The compound had completely changed.
The calm from earlier was gone, replaced by movement in every direction. Soldiers moved quickly across the open space, grabbing weapons, tightening armor, and taking positions along the walls and gates. The sound of boots hitting the ground mixed with the sharp clink of metal, creating a steady rhythm that carried through the air.
Uzo stood near the gate, his voice cutting through the noise as he gave orders.
"Move faster! If you're not ready when they get here, you won't get a second chance!"
A group of newly trained fighters rushed past him, trying to keep up with the pace. One of them stumbled suddenly, his foot catching against the uneven ground. He hit the floor hard, his weapon slipping from his hand as his body shook.
He tried to stand, but his arms didn't respond properly.
Another soldier moved quickly to help him up, grabbing his arm and pulling him to his feet.
"Steady… just breathe," he said.
The young fighter's hands trembled as he picked up his weapon again. His grip was weak, and his breathing came out uneven.
"Can we really do this…?" he asked, his voice shaking. "What if we die? I don't want to die…!"
The words came out louder than he intended, breaking through the surrounding noise.
Uzo turned immediately.
He walked over without rushing, his boots hitting the ground with steady steps until he stood in front of the trembling soldier. His eyes scanned him once, taking in the shaking hands and unsteady stance.
"You will die if you stay like this," Uzo said plainly.
The young fighter froze.
Uzo leaned slightly closer, his voice lower but firm.
"So stand properly. Hold your weapon like it matters. If you want to live, then fight like you mean it."
"Look around you," he continued, his voice steady. "Everyone here knows what's coming. You think you're the only one who's scared?"
The soldier didn't answer.
"Being scared is fine," Uzo added, his tone lowering slightly. "Freezing isn't."
He reached out and pushed the weapon back firmly into the soldier's hands.
"That's why you need to stand properly,to show them we are not weak!."
For a moment, the young fighter said nothing.
Then he tightened his grip.
"…Yes," he managed, his voice still shaky, but stronger than before.
He tapped the soldier's shoulder once, not gently, then turned away.
"Back to your positions!" he shouted, already moving on.
The soldier swallowed hard, his grip tightening slightly around his weapon as he forced himself to steady his breathing.
Lina stepped out of her room slowly, the noise from outside pulling her fully awake.
Her head felt heavy.
The dreams hadn't stopped.
If anything, they had become worse.
Images she couldn't fully understand still lingered in her mind, leaving behind a faint unease that refused to go away. She pressed her fingers lightly against her temple before looking up.
The compound was already in motion.
Her eyes moved across the scene until she spotted Zara walking past with clear purpose.
"Zara," Lina called.
Zara stopped and turned toward her immediately.
"What's going on?" Lina asked, her voice more serious now.
Zara didn't hesitate.
"The skeletons are moving toward us," she said. "And this time, it's not just a few. It's a full horde."
Lina's expression changed instantly, the last trace of sleep disappearing.
"…So it's starting," she said quietly.
Her expression then sharpened.
"How many?"
Zara shook her head slightly. "We don't know. But enough to wipe out a scouting team without resistance."
That was enough.
"…Then we're already late," Lina said quietly.
Zara didn't respond.
She simply turned. "Jide's in the command room. We're about to finalize positions."
Lina didn't say anything else.
She followed.
The command room filled quickly.
Jide stood over the table again, the map now marked with new lines and positions. Several fighters gathered around, their expressions focused, but the tension in the room was clear.
"We don't know their full numbers," Jide said, his voice steady. "But based on the scout report, we prepare for large-scale engagement."
"They have aerial units," one fighter added. "We'll need archers ready before they get within range."
"And something in the trees," another said. "Fast enough to take someone before they can react."
Zara crossed her arms slightly. "Then we don't let them get close enough to use that advantage."
Jide stood at the center.
"We prepare for worst-case numbers," he said. "We assume they will not stop once they reach the wall."
"They won't," Uzo added from the side. "Anything that moves like that doesn't retreat."
Before the discussion could continue, the door opened again.
A soldier stepped inside, his chest rising quickly as he tried to catch his breath.
"You need to see this," he said.
No one wasted time.
They climbed the wall together.
The wind hit harder up there, carrying dust across the open land beyond the compound. This time, no one needed to search for long.
It was already visible.
The dust cloud had grown larger, stretching wide across the horizon as it moved steadily closer.
And within it—
Shapes.
At first, they were unclear.
Then slowly, they became distinct.
Skeletons.
Dozens of them.
Then more.
Behind them, twisted figures dragged themselves forward, their movements unnatural, their bodies broken in ways that should not allow movement. Some crawled, some staggered, and some moved with a disturbing steadiness that made them harder to ignore.
The sound reached them next.
A faint, uneven rhythm.
Bone scraping against ground.
Metal dragging.
Low, unnatural movement that didn't belong to anything living.
No one spoke for a moment.
They simply watched.
One of the soldiers swallowed hard beside the wall, his grip tightening around his weapon.
"…That's a lot," he muttered under his breath.
No one corrected him.
Because it was true.
Jide's voice broke the silence.
"Positions."
The word carried weight.
Everyone moved.
Archers climbed the watchtowers, their bows ready as they fixed their eyes on the approaching threat. Fighters gathered near the gate, weapons drawn, their stances tightening as they prepared for impact.
Along the walls, soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder, their earlier movements now gone, replaced by a tense stillness.
The noise faded.
Even the wind seemed to quiet down.
All that remained—
Was the army getting closer.
And closer.