Translator: Dreamscribe

Before she could even finish speaking, some players charged into the Skeletons with them clinging to their bodies and self-destructed.

Kim Seok-jun left the camera floating there and ran toward the village. Several players on the battlefield had turned on Kim Seok-jun’s broadcast to spread information about the situation.

He made his way deep into the village and approached the gathered Beastkin. The village had its back to a ridge, and inside the ridge was a wide space.

All of Lunatie’s Beastkin were gathered at the Teleportation Magic Circle with their eyes closed. They were forming ranks around the village chief and completing the magic circle.

Mage players were also channeling magic power into the circle to aid in its completion.

“How far along is it?”

“It’s 70% complete! What about the defensive line?”

“We’ve retreated to the second defensive line!”

Kim Seok-jun informed the mages while checking the state of the line through his camera.

Teleportation was a high-level magic that players didn’t even dare to attempt. A mass teleport like this was still something beyond imagination. The most they could do was gauge its progress by watching the circle fill up.

“They’re pushing up to the second defensive line! The archers and mages have abandoned large-area attacks and are prioritizing the Skeleton bombs! It seems to be working!”

KABOOM! THUD!

With a roar and an explosion from outside the village, the ground trembled. Kim Seok-jun continued broadcasting the situation.

“The second defensive line is shaking! Ah! Some Heroes have just resurrected and joined the battle! It looks like the number of Skeletons is starting to drop! The Teleportation Magic Circle is 84% complete!”

-The second line’s going to fall.

-Ah... I’m shivering. What should we do.

-Almost there! Just hold out a bit more!

As the Death Knight began to move in earnest, the second defensive line collapsed in an instant. The number of Skeletons hadn’t increased, but the Death Knight mercilessly smashed through the palisades and cut down players standing in its way without hesitation.

The ears of the Beastkin listening to Kim Seok-jun’s broadcast perked up. His pronunciation was so clear it etched itself into their minds. Mia, who had her hands clasped and eyes closed, flinched.

‘The Heroes...’

Everything was proceeding according to plan, without a single issue.

The original plan was to narrowly activate the Teleportation Magic Circle and escape. Lunatie would be destroyed, and the Heroes were fated to die here.

Even if they resurrected, could they truly overcome the grief of losing Lunatie?

“It’s at 94%! Just a bit more...! We’re almost there!”

In Lunatie, Mia had been able to open her heart. The Heroes didn’t scorn the Beastkin. On the contrary, they admired them, imitated them, and offered praise.

‘If we don’t overcome our instincts once a month, we turn into beasts. H-hair grows on our bodies and we start transforming....’

‘...That might actually be nice.’

‘Huh?’

It was a confession made with courage.

She thought they would hate it, but most of them simply nodded and moved on as if it was nothing. Some even praised it, saying it sounded cool. There were even Heroes who genuinely liked it.

The Heroes were eccentric. Perhaps that’s why Mia could always laugh when she was with them. In the short time she had spent in Lunatie, she had laughed far more than she ever had in her entire life. She had laughed so much that now, just seeing the Heroes' faces naturally brought a smile to hers.

Mia fiddled with the bracelet she had received as a gift. At that moment, a smile returned to her lips.

“Heh...”

A soft chuckle escaped her mouth.

There were a few rude Heroes, but they had soon disappeared from Lunatie. After that, the other Heroes had surrounded her as if comforting a baby, speaking to her with kindness.

“It’s at 98%! Just a little longer! Ah, the D-Death Knight is breaking through the defensive line! We’re being pushed back! We’re falling back!”

Light began to shine from the Teleportation Magic Circle.

It was a signal that it was nearly complete.

Mia opened her eyes.

She wanted to take one last look at Lunatie. As she gazed at the village, something surged from deep within her heart.

Ferocity and warmth.

A fierce instinct and a warm heart.

‘...Just a little longer...’

She wanted to stay here just a little longer.

She wanted to laugh and have fun with the Heroes. As that thought came to her, her body began to move on its own. Was this also a Beastkin instinct?

Twitch! Shiver!

Mia made eye contact with the other Beastkin. They too opened their eyes and perked up their ears. Their tails stood stiffly upright.

Sshh!

Mia and all the Beastkin looked to the village chief.

Was it because she felt their gazes?

The village chief slowly opened her eyes.

She, too, felt the same. Her hair, starting to flutter like a mane, spoke to the emotions she felt inside.

“Garsha nim...”

Mia called out to the village chief, or rather, to Garsha, the High Chief of the Beastkin. All the Beastkin stared at her, letting out low growls.

“It’s at 99%! We’re almost there! The Teleportation Magic Circle will activate soon! Lunatie will disappear, but that doesn’t mean we’ve lost! We held on and held on-”

Kim Seok-jun’s shout rang in Garsha’s ears.

Garsha stirred her magic power and reached out to contact someone.

A moment later, her pupils stretched long, revealing her primal instinct.

“Everyone.”

Garsha’s eyes shimmered ominously.

“He accepted us, those who were scorned and despised. He changed so much for us. He erased discrimination and protected us. But we, like wounded and frightened beasts, only cowered. We never tried to change ourselves. At one point, I, who was drowning in despair, thought that was simply our fate. Shamefully so.”

Garsha’s fangs became visible.

“Now it’s time to write our story anew. The Heroes accepted us as companions. They understood us just as we are. Our hearts have truly connected.”

The eyes of the Beastkin shone with sharp clarity.

“He told us to follow our instincts. I wish for our Lunatie to remain here today, tomorrow, and forever. With the Heroes, and to welcome the new Heroes who will come.”

Garsha’s nails lengthened.

Ssshhk!

The claws of the Beastkin burst forth. It was proof that their hearts were united.

“So, my kin. Remember this day. It is the day our thoughts and instincts align for the first time.”

Tiiing!

The moment she declared this, the Teleportation Magic Circle vanished. The magic power gathered in the circle turned into a blue orb in Garsha’s hand.

"Huh? Wh-what...!"

“The Teleportation Magic Circle disappeared!”

The mage players turned to the Beastkin in shock. Kim Seok-jun was no different.

The Beastkin silently stepped forward. They removed their cloaks and took off the gloves that covered their hands.

“Th-the Teleportation Magic Circle is gone, and the Beastkin are moving toward the front lines!”

What on earth is happening?

Kim Seok-jun’s confused shout echoed across the now empty space.

* * *

The Northern Grand Duke was monitoring the situation by keeping Kim Seok-jun’s broadcast on in radio mode.

Once the Death Knight entered the fray, the final defensive line collapsed. Countless players vanished with just a single swing of the Death Knight’s blade.

It was overwhelmingly powerful.

However.

‘99%.’

The Teleportation Magic Circle was nearly complete.

Even as the Death Knight and Skeletons approached right before her eyes, the Northern Grand Duke smiled. Her guild members stood beside her and nodded.

“We’re almost there!”

“Just a little more!”

The remaining players felt the same.

With relieved expressions, they gazed at the approaching enemies from the entrance of Lunatie.

They had done everything they could.

They might not be able to defeat the Death Knight, but at least they didn’t lose. The Northern Grand Duke placed her hand inside her armor and gently stroked a gem, letting out a quiet breath.

[Th-the Teleportation Magic Circle has disappeared, and the Beastkin are heading toward the front lines!]

“What?”

Instead of hearing that the teleportation circle had been completed, she heard Kim Seok-jun’s strange words. Startled, the Northern Grand Duke turned around. One by one, the Beastkin began to appear atop the tall palisades surrounding Lunatie.

The village chief, holding a great orb swirling with immense magical power, looked silently over the players. Then, with a deep breath, she raised the orb to the sky.

Fweeee BOOOM!

The orb shot into the sky, unleashing a brilliant light.

That light was so blinding, it immediately drove away all the surrounding darkness. A radiant moon was born to replace the broken one that hovered over Arsilan’s skies.

Grrrrrrrr!

The sound of beasts echoed.

A wolf howled at the sky. A roar, like that of a tiger, tore through the air. Fierce and violent cries enveloped the battlefield.

Crackkkk!

The palisade shook.

The palisade on which the Beastkin stood began to tremble, then started to collapse.

BOOOM!

An overwhelming current and killing intent surged from the village chief’s body.

At that moment, all the Skeletons halted their advance, and even the Death Knight faltered.

Sharp fur whipped like a mane in the wind.

Claws slashed through the palisade like paper, revealing their formidable presence. The sharp fangs exposed between parted jaws radiated a madness that seemed ready to tear everything apart.

Under the moonlight, the village chief had become a giant wolf.

And the Beastkin around her had transformed as well.

Awooooo! Grrrrrrr!

With howling cries, shockwaves burst forth, blasting the Skeletons backward.

The wolves leapt, cutting through the air as if soaring, then landed on the ground. Behind them, the Beastkin, now transformed into beasts, quietly emerged.

“Ah...”

The Northern Grand Duke was completely stunned.

All the players present could only hold their breath and silently watch the overwhelming scene unfold.