Chapter 4: The Second Wall
The Grayfang crashed against the broken fence. The sharpened logs trembled violently.
"Hold your ground!" Chief Rokan’s voice echoed across the village.
Hunters rushed toward the opening, stone spears aimed at the beast’s head. The Grayfang lunged, and a hunter was knocked to the ground before he could react.
"Move!" Chief Rokan drove his spear forward. The stone tip grazed the wolf’s neck, forcing it back just enough for the wounded hunter to crawl away.
More wolves gathered outside. They didn’t attack recklessly — they waited, watching, searching for another opening.
Aren frowned. "They’re not acting like ordinary animals..."
His eyes followed the movements of the pack. Every time one wolf moved, the others adjusted their positions. Almost as if they were following orders.
The Grayfang leader stood beneath a tall tree. It never joined the attack. It simply watched.
"...It’s commanding them." The words escaped Aren’s mouth before he realized it.
Chief Rokan turned. "What did you say?"
"That one." Aren pointed toward the largest wolf. "If it wanted to kill us, it would’ve attacked first. It’s waiting. It’s looking for our weakest point."
Chief Rokan narrowed his eyes and looked at the leader again. For the first time, he noticed it — every charge began only after the leader moved its tail, every retreat happened after a single growl.
The old chief’s expression turned serious. "So... you’re saying..."
"The others are following its commands."
Before anyone could respond—
CRACK! Part of the outer fence collapsed. Several wolves squeezed through the opening. Panic spread instantly.
"They’re inside!" A woman screamed as she grabbed two children and ran.
The hunters rushed forward, but there were too many.
Aren’s heartbeat quickened. Then the familiar cold voice returned.
[Civilization System]
Village Status Updated.
A transparent blue screen appeared before his eyes.
```text
══════════════════════
Village: Unnamed
Population: 47
Status:
⚠ Under Attack
Hunters: 9
Able to Fight: 8
Defense:
Outer Wall - 61%
Eastern Gate - Stable
Western Fence - Destroyed
Threat:
Grayfang Pack (13)
Pack Leader Detected
Threat Level: High
══════════════════════
```
Aren stared at the screen. No one else reacted. Only he could see it.
Then another line appeared.
Suggestion: Prevent the wolves from entering through a single opening.
Aren looked around. Near the collapsed fence sat several heavy carts loaded with freshly cut logs. An idea formed in his mind, and he ran toward Chief Rokan.
"Chief!"
The old man blocked another wolf before looking back. "What is it?"
"Use the log carts."
"The carts?"
"Push them behind the broken fence! If we can’t repair the wall, then we’ll build a new one."
Chief Rokan hesitated only a heartbeat before shouting at the hunters. "You heard him! Move the carts!"
Three hunters abandoned the front line and pushed the heavy wooden carts toward the broken section. The gap narrowed. The wolves tried to squeeze through, but only one could enter at a time.
Now the hunters no longer fought a pack. They fought a single wolf, one after another. For the first time since the attack began, the village gained the advantage.
From the darkness of the forest, the Grayfang leader stared at Aren, golden eyes narrowing, as if it had finally recognized the human who had changed the battle.
End of Chapter 4