chapter 4

The forest was dense and damp, with the sun's rays barely penetrating through the tree canopies. The hunters moved in a scattered formation, alert to the slightest movement. The group of men was experienced, moving carefully between exposed roots and bushes, but there was a slight ease in the conversations they exchanged with one another.

"Damned boar ran off again," said Derren, the leader of the group, a robust man with a scruffy beard. He carried a simple bow, but he seemed to know how to use it well. "If we don't bring anything back today, my wife will make me sleep in the stable."

The others laughed.

"Maybe you should just sleep there," teased Halrik, a young man with messy blonde hair, balancing a spear on his shoulders. "At least the smell would match you."

Derren shot him a glance, but a smile formed at the corner of his mouth. "If you keep talking, Halrik, I'll throw you in front of the next bear we find."

"Calm down," intervened Orryn, an older man with a scar across his face. He seemed the most cautious, his eyes constantly scanning the trees around them. "This part of the forest has never been peaceful. Stay alert."

There were five other men in the group, each carrying bows, spears, or axes. Among them was Edran, the youngest, a boy no older than 16, holding a bow with trembling hands. He nervously looked around, as if expecting something to leap from the shadows at any moment.

"Don't worry, kid," said Derren, noticing his unease. "We're in this together. No one's going to get you."

Edran tried to smile, but the sound of breaking branches in the distance made his heart race.

"What was that?" he whispered.

"Probably a deer," said Halrik, raising his spear. "Let's take a look."

From the trees, the elven archer watched every movement. He had followed the group for hours, studying their habits, listening to their conversations. Now, they were in the perfect position. The leader stopped to examine some footprints on the ground, distracting the group. The archer knew this was the moment. Without making a sound, he drew an arrow from his quiver. It was an obsidian arrow, lethal and precise. He adjusted his bow, pulled the string, and fired.

The first arrow struck Orryn, the most cautious man. He fell silently, his throat pierced. The other hunters froze, looking around, trying to locate the attack.

"Ambush!" shouted Derren, drawing his bow as the others tried to organize.

Another arrow flew, this time striking Halrik in the shoulder. He screamed, dropping his spear and falling to his knees.

"Where's it coming from?" he shouted, looking frantically at the forest.

The archer jumped from a nearby tree, his silhouette almost invisible against the leaves. With fluid movements, he shot two more arrows, knocking down two hunters who had tried to flee.

Derren shouted to the others. "Formation! Stay together!" But it was too late. The archer was already upon them. He dropped his bow, drawing his silver dagger. With terrifying speed, he struck a deadly blow to the heart of a hunter who was advancing with an axe.

Edran, the young boy, trembled with fear. He tried to raise his bow, but his hands were too shaky. His eyes met the archer's for a brief moment. There was something terrifying about the elf's calm demeanor. Without hesitation, the archer moved forward, disarming the boy with a swift blow and knocking him to the ground.

Derren was the last man standing. He raised his bow and fired an arrow, but the archer easily dodged it. In one swift motion, the elf struck with his dagger, finishing off the leader of the group.

The forest fell silent once again. The archer looked at the bodies around him, his eyes as cold as ice. He wiped the blade of his dagger and picked up his bow, adjusting it calmly as if nothing had happened. Before disappearing back into the forest, he glanced at young Edran, who was still breathing, though unconscious. For a moment, he hesitated, but the order was clear: "Leave no trace." With a quick motion, he finished the boy.

Now, the clearing was empty, except for the bodies. The forest swallowed the archer again, leaving no trace of the massacre.

While I hid in the cave, the cold feeling of silence was broken by a mental notification from the system.

"Hunter killed: +1 point."

I smiled slightly. "Looks like the archer succeeded..."

More notifications appeared, one after the other, accompanied by a strange satisfaction.

"Hunter killed: +1 point."

"Hunter killed: +1 point."

"Hunter killed: +1 point."

Seven times in total. With each point accumulated, I felt the plan coming together. The cold words of the system were now etched into my mind, but the achievement was no less impactful. With a wider smile, I focused on the system. "It's time to expand my army."

I opened the summoning interface and chose two more archers. With the remaining points, I opted for something more robust: a light infantry soldier.

The environment around me began to pulse again, the same vibrant energy I felt when I summoned the first archer. But this time, the light was even more intense, filling the cave with golden and green hues.

First, the two archers appeared, similar to the first in skill and posture. Their armor was light, reinforced leather with polished elven metal plates. Their bows were adorned with gold and silver engravings, symbolizing their lineage and skills. Their quivers carried dark-feathered arrows, designed for speed and precision, and curved elegant daggers hung at their waists. They both gave a bow, their clear eyes showing absolute loyalty.

Then, the figure of the infantry soldier emerged from the glow. His presence was more imposing. He wore full elven scale armor, each plate perfectly adjusted to protect without limiting movement. The metal seemed alive, reflecting the light with shades of green and silver, as if the forest had forged the armor.

He held a long spear with a gleaming elven steel tip, decorated with ancient runes suggesting dormant power. On his back, he carried a round shield made of black wood reinforced with a metal rim engraved with protection symbols.

The soldier wore a helmet that covered only part of his face, leaving his eyes visible — eyes that glowed with determination. At his waist, a short sword hung, perfectly balanced for close combat.

He kneeled as he finished materializing. "Your Majesty," he said in a deep, respectful voice, "we are ready to serve."

I watched the three lined up before me: two agile, deadly archers, ready to attack from afar, and the infantry soldier, a wall of strength and skill for direct combat. They all exuded an air of discipline and unwavering loyalty, as if every fiber of their being was attuned to my command.

I smiled again, satisfied. Now, I was no longer alone. My army was taking shape. And this village would just be the beginning.

The archer arrived and knelt before His Majesty, the crunch of dry leaves under his armor breaking the silence of the forest.

"Your Majesty, the hunt is complete," he said, his voice deep and serene, as if the vast wilderness around him absorbed his words.

I nodded, my eyes fixed on the horizon, where the morning mist was still rising between the tall trees. "Very well. You three," I said, giving a stern look, pointing to the archer and his companions who waited in silence, "go hunt any group of humans that crosses our path. Total elimination."

The gentle wind moved the leaves, and the smell of damp earth mingled with the burnt wood of a distant camp. The archer stood without a word, and a silent gesture was enough for the others to follow. With the precision of born predators, the three archers moved off, disappearing into the trees and the thickening fog. Their steps were like fleeting shadows, almost inaudible on the mossy ground and fallen leaves.

I turned to the soldier who stood erect beside me, his armor briefly gleaming under the weak sun rays that filtered through the tree canopies. "You'll stay by my side as a guard. No one will pass without my permission," I said, the gravity of my words echoed by the silence of the forest around us.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied, his voice firm but carrying the lightness of someone who understood the magnitude of what was to come. The tension in the air was palpable, as if even the birds in the treetops were waiting for the signal to fall silent.

The two of us, now in silence, remained watching the vast field ahead of us — the clearing that would soon give way to battle. The smell of wet earth and fallen leaves grew stronger as the wind passed, and the distant sound of rivers running nearby added a melancholic touch to the scene. Everything around seemed to wait, as if the forest itself were holding its breath.

The hunt had begun. And the fate of those who dared to infiltrate this territory was sealed.