The carriage had been traveling for hours, covering an impressive distance of over three thousand miles since they had first set out from Daynz Town.
The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of deep orange and purple. Inside the carriage, the group of four sat in relative silence, the steady rhythm of the Ghost Rides’ hooves providing a soothing backdrop to their thoughts.
Lord Leah broke the quiet, her voice cutting through the stillness. “Elder White Fang,” she began, “how much farther do we have to go?”
The elder, seated comfortably with his arms crossed, glanced at her briefly. “Another day at least,” he answered. “We’ll reach the outskirts of the Soulor Empire by this time tomorrow.”
Lord Leah sighed, leaning back in her seat. “I almost regret choosing this method,” she admitted. “Almost.”
Lord Terrace nodded from his corner of the carriage. “It may be slower than flying, but it’s more formal and gives us time to rest. I’d say it’s a worthwhile trade-off.”
The group fell silent once more, each reflecting on the journey ahead, until the terrain outside began to shift.
The rocky roads they had been traveling on gave way to expansive fields of short green grass that shimmered under the moonlight.
Towering trees dotted the area, their enormous trunks and sprawling roots creating an almost otherworldly atmosphere. Some of the trees stretched dozens, even hundreds, of meters into the sky, their canopies blotting out the stars.
As they entered this strange, quiet stretch of land, the group noticed the carriage slowing down. The Ghost Rides, normally spirited and prone to making occasional snorting sounds, were now eerily silent.
Lord Terrace leaned forward, glancing out of the window. “Driver,” he called, his voice sharp. “What’s going on? Why are we slowing down?”
The driver’s reply was blunt, his voice low and cautious. “This area is dangerous. Noise needs to be kept to an absolute minimum—ideally, silence.”
Terrace frowned and turned to Elder White Fang, who appeared unsurprised by the driver’s words. “What’s he talking about?”
White Fang sighed, his gaze fixed on the darkened trees outside. “This is no ordinary stretch of forest,” he explained. “This area is unique in that it’s one of the very few places where mana beasts and demons coexist peacefully. Both are equally dangerous here.”
Leah tilted her head, intrigued. “Coexist? How?”
“The trees themselves are demons,” White Fang said, his tone grim. “Tree demons, to be specific. They’re intelligent and powerful predators. And within these trees live mana beasts called Phantom Apes.”
“Together, they form a deadly partnership. The tree demons consume the essence cores of their victims, leaving the skin, flesh, and bones behind. The Phantom Apes, being carnivorous, devour what remains. It’s a perfect arrangement for them—and a nightmare for anyone caught in their territory.”
The group sat in uneasy silence, absorbing the elder’s words. Before anyone could respond, a faint rumble shook the ground beneath them.
Brrrrrrrnnnnnggg!
“Looks like we’ve been noticed,” Elder White Fang said with a sigh, leaning back in his seat. “I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?”
Lord Leah rolled her eyes. “Let’s start with the bad news and get it over with.”
“The bad news,” Elder White Fang said, “is that we’re about to be attacked by both the tree demons and the Phantom Apes.”
“And the good news?” Lord Acheon asked, though his tone suggested he wasn’t expecting much.
Elder White Fang allowed himself a faint smile. “The good news is that their grades are relatively low. Most are Grade Five, with a rare few at Grade Four. Manageable, wouldn’t you agree?”
Lord Leah laughed, her expression brightening. “Manageable? That’s an understatement. This is perfect for me.”
Lord Terrace raised an eyebrow. “You’re eager for this, aren’t you?”
Lord Leah stood, stretching her arms. “Of course. My talent is tailor-made for this kind of situation.”
Elder White Fang nodded approvingly. “A Berserker’s A-Rank talent truly shines in close combat against multiple foes. But be careful—don’t underestimate them.”
Leah grinned, her confidence unshaken. “Don’t worry, Elder. I’ll take care of this.”
Without waiting for further discussion, Leah stepped out of the carriage, the vehicle having come to a complete stop. The other three watched her through the carriage windows, curiosity and anticipation evident on their faces.
The forest seemed to react immediately to her presence. The towering trees creaked ominously, their branches swaying despite the lack of wind.
Dark, shadowy shapes began to move among the leaves—Phantom Apes, their glowing red eyes piercing through the darkness. The ground trembled again as the roots of the tree demons began to shift, slowly inching toward the carriage.
The attackers made no effort to disguise their intent. They moved with purpose, the tree demons extending their massive limbs toward the carriage while the Phantom Apes descended from the branches, snarling and ready to pounce.
Leah stood her ground, her eyes gleaming with a fierce light. “Come on, then,” she muttered, cracking her knuckles. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
The demons and mana beasts charged toward her, their combined ferocity enough to make even seasoned warriors hesitate.
However, Leah’s grin only widened as they closed the distance. She could feel the familiar surge of power coursing through her veins, her Berserker talent activating to a degree.
The others watched from the carriage, their expressions a mix of amusement and admiration. “She really enjoys this, doesn’t she?” Acheon remarked, leaning back slightly.
Terrace smirked. “She’s in her element. Let’s see how she handles it.”
White Fang remained silent, his eyes fixed on the scene unfolding outside.
The first wave of attackers reached Leah, and with a roar, she launched herself into the fray. Her movements were a blur of raw power and precision, each strike landing with devastating force.
Booom!
Craaaack!!
The tree demons’ limbs splintered under her fists, while the Phantom Apes found themselves overwhelmed by her relentless onslaught.
From within the carriage, the group watched as Leah tore through the attackers with ease, her energy seemingly boundless.
Booom!! Craaaack!!
The forest echoed with the sounds of breaking wood, crazy wahaa and pained snarls as the once-ominous attackers were reduced to scattered remains.
“She’s terrifying,” Lord Acheon said, though there was no small amount of respect in his voice.
“Terrifying, yes,” Elder White Fang agreed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “But effective.”
Thud!
As the last of the attackers fell, Leah stood amidst the wreckage, her chest heaving with exertion but her grin firmly in place. She turned back toward the carriage, her voice carrying over the stillness.
“All clear,” she said, brushing wood splinters from her cloak. “We can move on.”
The others stepped out to join her, surveying the aftermath.Lord Terrace clapped her on the shoulder. “Good work.”
Leah smirked. “You didn’t doubt me, did you?”
“Not for a second,” he replied.