A hellish gift (Part 9 - Fifth year)

Within the first month he already had all the tools he needed and was busy making his first treehouse. He no longer needed to rely on traps to deal with the animals as an arrow was more than enough.

Edvard knew he was lacking in both strength and speed compared to the orcs and now also numbers, however, that was not all that fighting entailed. Traps took a great deal of effort to make and he now knew that they needed to at least be at a certain level to stay effective.

As such, the first year he only focused on making his network of treehouses to not wast any time. Choosing to only make traps that took little time and were highly effective while he waited for the second year where the orcs would start having iron weapons.

In this time he also fiddled with a few creations that might make life even easier. Guns were a bit optimistic, but repeater crossbows weren't. While he still lacked the iron for the limbs, he started carving the bolts and shaft.

He also made a massive war bow which he couldn't fully draw, yet.

While at it he also drew schematics and blueprints on wooden slabs. Designing the perfect base with fallbacks in all directions and traps on the ground to hinder those coming for him. His aim was not for the traps to kill, but for them to stall.

When the orcs started appearing they would never even make it to his traps as he would move from tree to tree and snipe them accurately with his recurve bow. He always had it on hand, having made a sling to place it on his back. Allowing him to move comfortably through the trees.

Sure, it didn't have near the penetrative power of his longbows and nowhere close to the power of the war bow, the poison didn't need such power. Three arrows were normally enough. The first in the chest, second in the leg, third in the neck.

As such the second year went past in a breeze, Edvard constantly building according to his blueprints. Making three massive ballistae frames that had limbs thicker than his entire body. A contraption of wooden gears were the only way he could reload these ones monsters.

However, they still needed iron for triggers and crucial parts, as such only the frames were done. Besides this Edvard had also made two repeater crossbows capable of shooting 10 bolts with a magazine-style reload that just took a few seconds. The hardest was pulling back the string.

He also had a few multi-bolt ballistae. Instead of shooting 1 ballista at a time, the first one-shot 5, the second 7, and the last one 14. They too were waiting on iron to be finished, but the frames were done.

Thus, as soon as the third year arrived Edvard became extremely busy. He easily killed the orcs with his longbow, still unable to draw the war bow. Recovering their armor and melting it and with the help of a few water-powered machines, he finished his ballistae a month before the fourth year. With the extra time, he fortified his outposts with iron.

When the first organized horde arrived, they were killed with ease by the ballista capable of shooting 14 ballista bolts and a few more arrows from Edvard's longbow. The group hadn't even stood a chance. The cleanup took longer than the fight, and the donation of iron was highly appreciated.

The second group fared better, but only till Edvard used his second multi-bolt ballista. Just 3 had managed to survive the two volleys, and Edvard easily picked them off with his war bow. Finally, he was able to almost full draw it. He was only at 90%, but that was enough. The steel arrows flew through the orcs as if they and their armor were just pieces of paper.

This continued and finally, on the day of the fifth year, a hundred orcs and a few hundred goblins arrived. As planned, the goblins all died to the traps while he focused the orcs with his ballistae. However, by the time he was done with the multi-shot, there was still over 50 left.

Edvard planned to pick them off 1 by 1 with his war bow, and this was just what he did. Moving from outpost to outpost, having his traps stall them while he let loose every so often. When the orcs attempted to shield themselves with their massive tower shields, Edvard would move to one of his three largest ballistae.

Like the crack of thunder, the bolt was released and the air visibly vibrated. Their massive shield as thick as a person snapped from the impact. Killing four simply from the impact and impaling three more. The opening giving Edvard time to pick off another four before he moved to his another monster ballista.

The orcs didn't know what to do. If they charged they would die to his arrows, if they shielded they would die to the bolts. They banked on the fact that he would be incapable of reloading them and that after the three were shot, that they could close the distance.

Their plan did not work. When they tried to close the distance Edvard would let loose with the reloadable crossbows he had at key points. The bolts couldn't pierce deep, but the poison still entered their systems. Forcing them to halt and take cover. Giving Edvard the time he needed to reload.

With a wide smile, Edvard looked at the carnage. His smile disappearing as he thought of needing to clean all this up.

As he was about to go down he saw a sight he had thought he would never see again. His beloved wife walked through the carnage, smiling at him as she said.

"You did it."

Edvard's mind failed to comprehend what was going on. He stared at her face and took in every detail, cursing himself for having forgotten that her eyes were like the purest jade one could imagine. That her hair was like silky gold and that the love between them was true.

"Yawen..." The name came out as little more than a whisper, yet the woman smiled. Her smile blinding Edvard and breaking down all the walls he had made during the past years.

Jumping down from the trees without a care he rushed forward. Stopping suddenly, just a few meters away.

"No! This can't be!" He shouted as his body shouted at him to stay away from this person. From his wife. His instincts screaming at him.

"Dear, why did you stop?"

"No please no! Don't be one of them!" Edvard shouted as he moved back, Yawen stepping forward to keep the distance even.

"Them?" Looking around she frowned, "I'm no orc."

"But you're here. You're in this hell, an-an-and..." Edvard choked and started running, Yawen running after him.

"What's going on Edvard? Why are you running?" She shouted as she ran after him, seeing this, shivers nearly caused Edvard to fall.

"Nooo! Stay where you are!" He shouted, pulling off his recurve bow that had been on his back through the entire fight. Taking aim through teary eyes. Her confusion causing him to nearly give. However, he trusted his instincts. Even if they made no sense.