Four days had passed since Verc left the castle, and three days of that time had been spent in total isolation. Deep within the cold, silent depths of the cave, he had lost all sense of day and night.

"Hup... How much time had passed?"

Verc asked himself, his voice sounding raspy and strange in the hollow silence of the tunnel.

His muscles felt tight, yet filled with a new kind of vitality. For three days, he had stayed in that exact spot, locked in a trance. He had been swinging his sword like a maniac, his movements a blur of steel and mana. While his body moved through the forms of his swordsmanship, his mind had been entirely focused on the air around him. He was constantly using [Mana Circulation], acting like a sponge as he absorbed and processed the dense, corrupted mana that filled the cave.

"Hmm?"

Verc looked down at his hands. He opened and closed them, testing the grip of his fingers.

The heavy, suffocating feeling that had pressed against him when he first entered was completely gone.

Not because the thick, corrupted mana around him was gone—in fact, the air was just as heavy as before—but because his body had adjusted to it already. He had integrated the dark energy into his own circuits, making it a part of him rather than a force that opposed him.

Also; he felt a lot stronger now. The sheer volume of energy he had refined during this trance was incredible. He made even more progress than when he was just drinking the blood of mountains of monsters before.

’I guess all the monsters around the base is too weak for me now.’

Verc thought to himself.

He realized that the growth he gained from the blood of the forest’s outer denizens had reached a plateau. To keep getting stronger at this rate, he would need either more environments like this cave or the blood of stronger creatures.

... ... ...

Anyway, Verc felt very exhausted, which was normal because he used [Mana Circulation] for days non-stop.

While his mana reserves were theoretically high, his physical energy was flagging. His body was screaming for sustenance. A lot of his stored up energy was gone just like that, burned away by the intense training.

Fortunately though—THUD!

A large, heavy shape hit the smooth stone floor.

He had stored some monster corpses in his spatial pouch, expecting some things like this happening beforehand. He knew that traveling into the unknown meant he might not always have access to fresh kills.

He only had a couple of dozens of them though, which wouldn’t last forever, but it was enough for a quick recharge.

It was better than nothing.

"Time to refill."

CHOMP-

Verc immediately chomped down on the corpses he brought out. He didn’t bother with a fire or preparation. And in a matter of seconds, the corpses all turned gray.

All of them were completely dried of their blood and mana!

Verc just tossed them aside like some kind of waste, the husks clattering against the stone.

He felt the warmth returning to his limbs almost instantly. The exhaustion didn’t vanish completely, but the hollow ache in his stomach was gone.

"I guess it’s time to continue on my way now."

He stood up, stretching his back until it popped. The darkness of the cave was no obstacle to his eyes, and with his senses refreshed, he started walking on the path he was heading before he entered his trance.

Every step felt lighter than before, his boots tapping rhythmically on the unnaturally smooth floor.

’I wonder how the others are doing back in the base.’

Verc thought to himself.

... ... ...

*****

Back in Verc’s territory...

The small village continued as usual. The absence of their Lord was felt, but the systems he had put in place were holding strong. There was a sense of order that many of the residents had never experienced before in their lives.

Half of the orcs always went out to hunt monsters with the two kobolds, while the other half stays to work on the village. This rotation ensured that the village was never undefended, and that there was always a steady supply of meat and materials. With the orcs handling the heavy tasks—the lifting of massive stones, the pulling of stumps, and the moving of timber—the dwarfs and gnolls were able to focus on building better structures and furnitures.

They weren’t running out of resources as well because the orcs collected them for them. Whenever the hunting parties went out, they didn’t just bring back food. They brought back strange wood from the [Cursed Forest], hides, and even ores they found in the deeper parts of the forest.

Because of this, the dwarfs and gnolls were able to build two buildings in only a few days—one that focuses on smithing and crafting, while the other on construction and upgrades.

The smithy was a sturdy building with thick walls and a specialized ventilation system designed by the dwarfs. The sound of hammers clanging against anvils was now a permanent part of the village’s soundscape. The other building served as a headquarters for the planners, filled with sketches and blueprints of how to expand the territory further.

They even built a road for the whole village; made of stones that were crushed for the expansion of the clearing. As the village grew, the rough dirt paths had become muddy and difficult to navigate. The dwarfs had suggested using the excess stone from the construction projects, and the result was a clean, grey road that connected the castle to the main gates and the new workshops.

Meanwhile—the dark elves and the three beastwomen continued experimenting on the mutated plants. They spent their mornings in the gardens, protected by the shadows of the massive trees. They had already accepted the fact that mutated plants and crops will continue on appearing because of the place they were in. The mana of the forest was simply too strong to fight.

And so, they just decided to study it; like what are the mutations, what do they do to the plants, what are edibles, and what do they do to those who consumes them. All kinds of stuff.

They kept a detailed log of their findings. Some plants grew fruits that provided a burst of mana, while others had leaves that could heal minor wounds. Of course, there were also the dangerous ones—plants that spit acid or tried to grab anyone who walked too close—but the dark elves knew how to handle them.

Because of what they were doing, the fear of running out of food in the village disappeared. The agriculture of their base was growing by a lot each day. They had rows of strange, glowing vegetables and oversized grains that thrived in the dark soil.

They also stored enough edible crops that they don’t need to worry about food even if the hunters were not able to catch any monsters in a week. The cellar under the castle was being filled with crates of preserved food, a safety net that gave everyone peace of mind.

Then, there’s Bernia; she still holds classes on every afternoon in the castle’s library on the first floor. She was a natural teacher, patient and soft-spoken, which was exactly what the rougher members of the village needed. Her consistent students are Nara and Onyx who are always there, acting as "guards."

Nara sat at the front, her eyes wide as she traced the letters on her slate. Onyx usually just napped at her feet, though he would perk up whenever Bernia raised her voice to emphasize a point.

It’s slow, but every members of the village are starting to be more educated. They started learning how to read words and spelling them. It was a strange sight—massive orcs with hands the size of dinner plates trying to delicately hold charcoal sticks to write their names.

And although the orcs doesn’t want to study one bit in reality—they still attend the classes. After all, Verc recommended everyone that they do so. To the orcs, a "recommendation" from Verc was as good as a divine command.

That’s how strong their respect to him. They might huff and puff about the difficulty of grammar, but they wouldn’t dare skip a lesson they were scheduled to go.

Moving on...

Pwyll, on the other hand, was getting more and more students each day. With where they live, everyone wants to be stronger. The [Cursed Forest] was a constant reminder that only the strong survived, and Pwyll was the best teacher they had.

In fact, Pwyll was teaching almost everyone in the village how to fight. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Not all at once though, but he schedules them each day to avoid overcrowding one place. He had established a rigorous training routine. In the mornings, he worked with the gnolls on their agility and spear work. In the afternoons, he focused on the orcs’ defensive formations.

He was skeptical at first when Verc told him his role to teach the others how to fight, but now—he’s actually enjoying it.

There was a certain satisfaction in seeing a wild orc learn how to properly parry a blow. Also, he became popular with everyone now, and he’s well respected now as well. The villagers no longer saw him as just a human, but as a vital part of their community.

Pwyll doesn’t forget his other job as well, he was making sure the walls are always up, and no enemies enter the village. Every evening, he patrolled the perimeter, his eyes scanning the treeline for any sign of trouble. He was the shield of the territory.

Then... the kids.

Tatum, Jed, Ashley, Maya, Moro, Jai, and Neit. They’re protecting and keeping the castle clean and good. They took pride in their work, ensuring that the halls were swept and the torches were always lit. They also managed the distribution of supplies to everyone that was currently living inside the castle as well.

With Verc gone, the seven of them are the main force of the base, and because they were the oldest members that went under Verc; they all naturally took control while their leader was gone. They held meetings every night to discuss the village’s progress and any issues that had arisen.

They were doing really good keeping everyone in check and making sure everything is peaceful. If there was a dispute over food or space, they were the ones who settled it before it could turn into a fight.

Groo, Mamon, Kuma, and the other leaders were keeping their members well and straight as well. They coordinated with the kids, ensuring that their respective races contributed to the village’s growth.

The tribal animosity that usually existed between monster races had been suppressed by a shared goal: survival and prosperity under Lord Verc.

*****

... ... ...

... ... ...

... ... ...

Far away from the quiet efficiency of the village, the world was moving in a much louder, more chaotic way.

Yesterday, Elianna and the expedition group had reached the next city. It was a major trading hub, filled with people who were both curious and terrified of the massive military force passing through their gates.

The expedition took the opportunity to rest for a full day, repairing wagons and ensuring their supplies were topped off.

And currently... they’re now headed to the City of Sionann.

"We should be at the gates of Sionann in a few days."

Kael said, looking at a map spread across his saddle.

"From there, it’s a straight shot to the edge of the forest."

Elianna sat atop her horse, her expression thoughtful. She looked at the soldiers around her.

Many of them were laughing and joking, confident by the safety of the large group.

’They need to start treating this mission more seriously.’

Elianna thought, her hand tightening on the reins.

The noble sons were still being a nuisance, riding their expensive horses back and forth along the line, trying to impress her with their riding skills or their polished armor.

"..."

She ignored them as best she could, focusing instead on the horizon.

The expedition continued its march, a slow and steady force that believed itself invincible. They were headed toward a place that had swallowed entire armies before, and they were doing so with a smile on their faces.