Chapter 113: Hey, that’s a lot of dead people

Waiting took longer than anyone expected. With how much Kanan was preparing, everyone assumed that they would be attacked within a day or two.

Everyone but Kanan, that is. He didn’t expect to be attacked so soon, especially when another expedition team had just left the village not too long ago.

By his estimate, he predicted that the Verminus Plant would attack once the expedition team either made it back to the village, or a bit after if they were killed during their mission.

Kanan expected to be attacked by a group of monsters to weaken their forces before the Verminus Plant made its move. That is, if Kanan wasn’t overestimating its intelligence.

But after learning everything he had, not being attacked by something to weaken the village’s forces would come as a shock to him. Luckily, Kanan was spot on.

"Shaman Kanan, you were summoned by Elder Nala. She said that she needs help at the southern gate." A messenger informed Kanan

"Very well, I’ll be there shortly." After saying goodbye to Viola and Glena, he left their hut and made his way to the southern gate.

"Nice to see you, Kanan!"

"Nice to see you too." He responded to the guard on the guard post

He crossed the newly built bridge and made his way onto the battlefield. Without even announcing his presence, he empowered his people and spotted Nala, running over to her.

"You called?" He asked, yawning.

"Yes, we may have a problem in the future."

"What sort of problem?"

"The monsters, they’re getting stronger. No, saying that they’re getting stronger isn’t the right term to use. If I’m not mistaken, stronger monsters have breached the mountain. We’re no longer dealing with the grunts we’re used to."

Looking at the monsters the warriors were currently fighting, Kanan saw what Nala was talking about. While most of the monsters were still the ones he was familiar with, there were others who looked different.

Large monsters walked on six legs like spiders, with humanoid upper halves; others seemed made of goop and constantly absorbed other monsters to grow stronger; and some resembled hairless werewolves or lycanthropes.

There were others, but they were too strange to even describe. Kanan would say that they look alien, but truthfully, he doesn’t even know what an alien looks like. And while technically he was currently an alien, as he wasn’t human, Yuratians–his species, were humanoid, humanlike, and human-passing.

"You think something big is happening behind the mountain?" Kanan asked

"I don’t think; I know. And I’m pretty sure it has everything to do with that Verminus Plant we’re currently facing."

"I see. Then we should work on fortifying our defenses even more."

"I agree, but where do we start?"

Turning around, Kanan looked at the wall. It was made from the best wood around, and the wall was built to withstand wear and tear, despite being wood. It was even coated with sap and resin to make it water-resistant.

"The wall." He muttered

"The wall? What about it?"

"We’ll build a stone wall. It would be more durable and can last longer than a wooden one."

"That would require a lot of resources."

"I know, but we’ll make it work."

’EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! THE EXPEDITION TEAM IS BACK! B-BUT THEY’RE NOT ALONE!"

Nala and Kanan looked at each other, then she warped them both inside the village, spotting the expedition team on their way to the healing hut.

"It’s the first team; they’re alive!" It was a relief knowing that they were alive, though Kanan believed that they had passed by now. Nearly four months had passed, and while it wasn’t impossible to live off the land for that long, it would be difficult if they were constantly under attack.

Judging by the team’s frail, bruised, and malnourished bodies, he concluded that they had it rough.

"Kanan! Thank Nemean you’re here!" Solan spoke while gasping for air. His face was pale, and he was clearly running on fumes. It took everything he had to keep himself standing, and even then, his legs were shaking like crazy.

"You were right about the Verminus Plant. It’s an intelligent creature! It knew we were coming, set a trap, and tried to kill us."

"I understand. Now, rest, Chief Solan. You need to regain your strength!"

"W-We lost one. Not all of us could make it back. T-The Verminus Plant, when it was controlling the corpses, could use their spirit abilities. We n-need to prepare! We need to be ready for an attack."

"Yala," Kanan shouted, getting the healer’s attention before turning back to Solan. "Chief, I understand. Now get some rest."

"No! No. Kanan, you don’t understand. It’s an army, a huge army. We need to...need to..." He passed out, almost collapsing onto the ground if not for Kanan catching him.

Seeing the chief like this–no, not just the chief, but everyone on the expedition team– Kanan knew that things were serious and he had to switch into serious mode.

"Unless you are injured or in need of treatment from the village healers, you are to leave this hut right now. No family or friends allowed. This space cannot be cluttered with anyone other than the healers, herbalists, and those who need to be treated." Kanan ordered.

"Yes, Shaman Kanan." Everyone who didn’t fit Kanan’s description left the hut.

"Elders, prepare for an attack and get the civilians to the bunkers for their protection. Alert all of the warriors, guards, and hunters. Also, someone call Omula and tell her that for the time being, she’s the chief of the village and needs to step up to her duties."

"Understood, Shaman Kanan." They all fanned out to do as he ordered.

Wasting no time, Kanan ran out of the hut and into the air until he was on the wall. He used his power to strengthen everyone there, even those of the Nemean Tribe, as his power enhances spirit energy, no matter the type.

"Can you sense anything?" He asked one of the sorcerers

"No, not yet. But I can feel something, a lot of vibrations, thanks to being connected to the roots of the plants made by your chlorokinesis users. Wait, I’m getting something."

"What? What is it?"

"H-Holy! Whatever is coming this way, there are a lot of them."

Kanan shot into the sky and flew out into the distance. First, he checked to see if there was anything in the forests, but there wasn’t, so he turned his attention to the plains to the north.

That’s when he saw it.

"My god!"

Marching toward the village was a whole army of corpses from the Typhon Tribe alongside hundreds of Beasts and wild animals.

The population of the Nemean Village, combined with the Typhon Tribe, nearly reached two thousand. But the horde of corpses controlled by the Verminus Plant easily reached five thousand.