After several hours, the small spider emerged from the shadow of a tree. Ahead of it, a wide river stretched across the landscape, separating it from a forest shrouded in black mist.
The afternoon sun failed to pierce the dense mist, unable to illuminate the darkened forest.
This was why it was called the Night Forest—a land of perpetual night.
The spider vanished once more, reappearing deep within the Night Forest, clinging to the trunk of a twisted, ancient tree. Then, with a streak of purple light, it disappeared again.
Sometime later, it emerged atop a high tree branch.
From its vantage point, a city came into view—hidden within the mist, its skyline dominated by a massive structure crowned with a glowing purple spire. The building resembled a temple, ominous and commanding.
The spider leapt down.
As it landed on the ground, its form shifted.
Where the spider had been, now stood a female figure—her skin a smooth shade of gray, her eyes and hair a deep, unnatural purple, and pointed ears.
Without hesitation, she began walking toward the city gate, where two massive guards stood watch.
Each guard towered at eight feet, their burly forms resembling minotaurs, complete with broad, muscular bodies and large bovine heads.
Yet, they remained motionless, showing no reaction to the woman's approach.
She raised a hand, her fingers glowing with purple light, and pressed it against the gate.
With a low, groaning creak, the gate swung open on its own.
Upon witnessing this, the guards immediately bowed in silent deference.
The woman stepped inside, and the sounds of the city crashed into her.
But it was not the laughter of children or the hum of merchants.
It was screams of pain.
The snap of whips tearing through the air.
The cruel laughter of tormentors reveling in their victims' suffering.
The woman breathed in deeply, savoring the air thick with malice.
A smile crept onto her lips.
"The outside world makes me sick," she thought. "It's good to be back."
She moved toward the temple in the north, having entered the city through the eastern gate. A smile crossed her lips as she took in the familiar sights.
For the past year, she had remained outside, forced to endure the wretched world beyond. If not for the crucial information she carried, she would have never dared to return.
Her gaze drifted to the cavemen, working tirelessly under the lashes of whips—yet remaining silent.
She had studied the humans while outside, and though they bore some similarities to these creatures, there were key differences. The cavemen's skin was yellow and thick, their heads broad and heavy, their backs hunched as if shaped by generations of toil.
The agonized cries she heard came from new slaves, still unbroken.
Among them, she spotted a Tigerman—one of the newest additions to the market.
The Tigermen were a powerful race, discovered on a distant island in the Crystal Ocean. Strong and fierce, yet ultimately powerless against the might of the Spider Elves.
Their entire race had been enslaved, their numbers divided among the great Night Cities.
As she walked deeper into the city, she realized she had arrived during a market fair.
The streets buzzed with activity as merchants from the Underground Greydwarves, Beholders, Lizardmen, and Stone Hunters displayed their wares.
The Spider Elves walked among them—some selling, others haggling for goods.
After some time, she arrived at the temple steps.
She ascended the staircase and entered the sacred halls, finding the temple eerily empty.
Only the statue of their goddess, Rose, loomed over the space.
Bowing in reverence, she whispered a silent prayer.
When she lifted her head, another figure stood before her.
A female elf, clad in luxurious robes spun from Crystal Spider silk, her face veiled save for her piercing eyes.
The woman's voice was smooth yet commanding.
"Natalya. Why are you here? I thought your mission wasn't set to end for another four years."
Natalya straightened. "Lady Kaelin, I have urgent information for the Matron."
Kaelin raised an eyebrow. "Are you certain? Mother has been… in a foul mood for the past month. If she deems your information unimportant, you will be thrown into the crypts—to mate with the Demon Spiders."
Natalya's face paled at the horrific punishment, but she did not hesitate.
She nodded. "I am sure, Lady Kaelin."
She knew the value of the information she carried.
And once the Matron heard it, Natalya's rank in the city would surely rise.
Kaelin studied her with growing curiosity, a flicker of greed flashing in her eyes.
Her position as the second most powerful in the city had been challenged ever since Kaeslin returned from the Crystal Ocean, bringing with her an entire race of Tigermen slaves.
If Natalya's information was truly valuable, perhaps Kaelin could use it to solidify her power.
Her lips curled into a smirk as she spoke in a commanding tone.
"Tell me the information first. I will decide if it is worthy of Mother's ears."
Natalya's expression hardened.
"This information is only for the Matron."
She fell silent, standing firm.
Kaelin's right hand glowed with a sinister purple light. Without hesitation, she pointed a single finger at Natalya and fired a bolt of purple lightning.
It struck Natalya's body.
Pain ripped through her, searing her nerves like fire.
Yet, she made no sound. No movement.
Kaelin struck her again.
Then again.
And again.
Four times the purple lightning burned through her flesh.
Still, Natalya did not break.
Kaelin's gaze darkened. With a huff, she lowered her hand. "Wait here. I will summon the Matron."
She turned away, but before leaving, she cast Natalya a cold glance over her shoulder.
"And pray your information is important… or I will personally throw you into the crypts, where you will remain for the rest of your miserable life."
Natalya remained silent, unwavering.
With that, Kaelin strode toward the idol, passing through a door hidden behind it.
Natalya did not have to wait long.
Barely five minutes passed before Kaelin returned—walking behind a mature woman whose revealing garments left little to the imagination.
Natalya's heart pounded as she lowered herself into a deep bow.
"Matron."
The Matron gave a slow nod, her piercing gaze fixed on Natalya.
"I hear you have important information for me."
Natalya nodded and began her report.
She detailed how the humans arrived in the northern pocket region, systematically destroying all the tribes in the plains and high plateaus—except for the Snake Tribe, which had been wiped out by the Statue Tribe.
"Today, I followed the human force's leader and their 6th-rank mage as they crossed the mountain range into the southern side of Wintermoon Forest. Inside the forest, they fought a Bronze-rank Earth Wolf. The battle ended in a draw, but not before the wolf managed to destroy three of the mage's corpse puppets."
Natalya's voice grew sharper.
"I recognized the wolf immediately. It was the same wolf that killed the Snake Tribe's totem. Back then, its energy was weaker—only at the Magic-rank level—but now, it has advanced."
She continued, describing how she had trailed the wolf as it shadowed the humans, listening in on their discussion.
"After the wolf returned, it entered the passage leading into the Statue Tribe's valley. And then… a Shadow Spirit appeared—sent by none other than the Dark Panther Tribe's totem."
She proceeded to reveal the Dark Panther Tribe's plans, recounting every detail she had overheard.
When she finished, her eyes gleamed with ambition.
"Matron, this could be an opportunity. If we act, we could move against the Dark Panther Tribe and seize the Night Crystal Tree for ourselves."
A wide smile spread across the Matron's lips.
"Natalya, you have done well."
Her gaze flickered with satisfaction.
"For this, you shall be rewarded. I see you are at the peak of 6th rank as a Dark Druid. Go to Milena—she will help you advance to 7th rank."
Natalya's heart swelled with gratitude. Bowing deeply, she silently left the room.
As the doors closed, the Matron turned to Kaelin, her voice calm yet laced with warning.
"I did not hear anything… happen to her."
Kaelin stiffened, understanding the message clearly—the Matron knew everything that occurred within the temple.
With that, the Matron turned away, walking toward the door hidden behind the idol. But before stepping through, she paused and gave a final order.
"Send someone to spy on the human and the wolf. I want to know exactly when they meet and what they talk about."
With those words, she disappeared beyond the door.