I look around at the great army I'm leading, this is for sure the strongest army I've ever been in command, I never thought something was possible when I was alive.
Just like we did during the Annual Monster Surge in the Illusory Forest Elves village on the Morror Continent, we've divided our attention in two, and I'm leading thousands of Dungeoneering warriors on one side of the village while the Elves fight on the other side alongside those they called to help.
If it worked in the past, this strategy will work again, but this time it's different in just one thing, we'll be on the defensive.
The numbers and strength of monsters will be higher than in the past, the Monster Wave itself will last longer.
I'm glad everyone has become stronger from the beginning of the year until now, everyone is also equipped with great quality items, I just hope the casualties are few.
"Calm down, Ivan." (Vanessa)
"How can I calm down..." (I)
I look at a girl who is in combat gear and has a big bag over her shoulders.
"It's her decision, so trust her a little." (Vanessa)
"I trust her, but I'm still a father, my reason to exist is to care about her." (I)
"She will be with Athena's group, she will be safe, I'm more worried about Ibuki and Érica." (Vanessa)
"I don't know why to worry, Érica will wipe out entire groups of monsters with her spells..." (I)
In the middle of my conversation with Vanessa, a wave of energy passes through us, I almost didn't feel it, but I knew its meaning.
"I'ts about to start." (I)
As my words all focus their attention towards the Poisonous Forest, all hold their weapons tightly and drink their poison resistance potions.
After a few more minutes, noises and roars began to come from the forest, these noises were getting closer and closer, but before they arrived a wave of energy appears in the midst of the troops along with a strong red light.
What emerged from the Light was a Volcanic Turtle, a Lesser Catastrophe Grade monster 30 meters tall, this is a monster that carries a volcano on its back, has a high physical defense, and uses magma attacks.
"< Sword of the Luminous Executioner >" (Athena)
Before I give any order a large sword of light falls from the sky on the head of the monster that just appeared killing him with a single blow before he had time to do anything.
The one who launched this attack was Athena, she was the first to act when the light appeared near her group, but launching this attack seems like it was tiring for her who is covered in sweat.
I order her to retreat while everyone is ready for combat, the noises of the forest are getting louder and louder, if it wasn't for Athena's quick action then we would have to fight the monsters that come from the forest and this Volcanic Turtle at the same time.
"First group attack." (I)
Soon hundreds of monsters appeared, they were all Grade S monsters, many were Serpent-type monsters that use different types of poison, but there were also monsters of other types.
"Something's wrong..." (I)
The number of monsters doesn't match the amount of roar we were hearing, it should be three times that number at least.
"Everyone jump NOW!" (Anton)
"< Earth Divider >" (Anton)
Anton suddenly gives an order to everyone as he focuses his magic on his ever-growing war hammer.
Soon he hits the ground causing everything to shake and the ground to crack for hundreds of meters, because of Anton's warning everyone moved away from him and jumped into the air in time to escape the direct impact, but there were many being thrown back.
"Anton what you..." (I)
Before I finished, the cracked, uneven ground around Anton was oozing blood from the cracks in the floor.
"Erica, have one of the Earth Affinity mages watch the underground at all times." (I)
"I just did that, looks like the master was right." (Érica)
"Yes, I was careless..." (I)
Before the master had told us about the elemental energies grouping and separating into their respective different types, he even pointed out the directions in which we saw the different environment on the way to this village, it even had frozen areas.
Because of that, I took all this into consideration, but it seems that I missed the earth element, maybe because I didn't see such an obvious separation from the normal environment in this forest, I ended up missing something .
I don't know how Anton noticed the monsters, but thank the Gods he was here, my miscalculation could have cost many their lives on the first day of the Monster Wave, it would have lowered the troops' morale and weakened their will to fight, what death can mean for an army.
"Calm down Ivan, this is not the time to think, we don't have time for that right now." (Sapphire)
Sapphire came up behind me, slapping me on the back that nearly dismantled my bones with her force, then pointed her snake tail to the right where a bright light could be seen.
"Must be either a big monster or a group of monsters." (Sapphire)
"We have to check this out, send a scout." (I)
"Already sent, Nira is in charge and leading them, Yomi is flying over all the time while dealing with the few aerial monsters with help from Fairies and Spirits." (Sapphire)
"She's always been a smart girl." (I)
"Yes, she said that this is not the only big point of light, she has dozens of them all over the forest further away, plus there are thousands more going on." (Sapphire)
"This Monster Wave has started in full force, it's going to be hard ." (I)
"The baits don't seem to work either, it seems like it was a waste of this village's time to do that." (Sapphire)
"No, now we know they're being drawn here, we know their numbers will be higher because of it." (I)
While talking to Sapphire, I kept my attention on the surroundings, soon a Fairy came flying towards us.
"It's Slimes, many, many Slimes."
"What's the color?" (I)
"So they are poisonous, ask the fire mages to take care of them." (I)
After listening to my orders the Fairy leaves flying, it was a Wind Fairy, so it was very fast and excellent for quick messages, I am using many Spirits and Fairies, the strongest are fighting and the weakest are messengers.
The information was about the Monsters that emerged from the great light near here.
"We could have sent Erica." (Sapphire)
"It would be a waste, leave her for more difficult situations." (I)