Chapter 58: Forest Wave First (6): The Green Wave

Two days later—
the Forest Wave finally began.

Under a clear blue sky at midday,
a rumbling spread from one end of the Great Heizen Forest to the other.

A green wave surged forward—
a massive horde of goblins and orcs.

And not just ordinary ones: Goblin Soldiers, Hobgoblins, Goblin Commanders, Goblin Knights,
Goblin Lords, High Orcs, Dark Orcs, Head Orcs… a wide variety.

Roughly ten thousand monsters advanced across the Heizen Plains.

This was the First Wave.

Facing them were nearly 6,000 subjugators lined up across the plains.
Though outnumbered, their combat power was superior.

A single fighter could easily take down ten or even twenty goblins or orcs.
Of course, the skill levels varied—since anyone could participate, some weren’t much help.

Among those 6,000 were us—“Cerberostern.”

“Wow… I’ve never seen this many goblins and orcs before.”
“And this is just the First Wave?”
“I’m starting to shake…”

Koran trembled beside me.
Plancy also looked tense.
So was I—my breathing was rough, and my palms were sweaty.

I suddenly wondered how Wof would feel in this situation.
Would he be nervous like me? Or completely calm?

“What’s wrong, Nabel?”
“You okay?”

They both spoke with concern.

I gave a wry smile.

“I’m just nervous.”
“Same.”
“Same.”

They nodded.

The rumbling continued nonstop.
The sound of the approaching horde grew closer and closer.

Like a wave. Explosions echoed too—
the long-range fighters were launching elemental relic attacks.

Even so, the rumbling didn’t stop.

It kept coming—fierce, relentless.

“UOOOOOOOOOOO!!”
“OOOOOOOOOOOO!!”
“UOOOOOOOO!!”
“OOOOOOOO!!”

Suddenly, battle cries echoed, and the front line surged forward.

In that instant, I understood—
the charge had begun.

At last, the vanguard clashed with the First Wave.
The sound of fierce combat rang out, even reaching us.

“Third unit! Move out! Ready?!”

We, in the third unit, drew our weapons.

I gripped the Wolfeg Blade.
This time, I would use only this.

I needed to get used to it. Gain experience.

We had already discussed it—no arguments.
It was decided that only I would take part in the dungeon anomaly battle.

The reason was simple: we lacked strength.

To face a dungeon anomaly, Cerberostern just wasn’t strong enough yet.

But such an event was rare—an invaluable experience.

So as the designated leader, I alone would participate.

Still, I had only just obtained the Wolfeg Blade.
I wasn’t used to it yet.

It was a weapon of my clan, long thought lost.

I knew its owner—Okami, my uncle.
He was strong… and kind.

I thought he was still wandering the world.

That’s why it hurt. It made me angry.

I wanted revenge.

The one who killed him—the spider behind the dungeon anomaly.

I probably couldn’t win as I am now.
But even if I had to borrow Wof’s strength… I would avenge him.

I had to master this blade.

Even a little progress in this First Wave would help.

“They’re here, Nabel!”

At Koran’s shout, I saw a goblin in crude armor.

Koran thrust it with his new spear, sending a wind blade flying—
it sliced down the two behind it.

“Flame Lance!”

Plancy conjured a spear of fire, piercing and burning several goblins at once.

Koran had a new weapon.
Plancy had new armor—mysterious clothing with water and fire crystals embedded in it.

Then, a massive green-skinned ogre appeared, wielding a crude curved sword.

An orc—its body riddled with arrows, but none fatal.

“Koran, Plancy—leave this one to me.”

I gripped the Wolfeg Blade.

Inhale. Exhale.

The orc stood directly ahead—just one step from its attack range.

I stepped in with One Step and swung.

“Iaido!”

In an instant, I drew the blade, flashed it—
and cut across the orc’s torso.

“GROOOOAAHH!”

A shallow cut.

But once I sheathed it, I could strike again instantly.

Time limit: one minute.

Within that time—
I cut. Sheathe. Draw. Cut.
Again and again.

The orc was tough—tougher than the ones from Hydrangea.

Koran and Plancy were busy with goblins.

Damn… sheathing is too slow.
Drawing and cutting is fine, but returning it to the sheath is difficult.

“GROOOOAAHH!”

Finally, it fell.

The blade suddenly grew heavy. Time’s up.

I still need more practice.

“This goblin was tougher than expected.”

Koran pulled his spear from an armored goblin.

Nearby, Plancy’s Flame Lance struck again—
she took down an orc in a single hit.

She’s strong…

As I watched, another group of goblins approached.

I sheathed the Wolfeg Blade and drew the Wolfen Sword.

As the battle went on, I noticed something—

The corpses of goblins and orcs stretched endlessly across the plains.

Like a green river.

The wave had calmed somewhat.

After defeating a hobgoblin, I took out my flask and drank some tea.

“Phew…”

It was slightly lukewarm, but refreshing with a citrus taste.

A tea Wof gave me—he even brewed it himself.

He’s younger than me, still a minor, and only Rank V…

But somehow, he feels older.

And he’s stronger than all of us.

As expected of a witch’s apprentice.

“KYAAH!”
“Plancy?!”

I rushed over at her scream.

“What the—what is that?!”

Koran shouted too.

From a goblin corpse, a spider leapt out.

“Whoa?!”

I brushed it away.

A small spider—white with black-speckled legs,
its four red eyes glinting as it scurried off.

“What was that thing?”
“That scared me…”

A spider…

Could it be related to the dungeon anomaly?

After that, we hunted the remaining goblins and collected materials.

By the time it ended near evening, we were exhausted.

We barely ate the provided meal, returned to the inn, and collapsed into sleep.

The next day—

another green wave.

We fought the same way until evening, then collapsed again.

The following day—

it was a gray wave.

Black Edge Wolves with blade-like horns.
White Claw Wolves that attacked with claws.

Lance Wolves with spear-like horns.
And massive Four-Eyed Wolves.

Their number: 20,000.
Against them, we had 12,000 including reinforcements.

“Iaido!”

I clashed with a pale-blue Edge Wolf.

Strong…

I managed to defeat it, but my time was nearly up.

Not over yet—

Claw Wolves and Lance Wolves closed in.

I switched to the Wolfen Sword.

Ears and tail raised, eyes sharpened—

First, the Claw Wolf.

“Wolfen Rush!”

With a full-power One Step, I closed the distance instantly—

one strike to the leg, two to the head.

Before confirming the kill, I dodged a Lance Wolf’s thrust from my blind spot.

It was surprised—

I struck its flank. It staggered and collapsed.

Fatal hit.

“GAAAH!!”

Koran screamed.

I looked—he was fighting a Four-Eyed Wolf.

A towering beast, its four eyes radiating killing intent.

“Fire Lance!”

Plancy struck it with flames, staggering it.

“You damn mutt! Slash Blow!”

Koran swung—wind blades flew.

But the Four-Eyed Wolf slammed its foreleg down—

the shockwave blew us away.

I rolled and stood.

“This thing… it’s too strong…”
“Is this really a First Wave monster…?”

I wondered the same.

The Four-Eyed Wolf howled.

“VOOOOOOOOOOO!!”

At its roar, other wolves gathered.

And then—

Cerberostern’s desperate battle began.

Koran fell first.

Then Plancy.

They weren’t dead… probably.

I was barely conscious.

For some reason, I held both the Wolfen Sword and Wolfeg Blade—

a dual-wielding style I couldn’t even control.

Before me stood the last uninjured Four-Eyed Wolf.

Around us lay countless wolf corpses… and fallen fighters.

“VOOOO!!”

With my last strength—

I charged.

With nothing left, I burned my life itself—

and leapt forward with One Step.

Then brought both sword and blade down on its head.

The next day—

I woke up in an inn bed.

Koran and Plancy entered the room.

The Four-Eyed Wolf was dead.

Unbelievably… I had killed it.

After that, I collapsed.

Apparently, I was on the verge of death—
but Wof arrived just in time and did something.

If he had been even a little later, I would have died.

I owe him my life.

That day—nothing happened.
The next day—nothing happened.

That marked the end of the First Wave.

Next is the Second Wave.

But before that—

I will regroup with Wof and the others.

The subjugation of the dungeon anomaly begins.