Chapter 84 - Panic

After Darias had given all the information he had to the warriors as well as the only he had which was to flee the earliest possible, Bargas came back with an old man at his side. His face was solemn, but he was mainly hiding the two emotions he was currently feeling.

He was ashamed. His grandson had gone too far, and because of him, the whole clan was now in danger. He was angry, against this grandson of his, but also toward another person. It was selfish of him, and he knew it fully. He looked deeply at Guros, which was just like an old rag on the ground before he turned his face to look at the heart of the problem.

The young warrior, Rohan, was looking back at him. If it wasn't for the Intermediate Warrior, his family wouldn't have to live through this horror. If it wasn't for the appearance of this young one, his dear grandson wouldn't have to do such a foolish action. If only Garrold could have killed this warrior right when they encountered him, everything would have been perfect.

Rohan stared at this old man. He didn't know what this one wanted, but from the way he was looking at him, he had the sudden urge to smack him. The situation would only become worse if he did that, so Rohan simply looked away from Darias. What was the plan, now?

"The responsibility of Guros is ultimately yours, I believe you agree with that, right?" He was talking to the newcomer with a deep voice.

The pressure emitted from his eyes said that the only answer he wanted to hear was a yes. Otherwise, he would kill right away. Such a crime had never been done against his clan, and he was ready to take appropriate measures if necessary.

"Yes, chief!" The old man could only accept.

"Then tie him up and carry him with you. I don't want to see him before we get out of here."

The grandfather quickly nodded before he took the rope he had with him and tied up his grandson without any words. This one was staring at him with a glint of hope inside his eyes. But hope wasn't coming. After tying the young man, he hurried to leave with him. The voice of the leader echoed in his ears.

"Don't forget the situation." A fierce and ruthless aura emanated from his body, making the old man gulp, even if he wasn't directly looking. "He will die or be banished. But if anyone is to help him…"

The middle-aged man didn't finish his sentence. It was clear as water to all the onlookers what he wanted to warn. Rohan didn't understand why the leader had given the task of the grandfather to take care of his grandson, but he didn't care.

Maybe it was only contempt from him, but he didn't care what normal humans could try to do.

The camp was now almost fully dismantled, and only the fences were to be moved. Darias used the time remaining before leaving to prepare his warriors.

Their role, if anything happened, was to defend the whole clan and permit the maximum number of people to flee. It was the only plan he could make, as he knew they couldn't win against the dracasses if those were to come.

The warriors were now rushing to help and remove the fences around the camp. Even Rohan felt obliged to help them, as he didn't want to just stand there looking at them.

The members of the two clans weren't deaf people. The information had already spread all around, and they all ran in all directions, faster than ever. The only mention of those terrifying dracasses was enough to strike fear at them.

Almost none of the nomads had ever seen those magical beasts, but everything about them was passed down at each generation. From Rohan's point of view, it had only increased the might of those beasts for no reason with a lot of incoherent stories.

Less than twenty minutes after the leader had given his order, the clans were ready to move. Rohan was mounted on his horse. At least the advantage with a horse was the speed at which he could equip it.

But as everyone was ready to leave, as Darias hoped they were fast enough, a roar echoed from a distance away. Responding to this command, a river of roars almost as powerful followed suit.

For a second, the world quieted down. Every people froze their gestures, paralyzed by these bestial cries. It was near. Too near.

Then, the time decided to come back, flowing like always and making the inevitable coming forward. Panic struck the camp abruptly. Screams and cries filled the area while the nomads all ran in a random direction. The karags couldn't move and crouched down against the ground, obviously scared to death from what was coming.

Darias looked around with the most solemn expression he had ever had. Back when the Intermediate Warrior had appeared, he was ultimately a man, and there was little chance for him to massacre them all for no reason. But the dracasses weren't the same. They were beasts chasing them.

It was the end.

His eyes looked at his children behind him, on the cart. He had already lost his wife on these lands, taken away by a disease. He wanted to rush to them and protect them until death. But he couldn't. The camp was losing its mind as only one thought was on the head of everyone: they will all die there.

The chief of the clan couldn't let this situation fall apart. The chief of the Greybat clan was already lost in the chaos and was in the impossibility to take back any control. There was only him that could do it, he was the only one who could calm down the clan at this point.

He turned his face away from his children with a weight crashing his heart. It was his responsibility. Everything for the clan.

"Took out your weapons!" He couldn't infuse his voice with mana like an Advanced Warrior, but his roar was enough to wake up everyone from their state. "Fight for our families! Warriors, you all have a duty, and it is the time to accomplish it!"

Garrold appeared with a spear on his hand and a sword at his waist. It was his time to shine, even if it meant dying there.

"Blackwolf clan! Greybat clan! Wait for the beasts to come, and don't run in any random direction!"

The dracasses were feared so many times. It was impossible for the clans of the Barren Lands to not have any solution to counter them.

Sadly, the only solution they had after so many years was pitiful. It was to wait for the beasts to appear, to stall them with the warriors and fighters, while everyone else ran away in the other way.

At least, some of them would be able to live. And who knows, they might even be able to kill one or two of these monsters.

All the members of the clans knew what was happening. They brave their fear and took out their weapons. There weren't any young or old members anymore. There weren't any men or women in the Barren Lands at this time. There were only fighters, and everyone was with a bow or a spear on their hands.

They all learned how to fight and to survive in these lands from a young age, and compared to the inhabitants of the other side, they were able to seal their emotions much more easily. Their survival was in play, and they certainly didn't want to lose it.

More than a thousand nomads gathered in the center of the camp, only illuminated by the moon and the dying fire no one bothered to fuel before.

Rohan was among them on his horse, in the front line. His sword was already in his hand, and he scanned the area to discern these beasts. Behind him, the nomads were shaking with their poor weapons in their hands, waiting for the appearance of the dracasses.

No one knew from which direction they would come.

Answering their call, shadows suddenly appeared in front of Rohan. It didn't take long before their bodies were in full sight under the white light shining on their dark lustering body.

They were exactly like the one Rohan had seen before, albeit they were very alive, and the warrior's pupils shrunk when he saw them.