Outside the cafe, the street buzzes with activity as men in their striking silver-to-gold uniforms fill the road. Every individual stands in a perfect, symmetrical formation as Oliver stands before them. Women, including Sarrah and Bethany, also join and stand with the long intervals of soldiers.

"We shall be facing a myth that has become a reality—the Pyrovoidians," Oliver explained as he addressed the gathered troops. "Our state-of-the-art weaponry, such as rifles, muskets, and pistols, proves futile against these creatures. So, I strongly advise you all to equip yourselves with trusty swords. Today, we revert to age-old methods. Why, you may ask? For even my powers are impotent against these monsters, let alone firearms. The Pyro Void Monsters can only be killed through beheading. Hence, we shall rely on our swords to execute this crucial task."

     As Oliver's words sink into their thoughts, every eye of the guards and soldiers in the street gradually widens. Some maintain a stoic and composed demeanour—with their gazes remaining resolute. However, the majority succumbs to confusion and disbelief as their murmurs grow in volume.

"...Does everyone know how to wield a sword?" Oliver questioned in concern.

A man stepped forward and raised his hand. "I do, but it must be noted that most of us have been trained using modern firearms," he responded.

     Oliver lets out a deep breath, releasing thick air from his lungs. He turns around, fixing his gaze on the towering gate behind him that opens onto the vast expanse of the grassland. For now, the other side appears serene. The tranquil silence blankets the surroundings, a brief peace before the avalanche.

"Sarrah, Bethany?" Oliver glanced at the girls.

"Yeah?" Bethany responded.

"Hm?" Sarrah answered.

"Teach the men how to use their swords," Oliver smirked.

     Oliver's palms met with a clap, and a mist of bright light spawned in the air. Then, long, durable, and gleaming swords spawned, standing upright in front of each man lining the street, including Oliver himself. Oliver summoned more and distributed the swords to every recruit, ensuring that each warrior caught their weapon before gravity could claim it.

"Let's move swiftly," Oliver stated. "I will oversee the men here. In the surrounding streets, each of you girls will take charge. We must act without delay. Go!"

     Sarrah and Bethany immediately obeyed. Sarrah's gaze shifted towards Oliver as she positioned herself on the left side of the road. Meanwhile, Bethany turned towards the opposite direction.

     With a swift crouch, Sarrah and Bethany summoned their strength. Then, they jumped into the sky and hopped over the houses. Their leap was like a cheetah, soaring to astonishing heights that carried them effortlessly over a cluster of houses and onto the adjacent streets.

     Oliver took a deep breath. He then gazed at his men as he wielded his sword high up. Then, he slashed it through the air.

"This is a basic slash!"

     In a matter of minutes, the men reach a state of enlightenment as their movements become fluid and precise. With synchronized precision, they swing their swords in the same motion as they step forward to deliver horizontal slashes. Each warrior sweeps their weapon before them with practised ease as their huffs punctuate each slice through the air.

     Meanwhile, Oliver stood in the middle of the road, watching the army draw and wield their swords. He observed their every movement as a sense of contentment poured over him. A subtle smirk played to the corner of his cheek as he took a deep breath.

     In the meantime, Sophia places a note on the smooth, grey-marbled counter. She then walks to the kitchen, crossing her arms. Upon entering, her eyes spot the bottles of potions containing colourful vials neatly arranged on the countertops.

     As Edgar places a potion bottle on a counter, he expects the gentle ripple of the liquid inside. However, the unrelenting vibrations emanating from the bottle never stop but grow. Concern creeps into Edgar's lips as he realizes the ground beneath him is trembling.

"Greg..." Edgar poked his cousin on his shoulder.

     Startled by the vibrations beneath his feet, Oliver turns around and faces a closed gateway. His eyes widen as he tilts his head towards the sky. Then, he sees millions of birds flying over, fleeing across the city. The shadows cast from above engulf the entire district, covering the streets in darkness. Suddenly, the gate's humongous wooden doors burst open.

"Take cover!" Oliver yelled.

     The doors swung open with a resounding crash, colliding against the wall. Thousands of grassland animals rushed into the city, desperately fleeing from an unseen danger. Deer, reindeer, antelopes, horses, goats, bison, and coyotes hurriedly streamed into the streets. They didn't come through one gate but also through other gateways.

     The animals surge through the city, creating a thick cloud of swirling brown dust. Their stampede reverberates with thunderous rumblings, shaking the ground beneath their hooves. The weight of the massive herd inflicts deep cracks upon the concrete road.

     Slowly, the blaring clamour of the animals' powerful strides recedes. But, the rhythmic echoes persist. Soon, silence settles in the area, leaving only the gentle rustling of the breeze.

     Inside the cafe, Gregory rushes out of the kitchen and spots countless men, including Oliver, flooding the dining room, peering through the gaping entrance. Gregory quickly hastens towards Oliver. He then wraps his arm around and hugs his friend tightly.

"Oli! Are you okay!?" Gregory asked.

"Yes... yes, I am," Oliver replied as he panted. He then wiped his sweat off and looked back into the dusty outdoors.

     Oliver takes one step down from the entrance. He peeks left and right and sees an empty, deserted street obscured by a thick cloud of brown smoke. From the surrounding buildings, Oliver glimpses the guards and soldiers slowly emerging through the haze. However, the swirling dust hinders his vision, blurring his sight and limiting his view to a mere meter.

"They're running from something," Oliver murmured as he paced outside.

"From what?" Gregory asked as he peeked through the entrance.

"...From the Pyro Void Monsters."