Morning mist curled around the outer edges of Marcus's territory barrier like pale fingers pressing against invisible glass.
Inside the barrier, however, the air remained clean and warm.
Marcus stood in the center of the clearing, staring at the glowing message hovering before him.
Protection Period Remaining: 5 Days
He exhaled slowly.
"So that's the countdown."
Lyrielle stood beside him, the new A-Rank bow resting across her back. Her violet eyes scanned the forest beyond the fence with quiet focus.
"When the protection ends," she said calmly, "monsters will be able to attack the territory directly."
Marcus nodded.
"Which means we get stronger before that happens."
Behind him, the four rabbit girls were already preparing for the day.
They had grown far more comfortable inside the settlement over the past day. The rabbit girls now moved easily between the buildings, though they still stayed suspiciously close to Marcus whenever he was around.
Right now they were arming themselves.
The green-eyed one tested the balance of a short spear.
The hazel-eyed one adjusted a leather vest.
The blue-eyed one carefully tied her long white hair back.
The black-eyed one simply spun her spear once and looked eager.
Marcus grinned.
"Looks like everyone's ready."
The hazel-eyed rabbit girl smiled softly.
"We want to help."
The green-eyed one added confidently,
"And kill goblins."
Marcus chuckled.
"You're definitely fitting in around here."
He turned back to the system interface.
Before they left to hunt, there was something else he wanted to do.
He opened the Player Market.
The warehouse inventory appeared beside it.
Marcus had accumulated an enormous pile of items from the wolves' constant hunting.
Warehouse Inventory
Rusty Weapons x41
Cloth Scraps x59
Goblin Ears x48
Old Bone Knives x11
Wolf Pelts x19
Spirit Shards: 2,130
Marcus rubbed his chin.
"Yeah… we don't need half of this."
Lyrielle leaned closer to the interface.
"Will players buy it?"
Marcus smirked.
"Oh they will."
He began listing everything he didn't need.
Goblin materials.
Rusty weapons.
Extra pelts.
Within seconds, trade notifications began appearing.
Trade Completed
Wood +200
Stone +150
Trade Completed
Wood +180
Stone +150
Trade Completed
Spirit Shards +300
Marcus laughed.
"This market is insane."
The rabbit girls watched with fascination as the numbers climbed.
Within a minute, Marcus finished selling the entire pile.
Resources Updated
Wood: 2,140
Stone: 1,960
Spirit Shards: 2,430
Lyrielle's eyes widened slightly.
"My lord…"
Marcus grinned.
"Yeah."
"We're rich."
He closed the market window.
"Alright."
He clapped his hands.
"Time to hunt."
The rabbit girls perked up immediately.
Marcus walked toward the fence and opened the small gate.
Outside the barrier, the forest looked darker.
More dangerous.
But Marcus stepped out without hesitation.
Behind him came Lyrielle.
Then the four rabbit girls.
Finally—
The wolves.
The Alpha Dire Wolf emerged first, massive and silent.
Behind it came the rest of the pack.
Thirteen wolves total.
Marcus stretched his arms.
"Full party."
He looked at the Alpha.
"You lead."
The Alpha barked once and turned toward the forest.
The pack moved instantly.
Marcus followed.
The forest swallowed them quickly.
First Hunt
They hadn't walked more than ten minutes when the Alpha suddenly stopped.
Its ears lifted.
The other wolves spread out.
Marcus crouched slightly.
"Contact?"
Lyrielle nocked an arrow.
The rabbit girls raised their spears.
Then—
A howl echoed through the trees.
Wild wolves burst from the underbrush.
Seven of them.
Gray fur.
Yellow eyes.
Marcus smiled.
"Perfect warm up."
The wolves collided first.
Fangs clashed.
Growls exploded through the forest.
Marcus raised his hand.
"Meteor."
A flaming rock screamed from the sky.
BOOM
One wolf vanished instantly.
Lyrielle fired.
THUNK
Another wolf dropped.
The rabbit girls charged surprisingly fast.
The green-eyed rabbit girl stabbed a wolf through the side.
The black-eyed one smashed her spear down onto another.
Within seconds—
The fight was over.
Wolf Defeated
Wolf Defeated
Wolf Defeated
Marcus checked the counter.
"Seven down."
The system delivered the loot instantly to the warehouse.
Marcus grinned.
"Alright."
"Next."
Goblins
Deeper into the forest, the Alpha suddenly growled again.
This time the scent was different.
Marcus spotted them first.
Goblins.
Ten of them.
They were gathered around a crude fire pit, arguing over something.
Marcus cracked his neck.
"Easy."
Lyrielle fired first.
Two goblins dropped before they even realized what was happening.
Marcus raised his hand.
"Meteor."
BOOM
Another goblin exploded into the dirt.
The wolves charged.
The rabbit girls followed right behind them.
Spears flashed.
Fangs tore.
The fight lasted less than thirty seconds.
Goblin Defeated x10
Marcus wiped dirt from his hands.
"Goblins are basically walking loot bags."
The hazel-eyed rabbit girl giggled softly.
"You sound happy when you kill them."
Marcus shrugged.
"They pay my bills."
The Spider Nest
But the next enemy was different.
The Alpha wolf froze suddenly.
Its fur rose.
Marcus frowned.
"Something bigger."
Then he saw it.
A web stretched between several trees.
Thick.
Sticky.
And crawling across it…
Were giant spiders.
Each one nearly the size of a dog.
Eight legs.
Black chitin.
Glowing red eyes.
The rabbit girls stiffened.
The hazel-eyed one whispered,
"I hate spiders."
Marcus sighed.
"Same."
The spiders began moving.
More crawled out from behind the trees.
Eight.
Ten.
Twelve.
Marcus cracked his knuckles.
"Alright."
"Meteor."
The flaming rock smashed directly into the web.
BOOM
Burning silk exploded across the forest.
Spiders scattered.
Lyrielle's arrows flashed like silver streaks.
The wolves tore through the ground spiders.
The rabbit girls fought surprisingly well, stabbing the creatures before they could bite.
Within minutes—
The nest was destroyed.
Marcus exhaled.
"I definitely hate spiders."
But the system chimed again.
Spider Defeated x12
Marcus smiled.
"Still good loot though."
The Champion
But just as the group began moving again—
The Alpha suddenly snarled.
A deeper sound.
More dangerous.
Marcus felt the tension immediately.
Then the trees shook.
Heavy footsteps approached.
A massive figure stepped into the clearing.
Green skin.
Towering muscles.
Rusty armor plates.
A huge iron club resting across its shoulder.
Marcus's eyes widened slightly.
The system identified it instantly.
Goblin Champion – Level 10
The monster was nearly eight feet tall.
And it was smiling.
The rabbit girls froze.
Lyrielle slowly raised her bow.
Marcus grinned.
"Finally."
"A boss."
The Goblin Champion roared.
And charged straight toward them.