Reidar stood in the middle of it all. He had no formal rank here, but the others moved around him like he was the axis of the world.
His summons flanked him: ten Spectral Knights, ten Rift-Sprites, and five bears, of which he was riding one. He was ready. They all were. The question was whether the plan would work. A lot of it hinged on their ability to group the monsters in a single area.
"Listen up!" Helga's voice carried across the clearing. "We're going again into the town." She paused. "There won't be any more detours, no more delays. We need to lure the monsters to where we can kill them all. We hit hard, we kill fast, and we go forward. Anyone who can't keep up gets left behind. Understood?"
Affirmative responses echoed back, but it was just those from the smaller groups that got nervous about her words.
"Good. Move out!"
The raid entered the forest again, leaving the clearing behind. The crimson growth intensified. Vines covered every surface.
