Chapter 94: One Crown Falls, Another Rises

The night was strangely quiet, the usual sounds of the forest absent. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath, as if the world itself was waiting for something. Vell sat cross-legged by the fire, his eyes reflecting the flames as he stared into the darkness beyond. The others were scattered around, some eating, others tending to their wounds, but all of them felt the tension in the air.

Jia sat apart from the group, her back against a tree, her gaze distant. She had not spoken much since they left, and her silence was a heavy presence. Yenna glanced at her occasionally, concern etched on her face, but she did not approach. Now was not the time.

Kana, sitting closer to the fire, poked at the flames with a stick, her expression troubled. She had been quiet too, her usual bravado replaced by a somber introspection. Jolly, on the other hand, seemed to be in better spirits, her new mana core giving her a sense of purpose. She was chatting quietly with Sia and Mia, the twins listening intently, their ears twitching at every sound.

“Something is off.” Vell’s voice broke the silence, low and measured.

The group turned to him, their attention immediately drawn. Yenna frowned. “What do you mean?”

He did not answer right away, his gaze still fixed on the darkness. “The forest… it is too quiet. Even after a battle, there is usually some noise. Animals, insects, something. But now… nothing.”

Wren, perched on a low branch above them, tilted her head. “Maybe they are scared of us. We did just take down the queen.”

He shook his head. “No. It is not fear. It is… something else.”

As if in response to his words, a low rumble echoed through the ground, faint but unmistakable. The fire flickered, and the group tensed, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.

Jia’s head snapped up, her eyes wide.

“What was that?” Kana asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vell stood slowly, his senses on high alert. “I do not know. But we are not staying here to find out.”

He did not need to say more. The group moved quickly, dousing the fire and gathering their belongings. The rumble came again, stronger this time, and the ground beneath them trembled slightly. Trees swayed unnaturally, their branches creaking as if under some unseen force.

“Move,” he ordered, his voice sharp. “Stay close, and keep your eyes open.”

They moved through the forest in a tight formation, Vell at the front, Yenna and Wren flanking the sides, and the others following closely. The darkness seemed to press in around them, the absence of sound unnerving. Even their footsteps seemed muffled, as if the forest was absorbing all noise.

Jia walked at the back, her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions, but she forced herself to focus. The queen was gone, but the forest… the forest felt alive in a way it never had before. It was as if it was watching them, waiting for the right moment to strike.

After what felt like hours, they reached a small clearing. Vell raised a hand, signaling the group to stop. He crouched low, his eyes scanning the area. The ground here was different—the grass was withered, the trees gnarled and twisted, their bark blackened as if scorched by some unseen fire.

“This… this is not right,” Yenna murmured, her voice tinged with unease.

He nodded. “The forest is changing. Something is wrong.”

Before anyone could respond, a deafening roar split the air, shaking the ground beneath them. The group spun around, weapons drawn, as a massive figure emerged from the shadows. It was a creature unlike anything they had ever seen—a towering beast with bark-like skin, glowing green eyes, and roots that writhed like serpents around its body.

“What the hell is that?” Kana shouted, her voice trembling.

The creature roared again, its voice a mix of anger and sorrow. It charged at them, its massive fists slamming into the ground, sending shockwaves through the earth. The group scattered, dodging the attack as best they could.

“We cannot fight that thing!” Jolly yelled, her voice panicked.

“We do not have a choice!” Vell snapped back, his voice firm. “Yenna, Wren, flank it! Kana, Jolly, stay back and support! Jia, with me!”

The group moved quickly, following his orders. Yenna and Wren darted to either side of the creature, their attacks drawing its attention. Vell and Jia moved in from the front, their weapons flashing in the dim light. The creature swung at them, its movements slow but powerful, each strike shaking the ground.

Jia dodged a massive fist, her daggers slashing at the creature’s arm. The bark-like skin was tough, but her blades found purchase, cutting deep. The creature roared in pain, its glowing eyes locking onto her.

“Jia, move!” he shouted, but it was too late. The creature’s other hand swung at her, too fast to dodge. She braced herself for the impact, but it never came.

A blur of motion intercepted the attack, and Vell stood between her and the creature, his arm raised to block the blow. The force of the impact sent him skidding back, but he held his ground, his expression fierce.

“Do not let your guard down,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “This thing is not playing around.”

She nodded, her heart pounding. “Right.”

The battle raged on, the group working together to wear the creature down. It was strong, but slow, and they used that to their advantage. Yenna and Wren kept it distracted, while Vell and Jia went for the more powerful attacks. Kana and Jolly provided support, their attacks chipping away at the creature’s defenses.

Finally, with a powerful strike from Vell, the creature let out a final roar before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into a pile of roots and bark. The group stood there, breathing heavily, their bodies aching from the fight.

“What… what was that?” Kana asked, her voice shaky.

Vell sheathed his sword, his breathing steady as if he did not fight at all. “I do not know, but something is for sure off here.” He turned to Jia, who looked at the pile with her eyes wide with terror. ’Seems this has to do with the queen’s death. Does the forest have a safety mechanism?’

[Quest: Kill all the Forest Guardians]

[Reward: System Upgrade]

[Time Limit: 4 Days]

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