Zhendra now switches places with Preta to lead the way, while the others remain in their positions.
Zhendra's navigation skills are way better compared to other members of the Sun of Lion Knight. This is probably influenced by the Fsake character he uses.
As Fsake, which is nature-friendly, it's super easy to know the direction. Players even call Fsake a walking magnet in WoW, having Fsake in the party can save expenses for a magnet and map.
They all walk with increasing alertness as Zhendra says they are getting closer to the camp he saw last night.
After walking for a while, Zhendra raises his hand. "Do you guys hear something?"
They all stop and focus on their hearing, making sure to figure out what's really going on.
Shortly after, Zhendra and Petra can hear the sound of footsteps stepping on fallen tree branches.
"Someone's approaching," Preta whispers.
Crocils and Vector quickly dismount their horses and tie their horses to the nearest tree trunk, then climb trees they can climb.
Preta, Hexon, and Dens quickly hide behind the trees and prepare their weapons.
Natasha runs away and hiding behind rocks.
Gans goes alone, moves away, climbs a slightly high rock, hides behind a tree, and aims his bow at the source of the sound.
Zhendra gets ready and climbs a tree to his left.
Their breath suddenly becomes heavy, some hold their breath for quite a while.
The sound of footsteps becomes clearer, but when it seems to be close enough, suddenly the sound disappears.
Zhendra, positioned at the forefront, can clearly see his surroundings even though he's hiding behind the foliage of a paln tree. However, even so, he doesn't spot anyone approaching.
While the others are keeping an eye on their surroundings, worried that the enemies might have figured out their location and be preparing for a surprise attack.
They wait for a few seconds, but nothing is seen except for a few small animals. Zhendra gets more anxious, fearing the enemy is preparing a heavy attack on him, especially since he's vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Preta tries to peek from his hiding spot towards the source of the sound that had been silent for quite some time.
The sound and a strong gust of wind approach them, refreshing enough to dry the sweat on their tense and cautious faces.
Natasha, a bit farther away, finally starts peering in the same direction as her friends, growing concerned about the unfolding situation.
Preta and Hexon eventually make a move to get closer to where the suspicious sound was last heard. Dens, approaching the same location, chooses a different path.
While the three friends maneuver, Zhendra continues observing from above. Gans, observing from a somewhat distant position, does the same.
Their drying sweat begins to moisten again, and their heartbeats, intensified by the lengthy wait, quicken.
All members of the Sun of Lion Knight hardly move, but their eyes are constantly on the alert in all directions.
Even small movements like a rabbit hopping distract their attention. Especially when a snake crosses their path, but fortunately, it just passes by.
After a few minutes in the same situation, they start to wonder if the enemy has left or if they're also waiting for their move.
Crocils takes the lead, making a spell move to activate the shadow of arrow. Vector notices and activates his own shadow of arrow.
Together, they release several arrows at the moving animals. Three small animals are killed due to their actions.
However, despite that, there is still silence from any suspicious sounds.
Zhendra, noticing his friends drawing attention, thinks of doing the same. However, Zhendra chooses to use the shadow of sword, targeting a small-sized tree.
In four strikes, the tree falls, creating a pretty loud sound. Crash!
Boom!
Something is thrown to the place where the fallen tree is from, something that explodes upon hitting the ground.
Gans, watching from a distance, easily sees the hand throwing the object. Swiftly, he aims his bow towards that direction.
Preta and Dens, exchanging glances, communicate through their hand signals, pointing to the same direction.
In the distance, Crocils and Vector have also shifted their shadow of arrow targets to the suspected location.
Zhendra, this time doing the same but on a tree he suspects as the enemy's hiding spot.
It takes seven strikes this time to cut down the tree.
Seeing the tree fall, a figure resembling a human quickly comes out from it.
Unfortunately, as soon as that person steps out, a combination attack from Vector, Crocils, and Gans, although some miss, eventually kills that person.
One person is dead, enough to lure that person's friends out of hiding.
Three arrows were released from the top of the trees towards where Gans was. Meanwhile, two enemies emerged from behind the trees, waving swords.
The two of them ran towards their friend. From there, Zhendra, Preta, Hexon, and Dens could recognize that their enemies were wood elves, evident from their greenish skin and pointed ears.
Dens quickly came out of hiding, pointing his shield while swinging his sword.
Meanwhile, Hexon, who had also came out from hiding, was running behind Dens, pointing his sword, ready to attack.
Crocils and Vector redirected their shadow of arrow attacks towards the trees where the enemy arrows had come from.
Even though they weren't sure about their enemies' exact location, at least they could shoot their shadow of arrow in various directions near the tree without worrying that the enemies would discover their location.
Zhendra did the same thing.
Meanwhile, Gans tried to avoid the arrow attacks while seeking cover.
The two wood elves prepared with their unique swords, a weapon only possessed by wood elves, a good sign for Dens and Hexon who saw it.
Dens approached one of the wood elves. Despite the wood elf's attempted attack, but Dens, with his strength, managed to push the wood elf into a back against a tree.
Hexon, still behind Dens, took advantage of this opportunity to stab the head of the wood elf.
Meanwhile, the other wood elf quickly turned to help his friend. However, when he swung his sword to kill Hexon, his head was cut off.
Preta, who had been silent and lurking, easily took advantage of the distracted wood elf's attention to approach and eliminate him.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
The unintentional combined attack by Zhendra and Vector managed to kill a hidden enemy behind the tree.
Gans, after finding cover behind a tree, quickly used his position to pinpoint the exact location from where the enemy's arrows were coming.
Took advantage of his sharp eyes, he aimed in the same direction and shot his arrow, nearly hitting the enemy.
Even though the arrow missed, it was enough to surprise the enemy, causing the enemy to fall from the tree.
Crocils, witnessing the enemy's fall, swiftly changed his target, and with just two swings of the shadow of sword, Crocils could kill his enemy.
Gans did the same, using his sharp eyes to attack the last enemy. This time, Gans was fortunate with his arrow shot.
###
They all regrouped after examining the bodies of the enemies they had killed.
"Damn for me, even with my eyes that can locate the enemy, my shots still miss," Gans said as he dragged his victim.
"But you managed to kill him, right?" Zhendra asked while looking their six victims.
"True, but my arrow hit his stomach, not his head. Looks like I need to practice in a hurry."
"Take it easy, as long as it doesn't complicate things for us, you can relax," Hexon said as he searched through one of the enemy corpses.
Preta, standing next to Zhendra, said, "NPC, wood elves, in the Gerned forest. It seems there are changes in the map and territories of each race."
"Piling on more work for us, huh. Just my suggestion, maybe it's better if we also gather information once we arrive in the town or village," Natasha said.
"You're right, actually, I know the location of a town nearby, but if the map has also changed, maybe the town's location has changed too," replied Preta.
"Let's just follow Zhendra's instincts. He is Fsake, he might have a feeling about the nearest town's location," Dens replied.
Zhendra looked at Dens, who was searching the enemies' body, "I'm indeed Fsake, but I only know the wilderness, not human settlements."
Preta smiled, "We can't rely on his except in the forest. Anyway, we can try our luck, so get ready."
Dens stood up and approached Preta, "We've checked everything. There are four elf swords, three standard bows, 67 arrows all taken by Gans, and four healing potions. Also, there are seven rations of fruit and leaves, we can use those as reserves."
"Alright, did we find any money?" Preta asked.
"Unfortunately, no. They might have spent their lives in the forest. Or maybe they're runaways."
Preta and Dens smiled, "If they're runaways, it means the map might still be the same. Because the wood elf territory isn't really in the Gerned forest."
"Maybe. Do you want to try it?"
"Okay, everyone, get ready. Store all the loot on the horses, except the arrows —those will be given to Gans. And for Natasha, who can't eat meat, we have fruit rations," said Preta.
Following Preta's orders, they all got ready.
"Where are we going next?" Zhendra asked.
"I don't know the direction if we're still in the forest, so you guide us towards the nearest forest exit."
With a smile, Zhendra said, "Got it."
###
"Attack!" Someone's loud shout can be heard from outside the forest as the Sun of Lion Knight group walks towards the forest border.
Hearing that, Zhendra quickly raised his hand. Without needing an order, all members of the Sun of Lion Knight immediately hid.
Petra and Zhendra ran towards the forest border and started climbing trees, while behind them, Hexon and Dens prepared shields for protection. Gans, Vector, and Crocils climbed trees a few meters behind the four of them. Meanwhile, Natasha, as usual, stayed hidden.
Outside the forest, Preta and Zhendra could clearly see two groups engaged in a battle. Whether it's a PvP or PvE or even EvE fight, they couldn't be sure.
"Judging from their attack style, if these are purely NPCs, they're definitely high-level," Zhendra said, speaking softly but still audible enough for Preta next to his on the tree.
"The left group, I'll call them Bee, seems like NPCs. But the right group, I'll call them Alpen, seems like players because of their more complex strategy and some improvements, making it hard to predict," replied Preta.
"It seems so, but if they're players, can we face them?"
"It seems difficult. They can easily kill those NPC troops, even with a much smaller number, they look superior. Surely, their skills are quite impressive."
"And their equipment is also very complete."
Preta cut a nearby tree branch down.
The branch fell, catching the attention of Dens below.
Dens looked up. Above, Preta used hand signals to instruct Dens to be on alert. Dens nodded in understanding.
After that, Dens relayed the message to Hexon and to Gans, Vector, and Crocils, including Natasha.
Zhendra, watching it all, asked Preta, "Are you planning to fight?"
"No, I just intend to loot what remains after the battle," replied Preta.
Zhendra smiled and laughed mockingly, "You're not stupid enough to think like that, they'll surely loot the group that loses."
"If the winner is a player, yes, that's a given. But if it's the NPCs, we can launch an attack to divert their attention while the rest loots," Preta responded.
Zhendra shook his head slightly, "That's too risky. Even if the NPCs are easy for us to defeat, their numbers are too many."
"I hope the number reduces to ten or less. This fight might take a while."
"Better not, if we're still in the open when night falls, it'll be a big danger."
"I recognize this location. If the map is still like it was before the update, we can settle in a cabin about 25 kilometers from here."
"You're crazy. 25 kilometers might be quick with horses, but don't forget we have a forest bear with us. It'll take about six to seven hours to arrive. Plus, we might be attacked by NPCs while at the cabin."
"That's why we need supplies. By looting, we'll equip ourselves better. If we leave now, maybe we can reach the cabin or even farther, but it won't be enough to get to the nearest town. If we have to fight, we better use the best weapons."
"Isn't there another way? Like a cave, underground passage, or a village. A tavern would work too."
"This is the Land of Silence in the Gerned Forest, you should know that."
"Shit. You should be smart enough to think of other options." Zhendra retorted.
The Land of Silence is what players call any vast area without a place to stop, take cover, or rest.
Another term players use is the Land of Death because anyone settling in this place becomes an easy target for NPCs or other players.
"At least, the Land of Silence in the Gerned Forest isn't too big, so we can leave once the day starts getting bright," Preta said, still keeping an eye on the ongoing battle in front of them.
"Whatever it is, we have to survive. Or we can take a alternative route, I can guide us to another forest exit," Zhendra replied.
"Good idea, if you don't consider that the Hades of Hells might still be chasing us. And staying in the forest longer just increases the risk of being attacked by them."
"I really don't like it when we're weak."
"Yeah, an—" Petra's words stopped when a small group of Bee started running towards the forest, right where they were.
"Join the game?" Zhendra asked.
"Just hold it as long as you can," Preta replied, then simultaneously cut two tree branches as a sign of danger approaching Dens.
Dens understood the signal and got ready while passing the message to other Sun of Lion Knight members.
"Kill if they attack, survive and hide as long as possible," Dens told Hexon.
"I prefer killing as many as possible, but I got it," Hexon said, smiling at Dens.
"It looks like the ones coming are NPCs, so it's a bit easier. But stay alert for any possibilities, understand?"
"Got it."
Meanwhile, above them, Zhendra and Preta, still watching the ongoing battle, discuss other options they might use.
"That seems to be our only option," says Preta.
"Damn, it's going to be tough. Even if we can hold on through the night, it's still risky the next day because we'll be exhausted," Zhendra replies.
"That's why I hope we can get good weapons from this looting. That way, we can attack faster and get enough rest at night."
"Yeah, whatever it is, let's discuss it later. The enemies are getting closer."
Preta starts coming down from the tree, and when he reaches the ground, he immediately says to Dens, who is now beside him, "Get ready."
The small group of Bee approaching them consists of only three people. Even so, Preta and his friends can see that these three are tougher than the six wood elves they fought before.
As the small group gets closer, Preta and his friends prepare to face them.
But...
Schwoof! Schwoof!
Dozens of arrows suddenly come at high speed from the direction of the Alpen group, killing the three people in the small Bee group.
Unfortunately for Hexon, Dens, and Petra, some arrows missed and almost hit them, and some even hit the tree trunk where they were hiding.
Going through that, of course, made the heartbeats of the three players from the Sun of Lion Knight race fast. However, not only were the three of them surprised by the surprise attack from Alpen, even Zhendra, who was still observing, was also shocked because he didn't see any members of the Alpen group attacking.
Shortly after the surprise attack, all the arrows that were shot began to fade and then disappear.
"Shadow of arrow, they use their caster to attack from a distance," Preta said softly, still with a fast-beating heart.
"Shadow of arrow, isn't that the same attack our caster has?" Dens asked.
"Yes, but it seems their level is higher, because the range of their attack couldn't be just a hundred meters, at least it reaches two hundred," Preta replied.
"Yeah, whatever it is, it's quite surprising. Are you okay?"
"Seems like it."
The Sun of Lion Knight group just continued their activity of watching the ongoing battle and didn't do anything.
They were well aware of the abilities of their enemies who were currently fighting, abilities far superior to themselves at the moment. If they dared to attack, they would only die and have to start over, at least that's what was on their minds.