The five-man group made their way toward the northern entrance of the Dreadfall Forest. Arya, unfamiliar with the location due to his lack of travel experience, asked Lukas about it.
"There are two major wilderness regions," Lukas explained. "One is Dreadfall Forest, which surrounds four kingdoms, while the other is The High Hills, accessible only through the Invincible Heaven Kingdom. The High Hills are filled with towering mountains and rocky terrain, but Dreadfall is far more vast. According to legends, its depths stretch all the way to the endless ocean."
Arya found the name intriguing—Dreadfall Forest. It had a foreboding ring to it, making him wonder about its origins.
As they approached the entrance, Arya observed the bustling crowd. Many figures wore masks, some clad in heavy cloaks, while others bore insignias of different sects and academies. One thing they all had in common was strength—only cultivators with some level of power dared enter this place.
Lukas stepped forward and spoke with the guards stationed at the gate. There were four of them, each armed and alert. Arya learned that a high-ranking official from the royal family was in charge of overseeing the gate's stability and preventing unwanted incidents.
One of the guards took the pass Lukas handed over and nodded.
"Alright, everyone, show your passes," Lukas instructed. "I've already registered our five-man team."
One by one, they presented their passes. Security was strict due to past incidents where blacklisted cultivators had sneaked in and caused trouble. Unlike natural beast attacks, rogue cultivators could create havoc intentionally.
After verifying their passes, one of the guards unlocked the gate.
Just as Arya was about to step inside—
ROOOOAAAAARRR!!!
A thunderous roar echoed through the forest, shaking the air like a raging storm.
Arya's foot froze mid-step. His entire body tensed as the sheer power of the sound sent shivers down his spine.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
After a few moments, he recovered, brushing it off as a common occurrence in the wilderness. But when he turned to look at his companions, he noticed their expressions—Lukas, Henk, and the brothers all wore grim looks. They stared toward the depths of the forest, unease flickering in their eyes.
Unlike Arya, they knew this was not an ordinary beast's cry.
The roar carried something else—anger and pain.
"It's fine," Lukas finally spoke, breaking the silence. "The beast is deep inside the forest. It shouldn't be a problem for us."
Just then, one of the gate guards approached.
"Hey, you lot, be careful," he warned. "Something's wrong in the forest. That wasn't a normal beast cry. It's best if you avoid going too deep. If possible, wait a few days until we get word from the higher-ups."
Lukas looked at the group. "What do you think? Should we retreat?"
Henk crossed his arms. "I doubt there's anything to worry about. We're only hunting on the outskirts."
"Yeah, we'll be fine," the two brothers agreed.
Arya remained silent for a moment, then spoke. "I have no problem continuing. I need the money, and it's not like that beast will come looking for us specifically."
His real reason, however, was different—he refused to waste time.
Everyone from his group was training in academies, growing stronger each day. Even though he had immense strength, he couldn't afford to fall behind. Becoming the strongest was his goal, and he wouldn't let fear stop him.
"Perfect," Lukas said. "Then let's go."
The moment they stepped in, the dense canopy of trees swallowed them. The sky above became invisible, shrouded by ancient, towering trees with thick, unyielding bark.
The deeper they went, the more Arya noticed the peculiar plant life—trees with glowing veins, vines that slithered as if alive, and mushrooms the size of boulders. This place held countless mysteries.
Lukas and Henk led at the front, while Arya and the two brothers walked behind, scanning their surroundings.
Despite the forest being teeming with beasts, spotting them wasn't easy. The weaker ones instinctively sensed their presence and fled before they got close.
After half an hour of walking, they encountered their first beast—a Stone Serpent.
The snake lay coiled on a thick branch, its gray, rock-like scales blending perfectly with the bark. Its name came from its unique ability—hardening its body into stone before launching itself like a spear.
If it sensed them, it would strike with lethal precision.
"Careful," Lukas whispered. "Even though it's unranked, it's still dangerous. Let's take it down in one hit."
"Don't worry," Henk replied confidently. "My Seed Weapon is a dagger—I can kill it in one strike."
With a flick of his wrist, two Seed Rings manifested around him, transforming into a pair of gleaming daggers.
Arya took note—Henk had one common and one uncommon Seed Ring, both water-elemental.
Henk raised his right dagger, channeling elemental energy into it. He took aim at the resting serpent and hurled the weapon with lightning speed.
But just as the dagger closed in—
The snake's golden eyes snapped open.
A split second too late.
The dagger pierced its skull, pinning it to the branch. The serpent twitched, then fell motionless.
"Nice shot," Lukas said.
"First kill," one of the brothers grinned. "And a good one! That'll sell for at least 30 white coins."
"Definitely."
Arya remained silent, observing their reaction.
They were pleased, thinking that having a strong cultivator like Henk in their group was a huge advantage.
"Alright, let's not waste time. Get it down and harvest it," Lukas ordered.
One of the brothers climbed up and retrieved the beast. As they prepared to refine and store the materials, Arya turned his gaze toward the depths of the forest.
That roar from earlier still lingered in his mind.
It was a sound filled with rage and agony.
And for some reason, he had the uneasy feeling that it wasn't just a random beast's cry.
Something deeper was stirring within the Dreadfall Forest.
And sooner or later, he would have to face it.