William and his group were weighed down by the treasures they had recovered from Garth's tomb—gold, jewels, weapons, and ancient artifacts. The Demonic Dog, despite its canine appearance, proved to be a formidable beast of burden, pulling a cart laden with supplies.
When they finally arrived at the village, the survivors gathered to welcome them. The sight of the treasures lifted their spirits, but William could see the hunger in their eyes and the weariness in their movements.
William turned to Limir. "Keep all the gold and diamonds somewhere safe," he instructed. "Give the weapons to the villagers who can use them. And the others store them for now."
Limir nodded. "Understood. I'll see to it immediately."
William then sought out the woman he had left in charge of the village during his absence. Her name was Mira, Limir's wife. She was in her early thirties, with sharp features and a no-nonsense demeanor. Her dark hair was tied back in a braid.
"Mira, I told you to gather food. Didn't you do that?"
"We tried, My lord. But the Orcs have occupied many of our territories. They've been encroaching on our hunting grounds and foraging areas. We couldn't gather enough food without risking a confrontation."
Then Limir said, "Master, the villages in this forest have divided the territories among themselves. None of us go outside our designated areas to hunt or gather food. But it seems the Orcs are taking advantage of our weakness after the attack. They think we're now easy prey."
William clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling to the surface. (This is annoying! I'm already dealing with one crisis, and now these Orcs are causing trouble. I destroy them all )
"How strong are these Orcs?" William asked, his voice calm despite his irritation.
"There are at least a few hundred in their village," Limir replied. "In our current state, they could easily overpower us."
William nodded, he thought. (We don't have the strength to fight them head-on. Not yet. I need to be patient. I need to build our strength, train the villagers, and gather resources. When the time is right, I'll teach these Orcs a lesson they won't forget.)
Then Gurr said, "Master, I think we can go to the Northern Field. That area doesn't belong to anyone. We can hunt and bring back some wild animals from there."
William raised an eyebrow. "The Northern Field? Tell me more."
Gurr explained that The Northern Field was a vast, open area located to the north of the village. It was a neutral zone, unclaimed by any of the forest's factions, and teeming with wildlife. Deer, boars, and other animals roamed freely, making it an ideal hunting ground.
"It's risky," Gurr admitted. "The Orcs sometimes patrol the edges of the field, and there are predators—wolves, giant hawks, even the occasional wyvern. But if we're careful, we can bring back enough food to last us for weeks."
William considered the proposal. It was a risk, but they didn't have many options. The villagers were hungry, and their morale was low. A successful hunt could buy them some time and give them the strength they needed to prepare for the challenges ahead.
"Alright," William said. "We'll go to the Northern Field. But we'll need a plan."
"Gurr, Limir, Sira and Nara you will go with me. The others will stay here in the village." Then William looked at his demon dog, "Tommy, you will come with us."
William named the dog Tommy.
Demons were just like humans. They also needed to eat to survive. They also had basic needs. However, that was an exception for high-level Demons. Because they had a lot of power and mana, they could easily survive for decades without eating. However, these Demons became extinct 500 years ago. When the hero defeated the Demon King, they killed all the high-level Demons. All those who survived were low-level Demons.
These low-level Demons had to rely on basic needs to survive.
Also, over time, the difference in power between Demons and Humans has decreased a lot. If 1000 years ago, 10 ordinary humans had the same power as an ordinary Demon, it has decreased even more now. If we compare it to the present, now two ordinary humans are equivalent to the power of an adult Demon.
Since humans have improved a lot over the years.
Northern Field is located just two kilometers north of the village. This area is a Tier 4 area, although by the standards of this forest it is not that high a level. The strength and power of the monsters here are classified by different tiers, which indicate their level of danger and influence.
Tier 1: Power levels from 1 to 5.
Tier 2: Power levels from 6 to 10.
Tier 3: Power levels from 11 to 20.
Tier 4: Power levels from 21 to 30.
Tier 5: Power levels from 31 to 40.
Tier 6: Power levels from 41 to 50.
Tier 7: Power levels from 51 and 60
Tier ??
Tier ??
Most of the creatures and monsters in Northern Field are in tiers 3 and 5. However, there are monsters up to tier 7 in this forest. Tier 7 monsters are extremely powerful and dangerous. Their power is so great that they can easily completely destroy a tier 3 or 4 villages. However, they are rarely seen, as they prefer to stay in their own territory most of the time.
In addition, these tier 7 monsters have used their power and abilities to enslave weaker species. These weaker species collect the monsters' daily food and serve them. In exchange, the monsters do not attack them and provide them with protection.
They reached the Field.
[Host, there is a wild boar a hundred meters away from your position. Tier (2) Level 7, 87% chance of victory.]
William didn't need to explain the plan to his team. They were seasoned hunters, familiar with the forest and its dangers. Sira nocked an arrow. The wild boar, a Tier 2 creature, was grazing unaware.
*Thwip!* The arrow struck the boar's flank, and it let out a furious roar. The beast turned, its beady eyes locking onto the group as it charged.
Gurr stepped forward. He swung his ax with practiced precision, but the boar dodged, its tusks slashing through the air. Nara raised her staff, chanting softly. Roots erupted from the ground, entangling the boar's legs and halting its charge.
William seized the opportunity. With a swift motion, he closed the distance and slit the boar's throat. The creature collapsed, its lifeblood staining the grass.
[Wild Boar Defeated. EXP +50.]
It was very easy to hunt it down.
Limir then said, "Your Majesty, we should leave quickly with it. Before a stronger beast comes here."
Then they heard a roar.
A warning message came from the system
[Warning: Demonic Bear (Tier Five) Level 21. Chance of Winning: 16%.]