William landed near the edge of the forest, his sword already in hand, scanning the area with sharp, focused eyes.
It didn't take long.
Five figures burst from the trees in a panic—three men and two women, all carrying weapons, all looking desperate and furious.
"You bastard!" one of the men shouted. "You killed three of our companions—and the horses too!"
Hearing that, William allowed himself a faint smile."So my surprise attack worked after all. Good."
That only enraged them further. But despite the anger on their faces, none of them moved recklessly. They hesitated.
They were afraid.
William radiated power—and they could feel it.
The man who seemed to be the leader stepped forward slightly, though he didn't lower his guard. "Maybe we can talk," he offered. "Find a way to stop this from going further."
"And why would I want that," William said, his tone sharp, "when I'm the one with the advantage? Sounds like a pretty stupid idea to me."
His confidence was unshakable.
