CHAPTER 31: FALL OF THE ORC CAMP.

While the orcs were still struggling against the beast, the human settlement was far from idle. In fact, they were working almost twice as hard as the orcs.

Now, every section of the human settlement was lined with parapets—tall outer defensive walls erected in response to the approaching horde.

Even before the second scenario was announced, the humans had already begun construction. With the help of their robotic puppets, they completed the massive fortifications in a matter of days. They had prepared themselves for whatever beast might come their way.

But strangely, despite all their preparations, not a single beast had approached the settlement—let alone the walls.

It was good news, but also deeply unsettling.

Everyone knew the system wasn’t joking around. It had officially announced the second scenario, which meant it must have already begun. So why hadn’t the beasts arrived yet?

This uncertainty spread confusion among the humans, splitting them into two groups: those who wanted to go out and investigate, and those who believed there was nothing to worry about.

But the ones who were truly afraid suspected something far worse—something they hadn’t accounted for in their plans against the beasts.

’What if a force is gathering them? Could it be that we’re already entering the fifth stage—like that person warned us? That shouldn’t be possible...’

At that moment, atop the gleaming stone of the massive defensive wall, a woman clad in full armor walked with steady steps. Her blonde hair flowed down her back, and the soft clank of her boots echoed in the quiet air.

A few soldiers followed behind her, their chatter breaking through her deep thoughts.

"Lady Hale," one of them called out, "Sir Samxon said you should wait for him. We’re in charge of the walls—you’re crossing your boundaries."

Hale stopped in her tracks and turned toward them, irritation flashing in her eyes.

Though the two soldiers kept a safe distance, they flinched under her piercing gaze. Her sharp brown eyes locked onto them, sending a chill down their spines.

"Well then," she said coldly, "if you want me to leave, come chase me away. I dare you. This is an important matter—and Samxon can’t just sit this out. We need to hear what he has to say."

An invisible pressure seemed to bear down on them beneath her glare. Cold sweat rolled down their foreheads as they exchanged nervous glances, unsure what to do next.

Even with Samxon’s clear orders not to let anyone pass, none of them dared to touch her—let alone try to drag her away.

It was Lady Hale, after all. If she got angry, not even Samxon could save them from her wrath.

They were trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Hale was the leader of the second human city—Haven City. She was not only as strong as Samxon, perhaps even stronger, but also known for being ruthless and blunt. Yet that very nature had earned her the respect and authority she held among the three city leaders.

While her methods were harsh, she genuinely cared for the people of her city and had done everything possible to make Haven the safest place for those who had never joined the game.

Just as the two soldiers struggled to decide what to do, a calm, cold, almost arrogant voice spoke from the side.

"Hale, am I not allowed a moment of privacy in my own faction anymore?"

Recognizing the familiar tone, Hale turned sharply toward the source.

"When will you stop hiding up here?" she demanded. "The beast horde has already begun, yet not a single one has neared the settlement! Don’t you think that’s suspicious?"

Samxon gave her a questioning look, about to speak—but the system notification appeared before him, answering the question for both of them.

{Time left: 00:01:01:23}

Samxon frowned. He had been so preoccupied with treating the wound Akhil had inflicted on him that he’d completely detached himself from what was happening outside.

The injury had been severe—so much so that when he returned, he didn’t even enter the city. Instead, he remained in the wall’s watchtower to avoid causing unnecessary panic among the humans. There, he secluded himself, focusing entirely on recovery. He’d even given strict orders that no one was to approach him until he emerged.

During that period, he ignored the system entirely, devoting all his energy to healing. He knew the next scenario would begin soon, but he assumed that when it did, he would hear the alarm and rush out to help if needed.

But no alarm ever came.

At the time, he hadn’t thought much of it—his recovery was his top priority. Yet now, thinking back, it felt... strange.

Even with all the time he’d spent healing, he had expected the beasts to arrive before he’d fully recovered. But now, he was completely healed—and still, nothing had happened.

"What happened?" Samxon asked, genuine surprise lacing his voice.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" Hale replied, her tone calm but sharp. "Langdon still thinks this is normal, but I don’t. Don’t you think it’d be wise to go out there and see what’s happening? I have a feeling the beasts are gathering. This could be the fifth stage—that person warned us about it."

Samxon’s brows furrowed. ’If the system is starting from the fifth stage, that’s bad news. And it’ll be even worse if we’re not prepared,’ he thought grimly. He was arrogant, yes—but also cautious when it mattered.

"Langdon refused to join you, didn’t he? Do you know why?" Samxon asked. Her reasoning made sense; he couldn’t understand why the third city leader wouldn’t cooperate.

"I don’t know," Hale replied, irritation evident in her voice. "He didn’t even come to see me himself. He sent his guards with his message. I can’t enter his city without his permission."

"That guy’s really strange," Samxon muttered. "Why are we even working with him? They say he’s level four, but we’ve never seen him in person! We don’t even know if that’s true—and yet he does whatever he wants."

"He controls half the robot puppets in his city," Hale countered. "Do you think that kind of control could be achieved by a level three like us? I’m not looking for trouble. Even if he doesn’t see this as important, you can still come with me to check things out."

Samxon clenched his jaw, swallowing his annoyance. She wasn’t wrong.

"Who said I was going to join you, though?" he asked with a smug grin.

"You said it yourself—it’s dangerous to make assumptions. We have to be sure." Hale rolled her eyes.

Samxon smirked. "You’re not wrong. We do have to be sure." His tone shifted, colder now. "What about the orcs?"

"I believe they’ve been wiped out," Hale said. "Even if this really is the fifth stage, they’re too close to the Dark Mountains. If it’s as bad as we think, they must’ve been facing a powerful beast. That means they probably didn’t stand a chance—and they wouldn’t have been able to thin the beast numbers like we planned. Maybe we should’ve gone with your idea after all—killing them ourselves and strengthening our forces."

She sighed, but Samxon’s expression darkened with twisted satisfaction.

’That means that brat not only failed... he’s probably dead too.’

The thought of Akhil’s death sent a thrill through him.

"Let’s get going," Samxon said, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. "What are we waiting for?"

Now more than ever, he wanted to see the ruins of the orc camp for himself—to burn the image of their failure into his mind.

A fitting reminder of the defeat of that level-five mutant who had dared to injure him.