Free Web NovelChapter 13: Chapter 14
Time Skip – One Week Later
Leon stood on a raised wooden platform overlooking the camp. Behind him, thick, sharpened wooden stakes lined the perimeter in uneven rows, their pointed ends jutting outward like menacing teeth.
The gaps between them were patched with stacked stones, crudely mortared together, making it nearly impossible for anything large to squeeze through.
Ahead, the ground had been cleared of debris, the uneven earth now packed flat and solid underfoot, forming pathways between the makeshift huts. Smoke curled up from a few fire pits, the savory smell of roasting meat and boiling stew spreading through the air.
The addition of these lookout points gave them a vantage over the surrounding forest, making it harder for threats to sneak up undetected. A week ago, this spot was nothing but dirt and tangled roots. Now, it felt like a small fort.
Below him, the people moved purposefully. A pair of women hefted buckets of fresh water from a nearby stream, their clothing streaked with dirt but their expressions lighthearted. A group of four men lugged bundles of thick branches toward the firewood stacks.
Leon crossed his arms, surveying the camp from the platform. Satisfied, he opened the System Panel with a thought.
A translucent, faintly glowing screen materialized in his vision, flickering as if alive. It displayed clear, concise information about the tribe’s progress:
[Management Panel]
Population: 9 (+1)
Structures: 10
Shelters: 5
Watchtowers: 2
Workstations: 2 (Herbal Prep, Tool Crafting)
Storage Depot: 1
Resource Stockpile:
Food: 35 Units (Preserved: 20)
Wood: 120 Units
Stone: 65 Units
Water: Abundant
Defenses:
Spike Barricades: Fully Deployed (100% Coverage)
Traps: 6 (5 Active, 1 Maintenance Needed)
Leon arched an eyebrow at the last line, making a mental note to inspect the damaged trap later. It wasn’t catastrophic, but in their situation, even minor cracks in security could snowball into disaster.
...
Leon sat on the steps of his platform, a faint creak echoing beneath him as he shifted.
"Leon." The soft voice pulled his focus up. Elys stood a few steps away, holding a clay bowl, thin steam curling upward. Her hesitation lingered in the way her fingers tightened around its edge.
He raised an eyebrow. "What’s this?"
She stepped closer, the faint blush on her cheeks almost lost in the fading sunlight. "You’ve been busy all day. I thought... you might be hungry."
Without waiting for a response, she held the bowl out. "It’s just stew. Nothing fancy."
Leon took it, his palms soaking in the warmth of the clay. The savory aroma hit him first—herbs, meat, a faint smokiness. He dipped the spoon in and took a bite. The stew spread its warmth through him, comforting and simple.
"Not bad," he said, glancing up with a small grin. "Could use a bit more salt, though."
Elys shifted, her arms folding defensively. "You could’ve made it yourself then."
"But you didn’t eat it yourself," he teased, his grin softening. "You brought it to me."
Her blush deepened. She tried to look unaffected but couldn’t help tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Leon’s eyes followed the gesture, the slight shyness in it catching his attention.
"Elys," he said, his voice teasing yet warm, "you’re blushing."
Her fingers froze mid-motion, and her eyes darted to the ground. "No, I’m not."
He chuckled, setting the bowl beside him. "You’re a terrible liar."
She straightened, her protest stuck somewhere between indignation and flustered silence. When her eyes met his, her breath hitched, the faint rhythm of her pulse betraying her composure.
Leon tilted his head slightly, his smirk returning. "Let me guess—this is my charisma at work, huh?"
Elys’ lips parted, searching for a comeback, but instead, she just laughed quietly, the sound catching Leon by surprise. "You’re impossible, you know."
"And yet you brought me stew," he countered, lifting the bowl with an exaggerated flourish.
"Someone has to make sure you survive," she muttered, turning away before he could see her smile widen. "Don’t choke on it."
Leon chuckled, watching her retreating figure. ’Yeah... teasing her might be my new favorite pastime.’
Leon leaned back, resting his elbows on the steps as he watched Elys retreat, her figure framed by the warm hues of the setting sun.
As the sun sank lower, he leaned back on the steps, the fading light brushing against the camp. After a moment, he called out, "Elys."
She stopped, turning slightly, her eyes catching the warm glow of a nearby flame. "What?"
He patted the space beside him. "Sit for a moment."
She hesitated, glancing at the camp as though searching for an excuse, but eventually sighed and walked back. The wood creaked softly as she sat next to him, her hands resting in her lap.
Leon glanced at her, letting a comfortable silence settle. Finally, he asked, "I don’t mean to pry, but... how’d you end up here?"
Elys stiffened, her hands tensing slightly. She stared at the ground, avoiding his gaze. "I... don’t want to talk about it."
Leon studied her, his expression softening. "That’s okay," he said after a pause. "I get it. Some things are better left alone."
She blinked, clearly surprised by his lack of insistence. Her shoulders relaxed slightly, though her eyes stayed wary. "Thanks."
He gave her a small smile. "You brought me stew, remember? That already makes you better company than most people."
Elys huffed, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Well, I wasn’t about to let you starve."
...
When everybody was asleep, Leon found himself standing on the platform. Something felt off, like a presence was lurking just out of reach. He stood still, his eyes scanning the darkened landscape below.
A chill ran down his spine as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Something isn’t right...
With a grim expression, he grabbed his AR and quickly attached the thermal vision scope, closing one eye as he peered into the scope, examining the forest through the night. freewёbnoνel.com
As he focused, his eyes narrowed. The thermal scope revealed movement—lots of it. Figures moving stealthily among the trees. He couldn’t make out exactly who they were, their size was not like a human—they were about 4-5 feet tall.
The heat signatures were clear, roughly 30 to 40 creatures, scattered throughout the forest, creeping like shadows, low to the ground. His grip on the rifle tightened as he counted them in his head.
’Who are they?’
The creatures were moving cautiously, some pausing to peer around the trees, others low and silent, as if trying to avoid detection. Leon could tell they weren’t alone out here.
One of them broke from the pack, making its way toward the outer perimeter of the settlement. Leon followed its movement, the tension rising with each step it took.
Without hesitation, he aimed his rifle and fired. The sharp crack of the gunshot rang out across the camp, cutting through the silence of the night. The figure went down immediately, crumpling into the ground.
The rest of the creatures froze, their heads turning toward the direction of the gunshot. A few moments later, another darted out from behind a tree, making a break for the same area.
More of them?
Leon didn’t waste any time. He fired again, taking down the second figure, and another, and another, as they appeared, trying to rush the walls.
The sharp retort of the rifle filled the night air as the invaders slammed into the spike defense wall, the first wave impaled on the sharp, unforgiving wood. Some shrieked as their bodies pierced the spikes, their struggles weak and frantic as they hung there, lifeless.
Leon moved methodically, picking off targets as they attempted to scale or push past the barricades. Their primitive wooden spears looked laughable against the strength of the fortifications and the precision of his rifle.
They tried to close the distance, some charging, others trying to throw spears, but with each attack, they were cut down swiftly, most crumpling to the ground before they could even reach the walls.
Those who had survived the first wave seemed to hesitate, seeing the ease with which their comrades were slaughtered. They faltered, weapons shaking in their hands, their fierce cries reduced to hushed murmurs.
Slowly, the surviving attackers dropped their spears, their faces showing fear, their eyes wide and filled with confusion.
Without any further resistance, they raised their hands in surrender, standing in the shadow of their fallen comrades, some on their knees, others shaking uncontrollably. The fear in the air was palpable, the gunfire still ringing in their ears.
Elys and the others began to stir from their sleep, the sound of the rifle shots having ripped through the stillness. Leon didn’t take his eyes off the enemy, but his stance relaxed just a fraction, watching to see how the situation would unfold.
"Looks like this isn’t going to be a fight," Leon muttered quietly under his breath, still holding his rifle steady.
