TWCT 08

Chapter 8

 Encroaching Shadows
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From deep within the forest came the sound of heavy, damp footsteps.
The ground trembled, and the campfire’s flames flickered.

“…A monster?”

Rine clutched my sleeve anxiously.
The wolf gave a low growl, baring its fangs and glaring into the darkness between the trees.

Then, pushing through the thicket, it appeared—

“…An ogre…?”

A hulking brute more than twice a man’s size, its gray skin stretched taut over rippling muscles.
In its hand, it gripped a club as thick as a tree trunk, and its crimson eyes gleamed with a savage light.

◇

“Hi—hiii!”
The bandits we’d locked away in the barn screamed in terror.

In response to their cries, a voice echoed faintly in the back of my mind.

“Command confirmed—initiating subjugation.”

I grimaced.

(…Not just monsters… even the bandits are obeying me now…?)

The reach of this “subjugation” knew no limits.
But I had no time to hesitate.

◇

“Everyone—ready your weapons!”

The words tore from my throat before I realized it.
The villagers immediately raised their tools and stones, and even the bandits grabbed their weapons, charging toward the ogre.

“Wh—what the hell, my body’s moving on its own!”
“Damn it, I can’t stop myself—!”

They cursed, but their bodies defied their will.
Like disciplined soldiers, they followed my command without question.

◇

The ogre roared and swung its massive club down.
The ground split open, dust erupting into the air.

But in the next moment, villagers and bandits alike swarmed it, pinning the creature’s movements.
The wolf sank its fangs into the ogre’s neck, a farmer thrust a spear into its chest,
and even the children hurled stones, aiming for its eyes with desperate screams.

“Finish it off!”

My shout spurred them on.
A storm of attacks rained down until the ogre gave one final, dying scream and collapsed with a thunderous crash.

◇

Silence.

Only the sound of ragged breathing remained.
I stood frozen before the blood-stained club.

“…We… actually defeated it.”

Rine looked up at me, relief spreading across her tear-streaked face.
Her cheeks were flushed red.

“Yuto… we won because you took command.”

I clenched my fist.
This abnormal power of subjugation… even so, depending on how I use it—
I can protect people with it.

◇

But then—

More shadows emerged from the depths of the forest.
Drawn by the ogre’s death cry… or perhaps something more sinister.

Rine gasped.

“It’s… not over yet…!”

I scanned the villagers once more and raised my voice.

“Prepare yourselves! This is where the real battle begins!”

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Afterword

Thank you for reading!
In Episode 8, I depicted Yuto leading both the subjugated villagers and the captured bandits to defeat their first large monster—the ogre.
But more shadows are closing in, and the true battle is only just beginning.

In the next episode, a large-scale fight involving the entire village will unfold, testing the limits of Yuto’s power.
Please look forward to it!