Billy woke early, the Spirit Essence still humming through him from the night before. The rewards from the Spirit Well raid had strengthened his forces, and his defenses were more secure, with several advanced traps now rigged around his base. Yet, he couldn’t shake a sense of unease—something in the air hinted that a new threat loomed just beyond his borders.
As he glanced at the map on his interface, he noticed red markers beginning to cluster near the outer edges of his territory, like wolves circling prey. Enemy scouts—other lords or hostile creatures, he couldn’t tell which. Either way, they were testing his defenses.
---
**Notification: Hostile Presence Detected**
- **Objective:** Identify and eliminate enemy scouts.
- **Reward:** New ability—*Chaos Sense*, which allows detection of hidden threats within a 50-yard radius.
---
“Chaos Sense…” Billy murmured, liking the sound of that. With threats escalating, an ability to sniff out danger could prove invaluable.
He summoned Tyrak and the Initiates, briefing them on the situation. Tyrak’s gaze grew intense as he studied the map, the glow in his eyes seeming to sharpen as he processed the details.
“Orders, Lord Knight?” Tyrak asked, his voice carrying the familiar, unyielding steel of a warrior.
“We’re heading out to intercept. I don’t want these intruders gathering information,” Billy replied. “We’ll flush them out and find out who they are.”
---
**Ambush in the Woods**
Moving through the forest, Billy activated *Chaos Spark*, heightening his senses. The red markers on his interface shifted as the scouts moved, their positions coming into sharper focus. He stopped suddenly, signaling Tyrak and the Initiates to halt.
Up ahead, hidden behind thick tree trunks, Billy spotted the shapes of humanoid figures. From their movements and gear, he guessed they weren’t monsters—they were likely scouts from a rival lord.
He activated his *Chaos Barrier*, preparing for a quick assault. “Tyrak, Initiates, keep it quiet and take them by surprise. I’ll handle their leader.”
In one swift movement, Tyrak leapt forward, his Blade Storm skill slicing through the shadows. The scouts barely had time to react before they were taken down, their bodies dissolving into mist.
Billy moved in, locating the scout leader who tried to flee. He activated *Dire Instincts*, catching up within seconds. In a flash, he slammed his weapon down, pinning the scout leader to the ground.
“Who sent you?” Billy demanded, his voice cold.
The scout leader sneered, his eyes defiant. “You think you can hold territory here unchallenged? Other lords have taken notice of you. I’m just one of many.”
“Who?” Billy pressed, tightening his grip. But the scout leader laughed, his figure shimmering as he activated a skill. He dissolved into mist, escaping Billy’s hold and disappearing into the darkness.
Billy cursed under his breath. He’d need to be more vigilant—these weren’t wild beasts or wandering creatures. He was being actively scouted, and whoever sent them knew exactly where his base was.
---
**New Ally?**
Back at his base, Billy checked the Lords’ Network Chat to see if anyone was discussing the increased scout activity.
> **Lyria Stormcaller:** *Anyone else noticing more scout activity near their borders? Feels like the other lords are getting aggressive early.*
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
>
> **Theron Blackwood:** *You’re not alone, Lyria. They’re everywhere.*
>
> **Lord Knight (Billy):** *Ran into scouts too. One got away—they’re organized, and whoever sent them has resources.*
A few moments later, a private message popped up. It was from Lyria.
> **Lyria Stormcaller:** *Looks like we’re both targets. I think we need a stronger plan if we’re going to keep our territories intact. Interested in a temporary alliance?*
Billy considered her offer. While he valued independence, there was strength in numbers—and Lyria’s earlier aid had proven helpful.
> **Lord Knight (Billy):** *Let’s meet at the edge of our territories and discuss terms. This could be mutually beneficial.*
---
**Strategizing for War**
They met an hour later in a quiet clearing where their territories intersected. Lyria arrived with Nira the Windblade by her side, her stealthy hero unit, while Billy stood with Tyrak at his flank.
“Good to see you’re taking this seriously,” Lyria said, nodding at Tyrak. “The scout I captured mentioned something about a larger force mobilizing soon. We have, at best, two days before they make a move.”
Billy frowned. “If they’re gathering forces, we need to be ready for more than just scouts. Have you seen any signs of siege equipment or larger armies?”
“Not yet, but it’s likely they’re setting up a forward base nearby. If we hit them early, we can catch them off guard and thin their ranks before they reach our bases.”
Billy nodded, already forming a plan. “We’ll need to pool our forces. I’ll bring Tyrak and the Initiates; they’re suited for front-line combat. Your units can handle stealth and flanking.”
“Agreed,” Lyria replied, her gaze intense. “One more thing—if this is successful, we split whatever resources they’ve gathered. No exceptions.”
Billy met her gaze steadily. “Fine by me. We’ll take what we need to keep our bases secure.”
---
**The Surprise Assault**
As dawn broke the next day, Billy and Lyria moved toward the coordinates where the scouts had been seen retreating. Sure enough, a rudimentary camp had been set up, with soldiers bearing an emblem Billy didn’t recognize—likely from a lord outside the Lords’ Network Chat, someone who had no intention of friendly competition.
Using *Chaos Sense*, Billy detected several hidden traps around the camp. He quickly marked them, signaling to his troops to avoid those areas. Lyria motioned to Nira, who slipped silently into the shadows, circling the camp to position herself on the opposite side for a pincer attack.
With a hand signal, Billy launched the assault. Tyrak activated *Blade Storm*, tearing through the camp’s defenses with a barrage of energy-infused blades. The enemy soldiers, caught off guard, scrambled to defend themselves but were quickly overwhelmed by the sheer force of the attack.
Nira struck from the other side, her blades cutting through the chaos. Lyria, standing next to Billy, cast an area-of-effect skill, summoning a storm of lightning bolts that struck down anyone who tried to regroup.
The enemy lord overseeing the camp finally stepped forward, his face contorted with anger. He raised his weapon, a wicked-looking spear crackling with dark energy, and charged at Billy.
---
**The Duel**
Billy stepped forward, meeting the enemy lord’s challenge head-on. The spear came down in a flurry of attacks, each strike laced with dark energy, but Billy’s *Chaos Barrier* absorbed the initial blows, allowing him to hold his ground.
He countered, unleashing a powerful strike that forced the enemy lord back, creating an opening. Summoning *Dire Instincts*, Billy surged forward with increased speed, his blade striking true as he cut through the lord’s defenses.
The enemy lord stumbled, blood dripping from a deep wound. “You think you’ve won?” he spat, his voice venomous. “This is only the beginning.”
Before Billy could respond, the enemy lord activated a teleportation skill, disappearing in a flash of dark energy. The remaining soldiers, leaderless and disoriented, fled into the woods.
---
**Aftermath**
The camp was theirs. Billy and Lyria inspected the spoils, discovering a small stockpile of resources, including rare metals and an assortment of monster drops that would be useful for crafting and fortifying their defenses.
They divided the spoils evenly, each taking what they needed. As they packed up the last of the loot, Lyria turned to Billy.
“Good work out there,” she said. “If this keeps up, we’ll need to stay in close contact. This world doesn’t seem as straightforward as the system made it seem.”
Billy nodded, his thoughts drifting to the words of the enemy lord before he’d escaped. “Agreed. And I have a feeling this attack was just a test.”
She grimaced. “Then we’d better be ready. I’ll reach out if I find anything else. Same for you?”
“Same here,” Billy replied, feeling the weight of the battles to come.
With a final nod, they went their separate ways, each returning to fortify their territory for the storm that was undoubtedly brewing. As Billy approached his base, he activated his new *Chaos Sense*, scanning the area for any further signs of enemy presence.
He was more prepared than ever—but he knew he’d need every advantage he could get. The game of survival was only intensifying, and he was determined to come out on top, no matter what it took.
End of Chapter 7