Path To Godhood Begins With Marrying Wife And Gaining SSS Rank Skill - Chapter 373:The Demonic Invasion

Chapter 373:The Demonic Invasion

Two figures sped across the valley on horseback. Dust rose behind them as they rode hard toward the town ahead. From far away, the place looked lively, with tall buildings and colorful roofs. But the moment they crossed the gates, the truth hit them.

The town was silent.

There were merchants shouting. No children ran across the streets. No carts rolled over stone roads. Doors were shut tight. Windows were closed. Cloth signs hung loose and unmoving. Even the wind felt weak, as if the air itself had lost strength.

The streets looked washed of color. Pale. Lifeless.

A blue haired young woman frowned as she looked around. Her brows pulled together.

“Ray, what’s going on?” she asked softly. “Do you know something?”

Ray looked ahead and shook his head slowly. “I don’t have any contact with Black Thorns…”

A bitter smile appeared on his face.

‘I am an idiot,’ he cursed himself inside. ‘Before going out, I should have remembered the secret hideout of Black Thorns to ask for help in case of danger.’

‘How stupid of me?’

They rode deeper into the town. The buildings grew larger, but the feeling grew worse. People moved quickly when seen, heads down, faces tight with fear. No one spoke loudly. No one lingered outside.

Panic sat in the air like a bad smell.

They finally stopped in front of a large inn. The place looked grand, with wide wooden doors and tall lantern poles. Yet the doors stood half closed, and the yard was empty.

“I heard this place used to be full,” Ray said quietly, looking around. “So why is it empty?”

Florence stepped down from her horse. “Let’s go inside and ask.”

They had tried to ask others, but no one had stopped long enough to talk. The town felt like something from a ghost story.

Inside the inn, the hall was quiet. Only one man sat behind the counter, slowly wiping a glass.

Without looking up, he spoke. “The inn is closed.”

“It’s closed? But why?” Florence asked.

The man paused. He finally looked up. His eyes moved from Florence to Ray.

Then his eyes widened.

Even at a glance, he could tell they were not ordinary. The girl carried herself well. But the boy… his face, his posture, his presence… he looked like someone shaped by the heavens.

The man quickly stood and bowed deeply, almost slamming his head down.

“My Lord…!”

Ray and Florence jumped back in shock.

“Uh… Don’t call me Lord,” Ray said, raising his hands. “We aren’t nobles.”

The man’s lips twitched, but he nodded fast. “Okay, sir. I understand. But sir, it was the King’s decision to empty the inn. Please don’t be angry.”

“King’s decision? What’s going on?” Ray asked, stepping closer.

They had been in the wilderness. They found an F rank dungeon. Though it was F rank, it was large. It took them almost half a month to clear it. They knew nothing about the outside world.

The man looked at them again. If it were someone else, he might have shouted. But he held back.

“Sir, it is because of the demonic monster invasion. All mercenaries and adventurers have been requested to help.”

Ray and Florence exchanged a look. They asked him to explain.

The man told them about the invasion, the barricades, and the human army gathering.

“Is the situation that bad?” Florence asked.

“I don’t know,” the man said honestly.

After a short talk, the two walked back outside.

“What should we do?” Florence asked.

“It seems Frontier is in bad shape,” she continued. “Is the invasion really that bad?”

Ray rubbed his chin. “I am not sure. It doesn’t look like a normal invasion. If real demons attacked, the five empires would act.”

“So it should be demonic monsters that live near the Demon land.”

“This must be a monster tide.”

“Then should we join? It won’t make much difference for low ranks like us,” Florence said quietly.

Ray fell into deep thought.

He was at the mid Intermediate stage. Florence was at its peak Beginner stage.

He touched the locket at his chest.

‘Father and Grandpa Randall used this twice,’ he thought.

‘I have a protective artifact Father gave me.’

‘Maybe I should join. This is a good chance to gain experience.’

He looked at Florence. “Do you want to participate?”

“I want to train and grow,” she said softly. “But I am not sure. I will follow your decision.”

Ray nodded. “Then let’s go. But promise me, if danger comes, we run first instead of playing hero.”

Florence gave a small smile. “I promise.”

…

Days later…

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the warm evening glow slowly faded, and a cold night began to spread across the land. Nearly ten to fifteen thousand combatants stood in formation outside the temporary walls of the city. Their faces showed many emotions.

For many of them, this was a moment of truth. This battle would decide not only the fate of the city but also the future of countless lives.

The tension in the air was clear. Some soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, their knuckles turning white as their nerves stretched thin. Others stood tall with straight backs, their faces hard and determined, ready to release their strength at any moment.

Among them, Henry’s eyes were filled with rage and sorrow. His jaw was tight, and his teeth were clenched as he tried to hold back the storm inside his chest.

Bumper stood beside him and kept glancing at his friend with worry.

Henry’s family had died, crushed under the Demon Army while he was away, and that wound had not healed. But Henry was not the only one who had lost someone.

Still, Bumper feared one thing.

What if Henry’s grief pushed him into reckless action? The last thing they needed was to lose one of their own because of blind rage.

They also knew that no spoils could be taken. The city nobles had made it clear that all loot belonged to them. It was a harsh rule, but it was needed to keep the city stable after the war. The cost of paying for so many mercenaries and adventures was already huge. The thought of tens of millions of gold coins changing hands was enough to make anyone dizzy.

“Rumble…!”