5: The first test of the army, the wolf pack's first hunt

Su Jin looked at the leading elder, "Elder, what do I call you?"

"Replying to Milord, this old man's name is Li Yi," Li Yi replied somewhat cautiously.

"Li Yi, you're more familiar with these people, so you'll assist me in managing these refugees for now. First, take them to familiarize themselves with the surrounding environment. After they're settled, arrange for them to collect Materials and build some residences. The location... let's build them next to the warehouse for now."

"Yes, Milord!"

Li Yi bowed in response, then turned and called out to the refugees, who began to busy themselves.

Su Jin looked at the bustling scene before him, a sense of satisfaction welling up in his heart.

Next, he had to start doing his own things...

"First, I need to find a way to get Soul Coins."

Su Jin muttered to himself.

He closed the Lord interface and turned to walk towards the thirty Bronze-tier troops.

Heavy Shield Guards, Halberd Warriors, Strong Bow Soldiers, Su Jin scrutinized his first batch of combat power one by one.

The Heavy Shield Guards were clad in thick bronze scale armor, holding massive shields. When standing still, they exuded an Aura as unmoving as a mountain...

The Halberd Warriors held twelve-foot bronze halberds, their sharp edges fully revealed, exuding a menacing Aura...

The Strong Bow Soldiers, on the other hand, had agile figures and sharp eyes, clearly skilled marksmen capable of hitting a target a hundred paces away.

"From now on, you are the Guardians of Infinite City."

Su Jin said in a deep voice.

"We swear to defend Infinite City to the death!"

The soldiers responded in unison, their voices loud and resonant.

Su Jin nodded slightly, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

He knew that the most important thing for him to do now was to quickly increase his strength.

"Let's go hunting first."

Su Jin thought to himself.

He planned to take these troops into the surrounding forest to see if they could hunt some monsters to obtain Soul Coins and Materials.

"Heavy Shield Guards, six of you stay to guard the territory."

"The rest of you, follow me!"

With Su Jin's command, he led twenty-four troops out of the territory and into the unknown forest.

Somewhere in the forest, several Halberd Warriors walked at the forefront of the team, using their halberds to push aside obstructing bushes, their eyes vigilantly scanning their surroundings.

Sunlight filtered through the dense forest, casting dappled light. The surroundings were quiet, with only the rustling sound of their footsteps on dry leaves and the occasional distant chirping of an unknown bird.

"Roar—"

Suddenly, a low growl came from the dense forest ahead, breaking the dead silence.

Su Jin's heart tightened, and he immediately raised his hand to signal a halt.

"Be alert!"

Without further words, four Heavy Shield Guards instantly moved forward, their massive bronze shields thudding onto the ground, their edges tightly connected, forming a moving low wall that protected Su Jin at its core.

"Halberd Warriors, prepare to engage the enemy!"

"Strong Bow Soldiers, find high ground! Free fire!"

Su Jin's commands were clear and swift, but it was his first battle, and he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

"Awoo—"

Wolf howls rose and fell, drawing closer.

Soon, a pack of wild wolves, their bodies gray-black and their eyes glowing green, darted out from between the trees.

[Forest Wolf (Black Iron - Lower Rank)]

[Rank: Tier 2]

[Skills: Bite, Pounce]

[Description: Pack animals, usually hunt in groups, inherently fierce]

The information panel appeared before Su Jin's eyes.

"At least forty or fifty..." Su Jin's gaze swept over the wolf pack, his brows slightly furrowed.

The strength of a Black Iron Lower Rank wasn't much, but this number and Tier 2 Rank were enough to pose a threat.

"Awoo!"

Among the wolf pack, a giant wolf, noticeably larger and with darker fur than its companions, raised its head and let out a long howl.

[Forest Wolf Leader (Black Iron - Upper Rank)]

[Rank: Tier 3]

[Skills: Bite, Pounce, Wolf Pack Call]

[Description: The leader of the wolf pack, possessing stronger power and wisdom]

Su Jin's gaze immediately locked onto the Alpha Wolf. "Shoot the horse before the rider, capture the king before the thief!"

"Strong Bow Soldiers, focus fire on the Alpha Wolf!"

Su Jin decisively ordered.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

The Strong Bow Soldiers, who had already taken advantageous positions on the small slope behind, moved at the command. A dozen gleaming arrows tore through the air, their target directly at the Alpha Wolf in the pack!

"Woof!"

The Forest Wolf Leader seemed to sense the danger, and with a flash of its body, it actually dodged most of the arrows.

But the arrows were too dense, and one still accurately pierced its hind leg!

"Roar!"

The Forest Wolf Leader howled in pain, letting out an angry roar.

It turned its head, staring intently at Su Jin and the others, its eyes flashing with bloodthirsty light, and then let out a long howl.

The sound was sharp and prolonged, as if transmitting some signal. The surrounding wolf pack seemed to hear the command to attack, rushing towards Su Jin and the others like a tide.

"Kill!"

Several Halberd Warriors roared simultaneously, swinging their long halberds horizontally.

Two Heavy Shield Guards adjusted their positions, firmly protecting Su Jin in the center, while the other two reinforced the weak points in the Halberd Warrior formation.

A chaotic battle erupted instantly.

"Pfft!"

A Halberd Warrior seized the opportunity, his long halberd piercing into a Forest Wolf's abdomen like a venomous snake.

"Awoo..."

The Forest Wolf let out a mournful howl and fell to the ground.

But more Forest Wolves fearlessly pounced forward.

"Sweep Across the Army!"

Another Halberd Warrior roared, swinging his halberd in a full circle. The heavy halberd blade, carrying a strong wind, sent two pouncing Forest Wolves tumbling, the sound of their bones shattering clearly audible.

"Shield Reverse Impact!"

A Heavy Shield Guard blocked a Forest Wolf's Pounce with his shield, then thrust it forward, actually sending the Forest Wolf flying.

"Cloud Piercing Arrow!"

The Strong Bow Soldiers on the high ground were not idle either; they continuously shot arrows, supporting the battle below.

"Pfft!"

"Pfft!"

Forest Wolves were constantly being shot and falling to the ground.

In the chaotic battlefield, Su Jin's gaze never left the injured Forest Wolf Leader. He knew that this wolf was the key.

The distant Forest Wolf Leader, though wounded in the leg and slightly slowed, showed no decrease in its ferocity.

It bared its sharp fangs, its gaze sharply scanning the battlefield, seemingly searching for the best point of attack.

Suddenly, it let out a low growl, and with a flash of its body, it bypassed the center of the battle and charged towards the flank of the formation.

"Three o'clock!" Su Jin shouted.

A Heavy Shield Guard turned sharply at the sound, but the Alpha Wolf's speed was too fast! It leaped into the air, pouncing on the formation with a foul wind!

Just as the Alpha Wolf was about to succeed, an arrow, whistling through the air, arrived from behind, precisely piercing its left shoulder blade!

"Awoo!" The Alpha Wolf howled in pain, its attack forced to a halt.

Su Jin looked up and saw a Strong Bow Soldier standing on a protruding rock, his longbow still trembling slightly.

"Well done! Keep up the suppression!" Su Jin praised loudly.

Upon hearing this, the Strong Bow Soldier's eyes blazed with sharp light, and his movements became even swifter.

He consecutively drew three arrows from his quiver, nocked them, drew his bow, and fired in one fluid motion.

"Rapid Fire!"

Three arrows left the bowstring almost simultaneously, arcing gracefully through the air towards the Alpha Wolf.

Although the Forest Wolf Leader tried its best to dodge, its injuries had already affected its movements.

Thud! Thud! Two muffled sounds, two arrows deeply embedded in its chest and abdomen! And the last one, with the whistle of death, accurately pierced its left eye!

"Awoo—woo—!!!" A mournful wolf howl echoed through the forest. The Alpha Wolf swayed, then crashed to the ground.

[Killed Forest Wolf Leader, gained 300 Soul Coins, Forest Wolf Essence*1]...

With the fall of the Alpha Wolf, the wolf pack immediately fell into chaos.

Some wolves began to flee, while others continued to fight, but clearly without their previous ferocity and coordination.

"Press the advantage!" Su Jin ordered.

The Halberd Warriors wielded their halberds, the Strong Bow Soldiers almost pulled their bowstrings into afterimages, and the Heavy Shield Guards advanced steadily.

With this coordination, the remaining Forest Wolves were quickly slaughtered, with only a few lucky ones escaping into the depths of the dense forest.

[Killed Forest Wolf × 43, gained 8600 Soul Coins, Forest Wolf Essence*4]