Multiversal Ascension-Chapter 86: Arriving at Willowbrook Town

At this moment, the group, consisting of a little more than a hundred students and slightly fewer than ten professors, moved into the town under the leadership of Professor Draven Farwynd.

Initially, the atmosphere carried a sense of normalcy, even a hint of excitement at the thought of protecting a town and being hailed as "heroes." However, the mood changed abruptly when the students caught sight of the town. Its desolate aura was unmistakable. The streets were nearly empty, with only the occasional passerby, each wearing a dark, anxious expression.

The houses, too, reflected the town's dire situation. Most were barricaded with makeshift materials, primarily wood, while windows were tightly shut, curtains drawn to keep the outside world at bay. The oppressive atmosphere quickly dampened the students' earlier enthusiasm, silencing their chatter as the gravity of the situation began to sink in.

The professors remained silent, allowing the students to absorb the scene and come to their own understanding of the peril they faced. After a somber walk through the town, the group arrived near the town plaza, now subdued and far from their initial excitement.

Approaching them was a pot-bellied man who moved with quick steps. Flanking him were a few men and women dressed in full armor and armed like guards. The man stopped before them and addressed the group with a fawning smile.

"Are you from the Academy?" he asked.

"It's us," Draven replied curtly, stepping forward.

Hearing this, the man's face lit up with relief. "Marvelous! I am Thomas Beckett, the mayor of Willowbrook. It's a pleasure to have you here, my lords and ladies. You must be tired from your journey. Allow me to guide you. We've prepared accommodations for your stay."

The mayor hesitated for a moment before continuing, his tone apologetic. "I must admit, the best accommodations we could arrange are the homes of some residents who were kind enough to share their spaces. I regret that these won't meet the standards you may be accustomed to. For this, I humbly apologize." He ended his words with a low bow.

At his explanation, murmurs of discontent rose among some of the students. The thought of sharing living spaces with the townsfolk didn't sit well with everyone. However, the majority remained silent, recognizing the seriousness of their mission.

Draven's authoritative voice cut through the whispers. "We won't need accommodations for now. First, I need to meet with the town's guards to discuss defensive preparations."

The mayor straightened and nodded. "Certainly. This is Andrew Winslow, the head of the town guard," he said, gesturing toward a muscular, middle-aged man with a commanding presence.

Andrew gave a respectful bow and began speaking in a clear, steady voice. "We've scouted the forest and confirmed the approach of the beast wave. Based on our findings, we estimate it will arrive in two to three days, coming from the east."

"And their numbers?" Draven asked.

Andrew's expression grew grim. "We estimate around a thousand beasts. Most should be in the E rank, though we can't confirm their exact strength."

Draven absorbed the information and pressed for more details about the town's layout, the surrounding terrain, and any relevant logistics. After a thorough discussion, he turned to the students.

"I hope you all listened carefully. These details are critical to the town's defense!" His sharp tone made several students stand straighter.

"From this point forward, I will assign defense roles to the students. The professors and I will only intervene if your lives are in imminent danger. Otherwise, we will act solely as observers. I will serve as the commander, giving orders, but the execution is up to you."

Draven began organizing the students. Sixty were assigned to the east wall, where the beast wave was expected to hit. The remaining sixty were split evenly among the other three walls to guard against possible breaches or misinformation about the attack's direction.

The defense was divided into three shifts: midnight to 8 a.m., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 4 p.m. to midnight. This ensured continuous coverage, as it was impossible for the students to remain on duty around the clock. Draven also outlined basic defensive strategies, communication methods between walls, and attack protocols, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and vigilance.

Assignments were distributed with care, ensuring a balance of strength and experience across all positions. Mikael, Amelia, and Lyra, being in the top ten of their respective years, were given the privilege of choosing their roles. They opted to defend the east wall during the second shift, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Since it was already 2 p.m., they would have begun their duties, but there were still preparations to be made. The students worked together to establish the guard system and set up the communication network.

The mayor then provided a list of available houses where students could stay, along with each household's capacity. Some families could only host one student, while others had larger homes and could accommodate multiple guests. Mikael, Amelia, and Lyra chose to stay in the same house, preferring to remain together throughout the mission.

By the time everything was settled, it was already 5 p.m. Since their shift had ended before it even began, the trio headed to their temporary home.

The house was sizable compared to others in the town, a solid two-story structure with polished wooden walls and wide windows. The curtains were drawn tightly, with faint light passing through the cracks. It was clear the residents were better off than most, yet the oppressive worry gripping the entire town still lingered here.

Mikael knocked on the door with firm, deliberate taps. Moments later, a woman in her early forties opened it. She stood tall, her posture composed despite the obvious stress etched across her face. Her dark hair was neatly tied back, and her simple clothing was well-kept. Behind her, two children peeked out—a boy and a girl, both under ten—clutching each other nervously.

"You must be the students from the Academy," the woman said, her voice calm but with a faint tremor. "I'm Lena, and these are my children, Caleb and Emma. Please, come in."

Mikael stepped in first, his expression neutral, sharp green eyes scanning the interior with a calculating gaze. Amelia followed close behind, her commanding presence tempered by a reassuring aura, while Lyra lingered at the threshold, her gaze shifting between Lena and the children. The interior of the house was spacious and well-maintained, with sturdy wooden furniture, woven rugs, and a long dining table in the center of the main room. This family clearly had more means than most in the town.

"Thank you for hosting us," Amelia said, her tone firm but respectful. "We'll do our best to protect your home and this town."

Lena nodded, her hands clasping tightly as if grounding herself. "We're grateful to have you here. Truly. I've prepared room upstairs for you all. My husband is on guard duty; otherwise, he would have welcomed you himself."

As Lena led them up the staircase, the children trailed behind, sneaking curious glances at the trio. She opened the door to a large room with three neatly made beds and a stack of folded blankets on a side table. The plain walls were spotless, and a lantern on the dresser cast a warm, inviting glow.

"I hope this will be comfortable for you," Lena said with a warm smile. "We've tried to make sure you have everything you need. But I didn't realize there would be both women and men staying at the same time. Would you like me to prepare another room?" she asked, her tone polite and accommodating.

"This will do fine," Amelia replied, her voice calm and collected as she surveyed the room.

Lena nodded, taking note of the response before adding, "If you need anything, don't hesitate to come see me."

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As she finished speaking, Caleb hesitated for a moment before stepping closer, clutching a small wooden toy tightly in his hands. "Will you really stop the beasts?" he asked, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and hope.

Amelia crouched to his level, her piercing green eyes softening as she met his gaze. "Yes," she said firmly. "We will. You and your family will be safe, I promise."

The boy nodded, his grip on the toy loosening slightly. "Thank you," he whispered before retreating behind Lena.

The family lingered for a moment, Lena's eyes flicking between the three students. "If there's anything you need—food, water, anything—just let me know," she said before quietly closing the door, leaving the trio in their temporary quarters.

The three unpacked their belongings from their storage rings, arranging their space in silence until Amelia broke it. "They're scared. It's written all over their faces, even the kids. And the worst part is they can't leave," she said, her voice carrying a faint undertone of sadness.

"Yeah," Mikael replied, his tone flat and indifferent. While he didn't share her concern, he could understand it. Amelia, though not a sentimental or a goody two shoes, possessed a warrior's sense of honor, and the plight of the townsfolk stirred a faint sadness within her.

"Why?" Lyra asked, her voice quiet but curious. Her introverted nature meant she rarely spoke up unless something genuinely puzzled her.

Amelia sighed before explaining. "The residents here are weak. With the beast wave approaching, the surrounding forests have become a death trap. Even if they want to leave, they can't. It's too dangerous."

"Oh..." Lyra murmured, her violet eyes shifting downward. A fleeting trace of sympathy softened her features before she withdrew into her characteristic quietness, letting the moment pass without another word.

Mikael, observing the two lost in thought, silently took out a book on layered arrays from his storage ring and began studying it.

After a while, Amelia broke the quiet again. "What are you reading?"

Mikael looked up briefly, his green eyes calm. "A book on layered arrays."

"You know arrays?" Amelia asked, her surprise evident.

"Yes, and he's really talented at it," Lyra interjected, glancing up from her own book.

Mikael simply nodded, letting Lyra explain further.

"Oh, did he show you?" Amelia inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"Not directly, but when he came to the library, I was there as the assistant librarian. I often helped him with his studies since I have some knowledge of arrays," Lyra replied. She quickly added, "Of course, my knowledge is still basic. I'm not an array master, but it was enough to assist him. His progress, though—it was like he was flying through the material. Unbelievably fast."

Amelia shook her head with a wry smile, recalling how absurdly quickly Mikael advanced in other skills. She had seen him develop powerful techniques in mere days, a pace that defied reason.

"Yeah, talented doesn't even begin to cover it," Amelia remarked.

"That's true," Lyra agreed. "But I didn't know he was already studying layered arrays. Just so you know, mastering layered arrays puts you at the level of an array grandmaster."

"What?!" Amelia exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief as she turned to Mikael, who met her gaze with his usual calm expression.

Her disbelief was understandable; even though she was accustomed to Mikael's extraordinary achievements, hearing that he was nearing the level of an array grandmaster was still stunning. Array grandmasters weren't ordinary figures. They were masters of their craft, possessing immense knowledge and skill. In the entire world, there were fewer than 20 of them, and their status was akin to that of a viscount.

Mikael responded to her surprise with a nonchalant shrug. "I'm not there yet, but I'm making progress."

Amelia shook her head in disbelief at his casual demeanor, but the conversation ended there as they each returned to their own activities.

Amelia sat cross-legged on her bed, assuming a meditative posture to increase her aura reserves. She began expelling aura through every pore of her body at an intense pace, creating a faint blue mist that surrounded her. Lyra, engrossed in her book, paid no attention, while Mikael remained focused on deciphering the intricacies of layered arrays.

Author Note:

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