Chapter 294 - 295: Now, Its Your Turn

เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 มี.ค. 2569 07:25

The forest was filled with whispers, just as it had been days ago before they all fell into the Beldam's house. There was a faint fog drifting through the forest, and towering trees loomed like sentinels. The flora was as deadly as they remembered. Worst of all, this forest still hid monsters and horrors alike. However, this time, the odds were different. They were no longer a group of tired teenagers—they were now a heavily armed and well-equipped party wearing high-level magical gear. With enough supplies and well-rested bodies—more than that—they had a sure direction, a map, and a clear path ahead. The tree that had once been the Beldam's house was slowly being consumed by the whispers. As the last of the Beldam's power faded, the tree changed, regaining that eerie sensation—like a living creature watching them. Damon took a deep breath, his body covered in Pale Crown. The armor was in its Ascendant form, a light armor now refined and sleek. The ashen crown hovered like a halo above his head… When he heard the whispers, it was as if they were trying to gnaw at his mind, numbing him… but he knew they didn't. It was merely the armor protecting him. He exhaled slowly, resolving himself. The task at hand would be grave. 'I'll make sure we all make it to Lysithara… safe and alive.' A thousand miles wasn't very far. If a normal human were to move without rest, it would take roughly thirteen days to complete the journey. However, that wasn't taking into account that humans needed to sleep. If rest and stops were taken into consideration, it would take weeks. But none of them were normal humans anymore. They were all at their first-class advancement—they could cross kilometers in moments if needed. They were also all unique class holders, with a class only they possessed. Damon had given two weeks as an estimate. Not because they needed rest, but because of the terrain… and the monsters they'd have to face to reach their destination. After this, they would not be resting any time soon. "Alright, boys and girls, time to go. Remember the rules—if it looks killable, we kill it. If not, run like hell." Matia, clad in Shattered Ice, remained in the Sovereign Mantle form—heavy armor cloaked in an icy aura. Her figure was completely hidden behind its helm. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮 "How do we know what's killable?" she asked dryly. Damon smiled, finding her words amusing. "Because we'll be alive." Leona chuckled, shaking her head inside her own heavy armor, her frame hugged tightly by the storm-forged metals. "That's a great way of saying you don't know..." Evangeline held her rapier, light stored within its core. Her body was encased in the Ascendant form of Duskglass—a light armor of silver sheen with golden inlays. Her helm caught the dim fog-light like a mirrored moon. "Let's go already..." Damon nodded as the group took formation. Xander and Leona moved to the front—the group's heavy vanguard. Evangeline followed just behind in her lighter armor, acting as support. Damon kept close behind her, alongside Sylvia. At the very back, Matia marched in heavy armor. She was versatile, capable of wielding any weapon, but her main purpose was guarding Sylvia—their seer, magic archer, and primary healer—against sneak attacks Damon, as the party's leader, stayed close to Sylvia for a reason. Any intel she provided would be vital for quick decisions. Evangeline acted as their secondary healer. Their movement through the forest was quiet, deliberate. All they had to rely on were the map and Sylvia's insight. Damon couldn't risk sending his shadow ahead—if it was destroyed, it could kill him. Likewise, he couldn't use shadow perception without risking detection from something powerful. They advanced in silence, slow and steady, until they reached a narrow path surrounded by jagged trees. Sylvia glanced toward Damon. "We need to stop..." He raised his hand, signaling the group. "Stop…" Xander halted, his heavy spear in hand as he eyed the twisted forms ahead. "These are smaller than the trees in the forest…" Leona nodded, her voice low beneath the whispers. Her face vanished beneath the helm of her Stormwake armor. "They also don't have leaves." Sylvia nodded, activating her skill to appraise them. "Wraithwood Stalkers. Humanoid creatures… animated by the forest." Evangeline narrowed her eyes. "Like undead?" Sylvia shook her head and opened the weathered journal. "There's a passage here in the old travel journal." "Once a tribe of forest dwellers. When the Rot spread to the woods, they became obsessed with the forest. Eventually, they were enthralled by the rot-filled land. Even in death, they remained animated by its power. Masked like trees… glowing eyes… flesh of hollow wood and bark. They seek to offer living souls to the forest." Damon's eyes narrowed. "Weakness… and rank." Sylvia's gaze stayed on the page. "They're weak to light and fire—it disrupts their bond to the forest." She raised her head. "Oh, and they're the killable type…" Damon grinned, pulling free the Wyvern's Fangs. "Just what I wanted to hear." The others drew their weapons—tools forged from their ascendant armors. It was more accurate to call them Ascendant Weapons. The murderous aura they radiated caused the Wraithwood Stalkers, once hidden as trees, to react immediately. The forest twisted with movement. Withered trunks bent and shifted. From branches and bark, humanoid shapes formed—grotesque wooden figures with glowing eyes. Some crouched high in trees, massive like warped stumps, while others clung to bark like malformed limbs. The first one rose—it stood two meters tall, wide as a trunk, its eyes a glowing, hollow green. Human-like wrinkles etched into its barken face. It raised a hand and opened its jagged mouth—emitting a low, warbling shriek. Damon scoffed. "Let's get ourselves some first-rank mana cores…" Xander surged forward, spear gripped tight. With a powerful swing, he sent one of the Wraithwood Stalkers flying. He cracked his knuckles. "I've about had it with monsters trying to kill us… Now… it's our turn."

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