Chewy and Leia, who had been lounging in a corner, immediately perked up at the prospect of movement. Like Sinclair, they found inaction unappealing and grew restless quickly. They eagerly followed the group, their tails wagging in anticipation of the next activity.

Upon returning to the teleporter, Sinclair and his team were joined by a notable assembly: Jarl Hrondir, General Valthorn, Chief Dorgran, Liria of the Light Elves, and Ambassador Elric. Accompanying them were several unfamiliar faces.

Always ready with a light-hearted remark, Sinclair greeted them. "Well, this is becoming a habit, isn't it?" he said, directing his comment to General Valthorn with a playful wink.

General Valthorn, taking the jest in stride, replied with a smile, "Some of us seem to have a knack for finding trouble, sir."

Acknowledging the General's point, Sinclair quickly shifted the conversation to more pressing matters. "Fair point indeed. So, what do you have for us today?" he asked. The group focused on the General.

"We've managed to gather 294 individuals from the four available locations. We've ensured there are enough guards for two 14-hour shifts. However, we'll need more information about the enemy before providing more detailed plans," General Valthorn explained.

"Well, we're working on sleeping spaces. James can give you a tour of the defenses here, and I can take the others toward the warehouse conversion. They can lend a hand while it's being finished. Can we send people over first who have building experience?" Sinclair asked, confusion clouding his face over the shift details. "14-hour shifts? Shouldn't that be two 12s?"

"That should be fine. But what we're facing is more important to me at the moment, before we go our separate ways. You know that time changed when the planet restored some of its size. Days are now 28 hours roughly." General Valthorn stated.

Sighing at something that should have been apparent, "No, I had not noticed. Thank you for letting me know, however. About the other reason you are here, though, there are about twenty thousand or more Myrkr-infected beasts in that direction. They occasionally spill out in this direction, and we need to eliminate all of them and the Myrkr that's creating them. Otherwise, they'll continue spreading and wreak havoc on the planet before we can mount a defense," Sinclair said matter-of-factly, pointing toward the last attack.

"Is that all? Should be done by dinner time," General Valthorn replied, waiting to see if Sinclair was joking. It became apparent that Sinclair was not kidding as the silence stretched between them. Sighing, the General asked, "Levels?"

"We've seen levels 40-50s here at the wall. I have a feeling it goes up a little, but not by much," Sinclair reported, anticipating that General Valthorn might not like this news.

"So, we're going to face thousands of infected beasts with less than 450 fighters, most of whom are under level 30? Do I have that right?" General Valthorn inquired.

"That's correct. It took less time than I anticipated to relay that information. So, what do you think?" Sinclair asked, looking up at the general.

"If it were anyone else, I would take my troops and go home. The odds are not in our favor, sir," General Valthorn responded carefully.

"Well, that's what is great about me; I work best under pressure. I like the odds. Let's get people over here, complete the barracks, check the defenses, and assemble a report with suggestions. Clear everything through Clarence and his people if you need to make any structural changes, but every piece of ground between here and as far as you can see needs to be dangerous to the Myrkr," Sinclair declared, a feral gleam in his eye.

Each group spent the next two days preparing their spaces. General Valthorn and James got along as well as he expected. Military personnel tended to bond easily and quickly, despite differences in species.

There were only two more attacks that were smaller than the previous one. Sinclair heard the clarion call and jumped up to the wall to see them coming out of the tree line. Jumping down, he repeated his earlier actions. He only took down the beasts that were level 40 and above. It barely resulted in 15% of the attack.

He had to make sure to only cheat some out of experience. Everything he killed that was not above level 50 was a wasted experience for everyone. But with everyone on the wall between levels 18 and 29, he felt compelled to ensure they were fed that experience at a manageable rate. On the plus side, his skills were growing rapidly. Hel's Wrath and Valkyrie's Gaze had gained two more levels.

Walking up and down the wall during the attack, he retreated and let the defenders take over, helping out where he could if the pressure was too much. In this manner, they successfully defended against each attack, sustaining only minor injuries and no fatalities. He could see several humans high-fiving each other and congratulating each other on level-ups.

Grinning to himself, he jumped down and returned to the barracks to check on the progress and arrange a planning session.

*****

Sinclair addressed the group. "So, everyone here has seen some action. General Valthorn and the other natives have more experience with these sorts of battles. Captain Hawkins, I am sure your military experience, even though Earth-bound, is no less impressive. In my estimation, we need to make this place more fortified and start seeking the enemy out."

General Valthorn nodded in agreement. "That is true. We have ground crews creating traps and designing the battlefield to make it significantly harder for anything to reach the walls. We're reinforcing the interior with braces in case of large charges, and preparing for siege-grade monsters attempting to breach the tower walls."

Sinclair frowned. "What's a siege-grade monster? That sounds… unpleasant."

General Valthorn's expression turned grim. "Siege-grade monsters are indeed unpleasant. They're massive creatures; low intelligence, incredibly tough to kill, and built for one purpose: smashing through walls. They're a nightmare to deal with, and they need to be brought down quickly. The problem is, bringing them down is no easy task."

"Noted," Sinclair replied, his eyes narrowing. "I'll take care of any I see." Though outwardly composed, a small flicker of excitement sparked inside him. If they were as tough as Valthorn described, they had to be high-level, and high-level meant a lot of experience.

Captain Hawkins took the pause as his cue to speak. "Lord Sinclair," he began, stepping forward with a respectful nod. "In my old life, I served in the military, leading small action teams. I have experience working in the countryside, coordinating scouting missions, and gathering intelligence. If you'd like, I can take a team and get you the information we need."

Sinclair appreciated the offer but had other plans in mind. "That is good to hear. However, my team and I are going out to scout. We currently have the best chance of survival if we get cut off by high-level monsters. You need to stay here and rally your people during the upcoming waves. That last wave this morning had some beasts approaching level 53, which will be tough while I am away."

General Valthorn, acknowledging Captain Hawkins' sentiment, turned to address him. "With our numbers and the superior defense, it should be fine. However, having you here as the person your people know is a more effective strategy for boosting morale in these types of battles. They tend to go on for a long time, and having someone you know and trust at your back is an invaluable asset."

Captain Hawkins, though visibly eager for action, understood the necessity of his role. "Understood. We will keep the walls safe for your return," he affirmed, accepting his responsibility with a sense of duty.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Sinclair, finalizing the plan, stated, "Excellent. My team and I will head out after this meeting and plan to be back by nightfall. If we are not, do not send people after us. If we get into something and have to hide or elude them, we don't want another group of people caught up in that."

Continuing, Sinclair looked around at the gathered group. "Does anyone have something they would like to add?" His question opened the floor for any last thoughts or suggestions, ensuring that all angles were considered before they embarked on their mission.

As the meeting concluded, a flurry of activity ensued, with everyone gearing up for the next phase of their strategy. The primary objective was clear: they needed more intelligence on the enemy. Sinclair's suggestion to revisit the rock overlooking the enemy's position was unanimously agreed upon as a good starting point. His half-joking idea of knocking down a mountainside to take out a large swath of the enemy lingered in the air, a bold strategy that might be feasible under the right circumstances.

The more Sinclair pondered the idea, the more it seemed worthwhile to consider. It could be viable if they found themselves in a valley with a precarious overhang. As he and his team gathered at the gate, he filed the thought away for later consideration.

"All right, everyone. Do you have your spare underwear in case you get scared?" he teased. His lighthearted jest brought smiles to their faces, a brief respite before they embarked on their mission.

Rose's retort came quickly and sharply, her tone teasing yet confident. "Keep dreaming, wolfie boy. You're the only one getting scared around here. It makes sense why you need us to ensure you avoid trouble. We've just been waiting on you, especially after you promised me some action in Thorsgild Town."

Her words, laced with playful innuendo, caused a moment of awkward glances among the group, as they weren't entirely sure she realized the double entendre of her statement. Sinclair stood momentarily stunned, his brain scrambling to process her comment. Rose playfully pushed past him in the brief pause, striding confidently out of the gate.

Ed, unable to contain his amusement, followed her, chuckling. "The shop has some salve for burns if you need any," he quipped, patting Sinclair on the shoulder. Sinclair's mind raced to catch up with the banter.

As Rose continued through the gate, her heart raced with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Her initial intention to tease Sinclair had taken an unexpectedly bold turn, and she realized she was okay with that, confidently embracing the moment as she sauntered past him. Internally, she questioned whether Sinclair was aware of her flirtatious behavior, hoping he wasn't as oblivious as she sometimes thought.

Alice quickly caught up to Rose, playfully bumping her shoulder with a light fist. "Uh, Rose. You're sweating a little, and your face is bright red. You okay?" she asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.

Still processing her boldness, Rose replied, "Do I look okay? Did you hear what I just said?"

With a knowing smile, Alice responded, "Yeah, we all heard that. It's pretty funny and awkward, to be honest. But at least it's out in the open now."

Rose, still uncertain, asked, "Do you think he understood? He can be rather obtuse sometimes."

Alice reassured her, "I'm sure he picked up what you so blatantly put down." After a brief pause, she added, "Well, 90…65% sure he got it. He can be dense at times. But surely, he's not that thick," she mused aloud. I mean, surely not even he is that thick.

As they navigated through the increasingly dense array of traps dotting the field on their way to the woods, Sinclair caught up with Ed and Victoria, his curiosity piqued by the recent exchange between Rose and Alice.

"Hey, any idea what that was about?" Sinclair asked, glancing toward Rose and Alice about 50 feet ahead.

Ed turned to face his friend, his expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Like I've been telling you for years, dumbass. She likes you, but neither of you will say anything, so now it's just this big, awkward mess."

Victoria said, "Yeah, I'm worried about you right now. It's pretty apparent. I know you were dropped on your head at birth, but this is a bit much. If you don't like her, you need to just nut up and say something. She is way too good to be pining over someone so clearly sloooooow."

Feeling slightly defensive, Sinclair responded, "First, ouch! And second, you think that's apparent. Aren't you two dating? Not that I care, but you don't have to tiptoe around me. And, yes, I figured that's exactly what it looked like. But I'm terrified of ruining a friendship."

Ed almost tripped when Sinclair called them out on their relationship. Deciding to let it slide, he advised, "In my experience, when someone gives you that big of a hint, and you let it go unnoticed for too long, you might as well have said no thanks. So, I think the clock is ticking, and you need to put your big boy pants on and talk to her." While speaking, Ed sent a private message to Alice. "Slide on back here so Mr. No Clue can go talk to her."

Alice, understanding the situation, subtly began to slow her pace. Deep in her thoughts, Rose didn't immediately notice Alice's gradual departure. Meanwhile, Ed and Victoria nudged Sinclair, urging him to move forward. Their attempts to shove him were akin to pushing a boulder the size of a van.

With a final, more forceful push, Victoria exclaimed, "Get going, you big monkey!"

Sinclair took the first few steps hesitantly, apprehensive about the potential disaster if he mishandled the situation. Catching up to Rose took seconds, but he walked beside her silently for a few moments. Glancing back, he saw his sister and two friends making teasing, kissy faces at him. Jerks. Gathering his courage, he finally spoke. "Hey, uh, Rose? You okay?"

Rose slowly turned her head to look at Sinclair. "Yes, I am fine. Are you okay?" Her voice sounded unnaturally forced, an apparent attempt to bluff her way through the conversation.

Feeling the moment's weight, Sinclair replied, "Well, I got the feeling that there's something unsaid and has been for a while now. But I didn't want to cross any boundaries that would ruin our friendship." He rubbed his hands together nervously, finding this conversation far more daunting than facing a level 100 beast. The nervousness was so intense that he felt like he could vomit.

Rose, curious but cautious, asked, "Oh, yeah? Such as?" Her question hung in the air, challenging Sinclair to articulate their tension.

Sinclair, realizing Rose wasn't going to make this easy for him, decided to take the plunge. He took a deep breath and blurted out his feelings in a rush. "Ihavelovedyouforsolongandhavebeenunabletosayit." The words tumbled out so quickly that they merged into one long, unintelligible sound.

Rose, turning fully towards him now, looked genuinely confused. "Do what now, motor mouth? You wanna try that again?" she asked, her tone teasing but softened by a small smile.

Sinclair, taking another breath to steady himself, tried again, this time more clearly. "Rose, I have loved you for a long time. I've been too scared to say anything, and with all this craziness and almost dying every day, it made me think. I want to be more than friends. I hope you feel the same way."

Rose's expression shifted to a smirk, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Sinclair, you big dummy. Of course, I feel the same way about you. But I'm mad it took you so long to say something."

Sinclair finally remembered how to breathe upon hearing her response. Baring his heart to Rose, a close friend of two decades, had been terrifying. Yet, he couldn't resist a playful retort. "To be fair, you could have said something just as easily."

"And miss this theatrics? Not on your life, wolf boy," Rose replied with a smirk, reaching out to place her hand in his. She noted how his hands seemed even more substantial now with his increased size. Her hand looked almost tiny, as if she were holding just one of his fingers. The moment was a mix of vulnerability, relief, and a newfound closeness, marking a significant turn in their relationship.

With Rose's hand in his, Sinclair felt a sense of relief wash over him. The simple gesture unraveled a knot of tension within him, and for a moment, the world seemed a little less grim and dark. It was a crucial domino that had fallen into place, subtly shifting the atmosphere around them.

Having caught up with Rose and Sinclair, Victoria, Ed, and Alice approached them with a playful grin. "So. What did we decide?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity and amusement.

Sinclair responded with a mock glare, playing along with the lighthearted mood. "Quiet, you miscreant. You know as well as we do. We have decided to be more than friends. But, right now, we have monsters to hunt, so I would advise game faces, everyone."

The team, fully prepared for the task ahead, ventured into the forest. Sinclair, activated Visage of the Wolfl, assuming the lead position. Alice and Ed flanked him, maintaining a distance of about 15 feet, vigilant and ready to react to any threat. Victoria and Rose positioned themselves in the center, supporting and maintaining cohesion. Ed's three wolf companions brought up the rear, ensuring nothing could surprise them from behind. Sinclair felt a sense of confidence, knowing their group's talent and skill level.

Chewy and Leia were tasked with a crucial role. They roamed wider afield, stalking ahead of the group and off to the sides, maintaining a distance of about 200 yards within the tree line. Their primary purpose was to serve as an early warning system in the event that a group of monsters approached. Moving with stealth and precision, they scanned the surroundings, their ears perked and noses twitching, alert to any signs of danger.

Sinclair, leading the group, appreciated the extra layer of security provided by Chewy and Leia. He understood the value of being forewarned in such unpredictable terrain. A little warning never hurt anyone, eyes scanning the forest ahead. The presence of the two vigilant animals allowed the team to focus on their mission, knowing they had reliable scouts to alert them to any impending threats.

"OK, it's a few miles to the edge of the cliff wall. Let's get there, and then we can make the climb quickly. There's no cover once you leave the tree line, so once we do, it will need to be with a quickness," Sinclair instructed his friends.

"Everyone ready?" he asked, scanning the group. Receiving affirmative nods, they moved deeper into the trees, their steps purposeful and determined. The team was intent on gathering intelligence about the enemy and devising a strategy to disrupt its plans.

The forest around them was a mix of shadows and dappled sunlight as they moved into its cover, the sounds of wildlife a constant backdrop to their careful progress. The team moved quietly, each member alert and ready, while Chewy and Leia's occasional rustling in the underbrush was a reassuring reminder of their protective presence.

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