I Became My Elf King Character In A Game-Like World
Chapter 34: The Panther Riders

Chapter 34: The Panther Riders

The sounds in the forest grew louder, deep growls and the snapping of branches. Tension gripped the knights as they tightened their grips on their weapons.

Though they were all seasoned warriors, veterans of countless battles, they knew better than to underestimate the dangers of the Forest.

Everyone braced themselves, expecting a bloody battle. But just as the first figure stepped out from the trees, the entire caravan froze in shock.

It was not a horde of magical beasts that emerged,it was a mount of Elves.

Riding atop sleek black panthers, they moved as one, their silver crescent-shaped blades gleaming under the sunlight. Their light armor allowed them to move swiftly, and their expressions were cold, sharp, and battle-ready.

For a moment, silence hung over the caravan as the knights and mages processed the sight before them. Then, whispers broke out among them.

"What the hell! That many elves?"

"And they’re riding magical beasts?!"

"But Elves are only supposed to have archers, mages, and swordsmen! What kind of warriors are these?!"

"I’ve never seen anything like this before!"

Even Theron, a warrior who had seen countless battles, narrowed his eyes in surprise. Something was very, very different about these Elves. And it was clear, they were not here to welcome the caravan as mere merchants.

Theron and the elderly mage, Gorren, both felt their expressions darken.

The sheer number of Elves emerging from the forest was staggering, at least several hundred of them, all mounted on magical beast black panthers.

Even more concerning was the fact that each elf had reached the fifth circle in strength. If a battle were to break out, the caravan would suffer devastating losses even if they supposed to win or flee in the middle.

The total number of knights, mages, and servants in the caravan barely exceeded a hundred. The difference in numbers was overwhelming.

"It’s the Elves!" Lyra wasted no time. She stepped down from her carriage and hurried to the front of the caravan.

"Stop!" A female elven huntress raised her silver crescent-shaped blade, her sharp eyes locked onto Lyra with a warning glare.

The sudden act of hostility sent waves of tension through the caravan. The knights and mages immediately went on high alert, ready to protect Lyra at a moment’s notice.

She was the daughter of the Marquis of City and the heiress of the Ironcrest Trading Company. Her safety was paramount, if anything happened to her, it would not be sn snall issue for them or anyone else.

Yet, Lyra herself remained completely unfazed. She did not believe she was in any real danger.

"Hello, beautiful Elves. My name is Lyra."

Her voice was calm, even friendly. She had interacted with Elves before and knew that they were a kind and peaceful race. They never attacked others without reason and had always maintained a good relationship with humans.

"I come from the Ironcrest Trading Company in the City," she continued. "As per our agreement, we visit your lands at the end of every month to trade for fresh fruits and honey."

A brief exchange took place among the elves. They spoke in hushed voices before one of them finally turned to Lyra and said, "Follow us. Do not stray from the path or step into any other part of our territory. If you do, we will not be responsible for your safety."

Lyra nodded. "We will respect the rules of your people."

With that, the huntresses led the human caravan into the depths of the Elves’ Territory.

At the rear of the caravan, Theron rode in silence, his gaze fixed on the elves ahead. After a moment, he muttered under his breath, "Elves... Truly a breathtaking race. No wonder the nobles of the City are willing to spend fortunes to buy them."

Noticing Gorren ’s deep frown, Theron turned to him. "Archmage Gorren, what’s on your mind?"

The elderly mage’s eyes were filled with concern. "Something isn’t right. Last month, when we came here, we never saw elves like these—riding panthers and forming military units. And there are too many of them. If we’re seeing five hundred out here, how many more are within their lands?"

Theron’s expression darkened.

Up until now, he had considered the Elves to be weak, a dying race that posed no real threat. But this... this was different.

He suddenly found himself reevaluating his approach. If he wanted to capture the unicorns that had entered the Forest, he would have to do so without attracting the elves’ attention.

A single unicorn calf could be sold for over a million gold coins in human lands. Even he could not help but feel tempted by such a prize.

The journey continued in tense silence.

Then, as the caravan crossed the final stretch of the forest and arrived at the heart of the elves’ Territory, everyone came to an abrupt halt.

Their eyes widened in sheer disbelief.

Before them stretched an enormous elven settlement, an entire city of elegant, beautifully crafted dwellings built into the trees, their structures blending seamlessly with nature. The number of houses alone was staggering, far beyond what any of them had imagined.

But what truly left them speechless was the sheer number of Elves.

Tens of thousands.

Everywhere they looked, elves moved with purpose. They were not weak, helpless refugees struggling to survive. No, each one bore the mark of a warrior.

Some carried exquisitely crafted bows, their quivers full of arrows. Others rode on the backs of powerful black panthers, their crescent blades gleaming in the sunlight.

They were a disciplined, organized force, an army in its own right.

"What... the... hell..." a knight whispered, his voice trembling.

"When did the Forest become home to so many Elves?" another muttered, his hands gripping the reins of his horse in shock.

Theron said nothing. His fingers unconsciously tightened around the hilt of his greatsword.

This... was not what he had expected.

The members of the caravan stood in stunned silence, their mouths slightly agape as they took in the sight before them.

If not for the pointed ears, ethereal beauty, and otherworldly aura unique to Elves, they might have suspected that these were merely humans in disguise.

The sheer number of them was simply too astonishing, tens of thousands, an amount that rivaled the population of a human noble’s Territory.

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