"Oh my god, is this even real?"
"Are female vampires all covered in fur, with bat-like pointy ears and a mouthful of fangs?"
"I've never seen a vampire woman before, only bloodsucking bats—and those things definitely can't turn into humans."
Everyone was buzzing with curiosity.
Yet not a single soul was afraid.
As seasoned warriors of the hillfolk, each of them had survived countless battles, clashing blades with both Trolls and Orcs. The mere mention of vampires wasn't enough to instill fear. Even Cathril and Ameliah, the only two women among them, looked more curious than worried.
Caden slammed his war axe onto the ground with a thud, completely unfazed. "Doesn't matter what kind of monster it is—if it dares show its face in front of me, I'll show it what an axe can do."
Zakri plucked his bowstring with a twang. "No matter how high a vampire can fly, my arrows will bring it down."
Spirits ran high. Bursts of hearty laughter echoed through the cave.
The night passed without incident.
…
The Next Day
At first light, the group planned to cross the entire mountain range under the cover of sunlight, believing the darkness would retreat and hide its dangers.
But by midday, a sudden downpour halted them in their tracks.
"Damn it! It was bright sunshine a moment ago—how did it suddenly start pouring like this?"
"My clothes were nearly soaked through!"
…
They took shelter beneath a cliffside ledge.
Kaen watched the dense fog rising in the mountains, his expression growing grim.
The Misty Mountains were notoriously unpredictable, shrouded in ever-present fog—especially during the autumn and winter seasons. And once the fog swallowed the range, the beasts hiding within it would begin to stir.
With that in mind, Kaen spoke. "This rain doesn't look like it'll let up anytime soon. We need to find a place to light a fire, or wild beasts will come sniffing around when night falls."
Lairon nodded. "There are usually lots of caves beneath cliffs like these. We can try and find a decent one."
"Alright. Everyone, split up and search."
The group fanned out, scouting for shelter. But just moments later, a furious roar echoed from nearby—Caden's voice.
"You filthy beasts! Die!"
When the others rushed over, they found Caden locked in combat, surrounded by seven or eight Orcs with savage faces and jagged fangs.
Five or six Orc corpses already lay sprawled at his feet. With each mighty swing of his war axe, another monster's head went flying.
"Attack!"
Without hesitation, Kaen drew his longsword and joined the fray.
EXP +1
EXP +1
By the time the others arrived, the last of the Orcs had been slain by the duo.
"Caden! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. These bastards tried to ambush me, but I hacked a few down before the Lord arrived. Together we wiped them out."
"My lord…"
"I'm fine as well," Kaen replied, shaking his head. He had just slain five Orcs—gaining 5 points of experience.
Level: 1 (91/200)
"Rrraaaaghhh!"
Suddenly, a deep roar rolled out from the forest nearby.
Everyone's faces changed at once.
"Damn, it's a Troll!"
"Run! We need to get out of here. These beasts never show up alone!"
They barely managed a few steps before the trees behind them trembled violently. Then a towering creature—four or five meters tall, hairless and grotesque—burst through the woods.
It wielded a massive wooden club, its two eyes fixed on the group, drool dripping from its mouth as it muttered over and over: "Food… fresh food…"
"Hey, beast!" Zakri shouted. "You stink like a stone from a latrine—can't bear to breathe around you!"
He loosed an arrow, striking the Troll right in one eye.
The beast howled in pain.
"Now! Finish it!"
Everyone surged forward, weapons swinging. But the Troll's thick hide and dense flesh turned their blows into mere surface wounds.
Then Kaen leapt from a nearby boulder, driving his sword deep into the monster's other eye. With a final shriek, the Troll collapsed to the ground—dead.
EXP +10
"Look out! More Orcs incoming!"
Ameliah's voice rang out from the side of the battlefield.
The group turned sharply.
A horde of Orcs was rushing in from all directions. Ameliah, gripping a longsword, was locked in fierce combat. Cathril, closest to her, darted forward to guard her back.
"Lairon! We need to get out of here!" Kaen barked. "The noise is drawing every monster nearby!"
"Caden, Mundar! You two take point! We're breaking west—cut us a path!"
"Yes, sir!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Kaen led the group in a charge westward.
They were under constant attack—Orcs harried them at every turn.
"Awoooo!"
Suddenly, a chilling wolf-howl echoed from behind them.
Seven or eight massive Warg mounts bounded through the forest, their fangs gleaming as they gave chase.
Mundar, who was leading the way, shouted, "Lord! There's a cave up ahead!"
Kaen didn't hesitate. "Into the cave!"
While running, he sheathed his sword and grabbed the bow from his back.
He shouted to Zakri running beside him.
Zakri understood instantly.
Together, they spun and fired—two arrows flew through the air.
Thwack!
Awooo…!
The lead Warg let out a pained whimper, tumbling and rolling across the forest floor.
The ones behind it stumbled over the fallen beast, sending the pack into disarray.
The chaos gave the others just enough time to scramble into the cave.
"Hurry! Get inside while they're disoriented!"
The cave's entrance was narrow—only one person could enter at a time. Kaen was the last to slip in.
Just as he did, a Warg lunged after him—but its bulky body got stuck at the entrance. Without hesitation, Kaen drove his blade into the beast's skull.
EXP +5
Level: 1 (127/200)
His experience bar had passed the halfway mark. It wouldn't be long before his next level-up.
…
"This looks like an Orc tunnel," Zakri muttered, pointing at the tracks on the ground.
As the hillfolk's most skilled tracker, he could identify any creature by its trail.
"If it's an Orc tunnel, there must be other exits," Mundar added. "Those cunning creatures wouldn't leave themselves only one way out."
Kaen nodded. "In that case, we have no choice—we'll have to find another exit."
Fwoosh—
A torch was lit. With nowhere else to go, they could only venture deeper into the cave.
At first there was only one path. But the farther they went, the more forks they encountered—until the cave system became a vast underground labyrinth.
They wandered for hours.
Just as the torchlight began to fade, firelight flickered in the distance—accompanied by eerie shrieks and clamor.
The group quickly extinguished their torch and crept forward silently.
The glow brightened with each step, until they reached the edge of a massive underground cavern.
Everyone held their breath as they peered downward—and their eyes widened in disbelief.
A vast army of monsters had gathered below.
Hundreds of Wargs.
Dozens of towering Trolls.
And a seemingly endless horde of snarling Orcs.
Countless bridges crisscrossed the cavern, forming a chaotic web of walkways. Orcs marched back and forth across them, shouting and clanging weapons together.
The sound of hammering rang out amid twisted chants and crude slogans that echoed through the stone hall.
Atop a high platform sat a grotesquely bloated Orc, wearing a crooked crown.
He clutched a warped scepter, bellowing out an atrocious song:
"Swing the hammers! Forge the blades!
Gather the horde! Let war be made!
Plunder the gold, take what we crave!
Enslave the Elves, and Men make slaves!
We are the blade of shadow and doom,
Striking our foes to their very tomb!"
"Awooo! Awooo! Awooo—!"
The chorus of Orcs shrieked in sync with their leader's voice, unleashing a cacophony of harsh howls and frenzied war cries that stabbed like knives into the ears of those above.