Re-Awakening: Cannon Fodder With Strongest Talent-Chapter 12: Danger

Dawn patrol. Same routine, different day.

Captain Morrison stood at the wall, giving the usual speech. "Scout the area, don't engage unless necessary—"

"Captain!" A soldier's shout cut through his speech. "The general is back!"

Morrison's stern face transformed instantly. "What are you waiting for? Open the gates!"

The patrol squad exchanged glances.

Ethan perked up, curious. He hadn't seen any high-ranking officials since arriving in this world.

"Stand by," Morrison ordered them. "The general's been on an extended mission. We need to welcome him properly."

The massive gates groaned open.

Nobody was prepared for what came through.

A solitary figure stumbled in, drenched in blood from head to toe. Where his left arm should have been, only a ragged, hastily bandaged stump remained. His face was beneath a crimson mask, twisted in pain.

Unlike Ethan had expected, there was no triumphant return. No squad of elite soldiers. Just one broken man on the verge of death.

"General!" Morrison's voice cracked with shock. "What happened? Where's your team?"

The general's mouth opened, but no words came out. His eyes rolled back as his legs gave way. He collapsed in a heap just inside the gates.

Morrison didn't hesitate. He sprinted out beyond the wall, scanning the horizon for other survivors.

Nothing but empty forest and morning mist.

"Close the gates! NOW!" he roared, sprinting back inside. "Get the emergency medical team here!"

The wall guards scrambled to obey, panic spreading across their faces. Whatever had happened out there, whatever had taken down an elite team and left only their leader as a bloody messenger—it was coming.

Ethan's fingers tightened.

His Low-Bronze rank suddenly felt very, very insignificant.

...

After what had happened, the patrol was called off due to increased danger and a city lockdown. All the guards were on alert, waiting for the enemy to appear.

During that time, Ethan had learned a few things about city dynamics.

The city's hierarchy was as follows.

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In the city, existed six generals.

All the generals were of the Peak-Bronze rank, almost reaching silver rank.

Their Talents were rumoured to be D Rank.

They all served under one ruler, who was a C-Rank. His rank had reached the middle stage of silver.

The lockdown had put Ethan's plans on hold. A re-awakening during patrol would have been perfect, but now he couldn't even leave the city walls. Just his luck.

"Did you hear what happened to General Liu's team?" one soldier whispered in the mess hall.

"Only the general made it back, and barely," another replied. "Whatever they encountered out there must be at least Silver rank."

Ethan kept his head down, ears open. Information was power, especially now.

The six generals formed the backbone of the city's defence. Each commanded a specific sector and hundreds of soldiers. For one to return alone, missing an arm and his entire squad... the implications were terrifying.

But for Ethan, this crisis offered a new opportunity. When the inevitable attack came, the chaos would provide the perfect cover for his "awakening." No one questions miracles during disasters.

He just needed to wait for the right moment.

...

The day crawled by without incident. Instead of hunting beasts, Ethan found himself stuck on wall duty, scanning an empty forest that refused to yield any threats.

Jack nudged him with an elbow. "Boring, right? But hey, at least you won't get eaten today."

Ethan nodded, keeping his irritation hidden. Of all the people to be stationed with, it had to be Jack – the human equivalent of background noise. The guy hadn't stopped talking since their shift began.

"You hear about the general?" Jack whispered, leaning closer. "They say his entire team got wiped. Thirty elite soldiers, gone."

That part was actually useful. Ethan filed the information away while pretending to stay vigilant.

Night fell. Nothing moved in the darkness. No monsters, no attacks, just endless trees and soldier complaints.

"This is ridiculous," a burly guard grumbled, loud enough for everyone to hear. "The general probably killed whatever it was before dragging himself back. I've got kids waiting at home!"

Others joined in, frustration spreading like wildfire along the wall. Two days of high alert with nothing to show for it made for terrible morale.