The voice came again.
Faint.
Weak.
"Please… help…"
Marcus pushed through a cluster of low branches, leaves brushing against his shoulders as he followed the sound deeper into the forest. The sunlight struggled to reach this far beneath the dense canopy, leaving the ground covered in shifting shadows.
The air here felt heavier.
More mist drifted between the trees, thin white strands curling around roots and rocks like lazy ghosts.
Behind him, Lyrielle moved silently, her bow already drawn.
Marcus's three wolves ran ahead, weaving between tree trunks with quick, alert movements.
Then one of them barked.
Marcus hurried forward.
And finally saw them.
Four figures huddled together at the base of a fallen tree.
Marcus blinked.
"...Oh."
"Oh wow."
They were rabbit girls.
Exactly like the ones Marcus had imagined when planning his future harem—except now they were very real, very scared, and very injured.
Each girl stood about five foot six, with soft snow-white fur covering their arms and legs. Long rabbit ears rose from their heads, twitching nervously at every sound.
Their hair was silky white as well, falling down their backs like moonlight.
But their eyes were all different.
One had deep blue eyes, calm but filled with pain.
One had bright green eyes, sharp and alert even in fear.
One had warm hazel eyes, trembling with emotion.
And the last had almost black eyes, dark and intense.
Aside from that…
They were identical.
Same slim waist.
Same curving hips.
Same generous chest that strained slightly against the worn leather tops they wore.
Marcus blinked again.
"...Okay."
His brain struggled to process the situation.
Because yes, they were injured and clearly in danger.
But also—
His brain had noticed things.
The one with green eyes spotted him first.
Her ears shot straight up.
"Human!"
The other three looked up instantly.
Fear filled their faces.
Lyrielle stepped beside Marcus.
"They appear to be beastkin."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"Rabbit tribe."
He remembered the factions the system had mentioned.
Fairies.
Elves.
Dwarves.
Humans.
Dragons.
And beast races.
The girl with blue eyes struggled to stand.
Her leg shook slightly as she leaned against the fallen tree.
"Please… help us."
Marcus took a step forward.
"Whoa whoa, relax."
He raised both hands.
"Not here to hurt you."
The girl with black eyes narrowed her gaze suspiciously.
"You are human."
Marcus shrugged.
"Guilty."
Before she could respond—
A harsh laugh echoed through the trees.
Marcus turned instantly.
Branches shook.
Leaves scattered.
Figures emerged from the forest.
Small.
Green.
Ugly.
Goblins.
At least twelve of them.
They carried crude bows and jagged knives, their yellow eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.
One of them stepped forward.
A slightly larger goblin wearing bone necklaces.
The leader.
He grinned, revealing crooked teeth.
"Ahhh."
His voice was scratchy and unpleasant.
"The rabbits ran far."
He looked at Marcus.
"Human meat too?"
Marcus sighed.
"Of course."
The goblin leader pointed at the rabbit girls.
"They ours."
He pointed at Marcus.
"You leave."
Marcus looked at Lyrielle.
Then at the goblins.
Then at the injured rabbit girls.
He sighed again.
"Yeah… that's not happening."
The goblin leader's grin vanished.
"Goblins kill."
Marcus cracked his neck.
"Alright."
He raised his hand toward the sky.
"Let's do this."
The goblins charged.
Marcus smiled.
"Meteor."
Fire appeared above the forest.
The first goblin barely had time to look up.
WHOOOOSH
BOOM
The meteor smashed into him like a cannonball.
Dirt exploded.
Goblin pieces flew through the air.
The others froze in shock.
Lyrielle moved instantly.
Her bowstring sang.
THUNK
An arrow punched through a goblin's skull.
Marcus laughed.
"Oh this never gets old."
Another meteor fell.
BOOM
Another goblin died.
The rabbit girls stared.
Wide-eyed.
The green-eyed girl whispered.
"...What is he?"
Marcus pointed again.
"Meteor."
Another flaming rock screamed through the sky.
BOOM
Goblin number four disappeared.
The remaining goblins panicked.
Some tried to run.
Lyrielle shot them down with perfect precision.
Marcus finished the rest.
Meteor.
Boom.
Meteor.
Boom.
Within seconds—
The forest was silent again.
Goblin bodies littered the ground.
Marcus dusted off his hands.
"Alright."
"Problem solved."
System notifications exploded across his vision.
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +10
Goblin Ear x10
Rusty Weapon Card
Cloth Scraps
Unit Card – Goblin Archer
Marcus blinked.
Then laughed.
"Oh you're kidding."
He walked over and picked up the card.
Unit Card – Goblin Archer
Rank: C
Marcus grinned.
"That's convenient."
He turned back toward the rabbit girls.
They were staring at him like he had just summoned a thunder god.
The blue-eyed girl slowly spoke.
"You… called the sky."
Marcus shrugged.
"Yeah."
The hazel-eyed one whispered.
"...He killed them all."
The green-eyed girl stood carefully, gripping a short knife despite her injured arm.
"You are powerful."
Marcus scratched his cheek.
"Eh."
"I just drop rocks."
Lyrielle stepped forward slightly.
Her voice softened.
"You are safe now."
The rabbit girls relaxed slightly.
But the one with black eyes still looked suspicious.
"Why help us?"
Marcus blinked.
"Because goblins suck."
She stared.
Marcus shrugged again.
"Also because I'm building a territory."
That made all four girls freeze.
"Territory?"
Marcus nodded.
"Yep."
He pointed behind him toward the direction of his safe zone.
"Got a house. Fence. Food."
The rabbit girls looked at each other.
The hazel-eyed one spoke quietly.
"Our village…"
Her voice cracked.
"Goblins destroyed it."
Marcus frowned.
"Recently?"
She nodded slowly.
"Many died."
Silence fell over the clearing.
Marcus sighed.
"Yeah."
"Goblins definitely suck."
The blue-eyed girl stepped forward.
Her ears lowered slightly.
"Please… allow us to come with you."
Marcus blinked.
"...That was fast."
The green-eyed one added quickly.
"We will work."
The hazel-eyed girl nodded.
"We can cook."
The black-eyed one crossed her arms.
"And fight."
Marcus looked at Lyrielle.
She smiled slightly.
"My lord, more companions would strengthen the territory."
Marcus looked back at the rabbit girls.
Then sighed.
"Alright."
Their ears perked up instantly.
"But."
Marcus held up a finger.
"You gotta follow the rules."
They leaned forward slightly.
"What rules?"
Marcus grinned.
"Rule one."
"No goblins."
They nodded instantly.
"Agreed."
Marcus chuckled.
"Good."
He turned toward the direction of his territory.
"Alright then."
"Welcome to the team."
The four rabbit girls followed him.
And behind them—
The mist shifted again.
Watching.
Waiting.
Because Marcus had just unknowingly recruited the last survivors of a destroyed rabbit tribe.
And somewhere deeper in the forest…
Something far worse than goblins had noticed.