When Lux and Cethus returned to Abingdon Town, the townspeople were preparing for the upcoming evacuation.
Naturally, some of them didn't want to leave because the town was their birthplace. However, the Guards said that if they didn't want to leave, they would need to fend for themselves when the Monsters attacked.
This argument easily convinced them to reconsider their decision to stay. In the end, those who didn't want to leave reluctantly started packing their belongings.
They knew that if they stayed in Abingdon Town, all of them would die without the protection of the Town's Guards, whose numbers had decreased to less than half their original size before the Beast Attacks started.
"Did the Deimos-Ranked Beast agree to help us?" Pietro asked as soon as Lux landed inside his residence.
"No," Lux replied. "He said his ties with Humans died when the former Mayor died. We won't be getting any assistance from him."
Pietro was noticeably disappointed after hearing Lux's reply. However, since the Beast refused to help them, there was nothing they could do about it. A Deimos-Ranked Monster wasn't something that they dared to annoy.
"Master, we will only be able to leave on the third day" Asmodeus reported. "The chances of us getting attacked during that time is very high."
Lux nodded in understanding.
Since Asmodeus was the one that took the initiative to talk to him, the Half-Elf was sure that his trusted strategist had already formulated a plan that would allow them to survive the attacks of the Insects that lived in the Shaufell Plains.
"It will be difficult, Master," Asmodeus said through telepathy. "Regardless of who we face, casualties are inevitable. I just want you to understand that you can't save everyone."
"I understand," Lux replied. "Tell me the plan you have in mind for the evacuation."
"Very well. But, it will be best if we add Pietro and the Captain of the Guards in the discussion, so we can coordinate our strategy effectively."
"Good idea. Let's make that happen."
That night, Lux, Asmodeus, Pietro, and the Captain of the Guards, Marco, discussed the countermeasures that they will take when facing the Insect-Type Beasts.
Only when they fully grasped the strategy in their mind did they end their meeting, and retired for the night.
The Next Day...
Lux, and the others had a simple breakfast with Pietro. After it ended, the Half-Elf discussed with his group the battle plan for the evacuation.
Randolph, Grandma Annie, Laura, and Livia would stay in one group, and they would travel alongside the residents of Abingdon Town to evacuate.
Lux and the others would position themselves at the front, the rear, and the middle of the formation, so that they could react right away if any threats were to target the residents during their evacuation.
Randolph, and Grandma Annie both understood that the danger they were facing was greater than the one they had faced in Leaf Village. They didn't want to make things difficult for Lux and the others, so they didn't have any objections to the plan.
"Regardless of who we face, Ithaqua's role is indispensable," Gerhart commented. "So we need to protect it at all times."
Cethus stated "I"ll play that role. Although I am not confident in fighting groups of monsters on my own, I will do my best to prevent any of the Monsters from killing Ithaqua."
Lux gave Cethus a brief nod. They were simply stretched too thin to protect everyone. Asmodeus would be guarding the center of procession where Randolph, Grandma Annie, Laura, and Livia would be stationed.
Gerhart would be guarding the rear of the formation, while Lux would be at the front. The Town Guards would move in groups, and position themselves accordingly to assist the defense of the people when the Monsters attacked.
The rest of the third day passed smoothly, and the evacuation procedures were nearly completed. That night, the residents all prayed to the Spirits of the Wanid Kingdom to give them a safe journey to their next destination.
They knew that when morning came, all of them would leave Abingdon Town behind. Even though they were reluctant to part, there was nothing they could do about it.
Either stay and die, or leave and have a chance of survival.
For most people, the choice was easy. As for the rest, they had no choice but to do it.
Just as the sun was rising the following morning, the gates of Abingdon Town opened wide.
"Forward!" Marco ordered.
A dozen Guards accompanied him at the lead of the formation to act as the Vanguard of the evacuation.
Half a minute later, wooden wagons, and carriages passed through the gates. The residents had spent the entirety of the second day creating as many wagons as possible for their evacuation.
Of course, it was never enough for everyone, so only the women, children, those with disabilities, and the old people were allowed to ride them.
Those who weren't riding the wagons, marched alongside them, creating a long line of evacuees.
Regardless if they were ordinary people, Apostles, or Initiates, All the men and women who were able to fight carried weapons, and prepared themselves for the battle that they would be fighting soon.
None of them were delusional enough to think that they wouldn't get attacked by the Monsters of the Shaufell Plains, so they had already made peace with themselves that they had no choice but to fight.
The first few hours of traveling put people on edge. The tension was at an all time high as they traveled the plains at a steady pace.
Pietro had estimated that the journey would take ten days due to the sheer numbers of evacuees.
Although he may look like an ordinary person in the eyes of others, the newly elected Mayor was actually a Battle Mage at the peak of the Initiate Rank.
Battle Mages were proficient in wielding magic, as well as using Magic Staffs, Canes, and Quarterstaff as melee weapons.
The Captain of the Guards, Marco, was a Magic Swordsman. Just like Pietro, he was a Peak Initiate.
He mostly used his magical powers to enhance his strength, speed, stamina, and vitality, boosting his fighting abilities to the limits.
Marco could also coat his sword with the magic of the different elements, allowing him to deal attacks that take advantage of his opponent's elemental weakness.
Finally, when the sun was at its peak, the first signs of trouble appeared on the horizon.
"Giant Ground Beetles!" Pietro gasped after seeing over twenty ground beetles, who were all Rank 5 Monsters, headed in their direction. "Marco, intercept them!"
Among the group of beetles, Lux noticed that one of them was slightly bigger than the rest, and had faint red stripes on its legs.
"Field Boss Monster," Lux muttered as he raised his hand to summon his Named Creatures, and his Undead Army to fight alongside the Towns Guards, who had already prepared themselves for the worst case scenario.
Lux knew that this was only the beginning of their journey, and if they couldn't even survive these Giant Ground Beetles then they had no hope of surviving the rest of the Insect-Type Beasts they would encounter along the way.
