Chapter 494:Elias.

Chapter 494: 494:Elias.

The next hour passed in a blur of frantic preparations.

Hollow Creek’s northern wall had never been designed to withstand a beast tide.

It was approximately six meters tall in most places, constructed from reinforced concrete blocks supported by metal beams and salvaged industrial plating. Several sections had been repaired repeatedly over the years, leaving visible differences in the materials used, while the watchtowers were positioned far enough apart that defenders couldn’t easily support one another if the wall was breached.

Silver immediately understood why the previous attack had caused so much damage. The settlement simply didn’t possess the resources required for proper fortifications.

Caleb stood near the main northern gate, examining the reinforced metal doors.

"These won’t hold against anything big," he whispered.

Rowan crouched beside the locking mechanism.

"Not without reinforcement."

Helena looked toward him.

"Can you strengthen it?"

He nodded.

"Temporarily."

"How long?"

"Depends on the pressure. If it’s just Tier One or Tier Two beasts, maybe several hours. If something stronger hits it repeatedly..." He shook his head. "Not long."

Caleb sighed.

"Wonderful."

Silver approached.

"Then don’t rely on the gate alone."

Helena looked toward him.

"What are you thinking?"

He pointed toward the narrow road leading from the northern entrance into the settlement.

"We create secondary barricades here, here, and here. If the gate breaks, the beasts won’t have a straight path into the residential district."

He traced several positions on the map.

"Force them into narrow passages. That gives the defenders better firing angles and prevents larger creatures from charging at full speed."

Helena studied the layout and nodded.

"Good." She turned toward Caleb. "Can you help the soldiers move those concrete barriers?"

Caleb grinned.

"Finally, something useful."

Silver laughed softly.

Caleb activated Stone Skin, his exposed arms developing a rough, stone-like texture as he approached a large concrete block that several soldiers had been struggling to move.

He gripped it, then lifted.

The soldiers stared wide eyed.

Caleb smiled.

"Where do you want it?"

Silver pointed.

"Over there."

"Got it."

He carried the block across the road.

Rowan followed, using his reinforcement ability to strengthen the temporary barricades once they were positioned.

Meanwhile, Mina crouched near the northern wall, placing her palms against the ground.

Silver approached.

"Anything?"

She shook her head.

"Not close enough yet."

"Can you estimate their direction?" He asked.

"North-northeast," Mina responded.

He nodded.

"Keep monitoring."

Mina looked up.

"Silver."

"Yeah?"

She hesitated.

"Have you ever experienced a real beast tide?"

Silver considered it for a few seconds before answering.

"Not like this."

Mina swallowed.

"Neither have I."

He crouched beside her.

"Then we follow the plan."

She looked toward him, the fear visible in her gaze.

Silver smiled faintly.

"And if the plan stops working, we adapt."

Mina nodded.

"Right."

He stood and looked toward the northern forest. The trees appeared peaceful but the silence was becoming increasingly unsettling.

Ravenna was helping several soldiers prepare defensive positions near the eastern side of the northern wall when Silver approached.

She stood beside a narrow drainage channel, examining the surrounding buildings with a thoughtful expression.

He looked toward her.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to figure out where I can use my fire without burning half the settlement."

He smiled.

"Good idea."

She pointed toward the drainage channel.

"If I create a controlled fire barrier along this section, I can force smaller beasts away from the residential district and toward the open ground outside the wall."

He studied the area.

"That could work," he quietly said.

"But I need to keep the flames low enough that they don’t spread to the nearby houses."

He nodded.

"Your control has improved."

Ravenna smiled faintly.

"That’s the idea."

Silver looked toward her.

"How’s the Phoenix Heart Seed?"

She placed a hand lightly against her chest.

"Stable."

"Any discomfort?"

"A little warmth during energy circulation, but nothing serious."

He nodded.

"Thays good."

Ravenna smiled.

"You ask that every day."

"Because I care."

She rolled her eyes.

"Of course." Then her expression softened. "Silver."

He looked toward her.

"Yes?"

"Be careful," she said softly.

He smiled.

"You too."

She stepped closer and briefly cupped his cheek before letting it go.

"I’m serious," she firmly said.

"I know."

Ravenna looked toward the distant forest.

"I don’t like this."

He followed her gaze.

"Neither do I."

She hesitated, then took his hand.

"Promise me you won’t do something stupid."

Silver raised an eyebrow.

"Define stupid."

She just stared.

He sighed.

"All right."

She squeezed his hand.

"Promise."

He nodded.

"I promise I’ll be careful."

Ravenna studied him for a moment, then nodded.

"Good."

She released his hand.

Silver smiled.

"Now, let’s make sure this place survives."

Elias had selected an elevated observation position near the northern communications tower.

The structure stood approximately twenty meters above the surrounding buildings, providing an excellent view of the forest and the open farmland beyond the settlement’s walls.

Although the tower was old, its upper platform had been reinforced with metal supports, and the military had already installed a long-range communications antenna and several observation instruments.

Elias stood near the railing, examining the distant tree line through his enhanced vision.

Silver climbed the final section of the ladder and stepped onto the platform.

"Nice view."

He glanced toward him, then smiled.

"Pretty good."

Silver approached the railing.

From this height, he could see most of Hollow Creek.

The settlement was larger than it had appeared from the ground. Rows of small houses stretched toward the southern road, while the market district occupied the center and the river curved along the western boundary.

Beyond the walls, the farmland extended toward the forest.

Silver frowned.

"That’s a lot of open ground."

Elias nodded.

"Good visibility, though."

"True."

He adjusted his bow.

Silver looked toward him.

"How’s your energy?"

Elias smiled.

"Still ninety-eight percent."

Silver laughed softly.

"You’re checking every hour, aren’t you?"

He looked embarrassed.

"Maybe," he quietly said.

Silver shook his head.

"You’re excited."

"Can you blame me?"

"No."

Elias looked toward the forest.

"Rank Two." He smiled faintly. "It feels strange saying that."

Silver leaned against the railing.

"You haven’t reached it yet."

Elias laughed.

"Thanks for the encouragement."

"Just keeping you grounded."

"Very generous."

Silver smiled.

For a moment, they stood quietly, then Elias spoke.

"You know, I called my brother last night."

Silver looked toward him.

"Oh?"

He nodded.

"Told him about the evaluation."

"What did he say?"

He smiled.

"He congratulated me."

Silver nodded.

"Thats good."

"And then he started explaining everything I should do before attempting the breakthrough."

Silver laughed.

"Sounds familiar."

Elias shook his head.

"He’s impossible."

"But helpful?"

"Very."

Elias looked down at his bow.

"He even offered to send me some advancement resources."

Silver raised an eyebrow.

"Are you going to accept?"

Elias considered, then nodded.

"Probably."

Silver smiled.

"Atleast you’re not hard headed."

Elias looked surprised.

"I thought you’d tell me to do it myself."

Silver shook his head.

"There’s a difference between relying on someone to carry you and accepting help from someone who cares about you."

Elias stared for a few seconds before smiling.

"That’s surprisingly wise."

Silver looked offended.

"Surprisingly?"

He laughed.

"Sorry."

Silver shook his head.

"Terrible."

They stood quietly again, then Elias looked toward the forest.

"I really want to make it to Rank Two."

He nodded.

"You will."

Elias smiled.

"Yeah." He adjusted his bow. "And after that, Rank Three."

Silver laughed.

"Aren’t you ambitious."

"Very." He looked toward him. "Maybe one day I’ll even catch up to my brother."

Silver smiled.

"Maybe."

Elias laughed.

"You’re supposed to say definitely."

Silver shrugged.

"Then definitely."

"Much better."

Their laughter faded as a distant sound reached the tower.

At first, Silver thought it was thunder; low, rolling rumble but another followed.

Elias stopped smiling and raised his binoculars.

Silver activated Spatial Sense.

[Spatial Sense Lv3 Activated.]

The surrounding environment unfolded within his perception. There was nothing nearby but the sound continued.

Elias slowly lowered the binoculars, his expression having changed.

"Silver."

He looked toward him.

"What?"

Elias pointed toward the northern forest.

"Something’s coming."