The Highest Place

Chapter 16: The Forest of S-Class Monsters!

A sheen of sweat formed upon her skin, glistening like liquid gold in the dappled light. Her fists clenched with a raw, primal power, emphasizing the intensity of her anticipation. The air crackled with an electric tension as Laufey felt an unsettling presence lingering amidst the ancient trees.

"Something's in this forest," she uttered, her voice laced with a mixture of caution and determination. In that moment, her eyes flickered with a brief golden glow, a testament to the extraordinary powers that coursed through her veins. Her gaze pierced through the veils of mist, unyielding in its search for the source of this unnatural disturbance.

"Duncan, where are you?" she whispered.
***

The forest enveloped the group in its dense shadows as they pressed forward, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth. Among them, Duncan walked with a vacant gaze, his eyes lacking their usual spark of life. He trailed behind the four individuals who had risked their own safety to rescue him from the clutches of a menacing beast.

His attention momentarily shifted downward, catching a glimpse of his hand, tightly grasped by the woman with flowing black hair. She pulled him along, her grip firm and resolute, ensuring they maintained their pace through the darkened woods.

"We've managed to escape," the man at the front spoke up, breaking the silence. The group halted, turning to face him. The relief in his voice was palpable. "It seems we've lost that beast."

Duncan lifted his gaze, meeting the eyes of the man who seemed to lead this band of warriors. Short brown hair framed a face marred by scars, testaments to battles fought and hardships endured. His metal armor bore intricate carvings, hinting at a history intertwined with ancient traditions. The man's sharp eyes fixated upon Duncan, analyzing him with great intensity.

The group of four focused their piercing gazes upon Duncan, their eyes intense and filled with curiosity. Sensing their inquisitiveness, Duncan looked down at the woman with short black hair, who appeared visibly annoyed by his presence. She challenged him, her voice laced with impatience, "Why are you here? Do you even know where this is?"

Duncan remained silent, meeting her gaze with a mix of uncertainty and confusion.

"That's enough, Lyra," the man at the front interjected, his arms crossed in a display of authority. "We have no time for idle talk." He glanced at Duncan with a polite yet firm expression. "Listen, friend, I'll explain the situation to you as best I can." His smile, though somewhat forced, sought to ease the tension in the air. "My name is Aric," he introduced himself, gesturing to the man standing at his side. "This is Gideon." Aric's gesture directed Duncan's attention toward the companion beside him. "And over there is Seraphina," he added, indicating the woman with long blond hair and flowing white robes.

Duncan's eyes slowly darted between each member of the group, barely taking in their names and distinct appearances.

"And that hot-headed woman glaring at you, her name, if you didn't catch it, is Lyra," Aric clarified, drawing Duncan's attention to the woman who continued to shoot daggers with her eyes.

Aric turned his focus back to Duncan, his curiosity piqued. "And who might you be?" he inquired, prompting Duncan to meet his gaze. In response, Duncan remained silent, his expression vacant and disinterested. With an air of indifference, he simply uttered his name, "Duncan."

"Duncan, that's a nice name," Aric remarked, his smile lingering. "Well, Duncan, we are adventurers sent on a mission of utmost importance." Aric's tone shifted, becoming more serious. "We have received word that something may be stirring within the forest of Gehenna," he continued. "This forest... we have been tasked with gathering intel and, if deemed a threat, even exterminating whatever we may see as a threat." Aric continued.

"I will not ask why you are here," Aric declared, his tone resolute. "We have no time to delve into such matters. But know this, this forest is dangerous." Aric's voice carried a weight of warning as he began to explain. "It is, after all..."

Before Aric could finish his sentence, a deafening explosion shattered the air, causing him to fall silent. The group of adventurers turned in unison, their eyes drawn to the source of the disturbance. There, in the distance, a towering pillar of purple light erupted into the sky, piercing through the darkness like an ominous beacon.

The once serene clouds now turned forebodingly dark, crackling with bolts of purple lightning that tore through the veil of the heavens. The four adventurers stood transfixed, their hearts gripped by a mixture of awe and fear. The magnitude of the spectacle unfolding before them was unlike anything they had encountered before.

Duncan, however, looked up at the darkened sky and the rising pillars with an uncanny calmness. His heart remained steady, seemingly unfazed by the daunting display of power and chaos.

Sweat trickled down Aric's brow, his nervousness etched across his face in a wavering smile. "This is the forest of S-Rank Monsters," he admitted, his voice laced with trepidation. The realization of their surroundings hit them with full force—the forest they had entered was a realm teeming with creatures of unparalleled danger and strength. The group stood at the threshold of a perilous journey, their every step fraught with the uncertainty that lay within the heart of the forest of S-Rank Monsters.
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