"CLOSE THE DOORS! DON'T LET THEM IN!!!"

The guard next to the group shouted the orders and ran at the nearest undead, smashing it with his shield. The walking corpse fell down, letting the soldier go on.

Berot ordered his companions.

"Let's help the guards. If all the undead manage to come inside, we'll be outnumbered. "

"We're with you, Berot."

A crossbow bolt flew and pierced a undead's forehead, Biryl smirking.

"Bullseye. You, Kerel and Sorco go for the doors, me and Filian will cover you three."

Sorco stepped further, looking straight at the undead.

"I kill the not dead, you close the doors."

Without waiting for the others accord, the Orc ran at the nearest undead and beheaded it with a swing of his big sword. Berot sighed and signalled the other to get to work.

"We're counting on you two to not let them get too close."

Reloading his crossbow, the dwarf sighed.

"Of course, of course. It's not the first time we do this, remember?"

Filian, already lifting his mage staff, answered.

"Against so many at the same time?"

"One, ten, a thousand, they're just more target for my bolts to pierce. Don't tell my you're scared, long ears?"

"Not at all, tousled beard, I just have higher grounds to look at the situation from..."

The dwarf stepped further, shaking his head.

"Bah, who needs long legs. Certainly not me, nor my crossbow, let's count who killed the most. I say, your spells against my bolts, and we'll see."

The elf's staff extremity began to shine white.

"What do you wanna bet?"

"Loser pays the beer."

His eyes looking up, the elf sighed.

"I would have never guessed...alright, let's help those fools. They're far from safe at the moment...WIND BLADE!"

Slashing the air with his staff, the elf made a wind crescent dashed at one undead, the spell cutting him in two.

Biryl grumbled.

"I'm still leading...two to one, long ears."

"...You only shot one..."

"Yeah, but he was bigger than yours."

"It still only counts as one."

"...Okay, okay, I'll win nonetheless!"

"We'll see about that, short legs."

...........................................................................................................................................................

Berot and Kerele went separate ways, one for each door. Sorco was in the middle, fighting an armed undead. Even with nothing more than a rusty sword and helmet, the thing was still dangerous and could have hurt the orc if he didn't pay attention.

"Off with you, not dead!"

With his large fist, the orc broke the undead's skull, before straightforwardly kicking him back, making a second one fall with the first.

"Haha, rotten meat can't fight well."

The thief arrived before the right door's simple mechanism, passing between the leg of an undead who tried to catch her, but missed. Turning on herself, she pierced the side of his head with a dagger, making it stop moving for good. Pulling the blade out, she examined the door gears and realised something.

*It's been sabotaged! some of the gears have been melted.... No wonder the guards weren't able to close them...I have to break it somehow...*

"SORCO! I NEED YOUR HELP HERE!"

Kerele called after the orc who had just finished taking care of another undead. He came at her, interrogation in his eyes.

"Why the door still open?"

The thief showed the blocked mechanism to the orc.

"Not time to explain. Broke this and close the door, I'll go and help Berot."

"Easy to do, move."

The orc used the spear of a dead guard as a lever to pull on the mechanism from the inside, using pure strength to try breaking the gear.

While running in Berot's direction, Kerele called after Biryl.

"HEY BIRYL! COVER SORCO!"

"I'M ON IT!"

The dwarf ran at the orc's side, using his crossbow to keep the nearest undead at bay.

"A little mouse told me you needed help?"

"Dwarf can speak to mouses?"

...........................................................................................................................................................

"By the holy light of Carendar, are you going to move you freaking piece of shit!!"

Berot was trying to move the other door, covered by two guards fighting against the undead.

"What are you waiting for? Others are still coming!"

Kerele arrived, running.

"The mechanism has been sabotaged, we've got to break it!"

"How?"

"You! The guards! Use your spear as a lever, break the mechanism from the inside. Me and Berot will cover you two."

"Good idea."

The two guards looked at each other.

"But if we do that, the door won't be able to be locked after that."

"We'll block it with something. If they are left open, we're going to be devoured by the undead!"

"...Good point, help me."

The guard spoke to his colleague and the two went near the mechanism, trying their best to break it.

...........................................................................................................................................................

Filian was getting tired. He had already killed a dozen undead with his wind spells, but more were getting in the city. Still, he didn't want to let his companions down. He took a mana potion in his bag and quickly drank it, his mana replenishing almost immediately.

"Alright, I'm good to go..."

He stepped further, approaching the entrance where the undead were arriving. There was now fifteen of them inside the walls, and far more outside.

*I have to give the others more time...I know!*

Turning around while incanting and making his staff turn around his hands, his magical catalyst shining white. At the last moment, he jumped and split the air with it.

"WIND WALL!"

Before him in a horizontal line appeared a wall of air, three meters wide for one meters high, that came hitting the horde of undead, making the two front rows fall down, the others tripping on the ones laying down. This made them stopped for a bit, giving the ones inside the walls some time.

*Good, but that spell alone nearly emptied me...I need more mana potion...*

Panting, the mage looked through his bag, searching for the blue potion.

...........................................................................................................................................................

Biryl wasn't happy. He had killed a dozen of those corpses but more were still arriving. He had used a good portion of his bolts.

"How are you doing with that door?"

"Almost done..."

A loud cracking noise indicated the mechanism was finally giving up. The orc pulled the spear all the way down, making some gear fall in the process.

"Door free, we can close it."

"Then do it! I'm almost out of bolts here."

"Dwarf has axe..."

"Yeah, but I prefer not to get too close to those creatures, thank you. Now hurry, I cover you."

...........................................................................................................................................................

"Yah! How is it going, you two?"

Berot and Kerele were still defending the two guards, actively trying to imitate the orc on the other side. Luckily, the two adventurers were better at fighting than the guards, and the undead taken one by one weren't too big of a threat.

"We almost got it, just a bit m..! ARGH!!!"

Looking behind them, the two adventurers could see one of the guards down, a creature actively cutting through his flesh with long claws before tearing his throat apart with pointy teeth.

Physically, it had a humanoïd form, but without skin, blood red flesh with green nerves covering almost the entire body. As it looked in their direction, they could see it had nearly no eyes to see with, all the flesh covering the skull nearly gone. All they could see was two red points inside the skull's eyes socket. It opened his blood filled mouth and let out a shrieking noise, like claws on a blackboard.

"Ghoul!"

Berot lifted up his shield by reflex. The ghoul jumped and land on Kerele, the claws aiming at the woman's neck. Her agility allowed her to evade the fatal blow, but her shoulder got injured nonetheless, the claws passing her light leather protection like nothing was there.

"ARGH!"

Kerele's scream alerted Berot who dashed at the creature, hitting it hard with the piece of wood protecting him. It had the effect to make the creature get off the woman.

*I can't let it retrieve his momentum, I must attack now!*

The man remembered the lessons about that kind of being, if he didn't kill it right now, it wouldn't stop before all were dead. He picked up the second soldier's spear and threw it at the ghoul who jumped up, evading the weapon. Using that chance to attack, Berot thrust his sword, piercing the ghoul's chest as it landed. The creature let out a similar sound as before and fell down, dead.

"Kerele, are you alright?"

The woman had a hand on her bleeding shoulder, hissing as her companion came crouching next to her.

"Could be better, but I'm alive...aouch it hurt."

"We've got to treat your wound, can you stand?"

"I'm injured, not dying. Help the guard for the door, I can take care of myself."

Berot was visibly not thrilled but let her go back to Filian alone.

"Still not done?"

"This thing...it killed J.."

"He's dead, there's nothing to do for him anymore, but there are more people who will die if we don't close the doors, help me!"

The guard nodded and they get back to work, using all their strength to break the mechanism.

...........................................................................................................................................................

A hand on her injury, Kerele ran back to the elf mage who looked warily at her.

"The undead did that?"

"There was a ghoul, it got me by surprise."

"That means there are more who'll come, Ghouls are never alone...Kerele, you must go and get the guard's help. There were two at the doors, minus the one who came for help at the inn, plus two who came to help you and Berot. There is at least a dozen guards stationed in this town, there is a chance they are observing the situation at the bridge. Maybe they're not even aware of the situation here, go get them...anyone who can fight actually."

She simply nodded and ran past the elf, passing next to the different houses to reach the town centre, where the inn was.

"Since I'm here, let's get some help."

She entered the inn, where some people were helping the guard. An old woman was making him drink a potion, while others talked amongst themselves. Some head turned in her direction as she entered.

"So? What was the problem?"

"There IS a problem, undead, like he said. We need help at the cemetery doors, undead are trying to invade, some guards are already dead. You!"

She pointed at the nearest man, who seemed surprised by the sudden attention.

"Run as fast as you can and go get the guards at the bridge, we need as much help as we can."

"But I..."

"RUN!!!"

"Yes, madam!"

The man ran out of the inn. Kerele sat a minute, quickly joined by the old lady who was helping the guard before.

"You are hurt my dear, let me help you..."

Looking at her, the thief smirked.

"And who might you be?"

"Just an old herbalist who doesn't want to let people die unnecessarily. Show me your wound, would you?"

.........................................................................................................................................................

One door was now closed, but the other was still resisting the two men, who constantly had to stop their effort to fight off the attacking undead.

"How come they are so numerous? One or two undead, I can understand. A dozen in the worst case...But this is just ridiculous."

"Ridiculous?! Look more like a nightmare to me."

"At least we weren't attacked by another ghoul...but that's strange..."

"What is strange?"

"Have you ever met a ghoul alone?"

"To be frank...that was my first time seeing a ghoul at all."

"Oh...forget it then."

"You mean there could be more of those creatures?"

"That is not a question of "if" but "when". There are others, that's for certain. We have to close that door before they arrive or it will not be easy for us."

"Let's close it then..."

Finally, the mechanism broke, setting the door free. Berot let the guard close the door while he was protecting him.

*There are still twenty or so undead in here, a bit of help would be fine...*

"GUARDS! TO ARMS! KILL THE UNDEAD!"

A strong voice came from the town's centre direction. Six guards were there, with an older one leading them.

"YES CAPTAIN!"

"We're here to help!"

Other villagers had come, armed with forked, to see what was going on. The old captain spoke to everyone.

"Listen up everyone, I want the civilian to stay in groups of at least three individual. Do not attack the undead alone. Me and my men will take care of them, but if you see one of those bastard sneaking on us...we'll appreciate the help!"

"We got it, captain, you can count on us."

"Alright then...GUARDS! CHAAAARGE!"

The seven soldiers, spears and shields up, ran at the undead who slowly turned in their direction, their growlings not enough to scare away the charging guards.

As they approached, the old captain was thinking.

*Those may not be the best soldiers of the land, but they are good men who will fight to protect their town... Carendar, may your light shine on our living souls tomorrow.*

Even if not the best, they were still trained. The guards used their spear to take out four undead, the captain taking one by himself while the guards grouped by two to kill one undead. There was problem with their basic equipment, it wasn't sharp enough to come out of the rotten bodies quick enough, and they soon had to let go of them, using their sword and shield to fight.

"DON'T STEP BACK! DON'T GIVE THEM ANY GROUND! THE DOORS ARE CLOSING, DO NOT LOSE HOPE!"

The old captain was still shouting his order and motivation speech to cover the sounds of battle. Once or twice, a undead almost caught one of the guards from behind, but some villagers bravely stepped further to stop it. Seeing three villagers weren't quite enough, they grouped by five to make sure none was gonna die.

It was simple, four villagers were pushing back the undead with forks while the smith of the village, a bald man armed with a big hammer, came behind the creature to smashed his skull, taking care of it.

Of course, not everything went well. Their lack of experiences soon caught on the villagers and guards. Five villagers got hurt in the fight and two guards simply died while protecting them. Finally, Berolt and the guard managed to close the door, Sorco joining them.

"We have to block it now."

"The merchant has a cart, it should be enough."

"Good. Sorco, help me. You must block the door while he goes get the cart. Don't let the undead in."

The orc place himself facing the doors, a hand on each. Already, some undead had reached them and were starting to push against the wooden protection. The orc's arm muscle bulged as he maintained his position.

"SORCO NOT MOVING!"

"Thanks, Sorco. Guard! The cart, quick!"

The guard nodded and started running in the town's centre direction. The old captain saw him and was trying to call after him but was interrupted by Berot.

"Let him go! He's going to bring back something to block the door!"

"Ah...and who are you to order my men around?"

"A guy trying to save this place, why?"

The two men were now back to back, keeping undead away from Sorco, still blocking the door.

...........................................................................................................................................................

An hour later, the undead inside were finally taken care of and the cart had been placed before the doors, allowing the orc to move aside.

"Are you alright, Sorco?"

"Sorco fine, no worry."

"Okay then."

Even with the cart blocking them, the doors were still shaking, pushed by the undead. The captain gave the orders. All men who could handle a bow or crossbow went on the barricades, shooting as much undead as they could, while the others had to fortify the doors.

The guards still living went, followed by some hunters who lived in the town, Biryl and Filian went with them. The elf mage managed to find two more mana potions but decided to keep them for later. From the wall, he waited for his mana to replenished before casting a wind spell from above, killing the undead by groups of two or three. The dwarf had negotiated with the guards to obtain more crossbow bolts to shoot with.

Those who were injured were sent to the inn were a temporary infirmary had been made. There, the old herbalist was doing her best to heal the injured, helped by those who couldn't fight. Women and children old enough were helping too, even if just by bringing more arrow from the guards' supply, or simply water to those working.

It went on all night long, then, finally...

"The sun's getting up! May Carendar be praised, we survived the night. Look! they stopped moving!"

It was true, as soon as the sunlight touched them, the corpses had stopped moving. They were all standing still, vaguely looking in front of them. All sighed in relief when the news came, everyone on the barricades falling on their behind, resting for a bit.

"Now what do we do?"

..........................................................................................................................................................

"I refuse."

That was Filian speaking to Berot and the captain. Berot had just asked him to teleport to the capital to look for help.

"I won't go by myself and leave you all behind, that's something I simply cannot do."

"Filian...we don't have a choice here. The bridge is destroyed and the front gate is blocked on our side...and even if we managed to get out, there are hundreds of undead out there who would catch any poor soul passing next to them!"

"How can you be sure about that?"

"Because I've face undead before, captain. Sunlight tends to stop them, but they are still "living". If something comes next to them, they will attack and kill, as much as they would at night. The only good thing about sunlight is that it protect us from ghouls and other things like that. They fear sunlight, so we're okay as long as we stay inside for now...but the night will come again. How long will we be able to hang on like that?"

The elf sighed, visibly not pleased by the idea.

"Alright...I'm not an idiot, I can understand the situation don't give me much of a choice here...Alright, I'll teleport and come back with reinforcements from the guild as soon as I can...The nearest crystal is two days from here, you have to resist until then."

Berot nodded, imitated by the captain. The man put a hand on his friend's shoulder, smiling at him.

"We count on you, my friend."

"Don't worry. I'll bring back the help you need. Now, step back."

Berot did as tell, giving space to Filian who took his staff and concentrate for a bit.

"TELEPORTATION!"

The elf disappeared in a flash.

"You think he can do it?"

"If someone can, that's h...!"

A loud sound could be heard all around, like a big object slamming against a metallic wall, before a flash of light hit the ground with force. When the light disappeared, the two man could see Filian laying face down, a leg and arms twisted in the wrong way and his staff broken.

"FILIAN!"

Berot came crouching next to his friend, rolling him on his back and supporting him so he could sit.

"What happened?"

The elf coughed some blood, the shock was hard.

"A barrier...magic...around the town. No one can teleport from here...we're trapped."

And the elf loses consciousness.

Berot and the captain brought him to the inn and laid him next to the others injured people. Kerele, an arm in a sling, came to asked what happened.

"A magic barrier? Here? But why? Who?"

Berot was the one who answered first.

"The question why seems simple, someone does not want us to escape this place. Now to say whom...I have the idea this could be the same person responsible for the undead at our doors and the destruction of the bridge...But why would someone attack this village, it doesn't have any value, be it political or by his resources..."

"You're right. What can someone hope to get by attacking this town..."

The captain interrupted them.

"How can you be sure someone is attacking us?"

Kerele looked at him as if the question was the stupidest thing she had ever heard.

"Really? The bridge gets destroyed the same night an army of undead comes out of the cemetery and you believe it's a coincidence?"

"Hardly...but it could."

"And the barrier? She appeared by mistake?"

"Who knows, your friend could have missed his spell..."

Seeing Kerele getting angry, Berot stepped between the two.

"That's not all, captain. The doors had been sabotaged, the mechanism was blocked and that's why we had to break it. There is definitively someone who wanted those undead to come inside."

"But who?"

"That's what we are wondering about."

The captain passed a hand in his grey hair, sighing.

"We have to prepare ourselves. I'll see that my men are prepared and ready to fight for tonight. You should all rest for a bit, no one will sleep tonight, that's for sure."

...........................................................................................................................................................

Outside of Corpsenburg, in the biggest and deepest vault of the cemetery, a silhouette hidden by a black robe and hood was incanting in front of a mirror. The reflection disappeared to let another silhouette's image be seen.

"Master, the black crystal is working, I have managed to bring more than two hundred undead from their tombs."

The silhouette in the mirror answered in a deep voice.

"What about Corpsenburg? Is it destroyed yet?"

"Not...exactly, master."

"I wait for a good explanation..."

"I did as you told me, the barrier forbid them to send someone for help, and the bridge as been dealt with. I managed to sabotage the doors, but..."

"..."

The silence the silhouette in the vault received seemed to scare her more than any threat.

"...Some adventurers were there and helped the guards with the doors. They managed to barricade themselves for the night..."

"...Incompetent fool..."

The silhouette in the vault fell on her knees, bowing to the one in the mirror.

"I implore you, master. I managed to isolate them, this is only a question of time before their rotten corpses walked in your army's rank."

The one in the mirror extended a hand, a hand shadow coming from the mirror came pushing the silhouette on the ground, almost crushing her.

"I should kill you right now for your failure..."

The silhouette on the ground, breathing with a lot of effort, was still begging.

"But...I'm generous. I give you one more night...Don't disappoint me again..."

And the image in the mirror disappeared, silence back in the room. The silhouette stood up, still shaking from the aura of her master.

*I must send all the undead I can to destroy this town, tonight....The ghouls can climb the walls and take care of those pitiful guards, but the doors are still a problem...I wonder...Yes! That could work!*

The silhouette laughed madly while it stepped out of the room.

...........................................................................................................................................................

"How is your shoulder? Will you be able to fight?"

Berot was eating something warm with Kerele, Biryl and Sorco. Filian was still unconscious, but the herbalist had done wonders and at least he was sleeping peacefully.

"Not as good as I would want to...the herbalist didn't have any health potion, even for a good price. And we used our last one after that dungeon the other day. At least, she knows how to patch up a wound and the injury didn't get infected, lucky I am. I have one valid arm, but I'll stay behind tonight, I'll only be a bother anyway."

"True..."

"Biryl!"

"What, Berot? The girl isn't an idiot. She knows when to step out of a fight, and that is the case here. She doesn't have to be ashamed."

"Kerele have war scar now. Kerele is brave, but Kerele not fighting tonight."

"Thanks, you three."

The thief smiled to her companions, she was glad they understood the situation so well.

"I'll stay behind and protect Filian."

"We count on you. Okay guys, we have barricades who await us."

Passing next to their laying friend, Berot and Sorco nodded at him before going out. Biryl stopped a second.

"The bet is still on, so don't sleep for too long or I'll win for good."

The dwarf followed his companions outside, the three of them quickly reaching the barricades where the captain was ordering his men around.

"How is the situation, captain?"

"The sunlight is still there, so we continue to eliminate as much as we can while we have time."

Once the captain had told his men about the situation, the words spread quickly that no help was going to arrive. Some villagers let distress talk and tried to flee by jumping off the barricades, only to break a leg four meters down, being eaten by the undead, or simply killing themselves when they hit the ground. Fortunately, the captain managed to bring order back, telling everyone that help was certain to come after a time. Someone would notice the bridge and will send someone to investigate. They had to hang on until then. Once all was said, all the capable men and women agreed to help, while it was decided the others would reunite in the inn and barricade for the night.

"It's a good thing everyone decided to help."

"Strange, isn't it? All it takes for everyone to put away their little quarrel is an army of undead, who would've guess."

All day long, those on the barricades had used some long spears, made with the help of the smith, to pierce the nearest undead's head, killing all they could. Others made arrows for the bows and several more bows while making sure the ones they were going to use would not break. Biryl and some others manage to make some bolts for the three crossbows they had, if you counted the dwarf and two guards.

All in all, three dozen undead were taken care of and a dozen men were ready to shoot.

"Why not shooting sooner? We could use the sunlight as an advantage and..."

"It won't work, captain. They don't move because we kill them one by one, slowly and hardly, it's not a threat for them. If we start to shoot, they will advance, sunlight or not."

"You're kidding me, right? I thought they were not moving on sunlight?"

"Only if left alone. An attack is like a stimulus for them and it force them to move. Trust me, we better prepared ourselves as much as we can and wait for the right time to come."

Some had reinforced the doors as much as they could, nailing planks here and there around the cart. Behind the doors, on the small place before the village itself, they had used furniture like tables and chairs to make a second, smaller barricade, circling around the door. The last line of defence if the door should break.

...........................................................................................................................................................

As the sun was setting down, the captain was giving the instructions one last time, making sure everyone understood them.

"NOW HEAR ME OUT! WHEN THOSE BASTARDS WILL START TO MOVE AGAIN, AIM FOR THE HEAD AND DON'T STOP FIRING UNTIL THE SUN SHOWS UP AGAIN. THOSE OF YOU ON THE BARRICADES WITHOUT BOW OR CROSSBOW, USE SHIELD AND SPEAR TO DEFEND THE WALLS..."

It continued for a bit. Finally, the sun went down, torches were lighted on the barricades and behind it, where others were waiting behind the last barricade. The true fighters were one the walls, while the ones behind the last barricade were peasants, older men and women, armed with what they could. Some of them had the time to learn how to shoot a bow with at least a bit of accuracy.

Like a sound wave, the undead started to growl again and began to advance as one.

"FIREEEEEE!!!"

The arrows and bolts began to rain down the barricades. One after another, the undead fell down, while those behind continued to advance, stepping on the fallen one like they weren't even there.

Berot, armed with a bow while his shield was down next to him, couldn't help but respect the ones fighting at his sides. Facing those rotting corpses, none stopped shooting, thrusting with the long spear, they were protecting their home with all they had.

But, for each undead falling, two were taking his place, and the undead wave was slowly advancing. When they finally reached the wall, those armed with shorter weapons started to thrust with all they had, killing as much as they could.

"THAT'S IT! PUSH THEM B...!"

The captain was encouraging everyone when shrieking scream came from the back of the undead wave.

Passing through, a dozen ghouls ran amongst the undead, killing some who stood in their way. They jumped and landed on the wooden wall, climbing with their sharp claws, ready to kill. One or two were taken care of on the way, but the others managed to arrive on the defenders, savagely attacking anyone in their reach. Sorco, not good with a ranged weapon, was ready to fight and immediately charged at one of the creatures, beheaded it in one swing.

"GUARDS! PULL OUT YOU SWORD! KILL THE GHOULS!"

The guards armed with a crossbow took the time to shot one of the ghouls down, one shooting her legs, the other her head. They dropped their ranged weapon to fight at close ranged with their sword and shield who were next to them.

Two guards died by the ghouls first attack, not quick enough to lift their shield before the monsters were in reach. The hunters stepped on the side, still shooting the undead near the door, while the captain, Sorco, Berot and the last guards were fighting the ghouls. Biryl, still armed with his crossbow, helped them from afar, aiming at the monster's head.

When the last ghoul finally fell down, there were only two guards left, plus the captain, the three adventurers and three hunters on the barricades.

"DON'T LOSE HOPE, KEEP SHOOTING!!"

More and more undead were pushing against the door, making it shaking dangerously, but all on the barricade were still fighting. The captain called after more people to come and help, but only inexperienced fighters were left behind them. Nonetheless, those civilians came, taking the long spears and bows to do what they could to help. Undead were falling, not as much as before, but the people were still fighting.

"What's that?"

"What, captain?"

"Amongst the undead, look! That one!"

Berot looked where the captain was pointing.

"What the hell?"

...........................................................................................................................................................

"Yes! die, all of you insects, be amazed by my creation!"

From the inside of the vault, the black silhouette was observing the fight, his mirror used like a window to see through undead's eyes. The scene excited the necromancer, who laughed madly when the ghouls first reach the walls, before cursing when they were taken care of.

"You will all serve as soldiers in my master's army, and he will reward me with unimaginable power. But first, I want to see those adventurers torn apart for daring to get in my way. Now, advance, my creation!"

...........................................................................................................................................................

In the middle of the wave, pushing other undead to the side to pass through, was a stranger undead.

Taller than the others, his skin greasy and deep green, it was enormous. The thing was nearly as big as tall, like a walking balloon. His head wasn't anything more than a pile of fat with little eyes and no hair.

"I don't know what is that thing, but we can't let it reach the door! SHOOT IT!"

First, it was a hunter who shot at it, piercing his arm. The man cursed when he missed and shoot again, quickly joined by the others on the wall, alerted by Berot and the captain.

"Something is strange, the arrows don't pierce its belly skin. the arms and legs have been pierced already but none of us can pierce his belly...BIRYL, SHOOT IT IN THE HEAD!"

"ON IT!"

One meter away from the door, the big undead received a bolt in the head.

"YEAH, BULLSE....!"

Everything seemed to stop on the battleground. The undead didn't fall, but looked up, his mouth open to let out a deep growling sound, so loud it made the wood barricade shook a bit. Then, making every defender open their eyes wide, it started to grow ...no, not grow, it started to inflate.

"Berot, what is happening?"

"I don't know...but we should get off the wall..."

A terrifying idea had come to the adventurer. If he was right, they had to run out of there.

"EVERYONE, RUN! GET OFF THE WALL!"

Some turned and didn't seem to understand at first, but quickly imitated when they saw the captain, the dwarf, the orc and the group leader jumped down on the straw piles they had made for this urgency case.

Just as the last person was jumping, a tremendous detonation happened, bursting the doors open, shattering the cart and fortification who killed some defenders with the fragments piercing their body. The big undead had exploded, leaving behind a large hole in the wall, some bits of flesh and the remnant of green smoked that quickly disappeared in the wind.

The single good thing was that the explosion had also destroyed at least two dozen undead, the perimeter around the big one empty of everything, barricades or undead.

Berot shook his head as he stood up. Looking around, he saw the destroyed wall, where undead were already starting to arrive.

"EVERYONE WITH A BOW, SHOOT!"

But no arrows came, the civilian in front of the undead wave terrorised by the vision of the walking corpses advancing in their direction.

"It's no use, their spirit has been crushed by that fatty bastard...EVERYONE, RETREAT TO THE INN! NOW!"

The order came from the captain, who had realise those people were going to be killed even quicker if they stayed there. Those who were in good condition helped the ones injured by the explosion, or simply by a wrong landing from the wall, and they retreat to the inn, covered by the few who could still fight. Berot, the captain, the last standing guard, Biryl and Sorco were doing all they could. The orc was simply throwing anything he could to the nearest undead to stop it, doing wonders for one not used to ranged fight. The others were shooting, stepping back, shooting again, like that as long as they could, giving time for the civilian to reach the inn.

"Everyone is in, let's go!"

They all went inside and closed the door, blocking it with all they could. The windows had already been taken care of during the day, that was a good thing.

"THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN HANDLE RANGED WEAPON, WITH ME UPSTAIRS, WE WILL SHOOT AT THEM FROM THE WINDOWS! THE OTHERS, KEEP THOSE DOORS BLOCKED!"

The captain wasn't giving up, as were the adventurers. Berot, Biryl, one guard and the five last civilians who knew how to shoot went upstairs with the captain.

The windows were broken in an instant and all who could started to shoot once again.

"DON'T STOP SHOOTING! DON'T STOP SHOOTING!!"

Once again, undead were falling down, but clearly not quickly enough. Looking at the street filled with the rotten corpses, Berot couldn't help but get desperate.

*We won't do it...It was certain from the start, but it seems like the end is getting near...*

From the cemetery came once again the shrieking sounds, signalling one thing.

"GHOULS! GHOULS ARE COMING! GET READY!"

...........................................................................................................................................................

downstairs, desperation had claimed most of the people. Some had started to fight, but were quickly calmed by Sorco who clearly said that anyone who was trying to complicate the defence was going to be dealt with quickly....to be frank, his exact words were.

"You fight, I throw you out."

Strangely enough, that was enough to calm the ones causing a ruckus. The tables and chairs had been used to block the door and window, but even with that, it was clear that the undead were going to enter soon. The innkeeper, a well-endowed blonde woman whose husband had died earlier that day, had opened her cellar, making the elders, injured, pregnant women and children go inside, before closing the trap behind them and taking a kitchen knife. Coming next to Sorco, the orc saw resolution in her eyes.

"Woman fight?"

"My daughter is in the cellar, I have someone to protect too."

The orc laughed a bit.

"Human woman brave like orc woman. We die today, but undead not killing us easy."

"I count on you....what is your name?"

"Name is Sorco, what innkeeper name is?"

"Travia."

"Good having strong woman to fight with, Travia."

"Coming from him, that's the best of compliment. Believe me."

On the other side of Sorco came Kerele, her injured arm still in a sling, a daguer in her other hand.

"Kerele hurt, go down with injured."

"Like I'll let you have all the fun for yourself, big guy...Filian is in the cellar, he's still uncouncius. If we have to die today, I'm not going to remained hidden like a scare mouse."

A flash passed in Sorco's eyes as he seemed to understand something. He laughed heartily.

"HAHA, Kerele is mouse. Sorco gets dwarf joke!"

The pile of furniture was shacking violantely now, the door finaly giving up.

"SORCO AWAIT, NOT DEAD!"

"KERELE IS REDY TO FIGHT!"

"AND TRAVIA TOO! COME AND GET US!"

They were done for, it was obvious, but they would not fall without giving all they could.

Everyone in the inn had someone in the cellar they wanted to protect, be it a wife, a father, a mother, a child, a friend, everyone stood together, armed with everything they could. They had forks, knife, hammer, tools as weapon, while pots were for some the closest thing to a helmet they had found. Some even took a chair to use as a shield. Yes, they weren't well armed, but they would fight nonetheless.

Travia shouted at everyone, galvanising them one last time.

"REMEMBER WHO YOU FIGHT TO PROTECT! DON'T LET THEM TAKE THE ONES YOU LOVE! BE BRAVE! TO DEEEEATH!!!"

"TO DEEEEATH!!!"

Everyone in the room shouted, all together, and the last barricade fell down.

...........................................................................................................................................................

"THEY'RE HERE!"

They had shoot five of the ghouls down, they had the advantage with the long street coming right from the cemetery, but a dozen managed to jumped on the inn's walls, quickly entering.

The guard fell, killed while protecting a hunter. The group came back to back, quickly surrounded by the monsters.

"Even if we manage to kill one each, they are just too numerous...I think this is the end, friends."

"Why aren't they attacking?"

...........................................................................................................................................................

"Let me see them! Let me see the fear in their eyes as they die, give me your eyes, ghoul!"

...........................................................................................................................................................

The ghouls around them seemed to wait for something, not moving. One of them started to shake violentely, her head going from left to right, as if a fly had gone inside its head. After a minute, the creature stopped shaking and lloked at them once again, the red eyes now green. It opened his mouth, but in place of the "normal" shriek, came a voice.

"You caused me trouble, adventurers, but it's over now. The door downstair is giving up and my ghouls will soon devour your flesh."

The captain opened his eyes wide in horror.

"This thing can talk?"

Berot shaked his head from left to right.

"No, it's not the ghoul. The necromancer is using black magic to talk through it. SHOW YOURSELF!"

The ghoul did what could be mistake as a laugh, but it was simply too unplaisant to be called that.

"Yes, scream after me, scream all you want, none of you could hope to reach me where I am. From the cemetery I raised an army, making the corpse of your loved one come to eat your flesh. Do you see the irony? The one you protect now will be eaten later by none other than you! I'll make sure each one of your loved one are killed by the one they love the most."

Once again, the ghoul let his unplaisant mokery of a laughed be heard, before a bolt pierced its head, killing it in an instant. All turned to see Biryl smirking.

"I've heard enough. There's nine of them and eight of us, so I'm not going to shit my pants just yet!"

...........................................................................................................................................................

The shock of the ghoul's death made the necromance stepped back in a scream, his hands on his forehead.

"YAAAARG....YOU FILTHY MAGOT....KILL, KILL THEM ALL!"

...........................................................................................................................................................

As one, the ghouls jumped in the group direction. All prepare for the last fight.

"COME, YOU ROTTEN BEASTS!!!"

It was at that moment that something passed in the room. Running too fast for the group to identify it. It killed two ghouls in one hit each before running down the stairs, literally running on the walls so it didn't have to stop to turn.

A big stone came crushing one ghoul's head on the ground and a panda girl came from the side to kill the fourth one, piercing the monster's head with her spear.

Finally, the five last fell down, their bodies cut in two in an instant, as a man appeared before the group.

"Just in time it seems."

The three adventurers immediately recognised the man, Berot pointed at him.

"YOU?!"

Maximilian saluted them with a hand sign before going in the windows direction.

"What are you doing here?"

"Just passing through...and killing undead while doing so."

Pointing his sword at Maximilian, Berot seemed to have forgotten about the undead.

"I still haven't forgotten about our fight! I'm going to make you pay for what happened at the inn and..."

"Yeah, yeah. Later with the threat, there are undead who required my attention out there. Lin-Lin, go help Octavia, protect the people."

"Yes, master!"

And Maximilian jumped out the window. The group looked dumbfound before turning their attention to the panda girl running in the stairs direction. The captain called after her.

"Wait! Who are you people? And what was the creature who passed through here just now?"

Not stopping,the panda girl answered him.

"I am Lin-Lin, that man is my master. And the "creature" is our friend, Octavia, who is currently protecting the people downstair!"

The group looked at each other before following the panda girl.

Downstairs, where the group expected to come across a battleground, it was strangely quiet. They passed next to silent civilians to arrive next to the three in the front row. Sorco, Kerele and Travia were, like the others, were looking at the scene without knowing how to react. Lin-Lin arrived next to Octavia.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I did as master told and protect everyone."

What was before a big spider was now a girl, a head taller than Lin-Lin.

Octavia now looked like a human girl, with white skin, long white hair looking like silk descending on her back and eyes shiny red like a ruby. She had only two human eyes, with six little ruby points where her other eyes used to be situated.

That was what her upper body looked like.

Under the belt, it was a spider body the girl had. It had grown once again, and fortified compare to before. She still had her eight spider legs, her spider body ivory white with the same golden parts as before. From her hands, extended before her, came web, who had been attached to the ground, the walls, the ceiling, all in an instant, forming a web wall preventing the undead from reaching the people inside the inn.

The undead were trying to get through, pushing against the web wall, but only managed to get stuck on it.

The captain spoke to the others, but to no one in particular.

"Hum...now what do we do?"

Lin-Lin and Octavia turned around, facing everyone in the room.

"Master asked us to protect you from the undead while he takes care of them."

As they spoke, some loud sounds and growls could be heard from outside. The adventurers and the captain looked at each other before running back upstairs and going to the window to look outside. More or less, they had the same reaction.

"What the hell is happening?"

Lin-Lin, who had follow them after she made sure Octavia was fine, came next to them.

"This is a chance for you to see my master fighting, don't miss a second of it."