Ethan returned to the restaurant with the rations inside Han Wei’s storage ring that he took.

“It’s me, Ethan.” He said as he waited for them to remove the barricades.

Entering, they looked at him empty-handed.

“It’s okay, it must’ve been hard to find something with everything going on.” Tiana comforted him just in case he felt bad.

Ethan smiled. “Who said I didn’t get anything?”

A large bag appeared out of nowhere and landed on the floor.

Thud

Hong Wei’s jaw dropped at the sight of the supplies materializing from thin air. “Whoa!”

Uncle Lin moved forward, examining the contents with expert precision. “So much flour, water… this is more than I expected. How did you manage this?”

Ethan shrugged, as if pulling supplies out of nowhere was a daily occurrence. “I have my methods.”

Tiana narrowed her eyes, studying him with that penetrating gaze that always made him feel exposed. “And what methods would those be?”

“An old friend owed me a favor,” Ethan replied, technically not lying. “The market’s empty, but the military still has supplies.”

“The military?” Lin’s voice dropped to a whisper. “You risked going to the military base?”

Hong Wei rushed over, poking at the storage ring on Ethan’s finger with unbridled curiosity. “Can I try it? Can I put something in? How much can it hold?”

Ethan pulled his hand away. “You can’t, it’s tied to me.”

“But—”

“Hong Wei,” Tiana interrupted, “help Uncle Lin with the supplies.”

The boy pouted but obeyed, hefting one of the water containers with difficulty. Uncle Lin took the heavier flour bag, grunting slightly under its weight.

“We should ration carefully,” the older man advised. “No telling how long we’ll need to make this last.”

As they sorted the supplies, Ethan moved to the window, peering through a gap in the boards. The streets remained eerily empty, most residents hiding in their homes.

Lin approached, standing beside him. “You’re worried about something.”

It wasn’t a question.

Ethan’s eyes remained fixed on the distant city wall. “The monster wave is coming. Soon.”

“How can you be so sure?” she asked.

“I just know.”

Lin studied his profile, something unreadable in her expression.

Before Ethan could answer, a distant rumble shook the building, dust sifting down from the ceiling. The rumble grew into a roar, followed by the unmistakable sound of the city alarm bells.

Everyone froze.

“What was that?” Hong Wei whispered, eyes wide with fear.

“It’s starting,” Ethan said grimly, moving away from the window. “The second attack.”

Tiana joined them, her research instincts already engaged. “The second? You think there will be more?”

“Not sure. But the Silver-ranks are testing our defences. Learning our patterns.”

Uncle Lin’s weathered face creased with concern. “Should we move deeper into the city?”

Ethan shook his head. “No need.”

Another impact shook the building, and screams erupted from somewhere down the street.

“That doesn’t sound like the previous one,” Lin whispered.

Ethan’s expression darkened as he moved back to the window. Outside, people were running, panic spreading like wildfire.

“Something’s wrong,” he muttered. “This is happening too fast.”

A third impact, powerful enough to rattle the dishes on the shelves. Hong Wei yelped, ducking instinctively.

“I need to see what’s happening,” Ethan decided, already moving toward the door.

Tiana grabbed his arm. “Are you insane? You can’t—”

“I need to know what we’re facing. We can’t remain as sitting ducks waiting until they come and eat us.”

He turned to the others. “Stay here. Barricade the door after I leave.”

Ethan gave them one last look, his expression revealing nothing of the turmoil beneath. Then he slipped through the door into the chaos beyond.

Outside, the situation was deteriorating rapidly. People rushed through the streets, heading toward the inner districts.

“Stop running! Calm down! We are taking care of it!”

City guards attempted to maintain order, but their shouts were lost in the growing panic.

Ethan moved against the flow effortlessly. Each step took him closer to the wall.

Another impact rocked the district, this one accompanied by a high-pitched shriek that no human throat could produce.

Ethan recognised it immediately. It was the sound of a Razorback Boar, at least High bronze-rank.

He scaled a nearby building, fingers finding impossible holds in the stonework. From the rooftop, he could see the wall—and what was happening beyond it.

The blood drained from his face.

It wasn’t just monsters attacking the wall. It was a full-scale invasion, far earlier than he’d anticipated. And worse, the Silver-rank weren’t holding back as they should.

The silver rank was leading the charge, fighting the general in charge of their part of the city. “It seems like this is their last attack…”

Ethan accelerated towards the wall, and in seconds, he reached it as he watched the general fighting the silver rank with a few of the High-Bronze officials.

“Fall back!” the general shouted, his silver aura flaring as he parried a devastating blow from the Crystal Ape. “Reinforce the eastern section!”

“Sir, we can’t hold!” one of the Bronze officials yelled back, blood streaming down his face from a gash above his eye. “They’re breaking through!”

The Crystal Ape roared, slamming crystallized fists against the stone. Each impact sent tremors through the entire structure, dust and debris raining down on the defenders.

—

<Ferocius Beast: Crystal Ape>

<Rank: Mid-Silver>

<Crystal Hardening Talent: D Grade>

—

Ethan frowned. Luckily, the general was Mid-Silver, nearing the threshold of mid-silver accompanied by two Peak-Bronze officials. Otherwise, the wall would have already broken.

Ethan’s eyes landed on the normal soldiers who were fighting for their lives as hundreds of monsters attacked.

‘Although they are holding off the ape. The other monsters are having their way with the soldiers.’ He thought grimly.

‘I can’t hold back. Otherwise…when they enter. Even I will die.’

<Rank: Peak-Bronze>

<Talents: Enhanced Speed (E-), Protective Shield (F), Iron Enhancement (E-), Accuracy Enhancement (F+), Regeneration (F+), Dagger Wield (F-), Water (F), Wind (F), Fire (F+), Mental Enhancement(F)>

<Transformations: Shadowfang Wolf(Peak-Iron), Razorback Boar(Mid-Bronze), Black Beetle(Mid-Bronze), Brown Bear (Mid-Bronze)>

<Level 3>

<Health Points:1200> <Mana Points: 1000>

<Strength: 120> <Agility: 120 > <Intelligence: 100> <Vitality:120>

<Free Attributes: 10>

<Skills: Basic Footwork (Novice – 18%)>

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep