"Leopold, what the hell did you find in there, and why the hell did you bring a whole swarm of spiders along with you?"

The question was asked by Marilyn, who has finally regained her sight. She didn't understand how a scouting mission turned into a chase, followed by a battle.

Leo gave his answer, which was rather concise.

"They wanted to eat me."

"And?"

"I did my best not to get eaten."

"Sigh..."

Marilyn sighed in frustration because the thing she was curious about was how he got caught in the first place, but if Leopold didn't answer the first time, he wouldn't answer later either.

"Is it so hard to say that they were better than you at stealth? Nevermind..."

Marilyn then looked at the shadow-covered entrance to the path to the right.

"Okay then, what did you find on the way there? Before you got caught that is."

Leopold flinched but answered.

"Darkness. Webs. And spiders. Lots of spiders."

"Well, I guess we aren't taking that way then."

The woman then turned to look at the opposite side of the clearing and towards the path leading the other way.

With one of the two available paths sounding rather unpleasant and deadly to traverse, it was the only other option left for them to use. However, the group didn't yet know what lay there, but there was a solution to that.

"Okay Leo, please check out that path as well. And without bringing any new 'friends' back with you."

The ranger turned to leave, but just before he was about to step into the forest, he turned around and gave the female leader a green crystal that he was previously holding.

"Take it, and give it to someone who can use it."

After that, he dashed away and disappeared amidst the trees and shadows.

Marilyn looked at the newfound crystal in her grasp, and then walked towards the rest of the group, shaking her head all the while.

"So erratic... It's tiring to deal with him sometimes."

The group was currently healing back from the battle with the spiders, but the mages were rather in over their heads with healing the venom, considering that they too were fighting and using their mana in the process.

Although the concentrated mana helped them recover faster, just two mages healing four people was a bit much.

Among them, a girl just out of her teenage years had sweat running down her forehead, the constant concentration being rather taxing on her. She was more of a healer than a fighter, the first always being easier for her than the other.

Her concentration was broken however by the sound of steps near her. Just as she was about to chase off the interruption, she saw Marilyn with an extended hand which held out a crystal shining in green light toward her.

"Here, Beatrice. This might be useful to you."

Beatrice looked at Marilyn in confusion, but still stood up from her knees and took the shiny thing from her leader's hand.

Meanwhile, Marilyn herself observed the girl. Soon enough the green light shined out, before enveloping her in a coat of light, being absorbed soon after. Only a transparent crystal remained.

"...Huh? What was that?"

Her voice filled with rather childish confusion rang out. She then furrowed her brows and closed her eyes, concentrating, as if looking within herself, trying to feel something.

"My mana! I'm full of mana! And it's... Different!"

Marilyn, having confirmed one of her guesses, then asked the girl.

"Different how?"

"I don't know for sure but... My mana's more lively? Feels fresher? It's rather hard to explain."

"Well, then why don't you try it out?" Marilyn then nodded her head towards the injured.

The young mage followed her nod and set back down in her previous spot. She then stretched out her hands towards the bite wound which she was previously healing, rather apprehensively. After that, she channeled her mana once again.

A green glow then enveloped her palms, before seeping into the injured's skin. The bite that previously refused to heal nearly completely now began closing at remarkable speed.

In mere seconds the wound itself was gone, and the blackened veins began to recover their natural color. The injured man's face was no longer pale as well. All signs pointed toward a successful recovery.

"I... Did this?"

Beatrice looked at her hands in wonder, as this time the healing a fraction of previous mana and effort out of her.

Marilyn watched her as well, but with different thoughts in mind.

'So it is mana after all... And the fact that it is probably related to the regeneration the spider had shown... Plus that light trick that I did with my sword is similar to the white wolf's...'

Her eyebrows were slowly rising in surprise as she was gathering the puzzle pieces together. The implications of the ability to gain such extraordinary powers in a single place...

'If gaining the power of a monster after eating its heart is a legend... Then this place is a place of legends. It is no longer just a simple nest...'

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"Marilyn."

She jumped in surprise, nearly unsheathing her sword before seeing who was talking right into her ear.

"...Leopold you sneaky bastard... At least you are alone this time. I take it you have scouted out the path ahead of us?"

"Yes."

"Well tell me then."

"Plenty of light. The path won't fit more than two people shoulder to shoulder. There is a big boar ahead."

Being somewhat used to his way of speech, she understood his report.

"So basically we won't be able to walk in a normal formation, but we will at least be able to see enemies unlike on the other path. And there is a dangerous beast ahead. Did I get it right?"

Marilyn received a nod in response, and that was all she needed.

Looking over the group, they were almost completely recovered. With Beatrice's newfound healing powers, the injured were already fine and on their feet. As such, Marilyn saw no reason to delay any further.

"Alright folks, enough laying around like cats on a sunny day. Get your weapons and move out!"

Although one or two explorers wanted to rest a little more, the majority was ready to go, some more than others. Anna in particular regained a bit of her spirit after the victory and was holding onto her bow tightly.

"This time we are going through a narrow path! Warriors to the front and back. Rangers, cover our rear. Mages, to the center. We walk in twos!"

Not even a minute passed before everyone arranged in pairs, forming five of them, Beatrice being without one, but she was put in the very center of the column as the best healer.

Marilyn was at the front as always, Onheim being to her right, but now being far more gloomy than when they just entered the underground. Losing most of one's companions does not do wonders for the mood.

As the arrangement was now complete, the column began to march forward, stepping on the path laden with rocks and trampling the short grass under their feet.

The safe and empty clearing was left behind, with the group now being slowly surrounded by trees that were stretching towards the ceiling, with soft blue light shining through the gaps between them, creating a wondrous and eerie sight.

One time a wild beast jumped in front of the column, causing everyone to grip their weapons tighter, but it left as fast as it came. Although no battle happened, the group now remained on guard.

And shortly after, the path once again widened, giving way into yet another clearing, but this one was only a quarter of the previous one, and being already occupied.

A white tree with golden leaves stood towards their left, with roots burrowing into the ground... And being home to a rather big inhabitant.

The explorers stifled their breath momentarily upon beholding the figure of the beast.

It was a boar, bigger than the ones they previously encountered. If those could leave you with broken ribs after their charges, then this one would leave you with broken... Everything. Making you dead.

Fortunately for them, it was sleeping amidst the roots, not having yet noticed them. However sneaking past it would not be an option, with the path having an opening mere meters away from it.

"...As if the fuckers want us to fight it with no other way around it."

Marilyn cursed quietly. But seeing no other options, she began giving out orders with both whispers to those close to her, and gestures to those further away.

Following her orders, warriors remained near her, while the Rangers and the two Mages spread out among the trees, surrounding the clearing.

It would be ideal for them to climb on the trees, but other than the white tree under which the boar slept, all other trees were pines, with branches being far above their reach, so Marilyn would have to make do.

Now that those fighting at range had taken their positions, all that remained was the Warrior's part, which included her. This battle would mostly be dependent on them.

But they would not be the ones to start it. While the five warriors along with Marilyn moved forward in the clearing and prepared to battle, the Rangers had drawn their bows and aimed their crossbows.

A whistle of loosened arrows then rang out, causing the boar to wake up and open its eyes... Only to catch one of the said arrows in its eyes, with the other three being stuck into its thick hide.

"Bullseye. That was for my left eye, you bastards." The arrow was Anna's, and losing an eye hadn't impeded her aim much at this distance. And her aim proved true this time as well.

The boar let out a squeal of anger and pain, being fully awake and enraged. It then saw the five Warriors in front of it and did what any angry boar would do. It charged.

"EVADE!"

The five spread out away from the beast's path, Onheim even diving away and onto the ground.

Meanwhile, the boar wasn't able to turn around on the spot, momentum carrying it forward. But it managed to slow down and turn around right before the trees, scaring the hidden ranger that it was about to impact to the bone.

But by the time it was turned around, an axe was already swinging from its blind side, leaving no time to react. A gash was cut through the side of its face, making the boar instinctively swing its head to the side.

Coincidentally it was Onheim who was attacking, and not expecting a counter, he was flung away by its snout, fortunately not being impaled on its tusks.

At the same time, three arrows were once again shot from amidst the trees, piercing the beast's side, face, and snout, albeit not too deeply. It appeared that the bones of the boar were rather strong.

The boar then once again prepared to charge but was knocked off balance by a blast of mana that came from the side, being staggered.

The four Warriors who were near it, being cautious of being flung away or impaled, saw the chance and did not waste it.

Four attacks were launched and four attacks landed all over the body of the beast.

Enraged, the boar started thrashing about, trying to rid itself of enemies who clung to it as mosquitoes.

Three of the Warriors retreated in time, but one wasn't as lucky, being hit by a rear leg of the boar, and then flying away with quite a few broken bones.

Onheim then got back to the three, making it four once again.

The beast once again prepared to charge, and arrows once again flew out, but this time the beast was prepared. It turned, taking the brunt of the arrows into the hide. Then it rooted itself to the ground, and although the incoming blast of mana shook it, it didn't lose balance.

Following all that, it charged for real.

"It's charging! Dodge!"

Marilyn was the one who shouted, and as such she unknowingly provoked the boar.

The beast changed its target from the center of the group of warriors to her, who was at the side. She who already jumped aside was rather defenseless, but that reminded her of a recent similar situation.

She gathered the power within herself into the sword and quickly closed her eyes, not wishing to be blinded again.

And she did the right thing, as the light gathered even faster this time, pulled by conscious effort, before once again flashing out brightly.

The boar lost its vision and direction, and tumbled past Marilyn, sparing her from being impaled, but not before tearing open her side using its tusks in passing.

Marilyn shouted out briefly in pain before falling to the ground. Upon feeling the wound she found out that it was rather wide and deep, and she would bleed out without aid.

She was in no state to fight anymore.

The nearby Ranger ran up to her and pulled her to the trees, where she could be healed up, and away from the boar who could easily trample her.

A dozen seconds ago, when Marilyn just blinded the boar, it tumbled on the ground upon losing its vision. At the same time, arrows were loosened from four directions this time, the beast being wounded all over.

The boar was weakening rapidly over time due to the blood loss from all the sustained wounds, but it could still kill anyone unprepared.

Three Warriors, being wary due to two people who sustained serious wounds, didn't dare to be reckless. But even they couldn't miss such an opening.

A sword was slashed across its face once again, and a spear was stabbed into its side.

Onheim in particular, saw the beast losing strength and acted. With his two-handed axe in his hands, he jumped up and smashed it down on the skull of the beast.

"Did I get it?"

The boar jerked, its eyes regaining clarity and focusing on Onheim who now lost grip on his axe and was staring at the beast rather fearfully.

Just as everyone thought that he would die, the boar lost its strength and crashed down to the ground, dead for sure this time, turning into mist, arrows and the axe falling to the ground with *thuds* and a *clank*.

Onheim dropped to his butt with tension now gone, the other two warriors breathing out and leaning on their weapons.

Cheers celebrating victory then rang out of the throats of the explorers.

Even Beatrice who was currently healing Marilyn couldn't help but smile.

The wounded woman herself then asked herself with a pained voice.

"Did we win?"

"Yes, we did, leader. No one died this time."

Marilyn laughed out although each laugh gave her pain.

"Why are you laughing?"

"...Is it weird that although I nearly died so many times here, each victory feels so sweet?"