"No idea."
The first voice answered.
"But if we catch them, we will find out. If we offer them to Blood-Soaked Claw, we will receive a reward."
Blood-Soaked Claw. The name of the Tiger Tribe's chieftain. He was famous for his cruelty. There were rumors that he skinned enemies alive.
"Yes, he will probably give us a good position."
Laughter rang out. A vile, cruel laugh.
The footsteps stopped. Right in front of us. Less than three meters away. Too close. Close enough to hear their breathing.
"Huh? The footprints disappeared. Strange."
A man said.
"Strange. They definitely came up to here.... Did they fly into the sky?"
Another man said.
"Do not say stupid things. How could people fly?"
The first man scolded him.
"Then where did they go?"
Now.
This was the perfect timing. The enemies were confused. Their formation had loosened, their guard had dropped, and they had lowered their weapons. The best possible moment.
"Now!"
I burst out from behind the rock. I sprinted with all my strength. I put strength into my legs, stamped against the ground with all my power, and shot forward explosively. Holding the Bronze Sword high.
The sword flashed in the sunlight, and its golden light shone like a burst of lightning.
"What the hell?!"
The Tiger Tribe warriors shouted in surprise. Fear flashed across their faces. Their eyes widened, their mouths opened, and their faces turned pale. For them, it was a completely unexpected situation.
"Ambush!"
"Raise your weapons!"
They tried to respond, but it was already too late. They had no time to react. I was already before them.
There were seven of them. All men. Strong builds. They looked experienced in battle. They were armed with stone spears and stone knives.
On their faces were tiger-stripe tattoos. From forehead to chin, black stripes. Like the face of a tiger. The mark of the Tiger Tribe.
Ding!
『Combat Start: Tiger Tribe Scouting Party』
→ Enemy Count: 7
→ Estimated Combat Power: Average 15
→ Ally Count: 5
→ Ambush Bonus Applied!
"Raaaaah!"
I ran while shouting. A shout was psychological warfare. It intimidated the enemy and raised allies' morale. I shouted at the top of my lungs, expelling all the air from them.
I led the charge. I rushed at the nearest enemy. He was trying to raise his spear from waist height to shoulder height, but he could not block in time. I was already in front of him.
I swung the Bronze Sword with all my strength behind it. Even the rotational force of my shoulder and waist. I planted my right foot, twisted my waist, turned my shoulder, and extended my arm. A perfect rotational slash.
SLICE—!
The enemy's spear was cut away. The bronze blade cleanly cut through the wooden shaft. There was almost no resistance, as though cutting through air. The shaft was sliced like paper. The spear, split in two, fell to the ground.
Thud, thud.
The wood rolled across the ground.
Ding!
『Bronze Sword Power Displayed!』
→ Stone Weapon Destroyed
"Wh-What is that thing?!"
The enemy was horrified. He looked at the severed spear with an expression of disbelief. His mouth hung open, his eyes went round, and he looked down at the half-spear in his hand.
"My spear... My spear was cut!"
"What kind of sword is that?!"
Fear was buried in their voices.
I did not stop. If I stopped, I would die. I had to maintain momentum. I swung the sword again. A backhand swing as I rotated in the opposite direction.
From left to right, twisting my waist the other way. The blade cut into the enemy's shoulder. Sharp bronze sliced through flesh and split muscle.
"Aaagh!"
The enemy collapsed. His shoulder had been cut deeply, and blood sprayed like a fountain. Red blood surged into the air and fell in an arc. It seemed to have cut down to the bone, and his arm drooped limp, strength gone from it.
Ding!
『Enemy 1 Incapacitated』
→ Remaining Enemies: 6
"Ugh...."
The enemy fell to the ground and groaned, and blood pooled beneath him. He clutched his shoulder and writhed, blood flowing between his fingers.
"Kill them!"
Solid Rock followed from behind. He charged while shouting. His enormous body rushed forward, and the ground seemed to shake. He threw his spear and brought down another enemy. The spear flew through the air, fast and accurate, and lodged in the enemy's chest.
THUNK—!
A dull sound. The sound of piercing flesh.
"Guh!"
The enemy staggered backward and collapsed. He fell with the spear embedded in his chest, and blood flowed out.
"Strike!"
Running Deer and Fierce Eyes appeared from behind. As planned, they attacked the enemies' rear. Completely unguarded backs and the backs of their heads. They threw spears and cut with stone knives. Two spears flew at the same time.
WHOOSH—! WHOOSH—!
One spear lodged in an enemy's back, and the other lodged in a thigh.
"Behind us! They are coming from behind!"
"What is happening?!"
The Tiger Tribe warriors caught in the ambush panicked. They were being attacked from front and back at the same time. They did not know where to look or whom to block. Their formation collapsed, they scattered, and each was busy trying to save himself.
"Keep formation! Do not scatter!"
The one who seemed to be the leader shouted, but it was useless. They had already fallen into confusion, and control was impossible.
THWACK—!
A stone fell from above. Swift Wind had thrown it, and a fist-sized stone flew at high speed. A gray stone. Hard granite. The stone struck one enemy in the head, precisely at the temple.
THUNK—!
His head snapped forward, and his neck bent.
"Ugh...."
The enemy staggered, then dropped to his knees. He clutched his head with his hand, and blood flowed out. He seemed to have lost consciousness, his eyes unfocused, and his body toppled forward.
Ding!
『Enemy 3 Incapacitated』
→ Remaining Enemies: 4
→ Enemy Morale Decreased!
"This cannot be! We are losing! To five men?!"
One bastard shouted. Fear was buried in his voice. Trembling. Terror. The foreboding of defeat.
"Retreat! Retreat! Run! We need to survive first!"
One of the Tiger Tribe warriors shouted. He seemed to be the leader. He was larger than the others and wore a bone necklace around his neck. A necklace made from bear claws. A symbol of status.
"Do not let him escape!"
I ran toward him. I absolutely could not let him go. If even one person escaped, our position would be exposed. Then the Tiger Tribe's main force would come. If that happened, it would be over.
"Solid Rock, left! Fierce Eyes, right! Surround him!"
The enemy swung his stone knife. It was a desperate attack, swung with everything he had. His eyes were bloodshot, his teeth clenched, and he poured in all his strength.
WHOOSH—!
The blade flew toward my head. A fast attack. The distance was close.
I twisted my body left, lowered my head, and the enemy's knife grazed over it. At the same time, I counterattacked.
Sword and knife collided.
CLANG—!
A metallic sound rang out. The stone knife broke. The moment the Bronze Sword collided with the stone knife, the stone knife shattered to pieces. Stone could not withstand the sharpness of bronze. A difference in hardness. A difference in strength. The superiority of the material.
Broken stone fragments scattered as they fell to the ground, and shards flew in every direction.
Clatter, clatter.
The pieces of stone rolled.
"Wh-What is this...?!"
The enemy's eyes opened wide. He stood empty-handed. Only the handle remained in his hand, while the blade had shattered.
"My knife...."
"Surrender."
I aimed the sword tip at the enemy's throat. The tip touched his neck, close enough that a slight push would draw blood. The sharp point pressed into his skin, sank in slightly, and a drop of blood formed.
"If you surrender, I will spare you. I am not lying. I truly will let you live."
I spoke coldly.
The enemy leader looked at me, sweating. Sweat dripped from his forehead. The veins in his neck protruded, and his breathing grew rough. Fear and humiliation showed on his face.
He looked around. Three of his subordinates had fallen. One was bleeding from the shoulder, one had a spear lodged in his chest, and one had been knocked unconscious by a blow to the head. The other three were also surrounded by us. Solid Rock, Running Deer, and Fierce Eyes had surrounded them in a triangle. The three aimed their spears at them, and there was no gap to escape through.
"Move, and you die."
Solid Rock said while aiming his spear. His voice was cold and firm.
"...."
The enemies lowered their weapons. They no longer had any will to fight. Their hands loosened, their spears fell, and their shoulders slumped. They admitted defeat.
"...Fine. I surrender."
The enemy threw away his weapon. The stone knife fell to the ground.
CLATTER.
"I surrender too."
"Me too."
"Spare me."
The other three also lowered their weapons. They threw them all to the ground. Spears, knives, stone axes. The weapons scattered across the earth. The fight was over.
The battle ended.
Silence flowed, and only the sound of breathing could be heard. On our side, the only injury was a light wound on Running Deer's arm. A little blood flowed, but it was not serious. It was a cut about five centimeters long, a shallow wound. It had not reached the muscle.
"Does it hurt?"
I checked Running Deer's arm. I examined the wound, wiped away the blood, and checked its depth.
"It is fine. It is only a scratch."
Running Deer answered. He smiled bravely and endured the pain.
"Go to the old healer woman later and apply medicinal herbs."
"Yes, understood."
Ding!
『Combat Complete: Tiger Tribe Scouting Party Repelled』
→ Victory!
→ Ally Damage: Minor Injury 1
→ Enemy Damage: Incapacitated 3, Prisoners 4
→ Experience +80
Ding!
『Level Up! Lv.5 → Lv.6』
→ Combat Power: 36 → 40
→ Technology Points: 4 → 5
'My level rose again. My Combat Power is 40 now too. At this level, I've become fairly strong.'
Combat Power 40. Almost three times that of an ordinary warrior. Now, I should be able to handle about two Tiger Tribe warriors easily even by myself.
"Chieftain, you are incredible!"
Solid Rock cheered. He clenched his fist in delight.
"The Bronze Sword cut through a stone knife! It was sliced like grass!"
Running Deer chimed in. His eyes sparkled as he looked at the Bronze Sword.
"It was truly astonishing!"
"Of course."
I said with a smile.
"That is why we need bronze. We can never win with stone weapons. We need bronze."
I looked at the prisoners. Four were alive. The leader and three subordinates. They sat on the ground, and their hands were bound. Their wrists had been pulled behind their backs and tied tightly with leather straps. They could not escape.
"What will you do now?"
Fierce Eyes asked.