My arrow flew through the air.
For the first time, I drew the bowstring back as far as I could.
The bow creaked under the tension.
I had never pushed it this far before.
But I didn't stop.
I focused my Aura on the arrowhead, coating it with a thin layer of Dark Aura.
Not too much.
Just enough.
The arrow shot forward.
The axe-wielding lizardman threw his weapon at the same moment.
**CLANG!**
The arrow struck the metal edge of the axe.
Normally, the impact should have knocked my arrow aside or split it in two.
Instead, the arrow pierced the axe's edge.
A sharp crack rang through the swamp.
Tiny fragments of metal flew in every direction as the arrow damaged the blade.
The impact changed the arrow's trajectory.
It veered away from its original path, missing the lizardman's head.
But it still struck him.
The arrow grazed his cheek.
Black blood trickled down his face.
The lizardman froze.
He touched the wound and stared at the blood on his fingers.
Then he looked directly at me.
His eyes held something I hadn't seen before.
It looked almost as if he had lost someone important.
I couldn't understand the expression.
I simply smiled.
Then I tightened my grip on Rusty's reins and rode away.
A roar echoed behind me.
*He's furious.*
I didn't look back.
The sky was already growing dark.
It was the fifth day of the hunt, and evening was approaching.
I needed to return to camp.
My right hand throbbed from the strain of drawing the bowstring. My shoulder hurt whenever Rusty moved too sharply, and the rest of my body still ached from the previous battle.
I wrapped a cloth around my injured hand and tightened it.
The pain didn't disappear, but at least the wound was covered.
By the time I reached camp, I was exhausted.
As I entered, I heard some good news.
The scouts had located another group of lizardmen.
Nearly fifty of them, including a mage, had been moving through the area. The hunting party had attacked them, killed many, and brought back several heads as proof of their success.
Five of the six surviving lizardman mages were still unaccounted for.
*Five left.*
I listened for a little longer before returning to my tent.
My body ached, especially around my right shoulder.
I sat down and closed my eyes.
But the moment I did, I saw his face again.
The axe-wielding lizardman.
His expression when he touched the blood on his cheek.
I couldn't understand why he had looked at me that way.
I sighed.
*I'm overthinking it.*
I leaned back and tried to sleep.
But the image remained in my mind.
The damaged axe.
The black blood.
Those eyes.
I closed my eyes again, trying to put the thoughts aside.
But sleep wouldn't come.
After lying there for some time, I sighed and got up.
I stepped outside my tent and began walking around the camp.
The night breeze brushed against my face. The cool air felt pleasant against my skin.
As I walked, I noticed several mercenary office people carrying out their night-watch duties.
Whenever I passed one of them, we exchanged nods.
Everything seemed normal.
I continued walking, enjoying the quiet night.
Usually, I saw patrol groups passing through the camp every fifteen minutes or so.
But after some time, I noticed something strange.
It had been more than thirty minutes since I had last seen a patrol.
I stopped walking.
*Something's wrong.*
I extended my Sensory Field, carefully checking my surroundings.
I couldn't be certain what had happened, but I didn't want to take any unnecessary risks.
*I should return to my tent.*
I turned around and began walking back.
Then—
**Whoosh!**
An arrow flew toward the back of my head.
My instincts screamed.
I immediately threw myself to the ground and rolled aside.
The arrow struck the tree where my head had been a moment earlier.
I looked back.
A lizardman archer was standing on a branch, holding a bow.
He had already nocked another arrow and was aiming directly at me.
"**AMBUSH!**"
I shouted as loudly as I could.
The lizardman released his arrow.
I drew my sword and swung.
**CLANG!**
The arrow deflected off my blade.
The sharp sound echoed through the camp.
I could hear people stirring inside their tents.
The lizardman didn't wait.
He nocked another arrow and aimed at me again.
"**AMBUSH! WAKE UP!**" I shouted.
He released.
I shifted my body, allowing the arrow to pass beside me.
More movement came from the tents behind me.
People were waking up.
Someone shouted a question, while others hurried outside to see what was happening.
At the same time, I sensed movement coming from the lizardmen's direction.
*There are more of them.*
The archer fired again.
I turned and deflected the arrow with my sword.
The impact sent a sharp vibration through my arm.
My injured body couldn't keep this up for long.
Another arrow flew toward my head.
I ducked.
It passed over me.
Then I heard the twang of bowstrings releasing in the darkness.
**Thung! Thung!**
Under the dark sky, I could barely make out the arrows flying toward me.
I glanced around.
A wooden basin filled with water stood nearby.
An idea came to me.
I rushed toward it and tipped it over.
Water spilled across the ground.
I crouched behind the basin, raising my left arm in front of my face.
**CRACK!**
An arrow struck the wooden basin, sending fragments flying.
I gritted my teeth.
The basin wouldn't protect me for long.
*I just need to survive until the others arrive.*