The morning of the first day of the monster wave. Lakan and the leaders began their preparations, ensuring their warriors were armed and defenses reinforced. Hours passed as strategies were finalized, weapons sharpened, and spells prepared. The sun crawled across the sky, casting long shadows as dusk approached.

  As the horizon burned with the last light of day, a heavy silence settled over the land. Torches flickered to life, their flames dancing against the encroaching darkness. The crimson glow of the red moon bathed the surroundings in an eerie light, twisting shadows into menacing forms. A biting chill crept through the base, gnawing at flesh and bone. Then, as the first stars blinked into existence, the waiting ended.

  Night had come—and with it, the monsters.

  At the entrance of the forest, a red light flickered, blending with the pitch-dark shadows that stretched like grasping hands. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, and a chilling breeze whispered through the gnarled branches above.

  A lone goblin monster trudged forward, its twisted form barely visible in the eerie glow. Its beady eyes gleamed with hunger, its jagged teeth bared in a sinister grin. Each step it took was slow and deliberate, its clawed fingers twitching as it crept toward the distant base, where the faint glow of torches flickered against the night.

  Somewhere in the darkness, a low growl rumbled—a warning, or perhaps a challenge. The goblin paused, sniffing the air, its hunched back rising and falling with each ragged breath. The night was alive with unseen threats, but it pressed on, driven by an unshakable purpose.

  “Damn, that’s a lot of them,” Baloga muttered. “Prepare your spears! Start burning the paralyzing powder! Shoot it!” with his night vision Baloga saw at the back of the entrance a wave of monster charging.

  One of the warriors frowned. “It’s just one goblin. What do you mean, a lot of them?”

  Baloga snapped, “Just trust me! I’m the commander here—I know what I’m seeing.”

  Before anyone could question him further, one of the soldiers raised his bow and took aim at the approaching goblin, releasing an arrow with a swift motion.

  SWISH!

  The warrior’s arrow splitting the air traveling to the upcoming monster, THWACK! The arrow struck true, piercing the creature’s chest right in the center. For a brief moment, it stood frozen, its beady red eyes widening in shock. Then, it let out a shrill, ear-splitting squeal that sent a shiver down the warriors’ spines.

  Atop the wall, the warriors watched in shock as the lone goblin convulsed, its small frame twisting unnaturally. Its muscles swelled, stretching its wiry body into something far more formidable. Its beady eyes bulged, almost popping from its skull, while its green skin darkened and hardened, shifting into smooth, glistening scales.

  Bones cracked, limbs elongated, and within moments, the goblin was no more—replaced by a creature the size of a grown man, its body now resembling a bipedal chameleon. It flicked out a long, forked tongue, its eerie, slit-pupil eyes scanning the warriors above.

  “There it is—the mimic,” Baloga said grimly. “They’re coming! Prepare yourselves!” his shout echoed through the night—sharp, urgent. Beyond the entrance of the forest, the monsters charged.

  CRACK! Branches snapped like brittle bones.

  SHRRK! Leaves and underbrush tore apart in their relentless path, shredded by unseen claws and trampling feet.

  THUD! THUD! The earth trembled beneath their massive weight, each step a promise of impending destruction. The warriors atop the wall felt the vibrations in their bones, a steady, ominous drumbeat that signaled the approach of something far worse than mere goblins.

  A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the air, followed by an eerie chittering sound that sent shivers down their spines. Shadows shifted between the trees, revealing flickers of scaled bodies, towering hobgoblins, long-armed hunchbacked goblins, and a dark-skinned bipedal bat, the monsters glowing predatory eyes piercing through the gloom.

  The appearance of a massive group of monsters alerted Baloga, the commander. “Orcs, prepare to throw boulders! Wait for my signal! And also cover your noses!” Baloga commanded.

  As the monsters charged, the ground suddenly betrayed them.

  THUD! CRACK! A hobgoblin roared in pain as its massive foot sank into a hidden pitfall, snapping its ankle with a sickening crunch. SHRIEK! A long-armed goblin tumbled forward, its claws flailing wildly before it crashed headfirst into the dirt. SHRIEK! The mimic, which had taken the appearance of another monster, stumbled into the pitfall and let out a shriek as it reverted to its original form.

  Chaos erupted as the charging horde stumbled into cleverly placed potholes and pitfalls, their once-relentless advance turning into a frenzied mess. SQUELCH! A night stalker shrieked as it fell, only to be crushed beneath the stampeding feet of its own kin.

  “It worked... but why are some of them already injured?” Baloga murmured, eyes narrowing. “Bruises, bite wounds... Hobgoblins should be at the top of the food chain here.”

  The monsters grew more frenzied as they neared the wall, their charge becoming even more relentless at the sight of their prey. Some fell into the moat. Long-armed goblins prepared to throw rocks, while the hulking hobgoblins lifted boulders, aiming for the warriors stationed atop the wall. Night Stalkers glided down from the shoulders of the hobgoblins, ready to strike—.

  Then—

  The nearest monster suddenly froze, paralyzed. Then another. And another.

  Baloga hesitated for a moment before shouting, “Orcs, now!”

  The orcs hurled their boulders, the massive stones slicing through the air and crashing into the immobilized monsters. The impact obliterated the horde, though a few, especially the larger hobgoblins, survived due to their sheer size.

  “Keep burning the paralyzing powder! Orcs, stop throwing boulders! Open the gate—Lakan, Zarik, it's your turn! Kill the stragglers!”

  Baloga activated his night vision, scanning the tree line. His stomach dropped.

  “There’s another wave coming—big swarm beyond the forest. Kill them all before they overwhelm us!”

  Lakan, Zarik, and a group of beastmen rushed out, swiftly cutting down the surviving monsters, prioritizing the hobgoblins. With the creatures still paralyzed, the battle ended quickly. The warriors retreated inside.

  Orrin came running, his face pale with urgency.

  “Bad news! Three Minotaurs are coming—they’re killing monsters on their way here. I think they sensed our presence. They’re still far, but they’re chasing the monsters.”

  “So that’s why they were already wounded…” Lakan muttered.

  The surrounding warriors heard the report and were startled by the sudden news of the Minotaurs.

  "A Minotaur? How is that monster even here?"

  "It’s only the first day of the Monster Wave, and we’re already doomed!"

  "Shit, we need to evacuate the others!"

  Baloga took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Azrath, take over command. We need a plan to deal with the Minotaurs."

  The Minotaur—a bipedal monster born from the evolution of a Dire Bull. A high-class creature, several times stronger than a hobgoblin, with a short temper that wreaks havoc on anyone who sets it off.

  Baloga turned to Orrin, frowning. “Wait, you have your animal network, right? Why are you only reporting this now? Shouldn’t you have known in advance?”

  Orrin exhaled sharply. “I don’t control the animals, Baloga. They help us, but if they sense danger, they abandon their post. This report came from an insect—that’s why it took so long to reach me.”

  Baloga raised an eyebrow. “Hold on, how does an insect even know what a Minotaur is? Do they communicate with gestures, or… can you actually talk to them?”

  The room fell into tense silence at the seemingly ridiculous question.

  “Why the hell are you asking that now?” Zarik snapped.

  “Sorry, just thinking ahead,” Baloga muttered.

  Zarik exhaled sharply. “We don’t have time for distractions. We need to focus on the Minotaurs. They’re the biggest threat.”

  Lakan’s gaze flicked between them. “Have either of you fought one before?”

  Baloga hesitated before nodding. “I wounded one once… but I barely escaped. They’re faster than they look.”

  “Should we try poisoning them?” Lakan asked.

  Baloga shook his head. “No. They’re resistant to poison—and that includes the paralyzing powder.”

  Lakan’s brow furrowed. “But they’re still affected by the Red Moon, right? I’m also wondering—why does the Red Moon affect the monsters?”

  “No,” Baloga corrected. “They aren’t. They have a level of intelligence—but they can’t use magic. Their horns absorb mana and store it until they evolve into an Ignitaur. As for why the Red Moon affects the monsters, back when we were still slaves, I heard the humans talking about it. They said the light drives monsters mad because it resembles blood.”

  Lakan exhaled. “So that explains why the other monsters attack in waves. But since all of them—except for the Minotaurs—are still affected by the Red Moon, we can use that to our advantage. If we play this right, we could manipulate them—forcing the Minotaurs and other monsters to fight each other or steering them where we want.”

  Zarik folded his arms. “The monsters will defend themselves if attacked, but it won’t matter. The Minotaurs will slaughter them instantly—there are three of them.”

  Lakan’s eyes narrowed. “Then we change the battlefield. We can lure the Minotaur into the moats and trap them.”

  Orrin frowned. “That won’t work if they just leap across.”

  “That’s where Drogath’s logs come in,” Lakan explained. “If the Minotaurs jump into the moat, we can use the logs to push them back out.”

  Zarik crossed his arms. “So who’s going to lure the Minotaur?”

  Lakan’s gaze swept across the group before settling on Baloga. “What about you, Baloga, and me?”

  Baloga let out a sharp breath. “That’s risky. We need to make sure we’re fast enough to escape if things go wrong.”

  Zarik nodded. “Agreed. We’ll need to split their attention. One of us should act as the primary bait while the others keep them distracted and guide them toward the trap.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Lakan smirked. “We will use the terrain and the traps we laid to fight them. I’ll take point. Baloga, you cover me. Zarik, you create diversions—use the terrain to slow them down.”

  Baloga rolled his shoulders. “Fine, but if this goes south, I’m blaming you.”

  Lakan chuckled. “Then let’s make sure it doesn’t.”

  A distant roar echoed through the battlefield. The Minotaurs were close. There was no more time for second-guessing.

  “Let’s move.”

  The meeting ended quickly. Lakan, Baloga, and Zarik moved to execute the plan. Meanwhile, on the left side of the wall, where Drogath and Dalangpan were stationed... "Leader, a Minotaur appeared on the other side!" "Drogath, go help them. I'll keep commanding here. Orcs, throw another batch of boulders! Go now, Drogath!"

  A sharp call from the left side of the wall interrupted them.

  “Leader! A Minotaur just appeared on the other side!”

  Dalangpan turned to Drogath. “Go help them. I’ll hold command here. Orcs, another batch of boulders—NOW! Drogath, move!”

  Monsters kept pouring in from every side of the barrier. With Dalangpan in command, Drogath was free to assist the others in dealing with the Minotaur.

  It was the dead of night, slowly approaching dawn. Zarik, Baloga, and Lakan were fighting at the front, using the potholes and pitfalls to their advantage. They managed to hold their ground against the swarm of monsters.

  “Shit! This isn’t going as planned—it’s getting more intense. Baloga and Zarik can’t lure them properly if this keeps up,” Lakan said.

  The monsters continued their relentless assault on the base, showing no signs of slowing down.

  “If this keeps up, we won’t be able to lure the Minotaur and the other monsters toward each other,” Lakan murmured. “Azrath! Throw another batch of boulders—break their momentum! Baloga! Zarik! Watch out for the boulders!”

  Once again, boulders tore through the air before crashing into the horde of monsters, scattering them on impact. The ground trembled from the force, sending dust and debris flying.

  Zarik, Baloga, and Lakan avoided the falling boulders, twisting their bodies with precision and relying on their agility to stay unharmed. The deafening crashes mixed with the monstrous roars, the monster was obliterated.

  “Baloga! What’s the situation inside the forest?” Lakan ask.

  Baloga uses his night vision “Monsters still charging two Minotaur ahead while the other one is at the far back.”

  “Azrath! Keep fanning the flames of paralyzing powder so that the Minotaur can slaughter the monsters, then put it out when I say” Lakan shouts.

  After some time, the monsters stopped. Meanwhile, the charging Minotaurs had reached them, tearing through their ranks with brute force. Their massive horns gored through flesh, sending bodies flying, while their heavy hooves trampled those who fell. With every swing of their weapons, bones shattered, and roars of agony filled the battlefield. Blood sprayed across the ground as the Minotaurs rampaged, leaving a trail of carnage in their wake, mercilessly cutting down the wave of monsters

  Lakan seeing the situation take advantage of it.

  “Baloga, Zarik lure the Minotaurs while the other monster is paralyzed, I’ll take care of the Minotaur at the back.” Lakan commands.

  "Just by yourself?" Zarik asked.

  "Trust me, there is no time to explain." Lakan replied while heading straight to the forest with haste.

  "Just make sure this plan of yours works," Baloga shouts.

  Lakan rushed into the forest, igniting a fire. The moment he reached the trees, he stretched out his hands and focused. Flickers of flame danced at his fingertips.

  "Fireball, Fireball, Fireball," he chanted quietly.

  Small flames erupted from his hands, licking at the dry underbrush. Within seconds, the fire took hold, spreading rapidly as if hungry for destruction. Thick smoke billowed upward, curling into the sky like a beacon.

  "What the hell are you thinking, starting a fire in the forest?!" Zarik bellowed from the base, his voice barely cutting through the chaos. "Get back here before you’re surrounded, damn it!"

  "You’ll see! Just hold on a little longer!" Lakan shouted back, his silhouette barely visible through the thick smoke. His gaze remained locked on the sky, waiting—watching for something only he understood.

  "This kid is going to get himself killed," Baloga said, shaking his head.

  “Let’s just trust him, we should do our part now” Zarik replied.

  The two of them has started their part of the plan. Baloga and Zarik provoked the two Minotaurs who is still killing the paralyzed monsters up ahead by throwing rocks at them.

  ROAR!

  “Come get us, you big-ass bulls!” Baloga shouted, twirling his twin swords in his hands. The steel gleamed under the dim light, reflecting the flickering fire in the distance.

  The two Minotaurs roared in fury, nostrils flaring as they locked onto him and Zarik. Their hooves pounded against the dirt, sending tremors through the ground as they charged.

  Zarik’s eyes locked onto the Minotaur. His breath was steady, his muscles tense. Timing was everything.

  Then, he turned and ran.

  “Everyone, get ready!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

  Baloga and Zarik sprinted toward the base, the ground trembling beneath them as the Minotaurs gave chase. The beasts were relentless, their rage unyielding. With terrifying strength, they grabbed nearby monsters and hurled them through the air, turning them into deadly projectiles.

  “Zarik, move! They’re throwing monsters at us!” Baloga shouted.

  The two dodged with razor-sharp precision, rolling and sidestepping as the bodies crashed around them. The moat was just ahead. They pushed harder, running at full speed, the furious Minotaurs right behind them.

  Then—twin leaps over the moat.

  They landed, feet skidding on dirt, and rushed toward the towering wall.

  “Ready! Time the release of the logs!” Zarik commanded, his voice edged with urgency.

  The warriors above held their breath, gripping the mechanism.

  The Minotaurs roared and lunged, their powerful legs propelling them forward.

  “Now!” Zarik shouted.

  RUMBLE!

  The logs thundered down in an avalanche of destruction. The first Minotaur landed—only to slip on the rolling wood, its massive body crashing hard. The second Minotaur managed to land safely, but a thick log struck it with bone-crushing force, knocking it backward.

  The beasts struggled, clawing and kicking against the relentless flood of rolling logs. Their furious bellows filled the air. Desperation overtook rage. They punched, grabbed, and hurled logs at the wall in a last, frenzied attempt to fight back.

  Baloga tightened his grip on his swords, eyes burning with defiance.

  “Hold your ground! Block the incoming logs! Just give up, you monsters!” he roared.

  Meanwhile, as the chase raged through the forest, Lakan surveyed the surroundings, leaping from tree to tree to avoid being consumed by the spreading fire.

  Through the thick smoke, his eyes locked onto movement in the distance—another wave of monsters, closing in fast. His grip tightened.

  “There they are. More of them,” he muttered under his breath. “I should use paralyzing powder here. Since the plan is to cover the Red Moon with smoke, and the wind is on our side, there’s no need to engage.”

  But then—his instincts screamed.

  Shi—!

  A thunderous impact tore through the air.

  A Minotaur launched itself from the ground, soaring toward him with terrifying speed. Its massive fist, as heavy as a warhammer, came crashing down.

  “Damn it!” Lakan’s heart pounded. His pulse roared in his ears as he flung his hand forward, voice laced with desperation.

  “Wind Push!”

  A powerful gust exploded from his palm, barely deflecting the Minotaur’s attack. But the force of his own spell sent him hurtling backward. His body slammed into the ground near the entrance of the forest, skidding through dirt and debris.

  His head spun, his ribs ached. But before he could recover—

  The ground trembled.

  Heavy hooves pounded against the earth. The Minotaur had locked onto him.

  Then—movement. Shadows flitted at the edges of his vision. The surrounding monsters had noticed him.

  His breath hitched.

  Shapes lunged from all sides, their snarls slicing through the air. Claws scraped against bark. Eyes glowed with bloodthirsty hunger.

  “Damn it! I’m surrounded!” Lakan’s voice cracked with strain. His mind raced. His eyes darted, searching—

  “Dirt Wall!”

  The ground erupted, jagged earth surging upward, blocking the creatures to his right. But more were coming from the left.

  His pulse spiked. No time.

  Lakan slammed his palms into the dirt.

  “Mud Flow!”

  The earth beneath them twisted into a thick, sludgy trap. The monsters thrashed, shrieking as they sank, their claws scraping wildly against the sinking terrain—

  But the Minotaur didn’t care.

  With a furious roar, it leaped over the mud, its bloodshot eyes locked onto him. In its hands—a massive club, jagged and brutal, scavenged from a fallen hobgoblin.

  It swung.

  Lakan barely dodged, the air splitting with the force of the strike. The club crashed down behind him, the impact sending a shockwave through the ground. He staggered forward, legs screaming in protest.

  No way out, he needed cover.

  Gritting his teeth, fingers tightening, he channeled the last of his strength.

  “Smoke Area!”

  A thick, choking fog erupted around him, swallowing the battlefield whole. The Minotaur paused, confused. The monsters hesitated—then the scent hit them.

  Lakan didn’t wait. He reached into his pouch—

  “Fireball!”

  BOOM!

  The explosion ignited the paralyzing powder—freezing the battlefield.

  Monsters stiffened mid-lunge, their eyes widening in shock as their bodies betrayed them. Lakan didn’t hesitate. He bolted, clutching his broken ribs. As he ran past the paralyzed creatures, a deafening roar tore through the air, shaking the very ground beneath him.

  ROAR!

  Fear gripped Lakan’s chest. “The Minotaur! It had to be. His mind raced. Had it already noticed my escape?” But when he glanced back—his breath caught.

  The Minotaur he had fought wasn’t after him. It was locked in battle with another monster. Then, from the base—cheers erupted.

  Confused, Lakan turned toward the wall. The two Minotaurs that had been chasing Baloga and Zarik—were gone.

  “Lakan! We defeated the Minotaurs! What the hell were you doing in the forest? Get back here before the other one catches up to you!” Baloga called out.

  Lakan barely had time to process his words when Baloga’s gaze shifted toward the trees, his expression darkening. Then—

  ROAR!

  The Minotaur let out a thunderous roar, a sound that echoed with both agony and triumph. Its massive frame trembled as raw mana surged through its horn, blazing like a pillar of light. The energy had reached its peak—unstable, uncontrollable. Cracks of arcane power rippled across its body as its form began to change. The beast was evolving.

  A blinding light tore through the battlefield, forcing every warrior on the wall to shield their eyes. Murmurs of confusion and alarm spread among them.

  "What in the gods' name was that light?!" someone shouted.

  "Did lightning strike?!" another exclaimed.

  "That came from the forest… but how?!"Then—.

  SWISH!

  A massive fireball was coming at the base. Lakan notices “Shit— I need to defend the wall, a fire is coming get out of there” But the warriors just noticed the fireball. Lakan sense the urgency run with all his might and jumps over the moat. Then—.

  “Dirt Wall!”

  He slammed his hands in the ground, pouring every last drop of mana into the spell. The ground trembled—then BOOM! A thick, jagged wall erupted from the earth, surging upward just as the fireball struck.

  Baloga’s breath hitched. His voice dropped to a shaken whisper. “That’s… not a Minotaur anymore.” Then he shouted, voice filled with urgency— “The Minotaur evolved into an Ignitaur!”

  CRACK! SIZZLE! BOOM!

  Flames slammed into stone, heat washing over the warriors like a tidal wave. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground. Dust and embers rained down.

  ROAR…..!

  The Ignitaur charged from the forest entrance, its molten eyes locking onto the warriors at the base. Veins of liquid flame pulsed within the cracks of its obsidian-like hide. Monsters caught in its path were obliterated. The monster, sensing the Minotaurs overwhelming strength, instinctively fled.

  Lakan staggered, gasping for air. The dirt wall held—but barely. Cracks spider webbed across its surface, steam hissing from scorched stone.

  "Shit! The Minotaur evolved into an Ignitaur—Lakan, catch!" Baloga shouted.

  Lakan, battered and drained of mana, barely caught the potion Baloga tossed. Without hesitation, he downed it in one gulp. A soothing warmth spread through his body, mending his wounds and knitting broken bones back together. Though his strength returned, his mana remained depleted, and his mind still reeled from the strain of casting too many spells in too short a time.

  THUD! THUD!

  The Ignitaur charged from the forest entrance, its molten eyes locking onto the warriors at the base. Every step it took scorched the ground, flames rolling off its body. Monsters caught in its path were obliterated, reduced to ash and embers. The others, sensing the overwhelming heat, instinctively fled, their fear overriding the Red Moon’s influence.

  "Are the others inside evacuated?" Lakan asked, gripping his weapon tighter.

  "Yes! Elder Ulganar and the warriors moved to the cave you told us about," Drogath confirmed.

  Suddenly, two figures sprinted in from the side wall—Dalangpan and Drogath. They had been stationed at the left-side rear wall.

  "What was that roar? What's the situation here?" he demanded.

  "Why are you two here? Well this is much better, we need more help here" Baloga asked.

  "We told the warriors to hold the line. They’ll be fine, they could just use paralyzing powder. But—" Dalangpan’s eyes widened as he took in the fiery beast before them. "Is that an Ignitaur? And why the hell did you set the forest on fire?! It’ll spread!"

  "No, it won’t," Zarik said, his voice steady despite the chaos. "The moisture at dawn will put it out."

  Lakan exhaled sharply, scanning the battlefield. "Good, all of the great warriors were here” he said, stepping forward. "Let's kill that Ignitaur."

  Dalangpan narrowed his eyes. "You look exhausted, and you're proposing that?"

  "There’s no time, Uncle," Lakan said, cracking his neck. "We need to work together to kill that Ignitaur. Let’s go!"

  "Wai—that’s an Ignitaur!" Baloga barked.

  But Lakan had already launched himself forward, sprinting straight at the rampaging beast.

  Zarik smirked. "What’s wrong, Baloga? Chickening out?"

  Baloga scowled. "You’re getting good at pissing me off—hell no! Who’s chickening out?!"

  "Then let’s go! If you want to remain in this land that our comrades died for!" Zarik roared.