Fortunately, Fars's layered shields were not in vain. The number of attacking vines was not as terrifying as he had feared. With his agility surpassing that of the vines, he managed to withdraw safely after two layers of his shields were breached. While this outcome might not have satisfied Perugino and the others, Fars had done all he could and discovered that only a portion of the vines would attack him.
It seemed that these so-called passes only suppressed some of the vines, while others remained quite troublesome.
After some discussion, the group decided to charge straight through. Although the number of vines was overwhelming, their quality had diminished over millennia. According to records, these vines were originally as powerful as high-tier magical beasts, with each capable of producing dozens or even hundreds of tendrils. The ones that had just attacked Fars were clearly not just one vine but several working together. Given the density of the tendrils, it averaged out to about ten branches per vine. This indicated that the quality of these vines had dropped to a mid-tier level. It was uncertain whether there were still high-quality vines deeper in the forest. It was possible that Fars had entered an outer area, resulting in the lower quality of the vines. Nevertheless, their sheer numbers were indeed alarming.
The formation was adjusted, with Durl leading the charge, Joanna and Agno guarding the rear, while Fars, Master Perugino, and the weakest member, Panasus, stayed in the middle to cast spells against the vines. It was evident that Panasus was using a lavish approach, casting spells one after another from his stock of magic scrolls.
Fars couldn't help but envy Joanna and Agno, who each had dozens of mid- to low-tier fire scrolls. Coupled with his own stock, he had over a hundred fire scrolls capable of inflicting significant damage on the vines. Although they were all low-tier, their sheer quantity made up for it. Throughout their advance, Panasus's contribution—or rather, the scrolls' effectiveness—far surpassed that of Fars, who had yet to master high-tier spells.
Durl, clad in full-body armor, was impervious to the mid-tier magical beast-level attacks from the vines. Any tendril attempting to ensnare him was either sliced into dozens of pieces by his sword or shattered into dust by his powerful aura. Even with the pass's effect, the attacking vines numbered only a dozen at a time. These vines were quickly reduced to ashes by Fars and Panasus, who unleashed a barrage of Hellfire and Fireballs. Additionally, Master Perugino had cast high-tier protective spells on everyone before entering, conserving his own magical energy while the others, including Joanna and Agno, worked seamlessly to eliminate the vines from behind.
After a half-day of intermittent fighting, the group had made significant progress into the forest guarding the Gonsago Ruins.
Although it was still early in the day, the deeper they ventured, the darker it became, shrouded by towering ancient trees. While Fars, as a creature of the night, felt at home, the others struggled to adapt. Once Master Perugino enhanced their dark vision, the interference from the dim environment faded. However, a new problem arose: without the sun's guidance, Perugino could not discern their direction through minor spells. In other words, they were lost.
The map indicated that the center of the forest was where the Gonsago Ruins lay, but it lacked a detailed route. It was likely that some magical formations were causing their disorientation, disrupting Perugino's locating spells. One had to admire the ancient masters; despite the ruins being abandoned for nearly ten thousand years, the formations still functioned. If the outer formations had not failed, what about those deeper within? The ancient masters surely would not allow their domains to be freely explored by strangers. It was customary for mages to set up powerful protective formations or seal monsters to guard important locations.
Just as the group felt at a loss, Fars, who had been fiddling with the "pass," noticed something different about the thin purple crystal. The surface, once clear and transparent, now exhibited faintly glowing points moving across it. If it weren't for the darkness and Fars's unaffected vision, he might have missed this change.
Could this be a marker? In a moment of discovery amidst their frustration, Fars shared his finding with the group. Everyone pulled out their crystals to examine them closely, confirming that each one indeed had glowing points moving in the same direction.
With no better way to navigate the strange forest, they decided to follow the indications on the crystals.
The journey was surprisingly calm, almost eerily so, as the bothersome vines miraculously did not appear. While this could be seen as a positive sign, they remained cautious, wary that it might be a trap. Who could guarantee that the guidance from the so-called pass would lead them to the Gonsago Ruins?
The goddess of fate seemed to play a small trick on them. Elated at what they thought was a successful navigation, they stepped out of the dark forest only to find themselves back where they had entered. The ashes of the burnt vines and the signs of their previous battle were unmistakable. With a sorcerer and Fars, a half-trained high-tier mage among them, they knew that a mere illusion could not deceive them, and Master Perugino confirmed their fears: they had circled back!
This was no laughing matter. After all that time, they had returned to the start, and no one was pleased. The pampered young nobles were particularly irritable. Although Fars was not entirely to blame, the idea had originated from him. Joanna shot a fiery glare at Fars, "What kind of useless path did you lead us down? We went in circles and ended up back here. If I had known, I would have just killed you on the spot. I still haven't settled the score for Wolf Valley, and now there's another problem. If this delays my important matters, you can be sure I'll make you suffer more than the religious tribunal ever could."
Having made a mistake, Fars could only cower under Joanna's barrage of insults. If only she would vent her anger this way, it would be better. He feared she would hold a grudge and remain silent like the others, waiting to settle the score later. It was likely that they all harbored thoughts of getting rid of him once he had outlived his usefulness. If Fars had not been so greedy in previous encounters, they might have appreciated his talents, but now their relationship had reverted to square one, and the sense of security he had felt just moments ago was replaced by a chill down his spine.
After Joanna's tirade, the group found themselves at a loss. They had lost track of time in the forest, but upon exiting, they realized the sun was setting. Continuing their exploration at night was clearly unwise.
This was not a safe area; the Qihar Mountains were fraught with danger. The frequency of vine encounters had diminished compared to their initial foray, likely due to the group's earlier efforts in slaying many nearby vines.
Waiting idly was not an option, especially after a day of intense fighting that had left everyone fatigued. Master Perugino, the most experienced and authoritative member of the group, decided they would set up camp for the night and try a different approach to navigate the forest in the morning.
Fortunately, in this vine-infested area, they did not pressure Fars to hunt magical beasts. Each member had brought ample supplies, and although they were mostly dried meats, a little boiling and seasoning could provide great satisfaction when hunger struck.
Danger lurked everywhere; the forest was not an open field, and there were more hidden threats. Originally, it was sufficient for Fars to keep watch alone, but given the circumstances, they decided on a three-person rotation for the night watch. By chance, Fars was paired with Joanna and Agno. This arrangement was intentional; Panasus, being the weakest, had expended the most energy. Despite merely tearing scrolls, he had put in significant effort to ensure that every spell sealed within the scrolls would perform optimally. Thus, it was decided that he would keep watch with the strongest members, Master Perugino and Durl, for the first half of the night.
With Joanna, still simmering with anger, keeping watch, Fars felt an oppressive atmosphere. Agno, clearly at odds with Joanna, was unlikely to engage in any friendly exchanges. The three of them, all in their twenties and strikingly handsome, created a tense environment. No one spoke as they sat around the campfire, lost in their thoughts.
Fars reluctantly entered a shallow meditation to recover from the day's exertions. He had primarily used low-tier spells to eliminate the vines, and the recovery rate of his magical energy was quite decent. By the end, he still had over half of his magical energy left. However, the others were mentally drained from the heightened tension. This shallow meditation was not much better than letting the formation restore his energy, but as the night watchman, Fars bore the responsibility for the team's safety and could not afford to be careless.
They waited quietly for Master Perugino and the others to relieve them. The night was eerily quiet. The absence of wildlife and the three watchmen's silence made the atmosphere even more unsettling. The only sounds were the occasional crackling of the firewood.
In the darkness, Fars's senses were not as sharp as those of a vampire. Something felt off; although there were no sounds, his instincts warned him of impending danger. Danis, nestled in his arms, shared his unease, sensing something before he did.
At that moment, silence could no longer be maintained. Fars gently nudged Joanna and Agno, only to receive a terrifying glare from Joanna.
"If nothing happens, I'll throw you into the fire," Joanna threatened Fars.
A beautiful woman's anger could sometimes signal interest, as love occasionally blossomed from hatred. Fars, accustomed to the company of noblewomen, felt a mix of fear and excitement in the presence of this clearly proud and headstrong lady.
"Be quiet; there's definitely something strange nearby," Perugino's voice came from the tent, cutting off Joanna's impending threats.