Chapter 22: The Monsters We See (1).

“Let’s see…”

Gnawing on a piece of dried meat, Nero spread the map across the chamber floor, weighing down its corners with pieces of black stone he found on the cave floor.

The route to Nlightwyrm and consequently Bridgehorn were clearly marked, but the path cut through territory that made his blood run cold, and for multiple reasons.

Although the cursed wild lands were devoid of human habitation, that didn’t mean the humans were completely oblivious to what went on within them.

In fact, it was quite the opposite.

In the several cities within the empire, the job of ’surveyor’ was a profession that although was not well sought after, still existed as one of the most important paths to take in these dark times.

And although they were rare, these surveyors did exist.

And for good reason.

The job of a surveyor, was much like that of a cartographer— to draw maps.

Maps that showed the routes cutting through abomination infested territory.

The fate suffered by most of these surveyors was rather unpleasant, but at least they were paid well.

In any case, the map Nero had was work that had cost the lives of several hundred surveyors over the last few decades.

This had resulted in the creation of a map that was fairly accurate.

“Malady’s Garden,” he muttered, tracing the first obstacle with his finger.

According to the map’s notations and what he had heard about this area that spanned the expanse between two major cities, Malady’s Garden was a forest biome filled with all manner of vile things.

From towering behemoths that slumbered in their depths, to small critters with enough poison to bring down a thousand men with a single bite…

All manners of grotesque, wicked beings lurked within Malady’s Garden, so much so, that it was classified as a category red zone.

The regions of wilderness outside towns were classified into five distinct types.

They were categories blue, green, yellow, red, and black.

Categories Blue, Green, and Yellow were considered the safest, with Yellow being the most dangerous of the three.

Even though one was mostly sure to lose their lives in a Category Yellow, one would at least not be at risk of having their souls stuck in eternal torment or outright destroyed in such places.

A Category Red zone, on the other hand, had at least one sighting of entities that touched upon the cusp of the truest of evils. The worst of the worst…

Encounters with such things was sure to lead to death.

And then, there was the Category Black…

The Grey Clouds, although they were considered as an entity, were also considered an area as well and hence, were classified as a Category Black zone.

It was said that staring into the sky for too long could draw the attention of the Nephilim that had become the Grey Clouds.

With Malady’s Garden being a Category Red zone, that meant it was very very dangerous.

’And my safe route is supposed to cut a line right through this place? I don’t buy it.’

Although he didn’t think the Divine Oracle needed such an elaborate set up to get rid of him, he couldn’t help but think that was the case.

After all, he had just barely entered Hell. What was the point in making him step into hotter flames almost immediately?

He let out a sigh.

Beyond Malady’s Garden, after Liedenstorm, another major walled City in the Empire, lay Golgotha, or the Field of Skulls, as it was more commonly referred to.

Although it was classified as a Category Yellow, most believed it was just as dangerous as a Category Red zone.

After all, it was named the Field of Skulls for a reason.

And that reason, was the miasma of death that shrouded the entire place. Within the fog, there existed an entire army of undead. A legion of them, laying in rest for any soul unfortunate enough to wander through.

According to a travelling merchant that had once happened to sight one of them through the cursed mist, the undead had pale flames burning in the black holes where their eyes should have been.

Their bones were white as though they had been bleached. Their skeletal bodies were twisted patchwork creations of what seemed to be enormous humanoids and terrifying beasts.

And finally, past that were the Sunrise Shadow Peaks.

The reason for their name, was the Sun’s habit of rising from the East. Its glow would always be offset by these mountains, casting an eternal shadow over the capital City of the Empire. That had earned them the name; Sunrise Shadow Peaks.

And although the word Sunrise did exist in their name, there was nothing sunny about those mountains.

Nero had overheard conversations about them multiple times as they were the most infamous area within this particular stretch of Wilderness.

And that was because they were believed to house the remnants of a dead Gryghori.

And there was good reason to believe that.

Because from the depths of the mountains, once every year, a tide of ’demons’ spawned and washed over the capital of the Empire.

This phenomenon was one of the many reasons the emperor was not close handed when it came to granting the Templars their much needed funding.

Because of this, these mountains were also classified as a Category Black zone. Only the Templars and the Army could enter, and even they suffered heavy losses each time they fought back the army of ’Demons’.

Nero let out a deep sigh.

Passing through every one of these territories mean certain death.

Still…

“They also represent opportunity.” Nero muttered to himself.

Nero leaned back and took a swig from his canteen.

“I might be a bit naive, but I have no choice.”

It was still better than wandering aimlessly. So far, the Divine Will had not led him astray. He had no reason to believe it would at this point.

He furrowed his brows.

Glancing around for a moment, he eventually found the Wandering Spirit’s Journal with a deft flick of his fingers, he opened up the yellowing pages once again…

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