Herold, Bren, Lian, Mea, and Caserie ventured into the depths of Kegali's great forest. They took a well-known route, which they navigated using their maps. The path they were taking was a well-known safe path, one of many scattered throughout the forest. They encountered monsters along the way, but those monsters were intelligent enough to know that preying on a group of fully equipped adventurers was not the best option for survival.
Herold had been to this location several times before and was familiar with the path and the types of monsters that lived there. He was in charge of the main group, which included him, Mea, and Caserie. Bren was circling the area around them, keeping an eye out for any monsters that could be dangerous to them. Then, Lian, as their Ranger was far ahead in the area. Lian served as their primary scout due to her ability, Complete Concealment, which allowed her to completely conceal her presence from all detection—except True Sight.
Bren had a similar skill, Stealth Assassin, but it only made him invisible rather than completely hiding him from most types of detection. However, Stealth Assassin would increase the user's movement speed by 50% while invisible.
Their familiarity with the area greatly aided them in making their mission much easier than it should have been. They knew where to go, which parts of the forest would take them longer to get to, and where they could stay safe when the night fell.
They investigated the situation of the monsters near the center of the monsters while traveling to see if their numbers had changed.
However, as they approached Kegali's heart, particularly areas where only a select few adventurers were permitted to enter, the monsters grew stronger. The average level of the monsters increased as they progressed deeper. The occurrence of monster ambushes became more common.
RACE: Greater Brute Higante Boar [Level: 25/30].
HP: 430/430
MP: 250/250
Top Speed: 50 km/h
Defense: 2
[STATS.]
Strength: 43
Agility: 25
Intelligence: 25
[DAMAGING ACTIVE SKILLS.]
Tusk Strike [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Unstoppable Charge [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
[NON-DAMAGING ACTIVE SKILLS.]
Heavy Hitter [MP Cost: 1]
Vanguard [MP Cost: 13] [Level: 13/20].
[PASSIVE SKILLS.]
[Lesser] MP Regeneration.
[Lesser] HP Regeneration.
Three Greater Brute Higante Boars charged Herold, Mea, and Caserie. They used their skills, Heavy Hitter and Vanguard, while charging forward. The three four-meter-tall giants roared with ferocity as they charged with their skill, Unstoppable Charge.
Mea and Caserie, on the other hand, looked at the charging boars with no fear in their eyes. This scenery was not new to them; it had become so much a part of their adventurous lives that it could no longer frighten them. And, despite their seemingly fragile appearances, they could take and withstand beatings with ease. They had high enough levels to supplement their high defense value due to their equipment sets. Furthermore, Mea was a healer, so as long as the enemy did not kill them in one hit and the healer was properly protected, they were safe.
"Ah... another group is charging at us," Mea said, looking at the three moving mountains charging at them.
"These things aren't going to learn, aren't they?" Herold asked as he blocked the three charging Greater Brute Higante Boars. He then took his sword and shield from his back. "We're having roasted wild boars for dinner."
However, before the three Greater Brute Higante Boars could even approach Herold, an arrow passed through their bodies like wind without a solid form. Even though it had already hit its intended targets, the arrow continued to pass through until it was 100 meters away from the person who shot it.
After accounting for the Greater Brute Higante Boars' defenses and Vanguards, the arrow dealt 453.25 damage. The three massive boars collapsed at the same time.
Herold, Mea, and Caserie all looked in the direction of the shooter.
Mea waved as she raised her hand. "Lian!"
Lian, who was sitting on a tree with her iron bow in her hand, nodded and jumped down. She used her skill, Piercing Shot, a long-range attack that fired a projectile that could pass through even the thickest of walls. Her gaze was darting around as she walked toward them. She placed her bow on her back and removed her hood.
Herold returned his sword to its sheath. "How is the situation?" he inquired.
Lian was gone for the majority of the day. Her main responsibility as a dependable Ranger was to assess the situation of their upcoming route before the main group arrived. If there were dangers ahead and avoiding them was not an option, the entire party could prepare before facing those challenges. Lian was completely safe while patrolling because no monster in this area could detect her. Furthermore, she had True Sight 1 equipment that allowed her to detect stealth units.
"There have been no changes within the 50 kilometers ahead of our route, and the monsters' movements have remained consistent," Lian reported.
"These three are the last of the Higante Boars around us; all of them have been cleared, and we are now free to stop in this area," Bren appeared from nowhere and stood beside Mea. "I have the same report as Lian; there have been no significant changes in the area I patrolled; it is the same as it was the last time we came here."
"I was expecting to see a significant decrease in the number of monsters in this region," Herold said as he took a step forward and gazed at the bodies of the three Greater Brute Higante Boars lying on the ground. "If the monster mentioned in the report is lurking around in this area, there should be any signs of it by now, as we are about to reach Kegali's center."
"What are your thoughts on the reasons for it, Herold?" Bren inquired.
"I'm still not sure. Normally, when a monster gains power quickly, it leaves evidence of nonstop slaughter within kilometers of its origin. That is how we will find it. However, there is no evidence of its slaughter... Especially since the monster killed the rulers of the Red Island region, which had territories hundreds of kilometers apart." Herold's gaze wandered. "It should have left tracks as it passed through those areas. We're already in Huntowl Night Wraith territory, but the monster population in this area hasn't changed. According to the report, even the Peasant evolution line has not changed... But we don't know if this is still the case. When we get there, we should go check out Red Island."
"I just think it's strange, because it appears that the monster grew stronger without slaughtering everything it encounters, as if the monster specifically ignored the monsters that would give it low experience points and went to the ones worth its time," Lian explained.
"Selective killing?" Bren asked, puzzledly staring at Lian. "Specifically by killing monsters of a higher level than it?"
"It's not possible," Herold said. "Monsters cannot detect the level of monsters they encounter, as they lack Appraisal."
"And a monster without equipment cannot kill monsters at least five levels higher than it," Bren added. "If that monster has such abilities... What kind of anomaly is that monster?"
"Monsters rely heavily on their survival instinct, which tells them not to fight monsters they perceive to be stronger than them. They are not intelligent enough to pull off such a feat. Perhaps we're just looking in the wrong place, which is why we're not finding anything..." Herold raised his eyes to the slowly setting sun on the horizon. "If we keep going at our current rate, we'll arrive at Red Island in two days; let's camp here and rest for the day."
"Ah, finally," Mea, who was only listening to them, said as she lowered her shoulder. She smiled brightly to serve as a ray of sunshine in their group.
"Mea, you'll be cooking tonight, and I'll prepare the boar meat for you," Herold said.
Mea smiled as she raised her hands. "Yes, Leader!"
"Lian, you did a great job today; you can rest now if you want," Herold suggested.
"I'll just assist Mea in preparing our dinner," Lian replied.
"I'll help as well," Caserie said, joining Lian and Mea.
"I remember there's a river nearby; I'll go get some water and wood for us," Bren said.
Herold's gaze then darted toward the location of a certain massive tree several kilometers away. It was a Wayiba tree, which was widely known as the Huntowl Night Wraith's home. His pupils constricted as thoughts raced through his mind.
"There's no way it's possible," Herold muttered to himself. "It should be impossible."
The sun gradually set, and darkness took its place once more. The monster they were looking for was sleeping under a certain tree hundreds of kilometers ahead of their path, currently hibernating as it evolved for the fifth time. An evolution from Arcryonide Snow Barbarian to the unstoppable Arcryonide Novice Berserker.
"I know no monster with such terrifying abilities and intelligence... they should not exist," Herold murmured, hoping with all his heart that his suspicion was wrong.