The zoologist shook his head, voice trembling despite his training.

“It does exist This is the largest centipede species known Specimens exceeding thirty centimeters are documented Some reach close to fifty in rare cases Venomous Extremely aggressive It hunts birds reptiles even small mammals”

The centipede lunged forward suddenly.

A man fired in pure reflex.

The shot cracked through the forest like thunder.

That single gunshot shattered what little calm remained.

Multiple guns fired at once, bullets tearing into the creature’s armored body. It writhed violently, legs thrashing, venomous mandibles snapping at empty air. The sound it made was wet and sharp, something between a hiss and a crack.

Miles did not move.

He only watched.

The centipede collapsed after several seconds, its massive body twitching before going still. Bullet holes peppered its segments, dark fluid seeping into the soil.

Silence returned slowly.

Smoke drifted from gun barrels. Breath came heavy and uneven.

Hilda leaned against a tree, pale.

“I thought snakes were bad, This is worse”

The zoologist nodded grimly.

“This species is known to ambush leaf litter. It is fast. It does not flee easily. You were lucky it was alone.”

Artem wiped sweat from his brow.

“Lucky? This forest is insane.”

Miles finally spoke, his voice calm, almost detached.

“And this is only the beginning”

Several heads turned toward him.

Elias narrowed his eyes.

“You seem far too relaxed for someone surrounded by death”

Miles looked down at the massive corpse, then back toward the dark forest ahead.

“This forest does not attack without reason, You are walking into something older than all of us.”

Basil said nothing, but his grip on his weapon tightened.

They moved again.

Hour after hour the forest tested them.

The terrain shifted constantly beneath their boots. Mud gave way to sharp stone, stone to tangled roots that caught ankles and dragged men down. Thorned vines scratched exposed skin. Insects crawled everywhere, inside collars, beneath sleeves, biting without warning. More than once the zoologist forced them to halt, pointing out bright colored frogs perched on wet rocks, tiny bodies glowing like poison itself. Venomous snakes slid away at the sound of footsteps, but never fast enough to stop fear from tightening throats.

Sweat soaked clothing. Packs grew heavier with every step.

No one relaxed. Not even for a moment.

Eyes scanned the ground, the trees, the shadows between branches. Every rustle felt like an ambush. Every bird call sounded wrong. They crossed fallen logs slick with moss, balancing over ravines where mist hid the depth below. One misstep would mean broken bones, or worse, silence swallowed by green.

Miles walked steadily, breathing controlled, steps measured. Maddox stayed close, blade ready, reading the forest like a language he had never forgotten.

By the time the light began to soften, exhaustion crept into even the strongest.

The forest darkened faster than expected.

In the Sylven, sunset did not arrive slowly. It fell.

One moment sunlight filtered through the leaves. The next, shadows stretched long and deep, swallowing color.

Basil raised a hand.

“We stop soon”

They heard it then.

Water.

A narrow stream trickled down from rocks above, clear and cold, cutting through the forest floor like a silver vein. Relief spread instantly. Canteens came out. Hands shook as they filled them.

Artem exhaled deeply.

“At least the forest lets us drink.”

No one laughed.

They climbed upward, careful and slow, following the rocks to higher ground. The slope was steep but defensible, a natural barrier on three sides. By the time they reached a small clearing carved into stone, darkness had begun creeping between the trees below.

Elias nodded.

“We camp here.”

His men moved quickly, practiced. An antenna rose again, lashed to a tall tree with rope and clamps. Radios crackled softly as they tested the signal. A small fire was lit, controlled, shielded by stone to keep light from spreading too far.

Tents went up in silence.

Weapons were cleaned. Magazines checked. Blades laid within reach.

Patrol rotation was decided without argument.

Basil spoke quietly.

“Two at a time, No lights beyond the fire perimeter, No wandering”

The men nodded.

Miles sat near the edge of the clearing, watching the forest breathe. The Sylven whispered around them, leaves shifting, branches creaking, unseen life moving just beyond sight.

Maddox leaned closer.

“They are watching us?”

Miles did not look away.

“They always were.”

….

Later that night the forest changed its tone.

The wind no longer whispered. It pressed against the tents like a warning breath, carrying the damp scent of moss and old soil. The campfire had burned low, its embers glowing like dying eyes. Most of the treasure hunters were inside their tents, pretending to sleep while fear worked silently beneath their skin.

Elias stepped away from the camp, boots crunching softly against gravel and dry leaves. He stopped just far enough that the firelight no longer touched his face. He pulled out his radio and turned it on.

“What is it?”

Static answered him first, then a strained voice pushed through.

“Boss the men we are sending to Star Harbor we are losing them one by one”

Elias stiffened.

“What?” His voice dropped, sharp and dangerous. “I told you one thing to do properly and that also you could not do properly”

“Sorry boss,” the voice said quickly. “We are facing sneak attacks like the whole Star Harbor is on watch by Sterling Security”

Elias’s jaw tightened. His fingers curled around the radio so hard his knuckles turned pale.

“Bring more men” he said coldly. “Undercover, Use long range tactics, I need Miles Sterling’s neck in my hand”

There was a pause on the other end, then a hesitant reply.

“Copy that boss”

The radio went silent.

Elias lowered his hand slowly, staring into the darkness ahead of him. The forest did not answer his anger. It simply stood there, ancient and unmoved.

A voice came from behind him.

“What are you doing out here Elias?”

He turned to see Basil approaching, his face tired.

“You should sleep,” Basil continued. “We have one more day to walk”

Elias forced a grin, sharp and humorless.

“Yes,” he said lightly. “I was about to sleep”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice just enough to sound almost sincere.

“You sleep too old man,” Elias added. “You have to go back and see your family too”

Basil studied him for a moment, then said nothing. He turned back toward the camp, his silhouette dissolving into the dim firelight.

Elias remained where he was for a few seconds longer, eyes fixed on the trees, as if daring the forest itself to move against him.

Not far away, in a tent untouched by firelight or fear, Miles sat in silence.

He had returned only moments ago, slipping in from the shadows of the forest without a single sound. His boots were clean. His breathing is steady.

Maddock sat across from him, checking his gear, his movements disciplined but restless.

“Boss” Maddock asked quietly. “When will we begin?”

Miles did not look up.

“Tomorrow”

The single word carried no urgency, no doubt.

Only certainty.

…

Morning arrived without mercy.

The sun did not creep in gently through the canopy. It burst through the mist in sharp golden streaks, cutting across the forest floor as if the Sylven Forest itself had decided to expose everything that survived the night. Dew clung to leaves like cold sweat. The smell of damp earth mixed with smoke from the dying campfire.

Basil stood at the center of the camp, hands behind his back, eyes moving from face to face.

He counted once.

Then again.

His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

Sheikh and his six men were gone. Artem’s five men were gone. Elias’ two patrolmen.

Basil exhaled slowly.

“Good morning everyone”

His voice was steady, almost too steady.

“Everyone did a great job last night”

A few of the remaining men exchanged uneasy glances. Some lowered their heads. Some stared straight ahead as if discipline alone could erase what they had seen.

Basil continued.

“We will reach the ruins today”

He paused, letting the words settle.

“Based on the fact that the tribals did not make their moves at night it seems they have boundaries too”

Miles stood a little apart from the group, quietly adjusting his gloves. A faint smirk crossed his face and vanished just as quickly.

Elias stepped forward, brushing dirt from his coat.

“We walk the same way today”

His eyes swept over the group, calculating, measuring fear and resolve.

“If we keep the pace we can reach the ruins before evening”

Some of the men straightened at that. Ruins meant answers. Or at least an end to this endless walking.

“We camp there,” Elias continued. “Analyze the entire area and enter the ruins in the morning”

He raised a finger.

“Remember we do not know anything about the ruins We do not have maps”

Silence followed.

“So be prepared”

His gaze shifted deliberately toward Miles.

“Only Miles knows how to open the gates of the vaults”

A few heads turned instinctively toward him.

“We have to protect him,” Elias said. “So our time money and sacrifice do not go to waste here”

Miles said nothing. He did not object. He did not agree. His calm was more unsettling than resistance.

Elias went on.

“We already have the extraction plan ready from the opposite side of the forest”

Basil nodded once in confirmation.

“We find what we need,” Elias said. “Then we decide how to take it with us”

He looked around.

“Anyone have any issue ask now”

No one spoke.

Not even Artem.

The silence itself felt like an answer.

“Alright,” Basil said finally. “Have your breakfast, Then we move”

The camp came back to life slowly.

Men knelt by packs, chewing dry rations without tasting them. Weapons were checked again and again. Boots were tightened. Antennas were packed away. The fire was smothered until not even smoke betrayed their presence.

When they moved, it was different from before.

No laughter. No side conversations.

They walked carefully, guarding every direction, eyes scanning the ground and the branches above, steps measured to avoid noise. Every snapped twig felt like a warning. Every rustle in the leaves felt watched.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep