Reigns looked at Ren with a subtle gaze wondering about Ren’s perception stat.

Thankfully,Ren’s warning had come at the exact right moment. A second late would have been disastrous.

The group slowly steadied themselves after the sudden attack. The smell of burnt soil lingered in the air, and small bits of dirt still fell back to the ground where the arrow had struck.

A faint rustle came from above.

Reigns’ eyes narrowed slightly as he lifted his head.

Several figures appeared among the trees that had almost blended with the shadows.

Then, one by one, archers revealed themselves, standing or crouching on thick branches. Some even seemed to hover slightly, supported by skills or light footing techniques.

They had already drawn their bows, and their aim was locked onto the group ahead.

The tension in the air rose instantly.

Arvin stepping forward slightly, raised one hand to signal his team to stay calm. He looked stern but his voice remained calm.

"It’s okay we will take our leave."

A voice came from above, filled with clear arrogance."Hmm!At least you know your place."

The archers did not lower their bows. Their eyes remained fixed, watching every movement like predators observing prey.

Arvin slowly lowered his hand and nodded.

Without saying anything else, he turned around. The rest of the group followed.No one spoke, but the uneasiness was clear in their expressions.

Reigns walked quietly among them, but his senses remained alert. He could still feel the weight of those arrows aimed at their backs.

Behind them, the archers continued watching.

One of them let out a low chuckle as he relaxed his stance slightly.

"See,I told you they are just weakling."

Another archer shifted his grip on the bow and glanced at the others. His eyes were cold and calculating.

"The preliminary assessment was good.Then let’s finish the job."

A few of them nodded subtly.

...

Meanwhile, Reigns and his group continued walking back.

The group continued moving deeper into the forest but no one truly relaxed. Each of them stayed alert, and their eyes constantly scanned the surroundings.

It was one hell of a start.

Soon the trees grew thicker, and the ground became uneven with roots and fallen branches. The sounds of battle from earlier areas faded, and this part of the forest felt quieter, but the peace presented to them might be a trap.

Ren slowed his steps and raised his hand again signaling the group to stop.

He crouched slightly and touched the ground, then pointed ahead. Fresh claw marks were visible on the bark of a nearby tree, and the soil had been disturbed.

"Be careful," he said.

"I am feeling restless."

A faint growl echoed from the bushes.

Before anyone could react further, a large creature burst out from the dense foliage.

It was a Fangback Boar.

Its body was covered in thick, dark hide that looked almost like armor. Sharp bone-like spikes ran along its back, and its red eyes were filled with aggression. Steam escaped from its nostrils as it dug its hooves into the ground.

"Spread out!" Arvin shouted.

The boar charged forward with terrifying speed.

Kellar moved first. He stepped to the side and swung his shield hard toward its flank. The impact landed, but the tough hide absorbed most of the force. Still, it managed to shift the boar’s path slightly.

Ren quickly repositioned and released an arrow. The arrow struck near its shoulder, but it did not penetrate deeply.

"Be careful, it seems tough!" Ren muttered as he stepped back.

Lira raised her hand, and a faint glow formed around her palm. A small burst of energy shot forward and struck the boar’s head, slowing it for a brief moment.

It was the opposite of buff that she had unlocked on leveling up her buff skills.

"Now!" Arvin shouted.

Reigns stepped forward. With a slight motion of his hand, his plant summon reacted.

Two Splash Shooters emerged and released a burst of compressed force, striking the boar directly in the side.

The impact pushed the beast off balance.

Kellar took the chance and struck again, this time aiming for its neck. The combined attacks finally broke through its defense. The boar let out a loud, pained roar before collapsing heavily onto the ground.

[You have killed Lv 5 Fangback boar.]

[You have gained 80 days of tradable lifespan.]

Reigns sighed in regret.This was the dermerit of hunting in groups.

Then Kellar let out a breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Not bad."

Arvin nodded, but he did not relax yet.

"Stay sharp. This area might havw more."

They moved forward again, this time even more carefully.

After some distance, the forest opened slightly into a wider clearing. The ground here was covered with trampled grass, and scattered bones could be seen around. A faint, unsettling silence filled the area.

Reigns’ eyes narrowed.

"This place..." he muttered softly.

A low howl echoed that was followed by another.

From the edges of the clearing, shadows began to emerge..

One by one, beasts stepped out from the trees.

They were wolves, but much larger than normal ones. Their fur was dark gray, and their eyes glowed faintly in the dim light. Their muscles were clearly visible beneath their skin, and their sharp fangs reflected a cold gleam.

Arvin’s expression turned serious.

"Direwolves..."

More of them appeared, forming a loose circle around the group.

Reigns quickly assessed them and spoke in a tense voice,

"Level 5... group of them."

The wolves lowered their bodies slightly, ready to pounce at any moment. Their growls grew deeper, and their eyes stayed locked onto the group.

The moment the Direwolves finished surrounding them, the tension snapped.

A sharp howl tore through the clearing, and in the next second, the wolves lunged forward together.

"Hold your ground!" Arvin shouted as he raised his sword prepared to unleash his attack.

Two wolves rushed from the front while another tried to circle from the side. Their coordination was clean and fast, like they had done this many times before.

But Reigns did not step back.

His eyes turned sharp, and with a slight movement of his hand,he muttered

"BLOOM!"

Three summoning circles appeared on the ground around him.

In the next instant, three plant summons rose.

A Splash Shooter burst out first and its mouth swell before releasing a pressurized shot that slammed into an incoming Direwolf, forcing it to slide across the ground and leave a deep trail in the soil.

Reigns stepped forward pulling out his weapon.

His hand tightened around his newly equipped scythe. The blade gleamed faintly as he swung it in a clean arc.

The strike was fast, but it lacked precision. The wolf twisted its body at the last moment and barely avoided the blade. Its claws scraped against the ground as it landed and immediately prepared to jump again.

Reigns narrowed his eyes slightly.

The wolf leaped around him, trying to find an opening.

But before it could strike, a burst of orbs from the Splash Shooter slammed into its legs. The force tore through its balance and ripped into its flesh, making the wolf stumble and crash to the ground with a painful yelp.

Reigns used this opportunity without hesitation.

He stepped in and swung his scythe again.

The first wolf tried to dodge, but it was too late.

The scythe cut across its side, and the force behind the strike sent the beast crashing into the ground.

A notification rang instantly in his mind.

[You have killed Lv5 Direwolf.]

[You have gained 400 days tradable lifespan.]

Reigns did not pause.

Another wolf leaped toward him from the right, its jaws wide open and aimed at his neck.

His right hand holding the scythe was a bit away so he twisted his arm,and shot out his left hand.

BAng!