejoining the fight.
"Thanks, uh… healer!" she called, her voice shaky but grateful.
Leon's chest swelled with a flicker of pride, but there was no time to bask.
Another scream rang out—a spearman clutching a burned leg, courtesy of an imp's fire spit.
Leon stumbled over, his breath ragged, and healed him, the magic flowing easier now, though it drained him with each use.
He moved from fighter to fighter, his hands glowing faintly as he closed cuts and burns, his mind a blur of panic and focus.
The townsfolk called him various names "Doc, Healer, Healing guy," their voices a mix of relief and urgency, and their nicknames started to feel less absurd.
Saria fought fiercely, her flames carving paths through the monsters, her sword flashing as she cut down anything that got close.
Leon watched her, awe and fear mixing in his gut.
She was unstoppable, her stoic demeanor unshaken even as she burned through goblins and kobolds.
But the wave was relentless, and the defenders were tiring, their movements slowing as wounds piled up.
I guess, I am dead today.