The transition from peace to pandemonium was instantaneous. It did not begin with a roar, but with a synchronized series of explosions that tore through the village’s strategic points. The granary, the eastern watchtower, and the central irrigation hub all erupted in pillars of violet flame.
"They aren't just attacking," Kaelen shouted, his voice cutting through the rising chorus of screams. "They’re disabling us!"
From the shadows of the alleyways and the rooftops, the creatures descended. These were not the hulking brutes of the previous raid; they were lithe, shadow-slicked constructs that moved with terrifying, insectoid precision. They didn't engage in mindless slaughter; they swarmed the gates, systematically severing the support beams and neutralizing the village’s defensive scout
