Among the towering dense forest, the Dark Elf was leading a Beastman troop, slowly weaving through the massive trees. These Beastmen were generally robust, with a few particularly brawny bear people mixed in, larger than the other Jackal Wolf People.

These bear people held roles clearly akin to small leaders within the troop, even carrying iron weapons in their hands.

It's quite remarkable, for Beastmen do not know how to forge iron. Iron weapons typically come from the Human World, obtained through invasion, plunder, or trade, making them extremely precious within the entire Kawa Great Forest. Yet, these bear people, as leaders of the Beastman troop, each wielded one.

And these iron weapons matched their owners perfectly, being mostly crude, large, and black, including huge iron hammers and wolf fang clubs. With the bear people's massive frames swinging them, the force might even crush a Minotaur with a single blow.

The status of bear people in the Beastman race is quite high, even higher than Centaurs, because it's said that a trace of blood bearing Extraordinary Abilities flows within them. Even without activating and entering the Domain of Extraordinary Professionals, their strength outmatches ordinary Beastmen by a fair margin.

No wonder the bear people held positions higher than ordinary Beastmen, becoming small leaders within the Beastman troop.

Even though there were only about three hundred Beastmen in such an elite group, it could undoubtedly hold its own against twice or even thrice that number of enemies.

"Hog, how far to the Dragon's Nest?"

Looking at the undulating mountains ahead and the seemingly endless vast forest, the Dark Elf frowned slightly and asked Hog, the Jackal Wolfman leading the way beside him.

For some reason, upon entering this area, a faint sense of unease gripped the Dark Elf's heart, as if something were about to happen, yet nothing did, as if it were just a figment of the imagination.

It must be overthinking, the Dark Elf thought to himself.

After all, it's just a young orphan dragon with only about a hundred Clan members. Perhaps stronger than an average Giant Beast, but under their powerful troop, it would at most hold on a bit longer.

"About half a day's journey remaining, perhaps."

Hog glanced around and provided a somewhat uncertain answer.

The last time he was here was when Austin lit the signal smoke pillar to attract people; the skyward pillar of smoke was visible nearly ten miles around. Adding that it's been more than half a year, it's normal for Hog not to remember clearly.

"Then let's take a break here midway."

Having traveled such a long distance, the Dark Elf felt hungry as well, intending to camp here for a rest. After the Beastmen finished eating, they would proceed.

The individual strength of these Beastmen was quite formidable, with physical qualities stronger than the Dragon Nest Tribe, but in terms of discipline, they fell far short.

With the Dark Elf's announcement to camp, the previously loose ranks quickly turned into chaotic dispersal. Some sat down, others wandered; there were those eating jerky and drinking water. Additionally, some Beastmen lit fires, and about a dozen, led by a bear person leader, entered the forest, hoping to hunt fresh food or find edible fruits.

The Beastman troop, now dispersed into complete disarray, had no sense of security or awareness of defense, with only the Dark Elf occasionally eyeing the surrounding jungle for any signs of danger.

This wasn't unusual since even during wars among large tribes in Kawa Great Forest, the combat was primal, resembling battles of primitive hordes, lacking tactics or command. Everyone just followed powerful leaders forward, either killing enemies or being killed.

The Dark Elf's vigilance was merely due to concerns about potential Giant Beast assaults within the forest.

After resting for about an hour, the scattered Beastmen had finished eating most of their provisions, and the campfires had been stoked several times.

"What's going on? Why hasn't that hunting party returned yet?"

The Dark Elf furrowed his brow. While foraging for food during marching wasn't forbidden—since the required food for a campaign couldn't be fully carried—suiting up for hunting or gathering fruits during camp was necessary to supplement supplies.

Take the Dark Elf's group, for instance; they carried just two or three pieces of jerky, while the more impoverished brought only some tubers, enough for just one meal. Supplementing food while camping, then receiving more rations upon breaching that Blue Dragon's lair, was naturally expected.

The Beastman troop's outings during camping had practically become an unwritten rule; nonetheless, since they were on a march, the Beastmen hunting or foraging wouldn't typically be delayed too long before regrouping.

But now, why haven't they returned after so long?

"Milord, perhaps they encountered some formidable prey. Let's wait a bit more,"

Hog advised from the side.

The Dark Elf gave no definitive response. For some reason, a sudden irritability rose within him.

He rose to his feet, pacing the clearing, frowning occasionally at the outer sky and the green overgrown forest without a single gap.

Upon the fifth loop around, a sudden chilling sense jolted his mind.

"Not good, there's danger, quickly get up and prepare for battle!"

Finally, he understood what felt wrong.

No matter how perilous the forest, the occasional sound of insects and birdsong would emerge.

But now, everything was too silent!

It was deathly still, devoid of any sound, as if something terrifying lurked in the darkness, with its ominous threat causing even birds and insects to tremble in fear, refusing to utter a sound.

The Dark Elf abruptly grasped the longbow on his back, flipping and fastening it tightly in his hand, attentively scanning the surroundings.

At that moment, the scattered Beastman troop around the campfire looked bewildered. Many instinctively stood up, yet knew not what transpired.

It was at this moment that

swish, swish, swish....

An unending whistle through the air resounded as arrows swiftly sliced the air from above, raining down upon the Beastmen in the clearing. Arrows fell like locusts, dense as a downpour, instantly enveloping the area where the Jackal Wolfman Tribe's Beastmen stood.

This rain of arrows descended with such suddenness and speed that before the Beastmen of the Jackal Wolfman Tribe could react, the arrows pierced through the air, immediately penetrating their bodies, spilling crimson sprays of blood. Immediately, twenty to thirty were struck, crashing heavily to the ground, their fates unknown.

"Enemy attack! Quickly hide!"

Only now did the Beastmen of the Jackal Wolfman Tribe scream in fright, scattering in panic like headless flies, rushing in all directions.

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