The wooden barricade was only half finished.
Sharp stakes now surrounded the front of the cave entrance, forming a crude wall across the open land.
Grik and the builders hammered stones into place while other demons dragged heavy logs into position.
It wasn't perfect.
But it was progress.
For the first time, the Outcast Settlement looked like a real territory.
Rai stood on a large rock overlooking the work.
His eyes scanned the wasteland horizon.
Then—
Ruun suddenly appeared beside him.
Silent as a shadow.
"We have visitors."
Rai didn't look surprised.
"How many?"
"Twenty… maybe twenty-five."
Ruun's sharp eyes narrowed.
"They're moving fast."
"Dust clouds mean they're riding something."
Rai opened the Territory System again.
---
SCOUT REPORT
Approaching Force Detected
Faction: Ashbone Raiders
Estimated Units: 23
Threat Level: Moderate
---
Grik walked over, holding a massive stone hammer.
"Ashbone Raiders…"
He spat on the ground.
"They're scavengers."
"They hunt weak settlements."
Rai looked toward the horizon.
In the distance, dark figures were approaching.
Fast.
Very fast.
Soon the shapes became clear.
Demons riding skeletal beasts.
Large bone-covered wolves with glowing red eyes.
The Ashbone Raiders.
They stopped a short distance from the barricade.
Their leader rode forward.
A tall demon with bone armor and jagged horns.
His mouth twisted into a cruel grin.
"So the rumors were true."
His gaze locked onto Rai.
"A human… ruling demons."
The raiders behind him laughed loudly.
"This is pathetic."
Grik stepped forward angrily.
"You want to test us?"
The Ashbone leader raised a hand.
The laughter stopped.
He studied the settlement carefully.
The unfinished wall.
The exhausted workers.
The small number of defenders.
Then he smiled wider.
"You killed Blood Fang."
"Impressive."
"But they were weak."
He pointed his claw toward Rai.
"Leave this land."
"Or we'll burn this pathetic settlement to the ground."
The outcast demons tensed.
Some gripped their tools tightly.
Others looked nervous.
But none of them ran.
Because Rai was standing there.
Rai stepped down from the rock.
His expression calm.
"You're standing in my territory."
The Ashbone leader blinked.
Then burst out laughing.
"Your territory?"
He spread his arms.
"You have thirty starving demons and a broken wall!"
His riders howled with laughter.
Then his voice dropped.
"Last chance, human."
"Submit… or die."
The wasteland wind blew across the battlefield.
Rai looked at the raiders.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Grik."
"Yes?"
"Finish the wall."
Grik blinked.
"…What?"
Rai walked past him toward the gate.
"I'll handle this."
The outcast demons stared.
Twenty-three raiders.
Against one human.
The Ashbone leader smirked.
"You're coming alone?"
Rai stopped a few meters from them.
His eyes cold.
"You wanted a test."
His Dark Dominion began spreading again.
The air suddenly grew heavy.
Several raiders shifted uncomfortably in their saddles.
"What… is this pressure?"
The Ashbone leader frowned.
Then Rai spoke one final sentence.
"You brought twenty-three."
"…I only need one."
The next moment—
Rai vanished.
BOOM.
The first raider was ripped off his skeletal wolf.
His body smashed into the ground like a broken doll.
The battle had begun.