Chương 71: The Rootmaw Hunt

When they heard that it was headed their way, it started a panic, people grabbing gear and trying to figure out where to stand. Mark knew that even if it was heading their way, there were most likely hours before it arrived. He stood up on a crate and whistled to get everyone's attention.

"It's on its way but still hours out. We have a plan; we need to work it. Yes, we had intended this to be tomorrow, but the Rootmaw Alpha has changed those plans on us. First things first, we need to move all noncombatants back to the outposts for safety and send runners to get all that intend to fight to come here if not already here." Mark continued organizing the groups. They had groups of spear fighters with shields to hold the line and push it back if it did not go in the intended path.

They had built barricades that could be moved if alignment were needed to direct it to the pit. Lines of spears and buckets full of arrows were set out for those that needed resupply. There were fallback groups, groups of archers, and runners to send messages. The group were as prepared as they could be. They had always planned for the contingency that it would happen in the dark, and fires were started and lanterns lit to make sure there was light in the area enough to battle what came.

As the next few hours ticked by, all last-minute prep work was done, and they were as ready as they ever would be. Some of the last scouts came back, almost all of them wounded, either by getting too close to the Rootmaw Alpha or with scrapes and bruises from running through the forest at full pace. Ava was near Mark, relaying information she got from Swoop on its direction. It was not going in a straight line, which made it slower getting to them, but it was coming from the wrong direction.

Teams were sent out to move the barricades and reposition the three large bear traps that they had just finished repositioning when word came that it had changed again, and the teams were out redeploying again when it showed up. It was HUGE, bigger than their wildest expectations. And it was angry; there were a few arrows stuck to it that scouts had shot to help redirect it to where they needed it. The Rootmaw Alpha's hide looked scarred where it had been wounded but lived through many previous fights.

There were mud and roots tangled in its skin. There were broken branches hanging from its fur. Every ten feet or so it would stop and put its front paws high in the air and roar. The thing was just terrifying. One of the fighters behind Mark made the comment that he just wet himself. But no one was laughing; all knew this thing could kill. A large fighter that Mark had never seen before broke ranks and started running forward.

Mark screamed to hold, but he did not listen; he held his arms in the air and then yelled back at the bear. When they got within range of each other, the bear took one smack with its paw, and the man flew over 30 feet, hitting a tree and dropping limp to the ground, dead. Mark could hear a few people crying in the background and others yelling insults at the Rootmaw Alpha. Mark yelled for the shield lines to adjust to make sure that the bear did not leave the pit area.

Mark saw Swoop fly past, claws digging down the side of its back as it passed, leaving a drag mark across its fur but drawing no blood. It then ran into the first bear trap they had out. It snapped closed on its front paw, and it stopped for just a moment, and then yanking the paw back broke the anchors and shattered the trap. The group adjusted to keep the pit between the Rootmaw and the group with the shield wall to the side, pushing it in the right general direction. It stopped just in front of the pit.

Everyone held their breath as it put its paws up in the air with a terrifying roar. When its paws came down, the left one hit the edge of the pit, and it stuttered on the edge of falling in. Mark screamed for the shield walls to push forward and help the Rootmaw into the pit. One unfortunate shield bearer got a step too far ahead, and he was clawed from head to toe. But with a last hard push, it tumbled into the pit. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Mark directed the pit to be surrounded and for everyone to start attacking. The Rootmaw was not done; it lunged up the far wall and got its front paws on the edge of the pit in an attempt to climb out. Garrick, who architected the pit, had worried about this exact option, and the pit was rigged so that they could collapse a side by pulling the right set of ropes. Mark directed those assigned to collapse that side of the pit, sending it back down into the hole.

It was injured now from falling into the spikes on the bottom twice now but was not dead. Mark joined them at the pit's edge and pulled out his bow and added to the number of arrows that were sticking out of the bear. There were fighters throwing spears and shooting arrows. But the beast did not want to die. Finally, it fell to the side on its back and stopped moving. Everyone held their breath, and then they all received a system message. [Regional Threat Defeated] The Forest Alpha Bear has been slain.

Regional Stability Increased. Travel Safety Improved. Contribution rewards and experience distributed to eligible participants. Eligible participants may now claim system-recognized rewards from the remains. Participation rewards scale based on contribution, specialization, and operational involvement. All participation from the first notice to completion is considered. Unclaimed rewards expire in 12 hours. Everyone just stood there silent. People had been lost.

There were wounds on all of the shield teams and all of the scouts. There was one person who had lost a leg and was being tended to. Another woman lost an arm. There were a few people that had friendly fire of arrows from some of the less talented archers. But the threat had been put down. Victory suddenly felt heavier than he imagined. People had lost their lives under his leadership, and there was nothing he could do personally to solve the pain. Then people started to talk about their personal system messages.

People talked about multiple levels achieved. Skills gains or class levels achieved. Someone yelled LOOT! And jumped into the pit to touch the bear first and see what they got. The walls of the pit were collapsed and ramps made so everyone could get their turn to look. People that had been back at camp had come to see the dead Rootmaw Alpha. One of the runners walked forward and touched the dead beast, and he screamed, "I got loot, and I did not even fight."

People began to reread the notification: all participation would be considered. Runners were sent, and all that had participated were brought forward to get their rewards. Mark talked to Tom, who showed him the Rootmaw Alpha hide listed as a rare leatherworking material. He also received reinforced tendons and a Durable Alpha Leather Pattern that when consumed, unlocked heavy armor crafting. He also got some meat and other random bits.

Ava came over and told Mark about her Alpha Predator Feather Charm and waved it in front of him. It gave a boost to scouting and tracking when worn. She also got a bond enhancement for Swoop and a Collar for Bramble that gave him boosts to stats. She also reported getting other boring things she would donate to the outpost. Garrick, when he looted, screamed in joy. He received designs for more building types and a skill book for foundation stabilization skills. And many other useful things.

The whole camp was excited. Dale got Prime Alpha Meat Cuts that promised, when cooked correctly, would give powerful effects when consumed. He got skills for enhanced smoking and many other food-related materials. The crowds finally started to thin around the Rootmaw Alpha corpse, and the parties were just beginning; he could hear singing and shouting all through the forest in different directions. Mark finally took his turn and stepped forward and touched the Rootmaw Alpha.