They naturally had no choice but to run for their lives. They could only look back as their lord was held up by the enemies, barely avoiding falling in their distraction.
Hundreds of people flowed out, some slightly separating in their panic, but otherwise, all heading in a direction..
It was just that, after some time, they heard flops and yells and people falling, in increasing frequency.
How could they not realize what was happening?
"WE'RE BEING HUNTED!" They yelled, trying to run as fast, knowing they had no chance of battling it out.
Of course, there were the guards who tried blocking the attacks and they did manage to take down a few, but it wasn't enough—the enemies were too many, and many people were still taken down, attacked like prey to be eaten.
Perhaps… they really were.
As the citizens of Mauin ran desperately, a loud ominous ding sounded inside their heads.
[The war between your territory Mauin Village (Lv3) and Tome Village (Lv3) had begun!]
Then… not even a moment later.
[Your territory Mauin Village (Lv3) had lost the war to Tome Village (Lv3)]
Everyone's hearts fell.
Their home had fallen, just like that?
The Mauin lord looked on as a level C spear went straight through his heart. It was his Hemeppo's weapon, rather than Tongo's.
He knew this because he had been showing it off many times. He had apparently bought it in a town—using the proceeds he got from his village.
His life long rival stood beside him and watched on. It was as if iife draining out of him was the most entertaining thing.
"Finally ended!" Tongo yelled, just before frowning at the man still holding the spear, "I wanted to be the one to do the honors of killing this guy but—in consideration to your contributions—I guess I could give it to you, for now."
Hemeppo grinned and then pulled out his spear. The body fell down on his back, without any signs of life anymore.
Laughing, Tongo immediately kneeled down to try and get the token away from him.
But he frowned as he realized.
The Lord token was gone.
"That's not possible," he said. He couldn't have hidden the token before meeting them because they saw the separating light of the token the moment the war started.
It was weak and would only be visible when one was near, but they saw it for sure.
A hint of realization dawned on him. His eyes widened immediately holding his weapon as he whipped his body, intent on attacking the person who just killed his rival.
But it was too late as a blade passed through his neck, stabbing.
His wide eyes eyes turned red as he looked at Hemepo who was smiling widely. Obviously, they made a pact not to harm each other. What happened?
Hemepo laughed at him as he tried to speak, but no voice could come out. He relished at the sight, and he laughed when he saw him pale more and more, until he turned blue.
"Idiot. I said I won't harm you as long as we remain allies," he said, "When did we specify we will remain allies?"
At this time, Tongo was already gasping, feeling his life draining. In the back of his mind, he could indeed remember their deal.
They would be allies until the Mauin token was in their hands.
The heavy regret was what he last felt until he finally succumbed to death.
Hemepo looked greedily at Tongo's corpse, rummaging his disgusting body for his token. It was only after completely undressing him that he found the token in his underwear.
Hemepo sneered and spat to the side to express his disgust, but he merged them anyway. Another burst of energy passed and he looked at his one Lord Token, much bigger than what it was.
"HAHAHHAHA! Finally!" he said, "I'll keep my last slot for a town," he said, his ambition suddenly spiking after gaining two tokens.
His eyes shifted to the shaking men and women in front of him.
These were the citizens recaptured by his people. As for the Tome, they were given a choice: Eat or be Eaten.
Naturally, every single one of them chose the latter.
"Now… for a feast to celebrate~"
Mauru shook as he held his wife and child, who were sobbing messes. All throughout, he kept himself straightened himself up—knowing he could not show weakness now, or else it would really be hopeless.
They tried to tune out the desperate cries not too far from them. With him, there were almost two hundred other survivors. They were all covered in blood and grime, many of them seriously injured.
They had killed all the hunters that came after them, but it was at the cost of half their people. But, at the very least, there were still over a hundred of them who held their lives.
His eyes met with the other surviving guards, nodding.
They ran as fast as they could, apologizing, but also hoping not to join their fallen comrades too soon.
And so began their treacherous journey into the dense and deadly forest.
Trees closed in on them, their branches extending as if they were claws. There were also dozens of mobs they had to deal with, losing numbers bit by bit.
They struggled with poisoned plants, their hunger getting the best of some. There were also many poisonous bugs that lurked beneath the underbrush, their makeshift repellents long losing their effectiveness.
They could only watch as the bugs' bites and stings sent their fellowmen into fits of agony. In the worst-case scenario, where they had no idea how to heal them, they could only end the person's suffering with their own hands.
Only a few hours had passed and so many of them had already lost.
By the time the sun rose, there were just a hundred of them left.
The atmosphere became more and more dire, and more and more hope was lost. Mauru noticed this and shook his head, looking at his comrades.
"We've come this far. Let's not give up," he said, pushing down his own hopelessness and tears. "I believe… that somewhere out there we would be able to find a home for ourselves."
If he believed it, he mused, maybe it would come true.