Ethan walked calmly but with full alertness, his footsteps in sync with his quickening heartbeat due to the tension.
The air in the Death Forest felt heavy, filled with a chilling cold that seemed to flow from the towering trees, which appeared to block their path.
Behind every shadow, Ethan sensed hidden threats, but the Devourer power he had trained with for years gave him an advantage, allowing him to sense the presence of others.
His companions, Draven and Lina, weren't far, but something evil was lurking with them.
"Not far from here," Ethan muttered, his voice low but firm. "I can feel their presence... but don't be rash. There's something unusual. One of them has an extremely strong aura."
Nyssa, who was walking nearby, glanced at him with admiration. "Your power is so useful, Ethan. Even though I've reached Hyak Star 3, it's still hard for me to sense them through the dark forces of this forest."
Ethan looked at Nyssa briefly. He knew Nyssa was strong one of the strongest among them but Ethan had something no one else possessed.
The Devourer Power wasn't something ordinary. It was a power from a long-extinct race, the ability to absorb the energy and strength of enemies, something even Hyak couldn't easily counter.
"Let's cut the unnecessary chatter," Ethan said, his tone now more assertive. "Focus on our goal. Tof, stay behind us and don't act recklessly."
Tof, following cautiously behind them, nodded quickly. His eyes glinted with burning vengeance, but Ethan knew that revenge could make someone reckless. He wouldn't let the boy get caught up in a dangerous game that could cost him his life.
They continued in silence, each step feeling heavier as they drew closer to the source of the evil aura Ethan sensed. The trees around them looked like towering monsters, their shadows stretching under the faint moonlight.
The sound of night birds and the wind rustling through the leaves added to the eerie atmosphere.
As they neared the point Ethan felt, he began to sense something deeper a power not just from humans or ordinary creatures. There was something bigger here, something fused with the darkness of the forest.
"Ethan," Nyssa whispered, her hand moving swiftly to the hilt of her sword. "We're very close now. The darkness here feels strange I can sense it too. It's like there's another force controlling this area."
Ethan nodded. He could feel the same thing, but sharper. The Devourer power within him was reacting to the energy around them, slowly absorbing the fear and death that enveloped the forest. Yet, behind it all, there was one immensely strong energy, like the core of it all.
"There," Ethan pointed toward a large mound in the middle of the forest, almost hidden by the giant trees. Around the mound, several villagers from Trakan stood in a trance-like state, their eyes empty as if controlled by something.
"Draven and Lina…" Nyssa exhaled quietly, spotting their two companions tied to a tree, also unconscious.
But what made Ethan and Nyssa freeze was not the condition of their comrades, but the large figure standing in front of them a tall man in a dark cloak, his face obscured by the shadow of his hood.
The figure radiated an immense power, far greater than any aura Ethan had ever felt before. He was the source of all this evil energy.
"So, you've finally come," the figure said, his voice deep and cold. "I've been waiting."
Tof, standing behind them, stepped forward, fury in his eyes. "You! You're behind all of this, aren't you? You killed my family!"
The man chuckled softly, the sound echoing eerily in the darkness. "Little boy, you don't even know half of what's happening here. I am merely a tool of a far greater power."
Ethan felt his breathing grow heavier, his eyes sharp as he tried to analyze the situation. This man was different. He wasn't just strong he had control over something far more dangerous than mere physical strength.
Without warning, the man raised his hand, and instantly the ground around them began to tremble. From the shadows of the trees, large grey werewolves emerged, but this time they were bigger and more ferocious than anything they had seen before.
"Nyssa, get ready! They're coming!" Ethan shouted as he drew his dagger, the Devourer's energy immediately wrapping the blade in a dark red glow.
Nyssa didn't need further warning. Swiftly, she drew her sword, and with a single motion, she unleashed an Aura Slash, cutting through several werewolves nearby. But it only stalled them for a moment. The next wave came, even more ferocious, and they began to surround them.
Ethan instantly leaped toward one of the werewolves, using his speed to dodge the vicious swipes of its claws. His dagger slashed precisely, hitting one of the creatures, but the wound was still too shallow.
These creatures were not ordinary werewolves. With the Devourer power inside him, Ethan focused on absorbing their energy with each strike.
Meanwhile, Nyssa fought with her Hyak power, attacking with full force and speed. But there were too many of them. Tof, standing behind them, was trying his best to stay out of the fray, but the tension on his face was clear.
"We need to destroy their source of power!" Nyssa shouted. "These creatures keep coming!"
Ethan's eyes locked on the man. He was the source. But before Ethan could move, the man raised his hand again, this time directing a surge of dark energy straight at Ethan.
As the cloaked man unleashed his devastating attack, a powerful wave of energy crashed into the ground with brutal force, splitting the earth and creating a vast chasm that separated Ethan from Nyssa and Tof.
Ethan felt the tremors beneath his feet, but more troubling was the sudden surge of hunger welling up inside him. The Devourer Power, which had granted him immense strength, now demanded a steep price.
"Damn… why now?" Ethan muttered under his breath, his body beginning to weaken as his energy rapidly drained.
The hunger wasn't ordinary it was a ravenous thirst for energy, for power, that could only be sated by consuming the life force of living things or objects imbued with high magical energy.
Over the past few days, Ethan had been using the Devourer Power excessively to fend off relentless threats, and now his body was demanding its payment.