As the sun reached its zenith, the group finally caught sight of the forest on the horizon. A conspicuous gathering of individuals had assembled outside the forest's perimeter, a mixture of familiar faces from their journey. Without hesitation, Clarisse, distancing herself from the group, approached the crowd with purpose and directed her inquiry to a nearby bystander.
In a tone that conveyed both curiosity and authority, she inquired, "Could you kindly enlighten me as to the events transpiring here?"
The man she addressed appeared to be in his early thirties, boasting an unremarkable visage with long, tousled blonde hair. Engrossed in whatever spectacle had drawn the crowd, he responded without turning, "Find someone else to bother, kid. I haven't the time for explanations."
Completing his dismissive remark, he pivoted abruptly and found himself face to face with Clarisse. His initial nonchalance transformed into shock upon beholding her distinctive crimson hair and regal attire. While crimson locks were not an uncommon sight, the noble garments and the aura of refinement that enveloped the young woman confirmed his suspicions of her identity as a member of the prestigious Crimson Family. Uttering an apology with a flustered tone, he stammered, "My sincere apologies, young miss. Please forgive this humble commoner for any unintended offense."
Undeterred by the man's initial reluctance, Clarisse persisted, rephrasing her inquiry with composed determination, "Could you kindly elucidate the circumstances surrounding this gathering?"
Observing Clarisse's readiness to forgive, the man seized the opportunity to bolster his standing in her eyes. "It appears that the creatures within the forest have instigated some form of unrest. Numerous individuals who ventured in for hunting found themselves grievously injured or, tragically, met their demise," he disclosed, providing a comprehensive account of the situation within the wooded expanse.
Returning to her group, Clarisse relayed the grim intelligence. A palpable shift in the collective mood ensued, replaced by a solemn gravity. Seeking to assuage their concerns, Clarisse reassured them, "There is no cause for undue alarm. Through my inquiries, I've discerned that the disturbances have primarily affected those who delved deeper into the forest. Our path merely traverses its perimeter; caution is our ally." Her companions, acknowledging her guidance, nodded in agreement, ready to follow her lead into the forest.
As the group ventured deeper into the forest, the ambient light diminished beneath the thick canopy. The encroaching shadows heightened Zac's senses, triggering a familiar unease—instincts sharpened by countless battles in his previous world. Initiating telepathic communication, he voiced his concerns to Bella, "Bells, something doesn't feel right. It's like an impending threat is looming."
Bella, employing her scanning abilities, reassured him, "I'm not detecting any energy signatures within a hundred meters." Her calming words, however, were swiftly contradicted by a sudden surge of immense pressure, and a colossal, darkly ethereal fireball materialized above the forest, hurtling menacingly toward them. Zac could sense the impending danger, the heat from the distant fireball reaching him. In a heartbeat, the inferno closed the gap, appearing right before them. But before disaster could strike, a swift and powerful sword stroke intercepted and cleaved apart the looming menace.
Zac, along with his companions, stood in shock as a figure emerged from the shadows before them. Elise, recognizing the mysterious figure, exclaimed, "It's one of Uncle's Shadow Guards." Zac's gaze intensified as he recalled encountering this enigmatic individual during their confrontation with Dimitri in the library.
In a sudden twist, another figure materialized from the shadows on the opposite side, clad in ominous black robes—the assailant. In stark contrast to their protector, this figure exuded an aura of darkness so profound that it seemed to consume shadows themselves. Cloaked in an ominous energy, every step resonated with a relentless intent to kill.
Beneath a hood that shrouded his features in obscurity, only revealing the chilling glint of crimson eyes, the robed figure moved with an eerie grace. His attire, guided by whispered shadows, swirled with an otherworldly energy, carrying the essence of the night and the secrets of ages past. A tangible aura of death trailed in his wake, inducing an oppressive silence as nature recoiled from his presence.
Fixing his gaze on the mysterious figure, Zac experienced a peculiar sense of recognition. In a moment of sudden realization, he murmured, "An assassin." The word carried weight, resonating with his own dark past, having carried out numerous covert missions under the directives of the Golden Circle. He discerned a shared history with the enigmatic individual before him, both steeped in the art of taking lives. While some may lump killers together, Zac understood the nuance that set assassins apart—they operated with a purpose, often bound by contracts.
Locked in a sile. The gravity of their shared past hung heavily in the air, an unspoken acknowledgment of the lives they had taken. The moment hung in the balance until the protector of the group, a female voice, shattered the silence with a stern inquiry, "Does the Ashford Family wish to ignite a war with the Crimson Family?"
The opposing figure responded with a wry chuckle, "War, merely for a skirmish with you? You understand the workings of our business in Shadow Wing. My contract is to delay you, nothing more. I harbor no other intentions."
A revelation dawned upon the woman, identified as one of Damien's Shadow Guards, prompting her to urgently exclaim, "Young miss, everyone, flee! Traverse the forest swiftly and make your way to the battlefield with all haste."
Clarisse, grasping the severity of the unfolding events, echoed the urgency, "Run!" Her command spurred the rest of the group into immediate action. Amid the chaos, Zac, relying on Bella's analytical capabilities, inquired about the adversaries' power levels, "Bells, what are their levels?" He sought crucial information regarding the two enigmatic figures.
"Based on the energy levels, they both appear to be at the intermediate tier of the Luminary Stage," Bella relayed to Zac through their telepathic connection, providing a snapshot of the looming threat.
Seizing the opportune moment, Craig initiated pursuit, unleashing his cultivated power to swiftly close the gap with Zac and his companions. Bella, ever vigilant, promptly alerted the group, "Speed up, someone is tailing us." Zac, gauging the potential threat, inquired, "What level are we dealing with?" Bella, after a quick analysis, responded, "Seems to be at the Pinnacle Tier Savant Stage."
With urgency in his voice, Zac swiftly issued orders, "Bells, transform into your miniature form and take refuge in my pocket. Clarisse, Elise is lagging; carry her." Without hesitation, Clarisse hoisted Elise onto her back, employing a family-taught movement technique to enhance their pace. Simultaneously, Zac, carrying the diminutive Bella, activated the Shadow Steps, propelling the group forward with heightened speed towards the impending battlefield.
As the pursuit intensified, Bella relayed a disconcerting update, "Zac, he is gaining on us." The distance dwindled rapidly: "300 meters, 250 meters... 100 meters: Zac, he is closing in," Bella warned. Realizing evasion was no longer viable, Zac made a decisive call, "We can't escape. Prepare for a stand." In a strategic move, Zac unleashed his legion of undead and pivoted to face their pursuer, while instructing Bella to remain concealed, preserving her aura for a potential surprise attack to confound their adversary later on.
Clarisse gently lowered Elise to the ground and swiftly turned, brandishing her sword in preparation for the impending confrontation. The mysterious figure, relentless in his pursuit, came to an abrupt halt, standing a mere 50 meters away. An aura of intense killing intent emanated from him, heightening the tension in the air. Zac and Clarisse strained to discern the identity concealed beneath the hooded robes, their senses on high alert.
As they faced the enigmatic adversary, uncertainty clouded their minds, and their attempts to unveil the figure's identity were thwarted by the concealing folds of his robes. Tension mounted, etching nervousness across their faces, the forest's oppressive silence amplifying the gravity of the impending encounter.
Undeterred, Elise, positioned behind Clarisse, sought to assert the weight of their lineage. "Do you comprehend the repercussions of harming a member of the Crimson Family?" she asserted, attempting to apply pressure with the formidable backing of their esteemed lineage. In response, the hooded figure emitted a stifled laugh, pointing towards Zac, and coolly remarked, "No need for concern on that front. My interest lies not with you but with this little brat."
The revelation sent shockwaves through the assembled group, with Clarisse and Elise particularly taken aback. The surprise wasn't merely rooted in the fact that someone harbored animosity towards them—a common occurrence given the Crimson Family's notoriety. Rather, it was the unexpected target of the hooded figure's ire: Zac. The puzzlement deepened as the realization settled—few had crossed paths with Zac, and even fewer had valid reasons to bear a grudge against him.
As Zac pondered the possible culprits, his mental inventory led him to a shortlist: "Who have I provoked? Among those I've encountered, only a handful could harbor resentment. Louis's family and Dimitri's family come to mind. The odds favor Dimitri's family, given my direct involvement in their prodigy's demise and Dimitri's subsequent death. Louis's demise was Damien's doing, and I doubt a branch family would dare retaliate.
"Yet, the intensity of this man's killing intent suggests a personal vendetta. But who could it be?" Lost in his contemplation, Zac found himself interrupted by the hooded figure, whose menacing voice cut through the silence, "Brat, are you ready to go to hell?" The ominous words hung in the air, signaling the imminent clash that would unfold in the heart of the darkened forest. The mystery of the hooded figure's identity remained, intensifying the anticipation of the impending confrontation.
In an impassioned outburst, Elise vehemently rejected the ominous threat, positioning herself protectively in front of Zac. The bond that had formed between them transformed these two companions into genuine friends, and Elise was resolute in her determination to shield Zac from harm.
Undeterred, the hooded figure unleashed an overwhelming pressure that compelled everyone, including the formidable Clarisse at the Ascendant stage, to kneel. His eerie voice resonated through the forest as he locked eyes with Clarisse, the one with the highest cultivation among them. "I suppose the distinction between Ascendant Stage and Savant Stage eludes you," he remarked, the unsettling tone punctuating the gravity of the situation. Reiterating his intent with a chilling resolve, he focused on Clarisse and stated, "Let me clarify once more—I harbor no interest in you two sisters. My sole desire is that little brat, and the rest of you may continue on your way."
In the midst of the escalating confrontation, Zac, under the looming pressure, sought a means of escape, directing his thoughts to Bella, "Bells, check my bracelet. See if there's anything in there that can aid us now." Almost instantaneously, Bella's voice echoed in Zac's mind, revealing a strategic revelation, "Zac, I've dispatched miniature drones from your previous world to survey the forest. My findings indicate an approaching horde of beasts."
In the midst of the unfolding crisis, confusion etched across Zac's face as he questioned, "I thought the beasts were typically found in the depths of the forest?" Seeking to shed light on the anomaly, Bella, the strategic mind of the group, responded with a hint of assurance, "It appears to be linked to recent disturbances within the forest. I've formulated a plan."
With meticulous detail, Bella outlined her strategy to Zac. As the plan unfolded, Zac, considering the urgency of the situation, nodded in agreement, acknowledging the merit in the proposed course of action. "Alright, it's worth a try. Let's proceed as you've laid out," Zac affirmed, the weight of impending danger mingling with a flicker of hope ignited by their calculated response.