"Huff... that was a tough climb. It took me a bit of effort just to reach this peak."

Verc muttered. Then looking behind him--a trail of monster corpses can be seen. A massacre had happened just moments earlier.

Anyway, it’s been a day since Verc left his castle, leaving behind the safety of his walls and the growing community he had worked so hard to establish.

Yesterday, he had spotted a small mountain range rising like jagged teeth from the horizon; and right now, he’s currently on top of one of those mountains, standing on a narrow, rocky ledge that overlooked a sea of dark vegetation.

"..."

Verc looked up, trying to find a gap in the overhead foliage, but he still can’t see the sky. Even here, at this elevation, the trees were huge and their canopy covers the whole place like a thick, suffocating blanket of purple and black leaves. The sunlight—if there even was any—didn’t dare to touch the ground of the [Cursed Forest].

"Nothing new, huh."

He said to himself, kicking a loose pebble off the edge of the cliff and watching it vanish into the darkness below.

Verc did realize though that as he went deeper into the forest; the monsters attacked him more frequently and they even got stronger. On his way up the mountainside, he had encountered creatures that were significantly more aggressive than the ones near his territory.

They had more mana, sharper instincts, and a desperate hunger that made them throw themselves at him without a second thought. But still, except from that; nothing really stood out for him.

It’s just a forest full of strong and crazy monsters. So far, he hadn’t found any ancient ruins, hidden civilizations, or the "source" of the curse that he had been hoping to uncover.

’Am I thinking too much if this? Is there really nothing else in this forest?’

Verc asked himself as he continued walking. Now, more aimlessly than before, he began to make his way along the ridge of the mountain range. He had hoped for a sign or a change in the environment, but the scenery remained stubbornly consistent.

*****

Verc continued travelling through the rugged terrain. He didn’t stop to rest nor sleep as the hours bled into one another.

He doesn’t need any of those. As long as he had consumed enough blood, his body can function normally without rest for a long time. His vampiric nature allowed him to bypass the usual limits of a living being, turning the life force of his enemies into pure, usable energy.

And because monsters attacked him here and there—blood is everywhere, so he can replenish his energy as he walks.

Because of this, he already got pretty far away from his territory even though he was only away for only over a day and he’s just in a walking pace. He had covered a distance that would have taken a normal human expedition weeks to navigate, especially given the treacherous climb and constant combat.

One thing annoying Verc though is that his clothes are now a bit dirty. They’re still in one piece because monsters couldn’t even touch him before they die. His speed and reflexes ensured that no claw or fang ever reached his skin. But their bloods splash onto him, and he can’t do anything about it. Dark, sticky ichor had stained his sleeves and the hem of his pants, and the smell of copper was starting to cling to him.

’I only have ten sets of outfits... I’ll only change if the situation really calls for it.’

Verc thought to himself, looking down at a particularly nasty smudge of green blood on his boot. He didn’t want to waste his clean clothes just to have them ruined by the next monster that jumped out of a bush. He would just have to deal with the grime for now.

Anyway, just as usual—FWOOSH!

He scattered his mana everywhere and used [Vibration Awareness] to the max to scan his surroundings.

The ground beneath his feet transmitted every tiny movement within a wide radius. He also used [Echolocation] to pinpoint the monsters around him, sending out silent pulses of energy that bounced off the trees and rocks.

"..."

Verc was surrounded by monsters. There were dozens of them lurking in the shadows, clinging to the underside of rocky outcroppings or hiding in the dense brush.

But he already knew that and that had been the case since he entered the mountain range so he doesn’t really care. His mana didn’t detect anything unusual as well; just the same high-energy signatures of the local predators.

Though—

"Hmm?"

He sensed something with [Echolocation].

It wasn’t the typical solid return he got from a tree or a solid wall of rock. Not just monsters that were ready to attack him, but also the sound sent him a hollow feedback.

The pulses he sent out didn’t just bounce back; they traveled deeper into a void before returning with a distinct, echoing quality.

"..."

Verc turned his head to the right, where he sensed it.

He narrowed his eyes, focusing his senses on a specific area of the mountain face that was covered in thick, hanging vines. Coincidentally, or not; more monsters were in that direction. They seemed to be congregating around that spot, acting like a natural guard.

"Is that... a cave?"

Verc muttered. That was the conclusion he reached from that hollow feedback he got.

And thinking about it, even though this was a forest, and he had been at the heart of it—he didn’t see a cave or whatever. Even this mountain range, it was a first for him. Most of his time had been spent in the flatter regions where the trees grew so close together that they formed a wall.

As a matter of fact; the first part of the [Cursed Forest] was just a flat terrain with a bunch of tall trees. This is the first time Verc is seeing some details in this place. The change in geography felt like he was finally making real progress.

*****

TAP-

Verc didn’t hesitate and immediately headed to the hollow sound he heard in curiosity. He was tired of the endless repetition of trees and monsters, and a cave represented a new mystery to solve.

But just a few steps from where he was standing—

-KIEEK!!!

-GRAAAAA!!!

The forest exploded into movement. He was already ambushed by a lot of monsters, dozens of them all at the same time!

They dropped from the trees and surged from the shadows, their eyes glowing with a manic frenzy. They realized he was heading toward the cave and seemed desperate to stop him.

Though, ambushes aren’t really that helpful when the other party was already expecting it.

Verc had sensed their presence long before they made their move.

S L A S H—!

With a single flick of his sword horizontally as he imbued it with mana; Verc cut down half of the monsters coming at him with ease. A crescent of shimmering crimson energy exploded from his blade, slicing through bone, fur, and scales alike. The monsters were like soft tofus in front of him, offering no more resistance than the air itself.

Then—SWISH!

With his empty left hand, Verc covered it with [Black Scales] and turned it into claws, before enveloping it with mana and swinging it heavily. The air whistled as his hand transformed into a lethal weapon.

SPLASH!!!

Verc killed the other half just like that as well, tearing through their bodies with brutal efficiency.

And casually—TAP.

He landed back on his feet and just continued walking like he was just strolling through the park.

He didn’t even look back at the carnage he had left behind.

... ... ...

... ... ...

Verc reached the place he heard the hollow sound, pushing aside the thick, leathery vines that acted as a curtain. And just like as he suspected—it was a cave.

A cave with an enormous entrance, it was like telling him to come in.

The opening was at least thirty feet high, carved naturally into the side of the mountain. It was dark, a pitch-black void that seemed to swallow the light, but fortunately—dark isn’t a problem to Verc.

And so, he entered the cave without much thought.

SWOOSH~

He felt the temperature drop immediately, the humid air of the forest replaced by a cool, damp draft that smelled of ancient stone and earth.

"I can’t believe I’m back into a cave again."

Verc jokingly said, remembering when he first woke up into this world.

*****

Meanwhile, Elianna, the others, and the expedition team—they were now just two cities away from the [Cursed Forest].

The landscape around them had changed from the rolling hills of the central kingdom to the more rugged, untamed borderlands.

They picked up their pace a little. The news of the "Saintess leading a holy crusade" had spread to every town they passed, and the pressure on the expedition leaders to show results was mounting.

The nobles, despite their constant complaining, were also eager to reach the destination and start claiming the "easy" glory they believed was waiting for them.

They’re in a pace to arrive at the edge of the forest now in five days.

"Five days... it feels like we’ve been on this road forever."

Kael said, adjusting the heavy pack on his shoulders.

"We need to stay vigilant."

Elianna replied, her voice steady but her eyes showing the fatigue of the journey. She had spent most of her time during the march dealing with the incessant questions from the noble sons.

Anyway--

The Radiant Church’s priests were busy blessing the weapons and armor of the vanguard, their chants a low hum that competed with the sound of the marching feet. The subduction squad sent by the Emperor moved with a grim efficiency, their black armor soaking up the sun’s rays.

"Once we reach the edge, the real work starts."

Kael muttered, looking at his squad members.

"We don’t know what’s waiting for us in there. But whatever it is, we face it together."

The group nodded in unison.

’Five days.’

Elianna thought, her gaze fixed on the northern horizon.

’I hope we’re ready for what’s coming.’

The expedition continued its march, a long line of steel and ambition moving toward a clash that would change the history of the continent.