The next morning, Elion drafted a response to the merchant consortium, proposing a meeting to discuss terms. Three days later, their representatives arrived—a pair of merchants named Corvus and Ilsa, accompanied by a small guard force that eyed the manor's shadowy defenders with obvious unease.
Corvus was human, thin and sharp-featured, with the calculating eyes of someone who saw profit in everything. Ilsa was a Dwarven woman, unusual for her race in that she'd chosen mercantile pursuits over traditional craftsmanship. Her brass-colored beard was braided with small gems, and she carried herself with the confidence of someone who'd built her fortune through skill and determination.
They met in the study, with Mira present as Elion's advisor. The shadows remained outside but clearly visible through the windows—a deliberate choice designed to set the tone of the negotiation.
"Lord Crestfall," Corvus began, his smile practiced and insincere. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us. We've heard remarkable things about Silverwood's recent... improvements to its security."
"Let's skip the pleasantries," Ilsa said bluntly. "We know you have some kind of magical army. You know we want access to the Verdant Forest's resources. The question is whether we can make a deal that benefits both parties."
Elion appreciated the dwarf's directness. "What exactly do you want from the forest?"
"Darkwood timber, primarily." Ilsa pulled out a map and spread it on the desk. "This whole region here is rich with ancient trees. High-quality lumber, worth a fortune to the right buyers. But it's also infested with monsters—dire wolves, forest drakes, corrupted ents. Too dangerous for normal logging operations."
"You want me to clear it."
"Thoroughly. Den by den, nest by nest." Corvus leaned forward. "In exchange, we're prepared to offer substantial compensation. Say, five thousand gold pieces?"
It was a fortune—more money than Silverwood had seen in a decade. But Elion kept his expression neutral. "What's the timeline?"
"Six weeks. We have buyers waiting, but the window for optimal timber harvest closes before winter."
Six weeks to clear a massive forest section. With a normal army, it would be impossible. But with shadows that couldn't die and didn't need rest...
"Ten thousand," Elion countered. "Plus supplies—specifically, provisions for two hundred people for three months, and contacts for purchasing or chartering ships."
Corvus's eyes narrowed. "That's—"
"A bargain," Ilsa interrupted, studying Elion with new respect. "You're planning to leave, aren't you? Abandon the barony."
There was no point in lying. "Yes. And I'm taking everyone who wants to come. Your ten thousand gold finances our departure. The supplies feed us during the journey. And the ship contacts make it possible."
"Bold," Ilsa said. "Stupid, maybe, but bold. Where are you planning to go?"
"The unclaimed seas. Island territories."
"Hah! I like it." The dwarf slapped the table. "Tell you what, Lord Crestfall—or should I say former Lord Crestfall? We'll give you the ten thousand and the supplies. But instead of just contacts, we'll arrange the actual ships. Three vessels, good condition, captains we trust. You clear the forest section, we get our timber, and you get a clean departure."
It was better than Elion had hoped for. "And if I clear more than the marked section? Say, the entire central forest?"
Corvus and Ilsa exchanged glances. "That's... ambitious," Corvus said slowly. "The central forest is deep territory. Ancient things live there. But if you could actually do it..." He named a figure that made even Mira's eyes widen. "Twenty thousand gold, total. Plus the ships and supplies. That much territory cleared would be worth it."
Twenty thousand gold. Three ships. Supplies for the journey. It was everything they needed for the migration, and more.
"Deal," Elion said, extending his hand. "But I need the supply delivery to start immediately, and I want the first ship ready within six weeks."
Ilsa gripped his hand, her dwarf strength surprising. "Done. We'll have the contracts drawn up by tomorrow. Welcome to business, Lord Crestfall."
After the merchants left, Mira turned to Elion with an expression caught between admiration and concern. "Twenty thousand gold and three ships. Either you're a genius negotiator or we're about to discover exactly why people don't try to clear the deep forest."
"Probably both," Elion admitted. "But we need this, Mira. The money gives us options. The ships give us escape. And the forest..." He looked out at the dark treeline in the distance. "The forest gives me an army."
Understanding dawned in Mira's eyes. "You're going to extract every monster you kill."
"Every significant one, yes. By the time we leave Silverwood, I want a shadow army large enough to defend an entire settlement. Maybe two hundred soldiers, if I can manage it."
"That's... a lot of extractions."
"Which is why we start immediately." Elion pulled out another map, this one marking known monster dens throughout the Verdant Forest. "I've been preparing for this. Garrick's been gathering information from hunters and refugees about monster locations. We'll hit them systematically—strongest first, work our way down."
"You're going to need help," Mira said. "You can't clear an entire forest alone, shadows or no shadows."
"I know. That's why I'm recruiting."
Over the next week, Elion assembled a strike team. Kael signed on immediately—mercenaries went where the money was, and Elion was now paying well. Lyssa agreed after some consideration, saying that clearing corrupted areas of the forest aligned with her druidic principles. Helena, surprisingly, volunteered as well, revealing that she'd been an adventurer in her youth before settling into craftwork.
"I can still swing a sword," she said, demonstrating with a practice blade. "And I owe you for taking in my people. Let me help."
The strike team was rounded out by four of the refugees who had combat experience and six of the militia members Garrick had trained. Combined with Elion's shadow army—now grown to thirty soldiers after several minor encounters—they formed a force capable of tackling serious threats.
Their first target was a dire wolf den in the forest's northeastern section, reported to house upwards of twenty wolves led by an alpha even larger than the pack leader Elion had previously extracted.
They set out at dawn, moving through the forest with practiced caution. The shadows scouted ahead, invisible to normal sight, while Lyssa used her druidic senses to track the wolves' location.
"The den is close," she said after an hour of travel. "I can feel the corruption—whatever's commanding these wolves isn't natural. There's dark magic involved."
"Dark magic?" Elion asked. "Like necromancy?"
"Different. More primal, more chaotic. Someone or something is twisting these creatures, making them more aggressive and intelligent than they should be."
They found the den in a ravine choked with thorny undergrowth—a cave system that delved deep into the earth, with multiple entrances that would make a coordinated attack difficult.
"We need to draw them out," Kael said, surveying the terrain. "Fighting in cramped caves negates our numbers advantage."
"I have an idea," Helena said, pulling out a small clay jar filled with a pungent mixture. "Dire wolves have sensitive noses. This is a scent marker—smells like rival wolf territory. Spread it around the entrances, and they'll come out to defend their den."
It was a good plan. They spent the next hour setting the trap, spreading Helena's concoction and preparing ambush positions. Elion placed his shadow soldiers in a wide semicircle around the main entrance, with the human fighters positioned for support.
Then they waited.
The wolves came boiling out of the den with furious howls, exactly as predicted. Twenty-three dire wolves, their eyes gleaming with unnatural red light, led by an alpha that made the previous pack leader look small. This creature was massive—nearly the size of the shadow orc, with fur that seemed to absorb light and claws that sparked with red energy.
╔════════════════════════════════╗ ║ ELITE ENEMY DETECTED ║ ╚════════════════════════════════╝ Target: Corrupted Alpha Dire Wolf Rank: Elite Boss Estimated Level: 25 Warning: This enemy possesses dark magic enhancement Extraction Success Rate: 40% (due to corruption)
"Shadows, engage!" Elion commanded.
His shadow army crashed into the wolf pack like a black wave. The dire wolves were strong and fast, but they'd never faced enemies that simply reformed after being torn apart. Shadow scouts darted between wolves, their blades opening wounds. The shadow dire wolves—now three in number—engaged their living counterparts with savage efficiency.
The corrupted alpha, however, was different. It breathed gouts of dark fire that actually damaged the shadows, causing them to dissipate and reform more slowly. Its claws carried the same dark energy, each strike tearing chunks from shadow flesh that took longer to regenerate.
"It can actually hurt them," Kael observed, loosing arrows into the alpha's flank. The arrows bounced off its magically-enhanced hide. "Wonderful."
Lyssa stepped forward, her staff blazing with green light. She chanted in the old tongue, and thick roots erupted from the earth, wrapping around the alpha's legs. The creature roared and tore through them, but it bought precious seconds.
Elion charged, his own sword drawn. He'd been practicing with his shadow orc, learning to channel a fraction of the darkness into his own body. It made him faster, stronger—not to the level of his shadows, but enough to make a difference.
He dodged the alpha's snap and drove his blade into the creature's side. The sword bit deep, black blood spraying. The alpha's head whipped around, jaws closing on Elion's shoulder.
Pain exploded through him, but before the alpha could shake him like a rag doll, the shadow orc's massive fists slammed into the wolf's skull. The alpha released Elion and staggered, giving the shadow dire wolves their opening.
All three shadow wolves hit the alpha simultaneously, dragging it down through sheer weight and ferocity. The corrupted creature fought viciously, dark fire burning shadow flesh, but there were too many attackers. Slowly, inevitably, the alpha weakened.
Elion stood back, clutching his bleeding shoulder, and watched his shadows tear the alpha apart.
╔════════════════════════════════╗ ║ EXTRACTION AVAILABLE ║ ╚════════════════════════════════╝ Target: Corrupted Alpha Dire Wolf (Deceased) Extraction Success Rate: 40% Warning: Corruption present. Extraction may result in unstable shadow. Proceed? [YES] / [NO]
Forty percent. Less than half. But if it worked...
"Yes," Elion said through gritted teeth. "Extract."
The darkness that rose this time felt wrong—oily, too thick, almost resistant to his control. The alpha's corpse dissolved into shadows that writhed and twisted, forming a shape that was more nightmare than wolf.
The corrupted shadow alpha stood before him, massive and terrible, its form flickering with red and black energy. For a terrifying moment, Elion thought the extraction had failed and created something he couldn't control.
Then the creature bowed its head. "Master," it rumbled, its voice deeper and more distorted than his other shadow wolves. "I serve."
╔════════════════════════════════╗ ║ EXTRACTION SUCCESSFUL ║ ║ (CORRUPTED VARIANT) ║ ╚════════════════════════════════╝ Shadow Soldier Gained: Corrupted Shadow Alpha Rank: Knight (Elite Boss) Special Abilities: Dark Fire Breath, Enhanced Regeneration, Fear Aura (Improved) Unique: Corruption provides bonus power but increases mana cost by 50% Current Mana Cost: 45/120 Shadow Army Count: 31/50
Elion dismissed the notification and focused on not passing out from blood loss. Helena was already at his side, her experienced hands assessing the wound.
"Deep bites, but you'll live. Hold still while I bind it."
The rest of the battle was cleanup. With their alpha dead and extracted, the remaining dire wolves broke and fled. Elion's shadows pursued, cutting down or extracting wolves until the den was secured.
By the time the sun began to set, Elion had expanded his shadow army to forty-seven soldiers, having extracted every dire wolf that had fallen. The den itself yielded treasures—bones, pelts, and a small cache of items the wolves had collected from previous victims, including a surprising amount of gold coins.
"First den cleared," Kael said, tallying their gains. "Twenty-two more to go, by my count. At this rate, you'll have your two-hundred-soldier army before the six weeks are up."
Elion nodded wearily, his shoulder throbbing despite Helena's bandaging. "Then we keep going. Tomorrow, we hit the forest drake nest."
"Tomorrow you rest and let that shoulder heal," Mira countered, appearing from where she'd been coordinating with the logistics team. "You're no good to anyone if you bleed out or exhaust yourself again."
She was right, as usual. Elion agreed to a day of rest, then two more weeks of systematic den clearing. Forest drakes, corrupted ents, giant spiders, even a young forest wyrm—each fell before his growing shadow army and was added to its ranks.
The extractions weren't always successful. Elion lost opportunities when his mana ran low or when the corruption in certain monsters was too strong. But by the end of the third week, his shadow army numbered one hundred and thirty-seven soldiers, ranging from basic scouts to elite monsters.
The merchants were ecstatic. Timber operations began immediately in the cleared areas, and gold flowed into Silverwood's coffers. The first ship arrived, a three-masted merchant vessel that could carry fifty people plus supplies. The second and third were promised within two weeks.
Word of Silverwood's transformation spread. More refugees arrived, drawn by tales of a baron who could slay monsters and offered sanctuary to anyone willing to work. The population swelled to nearly three hundred people—humans, beastkin, elves, even a few dwarves and gnomes.
And through it all, Elion kept extracting, kept building his shadow army, kept preparing for the day they would leave this dying barony behind and build something new.