The roar of engines tore through the quiet of the Sylven River, breaking its ancient calm. One by one, the boats surged forward, their wakes slicing the dark water like scars that quickly vanished.

Group by group, the expedition moved.

The leaders stayed ahead, silhouettes sharp and commanding. The followers came after, shadows stretched long across the river’s surface.

Miles stood at the bow of his boat, Maddock seated behind him, steady hands resting on his gear. The river wind carried the scent of wet earth and leaves older than memory.

Basil’s voice carried from the neighbouring boat.

“We enter the forest after seven miles. Thirty one miles ahead, there is a waterfall. We stop at thirty, then we walk.”

Sheikh adjusted his coat, glancing uneasily at the water.

“Can we not camp beside the river and begin in the daylight?”

Artem shook his head slowly.

“We cannot. According to my father, camping beside the Sylven River is the most dangerous choice at night. That is when the green anacondas rule the shallows.”

Elias stiffened.

“Green anacondas??”

His gaze snapped toward the man beside him.

The zoologist adjusted his glasses nervously.

“The green anaconda is a literal river monster. Not venomous, but pure muscle. It can crush a human body in seconds. When submerged in shallow water, it becomes nearly impossible to detect.”

Kaelo scoffed softly.

“Something that is green is harmless for us tribal people.”

Artem raised an eyebrow, eyeing Kaelo’s equipment.

“Look at you, Kaelo. How did you get those gears?? They look expensive.”

Kaelo smiled faintly.

“I got a sponsor.”

Elias frowned.

“A sponsor??”

Miles glanced over with mild amusement.

“Well, someone is lucky.”

The monk folded his hands inside his sleeves.

“I never thought an anaconda existed in that color.”

Hilda exhaled quietly.

“I was waiting for the monk to speak.”

Sheikh tilted his head toward her.

“You are the quiet one today, Hilda. Something happened??”

Several pairs of eyes turned toward her.

She shook her head quickly.

“Nothing. It is my first time in a forest like this, that is all.”

Kaelo grinned.

“You can come with me if you are afraid.”

Hilda shot him a glare sharp enough to cut.

“Oh really. Go to hell.”

Laughter rippled across the boats, brief and uneasy.

Then the river narrowed.

The forest began.

Darkness fell suddenly, thick and swallowing. The fog rose like a living thing, curling through the branches. Above them, the half moon vanished behind drifting clouds, leaving only broken silver light.

Maddock stepped closer to Miles and held out a jacket.

“Young Master, wear this. It is cold out here.”

Miles accepted it and slipped it on.

“Thank you, Maddock.”

From another boat, Elias muttered.

“We just entered the forest, and I can already see snakes. I can hear things moving.”

Basil’s tone was calm, almost reverent.

“The forest lives in two seasons at the same time. During the day, one ruler watches. At night, the predators change.”

Elias swallowed.

“I still cannot believe someone came all the way here to hide a treasure.”

His gaze drifted toward Miles.

Miles did not even look back.

“What are you staring at? It was my ancestors, not me.”

Artem smirked faintly.

“I still cannot believe you are his bloodline.”

Miles’ eyes lifted toward the darkness ahead.

“You will.”

The boats pressed deeper into the Sylven Forest, engines humming low now, as if even the machines feared to speak too loudly.

And somewhere beyond the fog, the forest listened.

The river pressed tighter around them as the boats pushed forward, water brushing the sides like unseen hands.

Basil stood steady, eyes scanning the narrowing channel.

“We are halfway in. Once we reach the marked zone, we set our antenna in the high trees. Remember this clearly. We cannot lose connection to the mainland.”

Artem nodded instinctively.

“Copy that captain.”

Basil turned his head slightly, his voice calm but firm.

“Who is your captain? You are responsible for yourself here.”

A brief pause followed, then Elias let out a low chuckle, the sound drifting over the water.

Kaelo glanced toward the monk’s group, their faces unreadable, their movements quiet.

“Monk, your group looks very cold. Are they just like you?”

Sheikh leaned back slightly and smirked.

“I heard martial artists are silent killers.”

The monk did not respond.

Neither did the men behind him.

They moved like shadows, eyes forward, breathing slow, as if the forest itself had taught them restraint.

Basil raised a hand.

“The river is becoming narrow ahead. Shift your boats in line.”

Engines slowed. One by one, the boats adjusted, forming a clean line that cut through the dark water.

Kaelo frowned, looking around.

“Didn’t you say there is a waterfall ahead?? Then why are we moving against the current right now?”

He turned toward Basil, confusion written openly on his face.

Elias burst into laughter.

Artem chuckled under his breath.

Even the monk allowed a faint smile to touch his lips.

Elias wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.

“Hilda. Tell him.”

Hilda sighed and looked at Kaelo.

“Kaelo. Have you ever seen a waterfall??”

Kaelo nodded confidently.

“Yes. Where the water falls from above.”

Hilda tilted her head slightly.

“Then think like this. We are not above. We are below.”

The realization struck him like a sudden drop in temperature.

Kaelo’s eyes widened.

“So we are not stopping because we will fall. We are stopping because we cannot climb the waterfall?”

Artem laughed openly now.

“Genius. Didn’t your sponsor give you a boat that can climb a waterfall??”

Laughter rippled across the line again, echoing strangely through the trees.

Miles watched them from his boat, the faintest smirk playing on his lips.

He leaned slightly toward Maddock.

“Look at them. Do you really think these people are the most wanted criminals here?”

Maddock followed his gaze, expression steady.

“They look like circus members.”

Miles’ eyes shifted back to the forest ahead, where darkness thickened and the fog curled lower over the water.

“Just wait for a while.”

His voice dropped, calm and certain.

“Watch how this circus moves when chaos begins.”

The river suddenly went silent.

Not the peaceful kind.

The kind that presses against the chest and makes every breath feel borrowed.

Basil was the first to notice it.

He stood at the edge of his boat, eyes narrowing, body stiffening as the beam from a weak torch swept forward.

The water ahead was no longer moving freely.

Dark shapes clogged the river.

Massive fallen trees, tangled roots, broken trunks piled together like a barricade built by the forest itself.

Basil raised his hand sharply.

“Stop the boats. All engines off.”

One by one, the engines died.

The line of boats drifted, bumping gently into one another as the current pushed from behind.

Whispers rose instantly.

“This was not on the map.”

“Who blocked the river?”

“This place is cursed.”

A man near the back leaned forward, peering into the darkness.

“Wait… what is that sound?”

The whispers stopped.

“What sound?”

Everyone listened.

At first, there was nothing.

Then the water rippled.

Not a wave. Not wind.

Something moved beneath the surface.

Slow. Heavy.

Another man swallowed hard.

“There is something in the river.”

Before anyone could respond, the water exploded.

One of the boats near the middle was lifted violently, thrown sideways as if struck by an unseen force.

The men aboard screamed as the boat flipped.

Bodies hit the water.

“Man overboard.”

Three of them surfaced, coughing, thrashing, hands clawing at the air.

For a heartbeat, relief flashed across a few faces.

Then one of the men was yanked down.

Not dragged.

Crushed.

His scream cut off mid breath.

Another followed, pulled beneath the surface so fast the water barely rippled.

The third tried to swim, panic turning his movements wild.

Something coiled around his waist.

There was a wet crack.

Blood bloomed on the surface.

Red spread through black water like ink.

Panic detonated.

“Load your guns.”

“Fire.”

“Something is killing them.”

Lights swung wildly.

Reflections danced on the river, breaking the darkness into fragments.

Miles finally raised his voice, sharp and controlled, slicing through the chaos.

“Anacondas.”

The word landed like a curse.

Artem shouted instantly.

“Turn off your lights. Now. They track heat and reflections.”

Hands fumbled.

Torches died one by one.

The forest swallowed them whole.

Darkness became absolute.

Someone fired.

The gunshot echoed violently, the bullet tearing into the water.

The river answered.

Another boat rocked hard.

A scream followed, short and terrified.

Then the sound of wood snapping.

Another boat went under.

“Park the boats. Take your gear. We move on land.”

Basil’s voice cut through the panic, loud and commanding.

“Move. Now.”

Men scrambled.

Boots slipped on wet wood.

Equipment clanged.

Boats slammed against the riverbank as people jumped out, splashing into shallow water, dragging bags and weapons with shaking hands.

Branches whipped faces as they pushed toward the left side of the forest.

Lights flickered back on, weak beams cutting through fog and leaves.

Breathing turned ragged.

Footsteps pounded.

Someone fell.

Someone screamed for help.

Then Elias stopped.

His voice trembled despite himself.

“Wait.”

People slowed, confused.

Elias looked around, counting heads, eyes darting.

“Where is Sheikh?”

No one answered.

Basil did not turn back.

“We are not going back.”

A few men hesitated.

Few of the Sheikh’s followers looked at one another, fear battling loyalty.

Then they broke away.

“He cannot be left.”

“We go back.”

Artem spun on them, rage and terror mixing in his voice.

“No. No. Come back you fools.”

They ran anyway.

Their lights vanished into the darkness near the river.

Seconds passed.

Then a scream echoed.

Short. High. Ending abruptly.

Silence followed.

Artem lowered his head.

“He is gone.”

The forest closed in around them.

Behind them, the river moved again.

Slow. Heavy.

Patient.

And Miles walked forward without a word, eyes calm, steps steady, as if this chaos was not an accident at all, but the opening act of something far worse.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep