You stood silently amid the ruins of Eldenwood, the charred ground and broken walls still reeking of smoke and blood. The silence was oppressive.
You closed your eyes for a moment and reached out with your genie power — a silent, effortless wish.
"I wish to know the exact locations of every living survivor in and around Eldenwood right now."
Knowledge flooded your mind instantly.
There were a few more survivors.
Beneath the collapsed remains of the central longhouse, five people were still alive but trapped: two injured adult hunters and three young children. They were weak, dehydrated, and terrified, but breathing. They had hidden in the cellar when the demons came and the building had collapsed on top of them.
No other survivors remained in the village or immediate woods.
You opened your eyes and turned to Lukas.
"I've found a few more survivors trapped beneath the collapsed longhouse. I will save them. You go enjoy yourself — hunt down the remaining 319 demons that took part in this massacre. Don't spare any of them. Kill them all… but capture one alive for information. Bring it to me when you're done."
Lukas's eyes flashed with dark satisfaction. Shadows erupted around him like living smoke, and a cruel smile spread across his face.
"Gladly, big brother. They'll regret ever touching this village."
He vanished in a burst of darkness, flying off at terrifying speed toward the lingering demonic remnants that were still scattered in the surrounding area.
You turned your attention to the collapsed longhouse. With a casual wave of your hand, the heavy rubble lifted effortlessly into the air and moved aside like toys. You descended into the exposed cellar.
The five survivors — two bloodied hunters and three wide-eyed children — stared up at you in disbelief and overwhelming relief.
"Lord Grim…!" one of the hunters rasped. "You came… you really came…"
You healed them instantly with a snap — all wounds closed, strength returned, dehydration gone. You also clothed them in clean, warm garments and provided fresh food and water.
"You're safe now," you told them gently. "The rest of your people who escaped are being cared for in the capital. I will take you there soon."
The children clung to you, crying softly. The hunters bowed their heads in gratitude, tears in their eyes.
While you comforted the survivors, you could feel distant bursts of cosmic-necromantic power in the woods — Lukas was already at work. Screams of dying demons echoed faintly through the trees as he unleashed his shadow army without mercy.
One demon would be captured alive for questioning.