The morning mist curled across the forest like silent fingers, blanketing the ground in damp silence. Hikaru stood atop the eastern watchtower, his hand resting on the wooden railing as his sharp gaze swept the treeline.
The tension in the air was thick—like the pause before a bowstring snapped.
His Scout Riders hadn't returned.
Three were overdue.
"They're coming," Hikaru muttered.
Blake joined him with a grim nod, unfurling a map inked with charcoal markings—symbols for potential paths, elevation changes, ambush points.
"We have movement on the south pass. One of the sentries spotted flashing steel between the trees," Blake said. "Could be a forward party."
Hikaru's jaw tightened. "No way they'd risk a direct march unless they're confident."
"Or unless they want us to focus there while something else flanks."
System Alert: Beast Raid Imminent
Estimated Time of First Contact: 02:13:48
➤ Enemy Faction: Venatrix (Unconfirmed)
➤ Attack Pattern: Multi-Vector
➤ Terrain Disadvantage: Fog - Reduced Ranged Accuracy (-15%)
➤ Recommend Counter Units: Pikemen, Sentry Beasts, Traps
Tip: Beast units often attack in waves. Conserve elite troops for later stages.
Hikaru pulled up the Command Menu, quickly allocating remaining resources.
Gold Remaining: 380
Stone: 940
Wood: 1,100
Iron Ore: 180
Population (Available): 6
He scrolled quickly to Emergency Crafting > Field Traps.
➤ Spiked Pit (Tier 1): 100 Wood / 50 Stone each
➤ Entangling Net Launcher (Tier 2): 120 Wood / 90 Iron each
➤ Oil Slick Barrel (Tier 1): 80 Wood / 20 Oil (Unavailable)
He selected six spiked pits and three net launchers and assigned Blake to deploy them in a V-formation along the likely attack paths.
The Training Yard was ablaze with motion.
Swordsmen ran drills. Crossbowmen loaded bolts with jittery hands. Pikemen were being fitted with reinforced tips dipped in beast deterrent paste—courtesy of Arah, their herbalist-turned-alchemist.
"Thirty-four combat-ready," reported Kora, the second-in-command under Blake. Her red hair was tied back, her gauntlets polished and scarred. "Two more being trained. We'll have the full forty by dusk."
Hikaru scanned the formation. "Any new reports on the enemy type?"
Kora shook her head. "Nothing solid. Just... growling. Screeches. Trees shaking. Enough to make my spine crawl."
"Then crawl or stand, but don't run," Hikaru said. "We hold this ground."
Hidden beneath thick foliage, a dozen beast units waited—hulking, fur-covered monstrosities fused with armor and chain.
Among them stood a Beast Caller, her face painted with crimson clay, a flute of bone resting at her lips.
With a long, keening note, she blew into it.
The forest stirred.
System Alert: Incoming Raid – Phase 1
Enemy Forces Detected:
➤ Beast Wolves (x12)
➤ Beast Caller (x1)
➤ War Apes (x4)
➤ Venatrix Watchers (x3)
Total Estimated Strength: 180 Combat Power
Your Current Defense Rating: 150 Combat Power
⚠️ Defense Deficit Detected – Recommend Tactical Advantage Usage
"Here they come!" shouted a sentry as snarls tore through the fog.
Hikaru watched as the tree line exploded with motion. Beast Wolves, their yellow eyes glowing, charged the spiked line.
Snap! Thud! Scree!
Three of them instantly impaled themselves on the traps. Two more got tangled in nets launched from the treeline ballistae.
Crossbow bolts rained down from above—but the fog weakened their aim. Only half hit true.
One Watcher, a tall rogue-like unit with dual curved daggers, dashed forward through the chaos. Hikaru barely tracked her as she darted between pikemen—until Kora intercepted her with a shield bash.
CLANG!
"Not today," Kora hissed, burying a short blade into the Watcher's ribs.
The War Apes followed—their massive fists tearing at walls, smashing barricades.
Blake led a squad of Elite Swordsmen straight into them, ducking one blow and driving his sword deep into the ape's thigh. Another came at him, roaring—but a net fired from above tangled its arms, giving Blake the moment he needed.
"Now!"
The second War Ape went down beneath a volley of spears.
System Combat Update
Raid Progress – Phase 1: 60% Complete
➤ Casualties:
Ashenhold: 5 Troops
Venatrix: 9 Units (Including 1 War Ape, 1 Watcher)
⚠️ Next Wave Detected in 02:31
As silence began to return, Hikaru surveyed the field. Corpses lay in bloodied piles. Smoke rose from small fires sparked during the chaos.
"They were testing us," he muttered. "That was the warm-up."
"Agreed," Blake said. "We'll need to reinforce everything before round two."
Hikaru nodded grimly. "Then let's get to it."
Hikaru opened the Upgrade Menu.
➤ Wall Fortification Tier 2:
Requires: 700 Stone, 500 Wood, 3 Builders
Time: 3 hours
Bonus: +10 Defense, +25% Durability
They didn't have time for the full upgrade, so he selected Fast Reinforcement Mode, doubling builder speed at the cost of stamina.
Confirm? [YES]
Stamina Drain: -15% for builders for 12 hours.
He tapped yes.
Builders rushed into motion, hammering extra beams, reinforcing wall seams, and resetting traps.
That night, Hikaru sat alone in the war tent. A fire flickered nearby, casting long shadows across the strategic map.
He opened his System Menu and navigated to a new unlocked tab:
Personal Progression: Territory Lord Path - Strategic Commander
Class Progress: 18%
➤ Bonuses Earned:
+5% Unit Training Speed
+5 Defensive Combat Efficiency
➤ Next Unlock at 25%:
Battle Orders: Call to Rally (Increases morale and recovery rate during raids)
He leaned back, eyes narrowing. The fog hadn't lifted, but the night felt clearer.
He wasn't just a survivor now.
He was a lord of the field.