Chapter 493:Planning.

Chapter 493: 493:Planning.

The emergency sirens continued wailing across Hollow Creek, their harsh metallic cries cutting through the afternoon air as the settlement’s residents abandoned their work and began pouring into the streets.

Market stalls were hurriedly closed, shopkeepers dragged their goods indoors, and parents rushed toward the residential districts in search of their children, while the soldiers stationed along the northern wall struggled to prevent the growing crowds from blocking the main roads.

What had been a relatively peaceful settlement only minutes earlier was rapidly descending into confusion, and Silver could already see the first signs of panic spreading among the civilians who understood what a beast tide meant.

"Captain, the eastern watchtower is requesting instructions!" a soldier shouted from the communications desk.

"Tell them to remain at their positions and report anything approaching from the forest!" Captain Ross answered, already moving toward the large tactical display mounted against the wall. "And get me the regional command center. I don’t care how many times you have to call. I want someone on the other end of that line!"

"Yes, sir!"

Peter stood beside him, his expression grim as he examined the terrain surrounding Hollow Creek. The settlement occupied a relatively flat stretch of land, with the river providing a natural obstacle along its western side and the forested hills stretching across the north and east.

Under normal circumstances, that geography would’ve been advantageous, since most beasts entering the region would be forced to approach through a limited number of routes. Unfortunately, the same terrain now threatened to turn Hollow Creek into a trap. If thousands of creatures emerged from the northern forest, the settlement would be directly in their path, and the river would prevent a large-scale evacuation toward the west.

Silver studied the map from behind the two men.

"How many vehicles do you have?" he asked.

Ross turned toward him.

"Operational?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Six military transports, four civilian buses, and perhaps twenty private vehicles capable of travelling beyond the settlement. Why?"

He looked toward the population estimate displayed on the screen.

Two thousand four hundred residents.

He frowned.

"That’s nowhere near enough."

Ross gave a humorless laugh.

"Tell me something I don’t know."

Peter folded his arms. "What about the southern road?"

"One main route leading toward the regional highway. There are two smaller agricultural roads, but neither can accommodate heavy traffic, and one was damaged during the previous attack."

Silver nodded slowly.

"Then we need to keep the southern road open," he said.

Peter glanced toward him.

"Explain."

"If everyone tries to escape at once, the road becomes useless. Vehicles get trapped, people abandon them, and the entire route turns into a bottleneck. We should prioritize the injured, children, and people who can’t move quickly, while preparing the rest of the settlement to shelter or withdraw in organized groups."

Ross studied him for a moment.

"You’re Ruddington?"

Silver nodded.

"Yes, sir."

"Rank Three?"

"Yes."

The captain’s expression changed slightly, although he didn’t appear particularly impressed.

"Good. Then I hope you’re as capable as your instructor says."

Silver didn’t respond.

Peter looked toward Ross. "He’s capable, but he won’t be acting independently. My students remain under my command."

"Fine by me."

The communications officer suddenly raised his head.

"Captain! Regional command is responding!"

Ross immediately approached.

"Put them through."

A woman’s voice emerged from the speaker, accompanied by the faint sounds of other officers speaking in the background.

"Hollow Creek, this is Regional Operations Command. We have received your emergency report. Confirm the nature of the threat."

"Large-scale beast migration approaching from the northern forest," Ross answered. "Reconnaissance estimates hundreds to thousands of creatures. Multiple species, unknown tier distribution. We have approximately twenty-four hundred civilians and insufficient transportation for a full evacuation."

There was a brief silence.

"Stand by."

Ross clenched his jaw.

Silver could hear faint voices discussing something on the other end, then the woman returned.

"Captain Ross, additional reconnaissance reports indicate similar movements in Sectors Nine and Twelve. Available military assets are being redirected to multiple locations. We can dispatch two aerial reconnaissance units and a reinforcement convoy, but estimated arrival is three hours."

Ross stared at the speaker.

"Three hours?"

"Affirmative."

"Our initial estimate places the migration less than twenty kilometers away!" He shouted.

"We understand your situation, Captain."

"No, you don’t. If those beasts maintain their current speed, they’ll reach us long before your reinforcements!"

Another silence followed, then the woman’s voice became quieter.

"Captain, we are experiencing multiple emergencies across the region. You are not the only settlement requesting assistance."

Ross closed his eyes.

For a moment, he looked considerably older, then he opened them.

"Understood."

"Maintain your defensive positions and begin emergency evacuation procedures. We will provide updated movement projections as they become available."

The connection ended.

Nobody spoke,not like they had anything to add.

Silver looked toward the map. Three hours was far too long.

Peter finally broke the silence.

"Captain, we need to organize the settlement immediately."

Ross nodded.

"Agreed." He turned toward the soldiers. "Activate Emergency Protocol Three. Open the southern evacuation route, mobilize every available defender, and begin moving civilians toward the designated shelters. I want the medical station prepared for mass casualties."

"Yes, sir!"

Peter activated his academy communicator.

"Class Four, assemble outside the administration building. Full equipment. You have five minutes."

His voice hardened.

"And listen carefully. From this moment onward, you follow every order immediately. No arguments, no unnecessary risks, and absolutely no attempts to play hero."

Silver exchanged a glance with Ravenna who looked just as serious as he felt.

The investigation was over, now they had to survive whatever was coming.

Five minutes later, thirty-one students stood in the courtyard outside the administration building, their earlier excitement replaced by an uneasy silence.

Most had already heard the emergency sirens, and several had witnessed soldiers rushing toward the defensive walls with crates of ammunition and medical supplies.

The atmosphere was nothing like the academy’s previous assessments, where instructors explained the rules and students discussed how many points they might earn.

There were no points this time, and the civilians gathering beyond the courtyard weren’t spectators.

Peter stood before them with Helena beside him.

"Listen carefully," he began. "Hollow Creek is facing a possible large-scale beast tide. The military is attempting to organize an evacuation, but there are too many civilians to move everyone before the migration reaches us."

Several students exchanged nervous glances.

Peter continued.

"Our primary objective is civilian protection. Not beast extermination. Not collecting cores. Not proving how strong you are."

His gaze moved across the group.

"If you have an opportunity to eliminate a beast threatening civilians, do so. But if your choice is between killing a beast and getting ten people to safety, you prioritize the civilians."

He paused.

"Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good."

He turned toward Helena.

"Seer, you’ll coordinate the students with Captain Ross’s defensive teams. Divide the class according to their abilities and the settlement’s requirements."

Helena nodded.

"Understood."

She stepped forward.

"Silver, Ravenna, Caleb, Rowan, Mina, and Elias. You’ll accompany me to the northern defensive sector. That’s where the greatest concentration of beasts is expected."

Silver nodded.

"Understood."

"Shirley, you’ll assist the eastern evacuation teams. Your Light Refraction ability will be useful for reconnaissance and moving through dangerous areas if the roads become blocked."

Shirley nodded.

"Of course."

Helena continued assigning students to medical support, civilian organization, ammunition distribution, and defensive positions along the southern evacuation route.

Silver listened carefully.

The assignments were sensible but he could already see a problem.

"Helena."

She looked toward him.

"Yes?"

"Can we get a detailed map of the residential districts?"

She nodded.

"Why?"

"I want to identify alternate evacuation routes. If the northern wall falls, the main roads could become crowded."

She considered, then nodded.

"Good idea. Coordinate with Captain Ross."

Silver smiled faintly.

"Understood, Commander."

Helena blankly stared.

"Silver."

He raised both hands.

"Sorry."

Ravenna sighed.

"You’re impossible."

He smiled.

"Occasionally."

Peter looked toward them.

"Ruddington."

He straightened.

"Yes, sir."

"This isn’t the time."

His smile disappeared.

"Understood."

Peter nodded, then turned toward the class.

"Move."