The destination was a small coastal town.
Catchipara.
Not a catchy name—just a place that existed quietly by the sea.
The town's total population barely crossed a thousand. By the time the team arrived, more than half had already been evacuated earlier that day. Yet over three hundred civilians still remained inside their homes.
Trapped.
This mission wasn't born from the Great Hall's desire to stage a controlled exercise for its students. It arose from necessity.
So why hadn't the remaining civilians been rescued yet?
Part of the reason was manpower. Staff were stretched thin, with Death Sinks spawning across multiple locations. But there was another, far more pressing factor.
The district where the civilians were stranded lay directly opposite the plaza—the very place where the Death Sink had manifested.
If even a single demon breached the first and only line of defense, those houses would become instant hunting grounds.
