A stream of light pierced through the windows of the hall, heralding the arrival of morning. Grunting and stretching echoed as the group woke from their long nap. Robert stretched his legs and rose from his bed. As he exited his bedroom, he saw Sabas and the others eating leftover food and chatting.
"Good morning, my lord. How was your rest?" Sabas asked, handing him a piece of smoked deer from the previous day's hunt.
Robert quickly devoured his meal. "There's a lot of work to do. The threat of the goblins still looms," he said, heading outside towards the summoning altar. As he approached the altar, a blue screen appeared before his eyes.
[Would you like to summon troops?]
"Yes."
Six figures emerged from the altar: four shieldmen and two archers, all males. They knelt as soon as they saw Robert. "My lord, we are at your command," they said in unison.
Unfazed, Robert commanded them to rise and join the others inside. As they walked towards the hall, he analyzed them.
Drakemorian Heavy Infantry: Bronze Tier One
Description: Hailing from the kingdom of Drakenmore, these troops are tough and specialize in defensive formations, holding the line against charges. They are fitted in iron suits of armor and wield wooden shields.
Drakemorian Scout: Bronze Tier One
Description: Also from the kingdom of Drakenmore, these troops are fast and agile, ideal for scouting and reconnaissance missions. They are equipped with leather armor and compound bows.
He grinned to himself, pleased that the new troops would address some of their concerns. Sabas was initially shocked when he saw the new troops and ordered the spearmen to stand their ground.
"Stop, Sabas. These are the new troops I summoned. They will be of great help for our objectives," Robert said, cutting the tension in the room. "Let's head to the meeting room; there's a lot to discuss."
The men lowered their weapons and walked towards the wide, empty room. "Can this really be called a meeting room? It's just an empty space," Robert thought to himself.
Sabas began briefing the new soldiers about what had transpired in the last day. "We need to keep exploring our surroundings. We cannot be caught with our pants down. I suggest we split into two groups: one heading south toward the shore and the other heading north, deeper into the territory where we found the goblins." Robert told the soldiers with a serious expression on his face. Sabas, understanding the importance of what Robert said, split the soldiers into two groups: one led by him and the other by Daniel. Each group consisted of two heavy infantry, three spearmen, and a scout, split evenly for optimal performance.
Robert decided to go with Daniel to test his talent as an Ocean Master; otherwise, he would be at a disadvantage not exploring his abilities. The men exited the meeting hall and headed outside to perform their designated tasks. "Let's meet back here by sundown. If one group isn't back by that time, presume the worst." They bid each other good luck and went their respective ways.
As Robert and his group pushed towards the shore, they noticed an abundance of berries and wild herbs. "Looks like the ground here is pretty fertile to be growing these wild herbs," said Daniel, inspecting the wild berries. Robert grinned with joy, finding an alternative food source other than relying on luck while hunting. As the group reached closer to the shore, they could hear the waves crashing against the rocks.
"My lord, it would be wise to stop and let me scout the area ahead. It's not smart to head into danger blind," said the scout. Robert immediately agreed and let him go forward.
The scout advanced and began scanning the area. As soon as he stepped onto the beach, he heard shouts. Startled, he instantly raised his guard. He pushed on, the shouts growing louder, until he spotted the source: a group of primitive-looking people surrounding a giant crab, almost two meters in size, with wooden spears stuck in its shell. Terrified by the sight of the creature, the scout ran back to the group.
Robert and the men had established a perimeter and were resting against some trees. "My lord, how does the summoning altar work exactly?" Daniel asked, reaching for his water satchel.
"I don't quite know myself. We're in the same boat, I guess," Robert said, analyzing the wild berries they had picked up on the way.
Wild Tustyberry
Description: Usually found on fertile islands, sweet in flavor, and feeds on the dead corpses of animals that die near it.
"What a weird berry. Wait, did the panel say island? F*ck, what kind of luck is this, being isolated from the world on an island in the middle of nowhere," Robert thought to himself. Before he had time to taste the berry, the scout came running back.
"My lord… my lord, I have news," he said, breathing heavily.
"Catch your breath first, then tell us," Daniel said, handing him some water.
"When I approached the beach, I heard shouts. So, I followed and saw a group of what seemed to be the natives of these lands fighting a giant crab," the scout spoke, now in a calm manner.
"What do you mean, giant crab?" said a spearman in shock and disarray. Robert calmed the men down and suggested that they keep pushing forward, wanting to see the sight himself.
"What kind of weapons do these people have?" he asked curiously.
"Wooden spears and bone clubs, nothing we can't handle. From what I saw, there are about fifteen of them, but some were injured," the scout replied.
As they approached, a cry of joy came from their western flank. The group went forward only to see the corpse of a giant crab and some dismembered tribesmen on the ground. Nine of the remaining tribesmen, having stopped celebrating, looked at the new group of people that emerged from the forest. Daniel tried speaking with them, only to be met by a spear to his chest.
"What the hell is wrong with these savages?" an infantryman exclaimed.
"Charge and leave only one alive to interrogate!" Robert shouted in anger. Picking up Daniel's spear, he followed the men into the attack. Although inexperienced in combat, he thrust the spear at a scrawny tribesman, piercing his lung and causing him to spit out blood. Robert tried to control his gag reflex, horrified at seeing someone die right in front of him.
The scout shot an arrow at a tribesman about to stab Robert in the back. "Be careful, my lord. Don't ever show your back to the enemy." Robert instantly came to his senses and ran to Daniel, who was lying on the ground, blood pouring from his wound. "Stay with me, buddy. You can't die yet; you haven't proven yourself to me."
Daniel's eyes were filled with pain, but he managed a weak smile. "My lord, it was an honor serving you. I wish I could have seen the growth of our settlement." His voice was a mere whisper, growing fainter with each word. "Please accomplish... accomplish your dreams."
Tears welled up in Robert's eyes. He clutched Daniel's hand tightly, his voice breaking. "You will not be forgotten, Daniel. I promise."
With a final breath, Daniel's body went limp in Robert's arms. "No… no, no, no!" Robert's shout echoed through the clearing, a mix of anguish and rage. He felt a profound emptiness, a deep sense of loss. The troops finished off the tribesmen with ease, leaving one unconscious. Sorrow filled their eyes at the loss of a comrade.
"Gather the bodies of the enemies," Robert ordered the men, trying to push through the grief. He told himself that Daniel wouldn't want him to dwell on his death.
He looted the bodies of the tribesmen:
[Received: 15 tribal spears, bronze class quest, 1 tribal building blueprint, 10 units of rope, 5 leather sacks]
He walked over to the crab and looted it as well:
[Received: 20 units of blue ember crab meat, 2 units of bronze tier monster core, random treasure map]
The loss of Daniel hung heavily in the air as they returned to the camp. Robert knew he had to lead his men, but the weight of his friend's death was a burden that would not easily lift.