Game of Dragonborn.

Chapter 81 - The Dragonborn's revenge will begin.

[Chapter Size: 3100 Words.]

Third Person POV.
Kingsland.

...

...

The monster's sound quickly ceased, as all the foliage seemed to stop as well, and the forest was once again enveloped in absolute silence.

"..."

Everyone stood motionless for a few seconds, unsure of how to react to what they had just heard.

"That... That was a monster?" Lancel murmured, stammering, gripping his trembling hand on the sword while his face turned pale. He was almost paralyzed with fear.

Meryn Trant was no different, as his face dripped with sweat, but he tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, drawing it from its sheath. The other guards followed the royal guard's lead, unsheathing their weapons. The servants were terrified, huddling closely behind them.

Robert frowned, staring into the forest in absolute silence, seeing nothing beyond the vegetation, trying to understand what they had just heard. It did not sound like a colossal animal, but it was certainly large, and the sound was monstrous.

"Prepare to fight!" was all he said before dropping his crossbow from his hand – and even his wine skin – to take hold of the war hammer he always carried with him, which was with the servants. He moved once more to the front of the group, ready to face whatever was out there.

They were near the highest part of the forest, with the terrain sloping down about five meters to a lower area.

"My king, shouldn't we be turning back? This cannot be just any creature..." one of the guards questioned, his voice trembling.

"Not yet." Robert wanted to see with his own eyes what it was. He gripped the handle of his hammer tightly, preparing himself for whatever was about to emerge from the forest.

That was when they began to hear a new sound.

"It's coming! Prepare for battle!" Meryn Trant shouted, positioning his sword in a combat stance, gripping it with both hands.

All the soldiers – at least twelve men – positioned themselves in formation. The menacing sound grew louder.

"Let's leave, please..." Lancel pleaded, wanting to flee as quickly as possible, but his legs seemed paralyzed.

The sound of foliage shifting and branches breaking grew louder. The worst part was that it wasn't coming from just one point, but from several in front of them.

"Prepare yourselves!" Robert roared, raising his hammer.

In the next instant, there was an explosion of bushes being torn apart. Wild boars suddenly emerged—not just one, but an enormous group of them, charging furiously. Horrified screams echoed among the soldiers and servants.

"Bastards!" Robert raised his hammer and swung it downward, trying to crush the first boar that approached. However, he missed, as the creature was too fast, dodging and passing by his side.

The animals were advancing from all directions, evading his attacks. Robert attempted another strike, raising his hammer again, but he was unsuccessful.

His companions were not as lucky. Two men were caught off guard and brutally struck by the boars. Lancel, Ser Meryn Trant, and several others from the entourage were pushed or knocked down by the animals charging through them, paying no heed to what was in their way.

"Those bastards!" Robert growled, turning his body to retaliate, with none of the boars attacking him while his companions were being pushed aside.

But that movement was his greatest mistake.