The afternoon sun hung high above Marcus's territory, spilling warm light across the clearing. The scent of pine drifted through the air while distant birds called somewhere beyond the fence.
Marcus stood in the center of the small training field near the barracks.
Across from him stood the four rabbit girls.
Or at least… they were supposed to be training.
Instead, they were staring at him.
Again.
Marcus rubbed the back of his neck.
"Alright," he said. "We were doing training."
The green-eyed rabbit girl tilted her head slightly.
"We are."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"You haven't moved."
The hazel-eyed one smiled shyly.
"We are observing."
The black-eyed one crossed her arms.
"Your muscles move when you swing the sword."
Marcus blinked.
"...That is not training."
The blue-eyed rabbit girl stepped a little closer.
"Perhaps we should observe closer."
She moved right beside him.
Marcus immediately felt four pairs of eyes on him again.
He sighed.
"I feel like I'm being studied."
Behind him, Lyrielle quietly hid a smile while leaning against a fence post.
"My lord," she said calmly, "they appear very interested in you."
Marcus muttered under his breath.
"I noticed."
The rabbit girls didn't seem embarrassed at all.
If anything…
They seemed curious.
The green-eyed one walked behind him slowly.
Her fluffy tail brushed lightly against his leg.
Marcus froze.
"...Was that intentional?"
She smiled.
"Maybe."
The hazel-eyed one stepped closer to his front.
"You saved our lives."
The blue-eyed girl nodded softly.
"And you are strong."
The black-eyed one added bluntly.
"And handsome."
Marcus blinked.
"...Oh."
Lyrielle laughed quietly.
Marcus cleared his throat.
"Alright."
"Flattery later."
He pointed toward the training weapons rack.
"Grab spears."
The rabbit girls obediently grabbed wooden practice spears.
Marcus stepped back.
"Good."
He demonstrated a basic stance.
"Feet apart."
"Keep balance."
The four rabbit girls copied him.
Surprisingly well.
Marcus nodded approvingly.
"Not bad."
Just as he was about to continue—
The system chimed.
Scout Unit Combat Report
Gray Wolf Unit Engaged Enemy
Enemy: Wolf Lv.2
Marcus paused.
"Oh?"
Lyrielle looked toward the forest.
"The wolves found something."
Then the notifications began appearing rapidly.
Wolf Defeated
Spirit Shards +20
Wolf Defeated
Spirit Shards +20
Wolf Defeated
Spirit Shards +30
Marcus grinned.
"Wolves hunting wolves."
The rabbit girls leaned closer again.
Their ears perked.
The system notifications continued.
Wolf Defeated
Spirit Shards +20
Wolf Defeated
Spirit Shards +30
Wolf Defeated
Spirit Shards +40
Marcus opened the territory map.
The wolf pack icons were moving quickly in the northern forest.
Surrounding a cluster of red enemy markers.
Lyrielle stepped beside him.
"A wild pack."
Marcus nodded.
"Looks like it."
More notifications appeared.
Wolf Defeated
Spirit Shards +20
Wolf Defeated
Spirit Shards +30
Wolf Defeated
Spirit Shards +30
Marcus counted silently.
"That's…"
He watched the feed.
"...Twenty-three."
The battle ended a moment later.
Enemy Pack Eliminated
Total Enemies Defeated: 23
Marcus leaned back.
"Nice."
But then another notification appeared.
One he hadn't seen before.
Special Drop Triggered
Unit Cards Obtained
Gray Wolf x8
Marcus stared.
Then laughed loudly.
"Oh you have got to be kidding me."
Lyrielle looked surprised.
"What is it?"
Marcus pulled the cards from his inventory.
Eight glowing unit cards appeared in his hand.
Gray Wolf Unit Card (E Rank)
Quantity: 8
The rabbit girls gasped.
"More wolves?"
Marcus grinned.
"More wolves."
He stepped out into the clearing.
"Alright."
He activated the cards one by one.
Silver light burst across the grass.
One wolf appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
Soon eight new wolves stood in the clearing.
They immediately looked toward the forest.
Moments later—
The original pack returned.
The Alpha Dire Wolf stepped through the fence opening first.
Its golden eyes scanned the territory before settling on Marcus.
Behind it came the original four wolves.
Marcus gestured toward the newcomers.
"Reinforcements."
The Alpha wolf walked slowly toward them.
The new wolves lowered themselves submissively.
Accepting the Alpha's authority instantly.
Marcus nodded.
"Perfect."
Lyrielle looked impressed.
"My lord…"
She counted quietly.
"There are now thirteen wolves."
Marcus crossed his arms proudly.
"My first real army."
Then—
The system chimed again.
A louder notification.
Level Up
Marcus Hale
Level 9 → Level 10
Marcus froze.
The screen expanded.
Maximum Level Reached
Territory Level 1 Cap: Level 10
Marcus exhaled slowly.
"So that's the cap."
Lyrielle stepped closer.
"That means the territory must grow."
Marcus nodded.
"If we want to get stronger."
The rabbit girls gathered close again.
Almost instinctively surrounding him.
The green-eyed one looked at the wolves with excitement.
"Your army grows quickly."
The hazel-eyed girl smiled softly.
"You will become very powerful."
The blue-eyed one gently touched his arm.
"You already are."
Marcus cleared his throat again.
"...You guys are doing the flirting thing again."
The black-eyed rabbit girl smirked.
"Is it working?"
Marcus sighed.
"Yes."
Lyrielle laughed openly now.
Marcus looked around his growing territory.
Thirteen wolves.
Five companions.
Barracks.
Dining hall.
Watchtowers.
Warehouse.
And resources pouring in from constant battles.
Marcus smiled slowly.
"Yeah."
"This is going well."
But far beyond the forest…
Something far stronger than wolves had begun moving toward his territory.
And Marcus's rapidly growing pack…
Was about to meet its first real challenge.