By sunset, the shelter was finally complete.
After hours of gathering wood, cutting branches, and securing the frame, Marcus and the others had managed to build simple but sturdy structures.
Thick logs supported the walls, while branches and wooden planks formed a crude roof overhead. They weren’t proper houses, but they offered enough protection from the wind and a safe place for the group to rest.
With the main structure finished, their attention had shifted to the next priority...
Defending the territory.
Garrick Holt was busy sharpening thick branches into wooden stakes, while Marcus examined the surrounding ground, deciding where they could establish a basic defensive perimeter.
"Master, the first batch is ready," Garrick announced, holding up a sharpened wooden stake.
Eren examined it before looking at the growing pile beside him.
"How many more can we make before nightfall?"
"Quite a few, provided we have enough people helping. But simply sharpening them won’t be enough. We need to know where to place them."
"Explain," Eren walked a bit closer and ordered.
Garrick pointed toward the open ground surrounding the shelter.
"We should focus on the areas where monsters can approach us easily. If we plant the stakes in staggered rows, with their sharp ends facing outward, anything charging toward us will have a harder time getting through. We should also leave a narrow entrance so we can move in and out without compromising the entire perimeter."
He paused before pointing farther away.
"We can dig shallow pits in front of the stakes and cover them with branches. They won’t stop a powerful monster, but they could slow it down long enough for us to attack."
Eren nodded thoughtfully.
They couldn’t build a fortress in a few hours, but they could make an attack more difficult.
"Do it. Mark the traps clearly so none of us falls into one by mistake. Strengthen the perimeter before nightfall."
"Understood, my Lord."
Eren was about to give another instruction when he noticed two figures approaching from the distance.
Vaelzara walked ahead, her crimson eyes scanning the surroundings. Rowan followed behind her, looking considerably less comfortable than his companion.
They had returned from their scouting mission.
However, something about their expressions made Eren approach them immediately.
"You’re back earlier than I expected."
"We found something," Vaelzara replied.
Eren’s expression turned serious.
"What is it?"
"Ashfang Wolves," Rowan answered. "Quite a few of them, judging by the tracks."
"Ashfang Wolves? Uhhh..."
Eren genuinely showed that it was the first time he was hearing a monster name that sounded like that, but he overlooked it swiftly.
"How far away?"
"We couldn’t determine their exact distance from here, but the tracks were fresh. They’re heading somewhere in this direction."
Vaelzara folded her arms.
"If they maintain their current route, they’ll reach the settlement. They’re intelligent enough to exploit weaknesses in a settlement’s defenses, so I suggest we prepare accordingly."
Eren glanced toward the shelter.
’Of course.’
He had barely started building his territory, and monsters were already coming to tear it apart!
"Everyone, gather around!" Visit g.com for the full chapter.
The workers stopped what they were doing and turned toward him.
"A pack of Ashfang Wolves is heading toward us. We don’t know when they’ll arrive, so we’re preparing for an attack."
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Eren didn’t give them time to panic.
"Marcus and Garrick, finish strengthening the perimeter and prepare the wooden stakes. Dig shallow traps along the open approaches, but leave us a clear path to move through. Mark every trap so nobody steps into one accidentally."
Both men nodded.
"Kael, help them until the defenses are ready. After that, you’ll join the fighting group."
Eren turned toward the others.
"Darius and Roland, you’ll hold the entrance. Kael will support you, while Elias and Lyra attack from behind the stakes. Rowan, you’ll help us identify the wolves’ approach and watch for anything trying to circle around us."
"Understood, my Lord," they all answered.
"As for Aldric, Miriam, and the other non-combatants, you’ll remain inside the shelter once the preparations are complete. Your Classes aren’t suited for combat, and I’m not risking unnecessary casualties."
Aldric was the first to frown.
"But, my Lord. We can still help!"
"You already are," Eren replied. "We need farmers, builders, and healers just as much as we need fighters. If you get injured, we’ll lose more than we gain. Stay alive and help us rebuild after the attack."
Miriam nodded in agreement, and Aldric reluctantly accepted.
The group were about going straight back to their duties when Vaelzara’s amused voice interrupted them.
"However, I don’t see why you need to go through all this trouble. I can eliminate the entire pack myself."
Elena approached from beside the shelter the next moment, posing a captivatingly confident stance at she looked at him.
"I can freeze their approach and immobilize them before they reach us."
Before she could finish speaking, Hela rested a hand on her greatsword and faced them.
"And I’ll cut down anything that gets through. We don’t need to complicate things."
Vaelzara glanced at her.
"How reassuring. I was beginning to worry you’d forgotten how to use that sword."
"At least I don’t need to talk endlessly before doing something useful."
Vaelzara’s smile sharpened as she shook her head slightly.
"Perhaps you’d like to demonstrate your usefulness by learning when to keep your mouth shut."
Hela’s expression hardened.
"Say that again."
"Enough."
At once, Eren’s voice silenced them.
He had to intervene because he knew how a conflict between them can immediately cripple the group in a breath.
He looked at the three legendary spirits.
"I know how powerful you are. But you’re forgetting something important."
Vaelzara raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"And what would that be, Master?" Find the original chapter at g.com.
"You’re all starting at Level One. Your mana is extremely limited. You can’t unleash your strongest abilities and expect to keep fighting afterward."
The three women fell silent.
Eren had already checked their status, and he knew exactly how little mana they possessed, and he had no intention of letting their pride put everyone in danger.
"Even if you could defeat this pack alone, what happens if you exhaust yourselves and something more dangerous appears afterward? What if another pack attacks almost immediately? I need a defense that doesn’t depend entirely on your abilities."
Vaelzara studied him for a moment before smiling faintly.
"So you’re concerned about what happens after we run out of mana."
"I’m concerned about what happens if we rely entirely on you and something goes wrong."
"Fair enough."
Eren almost found her immediate agreement more surprising than her earlier argument.
He continued assigning their positions.
"Hela, you’ll remain near the entrance with Darius and Roland. Elena, stay behind the first line. If I ever need you to freeze the entire pack, I will urge you with pleasure. I don’t want you wasting mana trying to freeze the entire battlefield."
"It’s just an Ashfang Wolf Pack we are talking about here."
Both women accepted his instructions.
"Vaelzara, help coordinate the defenses and identify our weaknesses. If the wolves approach from somewhere unexpected, I want to know immediately."
"As you wish, Master."
Eren turned toward the others.
"Everyone, get moving! I want the traps ready before the wolves arrive. Nobody abandons their assigned position without informing me."
The group dispersed.
Marcus and Garrick returned to their work, while the fighters checked their weapons. Elias and Lyra prepared their bows, and Rowan remained with Vaelzara to help assess the surrounding terrain.
For the first time since arriving in the Dominion Expanse, Eren felt as though his little group was beginning to function as a proper team.
They had a plan, defensive preparations, and people willing to fight.
It wasn’t much, but it was better than doing nothing.
Eren walked toward the entrance and examined the sharpened stakes.
Beyond them lay the barren Ashen Frontier, where a pack of Ashfang Wolves was supposedly making its way toward his territory.
He had no idea how many there were or how strong they might be, but he couldn’t afford to let fear control his decisions.
"My Lord. Are you sure you are really going to join us?"
Eren turned to find Rowan standing behind him.
"Yes, why?" He asked with furrowed brows.
The scout glanced at the weapons being prepared by the others before looking back at Eren.
"You... You are only having an utility knife..."
Eren looked down at the small utility knife attached to his survival kit. Then he looked back at Rowan.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
’Oh, right.’ He thought.
He was about to lead his people into battle against a pack of monsters.
And the only weapon he had was a damned utility knife...!
’Well, blame that on the Human Faction’s Settlement Program.’