Bölüm 10: Chapter 10: The First Real Threat
It had been six weeks since the second batch of raptors hatched. The pack had changed again in that time. The five older ones were now in their prime—fast, strong, experienced in coordinated hunting. The seven younger ones had grown enough to be dangerous in their own right. They weren't as large or as fast as the first five, but they could take down medium-sized prey without help.
When I stepped into the clearing that morning, the pack was already awake. Some of the older ones paced near the pond, tails swaying slowly, eyes scanning the tree line. A few of the younger raptors were snapping at insects in the grass.
The Beastmaster's Ring was warm on my hand, a steady reminder of the connection between us. As I crossed the clearing, the System triggered in my mind.
[New Objective Available]Start Your Kingdom – Reward: 2 Tyrannosaurus rex Eggs
I stopped, reading the words twice. That was the first time the System had directly tied a creature to a specific condition. Two T. rex would be game-changing—but they would also require enormous territory, a secure base, and a constant food supply. None of that would be possible without a kingdom to control it.
I didn't have time to think through the details. Not yet. I decided I'd head to the village, get food and supplies, and think on it later.
The walk back was the same route I always took—through the forest path, down toward the dirt road that ran along the harbor. But as I got closer, I could hear voices. Not the normal steady rhythm of villagers talking, but sharper tones—angry, tense.
I slowed, keeping to the side of the road until I could see ahead.
A group of armed men stood in the middle of the road leading into the village. Eight of them. They wore mismatched leather armor, some with rusted mail shirts, all armed—short swords, axes, clubs. Their faces weren't familiar. They weren't locals.
The villagers had been pushed back into a loose group on the road in front of the docks. Some were holding small pouches or baskets.
One of the bandits stepped forward, his voice loud enough for me to hear clearly."We're not here to waste time. You've got coin, you've got goods—hand 'em over, and no one dies. Simple."
No one moved at first. Then a man from the front of the crowd, maybe in his forties, stepped forward. His clothes were plain but clean. He opened a pouch and poured a few coins into his hand before passing them over to the nearest bandit.
The bandit grinned, pocketing the coins."That's how it's done. Quick and easy. Who's next?"
Another villager stepped up, dropping a pouch of coins into the outstretched hand of a bandit. The process began moving along, one at a time.
I stayed where I was, watching. The bandits were organized enough to take turns collecting, while two kept their weapons drawn and eyes on the crowd.
Then it stopped.
A man stepped forward, holding a small leather pouch. He was younger, maybe mid-twenties, with short brown hair and a fisherman's build. He looked at the bandit collecting and shook his head."This is all I've got for the winter. I'm not handing it over."
The collecting bandit smirked."You're handing it over, or I'm taking it and your hand along with it."
The villager didn't move."No."
The smirk dropped. The bandit's voice hardened."You've got three seconds before I cut you down where you stand."
The villagers murmured, some taking a step back. No one else moved to stop it.
I raised my hand slightly, focusing on the Beastmaster's Ring. The warmth surged into a steady pulse. I gave the mental call, direct and urgent.
In the clearing, twelve Utahraptors turned toward the same point in the forest. Without hesitation, they began moving.
On the road, the standoff continued. The bandit raised his sword, stepping closer to the fisherman.
"You really want to die over a handful of coins?" he asked.
"I worked for it. It's mine," the fisherman said. His voice didn't shake, but his eyes stayed locked on the blade.
The bandit stepped in. The sword came up.
The first of the raptors burst from the tree line.
The sound hit before the bandits even reacted—low, fast footfalls, the rhythm broken only by the occasional snap of jaws. The older five led, their bodies low, claws ready. The younger seven followed tight behind, moving as one.
The nearest bandit barely had time to turn before the lead raptor was on him. The claws tore through the leather at his chest, knocking him back.
The others hit next. One bandit tried to swing his axe, but two raptors came in from either side, forcing his arms wide before snapping at his exposed neck.
The fisherman stumbled back as a raptor lunged past him, knocking the sword from the bandit's hand and pinning him to the ground.
The rest of the bandits shouted, drawing weapons, but the pack didn't give them room to regroup. The older raptors drove them apart, attacking in pairs. The younger ones circled and cut off any attempt to run.
The villagers scattered back, some shouting, some silent, all keeping clear of the fight.
One of the bandits tried to retreat toward the docks. I gave a signal through the ring, and two of the younger raptors broke off to intercept. They caught him before he reached the water, one going low for his legs while the other knocked him flat from the side.
Another bandit swung wildly at an older raptor, hitting only air before the second claw on its hind foot cut across his arm, forcing him to drop his weapon.
Within minutes, the fight was over. Four of the bandits lay still. The others were on the ground, bleeding, disarmed, with raptors standing over them. None of the villagers had been touched.
I walked forward slowly, the ring still warm."They're done," I said aloud, the intent moving through the bond.
The raptors pulled back slightly but didn't take their eyes off the bandits.
The fisherman looked at me, still holding his pouch of coins."You… brought those things here?"
"They're mine," I said plainly. "And they won't touch anyone who isn't against me."
The villagers kept their distance, still watching the raptors. The pack stayed alert, waiting for my next order.
The bandits were no longer a threat. But how I handled them now would matter for what came next.
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