The hunting party soon walked past beyond the wall. Before that, Caleb gave the well one last glance. Then, after the well, shadows of distant trees appeared. Then they went also went past to the familiar road situated between two mountains where they had an encounter with two wild Deer which died in Dunn's hand in the not-so-distant past.
It was the first hurdle of the journey, the Forest of Death, littered with snakes and wild beasts.
This time, there were seven members and their movement would become harder to conceal, as opposed to when there were just three of them. What does it mean? Fighting was inevitable.
However, there was nothing to fear because of their fearsome line-up. Just with the presence of Fushigiro gave him confidence. Caleb scratched his chin and saw Fushigiro, Jin, and Tamasai step into the forest.
'Here we go.'
"Johan, just keep up." Dunn reminded.
Caleb nodded.
"Don't worry about me."
Just like that, all of them stepped into the forest and the surroundings became darker as the shadows of the trees loomed at them. The familiar smell of blood and decay assaulted Caleb's nose in different directions.
'This place is really dangerous. Wild beasts kill each other all the time.'
As they went deeper into the forest, one of the bushes beside a huge tree with reddish outer bark and dark green leaves rustled. Suddenly, Athena drove her spear to the bush without a warning. Her muscles contracted, and the spear turned into a blur.
"ROARR!!"
Blood splattered from the bush, and a powerful roar of extreme distress and pain reverberated throughout the area. The roar might sound strained and less intimidating. Then the sound grew weaker and weaker. When Athena forcefully pulled the spear, they saw the silhouette of a dark green-furred tiger with traces of green stripes design on its skin. The tiger had its forehead drilled with the spear and blood continuously spurted from it.
'What kind of tiger is this!?'
It was the first time he saw a tiger with dark green fur, not to mention green stripes instead of the usual black. It just shows how adverse the effect of mutation is on the animals. Then he also saw the claws of the now-dead tiger. It looks like it could cut through most metals with its cold brilliance.
At first, Caleb thought that mutated animals wouldn't be too strong with the deer as his reference. But now...
Fortunately, he wasn't a regular human now. He was as strong as Athena in terms of physical might. Still, it was the first time he witnessed how effective the hunting party was.
Just a rustle of bush and Athena decisively attacked. Not to mention, it hit the forehead of the tiger hidden in the bush.
'Do not provoke this woman. Can't afford.'
Caleb glanced at Athena, feeling a cold sweat on his back. How vicious, how savage! She didn't even blink.
Jin squatted beside the dead tiger and began to examine it. He caressed the green stripes of the tiger with his finger, then unfurled one of its closed eyelids, which revealed a yellow pupil. He sighed and gave a solemn expression, then turned to Athena:
"It's a shadow tiger. Fortunately, you manage to take it with one hit."
"Good grief," Dunn smiled, then took a sack of brown clothes from his backpack and stored the corpse of the black tiger inside. "You save us from a lot of trouble there."
Dying with curiosity, Caleb opened his mouth.
"What kind of tiger is that? Is it that strong?"
Hearing his question, Athena waved the spear in her hands. The blood on her spear flew out that one wouldn't be able to guess that it just went through a tiger's skull.
'How cool.'
"Not really, just troublesome. It's agile and can maneuver itself instantaneously. Shadow Tiger can move to see in the dark as well as camouflage themselves in the green plants or even in shadows because of their skin."
"No wonder." Caleb finally nods his head. "So those tigers don't possess abilities?"
"No, they're not Apokalips." Jin was the one who answered this time. Then he looked at Fushigiro, who in turn nodded.
"Let's proceed..."
Just like that, the group continued going deeper and deeper. This time, Caleb studied the environment carefully to not miss any details. He needed to memorize it on his own since it wasn't certain if he would always have company traveling in the Forest of Death.
The forest stood in eerie silence beneath the dappled canopy of orange-tinged trees, their bark reminiscent of smoldering embers. Shafts of waning sunlight struggled through the interlocking branches, casting a haunting glow on the forest floor. Each step, muffled by a thick carpet of dark leaves that seemed to absorb all sound, was punctuated by the faint rustle of foliage underfoot.
The air hung heavy with the coppery scent of blood, a visceral reminder of unseen, recent violence. Claw marks marred the trunks of ancient oaks and maples, etched deeply into the orange-tinged wood, revealing the savage struggle that had unfolded in this hidden realm. Dark green leaves, almost black in their intensity, shrouded the forest in perpetual twilight, their edges glistening with a spectral iridescence.
Amidst this otherworldly landscape, tufts of blue grass sprouted like vibrant veins in the Earth's skin, offering a surreal contrast to the somber hues that dominated the forest. It was a place where nature's beauty and brutality danced in a delicate balance, where the smell of iron mingled with the fragrant secrets of the woods, creating a sense of both wonder and foreboding.
'This place is really damn scary.'
Finally, they saw the end of the forest. Where the towering trees opened up like ancient sentinels parting for an unseen guest, and a breathtaking scene unfolded. A brilliant, golden light poured through the dense foliage, cascading in ethereal beams that danced with life. Each ray was a radiant ribbon, illuminating the world below in a gentle, celestial glow.
The canopy, though still thick with leaves, allowed a shimmering cascade of water droplets to trickle down. Each droplet fell gracefully, catching the light like liquid diamonds. As they descended, they refracted the sunlight, creating a shimmering, ever-shifting mosaic of colors that painted the forest floor in a celestial tapestry. Caleb watched in awe while walking behind the team.
The air was alive with the hushed rustling of leaves, as the gentlest of breezes whispered secrets through the trees. The fragrance of earth and moss mingled with the subtle scent of dampness, a symphony of nature's perfumes. Most scents of blood and corpses were already gone.
However, at the end of their path, a white-furry five-meter bear was staring at them with its green predatory eyes. Caleb felt a sense of foreboding at this moment.
"Don't move... It's an Octavian Bear." Fushigiro whispered.
Dunn, Athena, Rina, Tamasai, and Jin silently placed their hands on their weapons. Caleb couldn't help but become serious when he saw Dunn's hand trembling slightly. 'This doesn't seem good...'