When they heard the Rootmaw Alpha was heading their way, panic started. People grabbed gear and tried to figure out where to stand. Mark knew that even if it was coming directly toward them, it was most likely still hours away. He climbed onto a crate and whistled for 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 bring everyone who intends to fight here if they are not already present.”
Mark continued organizing the groups. Spear fighters with shields would hold the line and push the beast back if it left the intended path. Movable barricades could be repositioned to direct it toward the pit. Lines of spears and buckets full of arrows waited for resupply. They also had fallback groups, archers, and runners ready to carry messages.
The group was as prepared as it could be. They had always planned for the possibility of fighting in the dark, so fires were started and lanterns lit across the area. As the next few hours passed, the final preparations were completed, and they became 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 about 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 moved the barricades and three heavy traps, only to receive another change in direction. They were redeploying again when the Rootmaw Alpha appeared. It was huge, bigger than their wildest expectations, and it was angry. A few arrows fired by the scouts were stuck in it from their attempts to redirect it.
The Rootmaw Alpha’s hide was scarred from wounds it had survived in 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 he got within range, the bear struck him once with its paw. The man flew over thirty feet, hit a tree, and dropped 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 stopped it for just a moment. Then the Rootmaw yanked its paw back, breaking the anchors and shattering the trap. The group adjusted, keeping the pit between the Rootmaw and the main force while the shield wall pushed it in the right general direction.
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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.
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 from falling onto the spikes at the bottom twice, but it was not dead. Mark joined them at the pit’s edge and pulled out his bow and added another arrow to the number already 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 Rootmaw Alpha 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 stood silent. People had died. Every shield team and scouting group had wounded members. One person had lost a leg, another woman had lost an arm, and several people had been struck by friendly arrows. But the threat was dead.
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 began discussing their system messages: multiple levels, new skills, and class advancements. Someone yelled, “Loot!” and jumped into the pit. The walls were collapsed into ramps so everyone could claim a reward.
People who had been back at camp came 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 brought everyone who had contributed forward to claim their rewards. Tom showed Mark rare Rootmaw Alpha hide, reinforced tendons, and a Durable Alpha Leather Pattern that unlocked heavy armor crafting.
Ava waved an Alpha Predator Feather Charm in front of Mark. It improved scouting and tracking. She also received a bond enhancement for Swoop and a collar that boosted Bramble’s stats. Everything else would go to outpost storage.
Garrick shouted with joy after receiving new building designs and a skill book on foundation stabilization.
Dale received Prime Alpha Meat Cuts, along with enhanced smoking knowledge and other food 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.