642: The Forbidden Forest Part 1

The Forbidden Forest Part 1

The Forbidden Forest, notorious for their perilous landscape and lethal flora and fauna, held a chilling reputation that would send shivers down the spines of even the most experienced cultivators.1

However, despite its notoriety, little was known about the place to the outside world. For those who were weak and had no interest in such a hazardous place, this meant nothing. But for the truly strong, an uncharted place like this could be a treasure trove or a death trap.

Aelina, Mira, and the others believed it to be the latter.

The Ancient Beast Mountain Range stretched across a vast, seemingly endless expanse. Thousands of people traversed these lands daily, making it impossible not to come into contact with the Forbidden Forest. Yet, nobody talked about it. In fact, people went to great lengths to avoid even coming close to it.

Hence its name.

Rhydian flapped her wings, slowly descending to a spot a few dozen kilometers away from the edge of the rumored Forbidden Forest; the atmosphere growing increasingly tense. 

Even from this distance, the girls could feel an oppressive aura emanating from the dark and mysterious woodland. The closer they got, the more they understood the reason behind its ominous reputation.

An eerie silence enveloped the surrounding area, devoid of any signs of life or activity. It was as if the very earth itself was warning them against stepping foot within the forest's boundaries. 

Hopping off of Rhydian, they cautiously approached the forest, doing their best to remain unnoticed.

Mira, seemingly unfazed by the ominous atmosphere, appeared more casual than the others. She strolled alongside Rhydian, shoveling fistfuls of Rank 7 and Rank 8 beast meat into her mouth.

She had used up nearly all of her vitality yesterday, tapping into her regenerative powers. Now, she needed to consume vast amounts of food to restore it. Mira had spent most of the night eating, but she wanted to make sure she was topped off before entering such a treacherous area.

As they stood at the edge of the woods, their eyes widened, and their breaths caught in their throats. The towering trees, with their twisted limbs and gnarled bark, seemed to defy the natural order of the world. The dark and oppressive atmosphere was a stark contrast to the calm and majestic mountain range around them.

Taking a deep breath, Mira's eyes flickered with resolve as she quickly scanned her companions, keenly aware of the dangers surrounding them. "This is it, everyone. Stay vigilant and alert at all times. Remember, our number one priority is the Celestial Nectar. Everything else comes second." 

The girls nodded solemnly, understanding the severity of the situation.

"Leave any poison to me. I have some immunity, and while it isn't foolproof, I won't die immediately upon contact."

With a final glance back at the bright and beautiful world they were leaving behind, the group stepped into the Forbidden Forest, their hearts pounding with a mix of trepidation and anticipation. 

The darkness swallowed them whole, enveloping them in its chilling embrace as they delved deeper into the heart of the unknown.

As they ventured into the forest, the girls were met with an ever-thickening, inky fog that seemed to absorb all light, leaving them nearly blind. The air was heavy with the scent of decay, mingled with the sweet aroma of poisonous plants, urging them to tread cautiously and maintain their guard at all times.

They used their Soul Sense to scan the area, but even that was severely limited in this area.

The Forbidden Forest was a living, breathing entity that seemed to thrive on death, decay, and malic. Every inch was teeming with life, but a sense of malevolence hung thick in the air. 

Despite the dangers of the place, the forest was teeming with life, both seen and unseen. Strange creatures with eyes that glowed in the darkness scuttled through the undergrowth, watching the group's every move. 

The air was alive with the fluttering of leathery wings as bat-like creatures with razor-sharp fangs swooped and darted through the darkness. They emitted a high-pitched keening that was barely perceptible to the human ear yet filled the night with an unsettling dissonance.

Sinister beings lurked in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. 

Among them were nocturnal creatures with eyes that glowed an unearthly shade of green, reflecting the scarce light that penetrated the forest's dense canopy. 

These beings moved with unnerving agility, their limbs clicking and clattering as they scuttled through the forest floor, their gazes fixated on the group, tracking their every movement.

One such creature hung from a leaf, waiting for Mira's group to pass by before it dropped on their heads!

*Swoosh!*

A dozen ice needles punctured the creature's body, which was shown to be a large, oddly-shaped beetle, and it dropped to the ground. 

Mira stepped on the bug, causing it to explode in a mess of green blood, before moving on.

"Ewwww. The creatures here are really nasty," Eden held her nose in disgust, tiptoeing around the dead bugs and beasts that Mira and the others slayed every few seconds.

As an elf with a deep connection to the natural world, she found herself particularly repulsed by the twisted and malevolent beings that inhabited the forest. Therefore, to her, walking into this place was akin to diving into a large tub of manure, covering herself in shit. 

The creatures here repulsed her, the aura was murky and disgusting, and even the plants seemed evil.

"Are you going to help kill these things or just stand there and watch?" Nova grumbled as she thrust her spear forward, piercing through a dark green snake that had just launched itself at them. 

"...I'll stick to watching, if you don't mind," Eden admitted without shame. She had no intention of infecting her weapons with the vile blood of these… monsters. 

Yes, in her mind, these were no longer beasts but monsters–Monsters that wanted to "corrupt" her pure self!

"...Why'd you even come if you're going to be this useless?" Seraphina commented, but even she was thoroughly washing off her sword and shield with her Qi every time something touched them.

"Hey! It's not my fault that this place is so disgusting! Who would even want to live here, anyway? Those people from the Toxic Blade Sect must be insane!" Eden exclaimed, but nobody could disagree with her words.

Strategically and defensively, it had the perfect natural barrier, but that was just in theory. Living in such a depressing place… they didn't even want to imagine what it must do to one's psyche. 

The group fell silent as they focused on making a path through the forest, hopefully toward a place with a bit more visibility.

The foliage of the Forbidden Forest was no less menacing than its fauna and wildlife. The trees, characterized by knotted branches and twisted trunks, appeared as though they were reaching out to ensnare any unwary passerby. Their bark was coated with a layer of slime that emitted a sickly sweet odor, attempting to lure unsuspecting creatures closer only to trap them in a deadly embrace.

Venomous plants were abundant, their vibrant colors hiding a lethal secret. Some blossomed with beautiful but deadly flowers that exuded a sweet intoxicating scent that was just a prelude to the toxic poison it would puff out, killing whatever bug or small beast stepped near it. 

Others were adorned with slender tendrils that moved with a mind of their own, silently snaking through the air in search of prey. Once they found their target, these tendrils would wrap around the victim, injecting a paralyzing toxin that rendered them helpless.

With each step, the group felt the oppressive weight of the malevolent presence bearing down on them, but they pushed forward.

The girls ventured deeper into the Forbidden Forest, distancing themselves from their familiar world.

As they continued onward, Mira's expression suddenly changed, her instincts alerting her to imminent danger.

"Watch out! Something's coming!" She yelled, hoping to alert her companions before it appeared. 

Unfortunately, the entity was already before them as she spoke.

A massive plant burst forth from the fog, its enormous maw snapping open hungrily. It knocked Eden to the side in a flash, sending her sprawling across the damp forest floor. Simultaneously, its thick, thorny vines shot out, ensnaring Everly in their constricting embrace.

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