Way of the Knights

---

Final Haven Kingdom. 

A place hidden behind a dense canopy of wilderness and mountains, acting as it\'s little shield from the covetous eyes of beast hidden along the rest of the dangerous wilderness.

On normal days, the kingdom is lively and filled with peaceful air. One would be able to see common folk going about their business or just having the time their lives, living in peace behind the tall walls erected to protect them. 

Unfortunately, today isn\'t meant to be one of those days.

The streets were empty. No stores are open for business. Everyone in the Outer Ring of the Kingdom were evacuated and kept behind the Inner Walls, protected by faithful Knights who stood on top of the walls, facing the heavy atmosphere.

It was quite obvious that everyone is tensed. The atmosphere was heavy and gloomy, it almost seems like doomsday was coming. Some adults were even kneeling down while profusely praying to every god and saints that they could name. Their prayers mainly consists of request for protection or requests to bless their faithful Knights so that they will be able to protect their home.

"Mama? What\'s going on? Why is it so quiet? I\'m scared…"

A little boy clung onto his mother\'s clothes as he hid his small body behind her. The mother shivered but she placed a confident smile, she knelt down and faced her little boy saying: "Don\'t be scared, Love. Mama\'s here. I\'ll protect you okay?"

"Mn! I know! But why do we need to leave our house?" The boy\'s curiosity stumped his mother. 

She can\'t think of a way to answer him, should she lie to him or tell him the truth? However, before she could even say anything, a cheerful but heavy voice sounded in their ears.

"Oh, you don\'t know?" 

The mother and son were stunned to see a hulking bald person crouching nearby their location. The bald man was wearing a foolish grin as he replied, "It\'s because you\'re here to attend a Story Telling Event, little guy."

The Bald Man sent a discreet wink towards the mother, who caught onto his message.

"A Story Telling Event?" The little boy gazed curiously at the bald guy, there was an evident shine in his eyes as he heard his words.

"Uh, huh!" The Bald Guy nodded fervently, "There will be a pretty Big Sister that will arrive later and tell you many stories! She will also give you lots of candies!"

"Candies!" A wide smile blossomed from the young boy\'s face, his eyes lit up and he became very excited.

"Haha!" The Bald Guy laughed and shuffled the boy\'s hair, he then continued. "That\'s right! Lot\'s of colorful candies! But! You have to listen well to the Big Sister\'s story…do you know why?"

"Why? Tell me, Big Brother!" The boy hurriedly asked.

"This is our little secret, okay? Don\'t tell anyone!" The bald guy placed a serious expression as he went closer to the boy, who obviously fell for his lies. "They said that only those that could answer the Big Sister\'s question could receive some candies! So you better listen well, okay?"

"Mn!" The boy nodded fervently, "I\'ll listen well! What\'s you\'re name, Big Brother?"

"My name is Malik! What about you?"

"Jason!"

"Alright, Jason. Wait here until someone calls you okay? Don\'t go anywhere or else you might miss out! I\'ll be going now! Ba-bye."

"Ba-bye Big Brother Malik!" The boy then faced his mom and told her how excited he is for the Story Telling Event. He then sat on the nearby desk and waggled his feet.

The mother of the boy bowed towards Malik and said: "Thank you for your help."

"No worries! It\'s the least I could do. But the event will really happen so that the youngsters will be distracted." Malik replied, he then turned his bulky body and prepared to leave. "Have faith, we won\'t allow them to destroy our home."

The mother nodded and said: "Thank you. Please be careful out there. I\'ll be praying for your safety."

Malik nodded and went back to his team. Raphael watched him with a wry smile as he said: 

"Despite of your appearance, you\'re so good when it comes to dealing with kids. I don\'t know if I should feel admiration or be creeped out."

"What\'s that supposed to mean?" Malik replied as he glared indignantly at Raphael.

"It means, find a wife and start family Dude!" Raphael replied instantly which caused Malik to stagger. "Seriously! You\'re just a few days away from turning 30. Don\'t tell me you plan on living alone for the rest of your life?"

"Shaddap!" Malik roared indignantly, "I am trying so stop being so nosy! Just because you\'re engaged, doesn\'t mean that you have to rub my singleness in my face!" He wanted to cry but had no tears.

"Alright, alright, chill!" Raphael chuckled, he only meant the best for his friend, and of course to ease the nervousness in the atmosphere by a bit.

"Hmph!" Malik snorted, but his expression turned a little serious as he felt the gloominess around them. "Let\'s talk about matters of marriage later. Considering that we\'re still alive after this horde."

"Oi, Oi!" Raphael had goosebumps all over his body when he heard that ominous words. "Don\'t be like that! Go back to acting stupidly instead!"

Malik sighed, it\'s not like he didn\'t want to do that, but the reality won\'t let him. This might be the most perilous situation that the kingdom encountered over the last century.

"My bad. I\'m just too tensed up. I\'m not even sure if the Nun\'s would be able to distract the kids during the entire thing. I\'m hoping they could, or else this will be a very traumatic experience for them."

"Have faith, brother." Raphael smiled and used Malik\'s own words against him. "Be a little confident about our chances. Many things have changed since the attack of this scale. We have better chances right now."

Malik was stunned for a bit before managing to smile. Raphael\'s words does make sense, the state of the kingdom isn\'t the same as the past attacks. 

They nodded to each other and proceed to enter the frontlines.

***

The Outer Walls of the Kingdom is heavily manned. 

Every soldier, no matter what cultivation base they have, stared alert at the horizon, the piercing glare of the sun seemed to not even bothered them in the slightest.

There was a good amount of people manning the walls, but most of the forces are concentrated at the southern gates. This is because according to the investigations, they will experience a heavy assault from this area.

After the Prince gave the order to investigate the perimeter of the kingdom. He received reports that truly made all the hairs on his body stood on ends. 

As expected, Jackson and the rest investigated the northern, eastern, and western parts of the yellow zone and found nothing. But when they went towards the place that the Lair Hunters reported earlier, they were shocked to find out that in just matter of hours, the footprints multiplied.

Initially, there were only 50 sets of footprints. But as soon as Jackson and the rest arrived, they saw at least 1000 sets of footprints scattered everywhere. If that wasn\'t enough, they could also feel the suffocating malice coming from the southern part of the Red Zone.

Alarmed by this discovery, they steeled their nerves and stepped into the Red Zone and treaded as carefully as they could. One kilometer deep in the Red Zone, they found a large gathering of beasts. Just from their sheer estimations, they could see at least hundred of thousands of beasts and they\'re still growing in number. 

This volume was a little too staggering even from the perspective of a the seasoned veterans. 

They wasted no time and reported back. Once the Prince received this information, his soul nearly left his body. Nevertheless, he couldn\'t display any weakness so he steeled his nerves and prepared to receive the Beast Horde. He also sent them once again to check if there are similar situations to other places, thankfully there was none.

The Prince also made sure to sent people to monitor the movements of the beast horde. He received reports that their numbers continued rising even after Jackson and the rest, left.

According to the spies, the beast horde grow to an astonishing number of 500,000 and their numbers are still growing. 

The Prince could no longer afford to stay at the Royal Palace. He declared Red Level Emergency throughout the kingdom and started evacuating the civilians. They then started setting up catapults and trebuchets, they also started mobilizing every capable citizens to help in the defense. 

As the preparations for the upcoming Beast Horde attack went on full throttle. No one had any spare time to watch as an ancient transmission gate inside the Royal Palace emitted a brilliant light.

A black swirl appeared at the center of the Transmission Gate, it grew larger and larger until it covered every part of the gate. 

From that gate, 6 teenagers surrounded by a suffocating aura stepped out.