About a dozen guards were stationed around the main gate of the Royal Capital.
They often took rotations and patrols in order to avoid focusing their attention solely on one spot.
This way, efficiency and security were guaranteed.
Even though it was inconceivable that anyone would launch an assault on the portion of the Eastern Kingdom where power was centralized, this level of security was trite.
Two of the Kingdom's three Grand Mages were currently residing in the Capital, and this place had the second highest concentration of powerful Magic Users and Martial Artists—the first being Ainzlark.
As a result, even the six guards who currently manned the main gate while their comrades went on patrol had nothing to do.
They yawned while staring into the night sky.
The gates were well fortified with luminous lamps, causing the entire area to shine with brightness.
All they could see before then was an empty road, no danger whatsoever.
This was a most boring job, filled with nothing but standing and yawning until one's round was over.
The guards were not complaining, though. Their fat salaries and heavy paychecks made them more than happy to keep working in such a drab place.
This was the Royal Capital, after all.
No risk. Lots of rewards.
"Man... when will the first Patrol squad be back? I want to take a walk too..."
They usually rotated the patrol among themselves. That way, none of them would die of boredom.
"I have no idea. I just wish we had chairs we could use to wait. Just punishing my legs for nothing... tch..."
As they complained about absolutely mundane things, the guards were unprepared for the surprise the night brought.
>BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!<
Like lightning descending from the heavens, a flash of bursting energy came upon the earth.
The earth quaked and the guards all lost their footing.
In an instant, their easygoing expressions vanished, and they all laid eyes on what had appeared before them.
Standing a few meters from the Capital's walls, just a small distance from the soldiers, was a terrifying being that defied all logic.
It had a hulking stature of at least 15 feet, having a monstrous body and burning skin.
It looked like a living personification of an erupting volcano. However, another distinct energy shrouded it... something that mere guards had no words to describe.
—Miasma!
This was definitely negative energy!
"Grrruuuuuu..." The lava monster growled, shining with pure amber as it moved.
The ground it trod on became a sea of flames and molten magma.
Even the guards, in their expensive armor, felt the extreme heat that the monster exuded.
No prophet was needed to tell them that the being before them was a monster of absolute destruction.
Only one thing rang in their human mind.
'RUN!'
They had to flee.
This being was something beyond their capabilities.
The Royal Capital had a special barrier reinforcing it.
In the likelihood that it was sieged, the field would activate and lock all the threats out. Then, without wasting much time, the Mages would be dispatched to handle the incursion.
The guards were, at most, just decorative fodder that could simply be used to buy time.
However, these men were not willing to die a vain death.
Even if they had received huge sums of money for doing nothing.
Even though they had spent so many years lazing around and proudly calling it their profession.
When the time for action arrived, the guards were now petrified with fear.
'T-this isn't what we signed up for!'
'Flee... I need to flee!'
'M-monster!'
Surely, they had heard of the looming Demon threat, but who would have expected one to come knocking on their front doors.
While this creature resembled a Magic Beast more than the Demons described in reports, the bone-chilling and sickening aura of Miasma was something they could only attribute to creatures of darkness.
They stood no chance!
Hopefully, the quake had gathered the attention of the Mages within the Capital. They were meant to buy time, but no sane man would risk their life for nothing!
"RUUUUUNNNN!!!" The guards screamed as the flaming monster approached in its terrifying form.
The men began retreating within the Capital walls.
They knew that their jobs were officially over. Even if they managed to survive this onslaught, they would forever lose their positions in society.
They would be remembered as the failed guards who refused to man the gates.
No one would be willing to aid anyone who would jeopardize the safety of the citizenry.
Perhaps they would even have to move out of the Royal Capital and find another life for themselves.
But, anything was better than dying!
Death... was it as simple as just escaping this danger? Would their lives truly be spared if they could avoid the monster?
A thought rang in the minds of all the guards who were about to hide like cowards.
Treason!
If they fled now... if they abandoned their duties... they would be charged with the severe crime of treason.
Death awaited them either way.
Once these men realized this, they were left with two options.
Die now, in the blazes of honor and glory—being remembered as the heroes who fought for the Kingdom.
Or a public execution as dogs who were more concerned about their lives than the welfare of the Kingdom.
Their families would be ostracized, and no one would remember them for good.
Either way, they would die, but...
... Any sensible person knew the right choice to make.
"AHH! DAMNIT!"
"I SHOULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN THIS JOB!"
"DAMN IT! DAMN IT! SHIIIIT!!!"
The guards who had been relishing their privilege, were now filled with resentment and regret.
It was too late, though.
That was why they all turned back to face the monster. The six soldiers unsheathed their blades and brandished them with all diligence.
They would rather go down in the blazes of glory—even if the heat looked painfully scorching.
"GUUURRRUUU..." The monster heaved a heavy fog of hot steam, nearing them rapidly.
They all gulped and infused their Mana, activating the effects of the Magic Armor and weapon they had on.
As guards of the Royal Capital, their equipment was by no means shabby.
With their abilities boosted by their armaments, all six put on false brave looks and readied their frightened bodies.
"Shit! Take formation! We're attacking!"
