Chapter 31: Arrival

In the northwest of Storm City, a winding road stretched endlessly through the vast, unbroken forest, with a lone carriage moving slowly along its path. Half an hour later, the road gave way entirely, ending at a region of rolling hills, forcing the carriage’s passengers to disembark and proceed on foot.

The group of four was outfitted in snug hunting attire, swords and bows strapped to their backs, resembling young nobles embarking on a mountain hunt—these were Charles and his three companions. After accepting their assignment, they had hurried nonstop toward their objective, eager to complete it as swiftly as possible.

This mission wasn’t considered especially dangerous: about a kilometer from the trade route there existed an underground cave, home to innumerable bats. Ordinarily, this would not have caused alarm, but in recent days, passing merchants had suffered attacks, with even several powerful warriors falling victim—an incident that quickly drew the attention of the Bounty Guild. Their task was to investigate and, if possible, eliminate the monsters within.

“Where on earth did all these monsters come from, and what are they eating to grow like this?” Roddy wondered aloud, slicing through a branch that blocked the path with a casual swipe of his sword.

“No kidding. Each one of those creatures is incredibly strong, nothing like ordinary wild beasts—honestly, they’re even more terrifying than totem beasts bred for battle,” Neil remarked. Despite his leather armor, he retained the distinguished air of a young noble.

“Who knows? Maybe they suddenly awakened and turned into totem creatures,” Charles replied with a shrug and a smile. Of course, he knew the truth, but now was not the time to reveal it—otherwise, he’d have no way to explain his knowledge.

Knowing the future was a curious thing. It set him apart, making him feel as if he’d transcended humanity and become almost godlike. He not only knew what was to come, but also the fates of each of his companions. Even though his own strength was yet undeveloped, he felt no sense of inferiority.

Charles’s pleasant mood, however, was soon shattered. Up ahead, Roddy—who was leading the way—suddenly stopped, tightening his grip on his sword and scanning his surroundings warily.

The other three hurried to catch up. As they pushed through a thicket, the horrifying sight before them made them freeze in shock.

A terrified scream burst from the only girl in the party, Cathy. She spun around and flung herself into Roddy’s arms, her chest pressing tightly against his broad torso. But Roddy had no mind to enjoy this sudden embrace; in a burst of rage, he hacked through a tree as thick as a man’s arm and roared, “Those damned beasts! I’ll kill every last one of them!”

Before them lay a gruesome scene—blood and flesh scattered across the ground, the corpses of several humans lying disemboweled, their hearts torn out. It was clear they’d been ambushed by a monster that consumed only the softest organs, leaving the rest untouched.

Most horrifying of all, among the bodies was that of a child, no more than three or four years old. Charles felt his stomach churn; it was the first time he’d witnessed such carnage in person.

“Come out, Shadow!” Roddy made a gesture with his hands, gray energy swirling around him. Before him appeared a strange creature, somewhat like a crocodile, over a meter long and entirely black, with a row of bony spines running along its back. Its mouth was packed with jagged, saw-like teeth, making it look utterly fearsome. Yet Roddy patted its head affectionately, commanding it to sniff out the monster’s trail.

Charles found himself speechless. That future legendary beast, now being used as a bloodhound—there was no helping it. Still, as always, no matter how monstrous one’s talent, before it matured it remained just that: talent, not true power.

Roddy was, after all, one of the fabled Seven Sons of Destiny. Charles couldn’t help but wonder—what would happen if he killed Roddy here and now? Would fate itself be thrown into chaos?

Suppressing his impulse, he quietly followed behind. The four of them soon arrived at a pitch-black cave, exchanging glances before proceeding. The mouth of the cave was over three meters wide, encircled by clinging vines, its depths so dark that nothing could be seen.

Neil summoned his companion, a flamboyant, multicolored bird whose appearance was as striking as its bright, clear cry. His sister Cathy called forth a radiant butterfly, glowing with a gentle purple light—the very same purple-winged butterfly Charles had seen before.

“Let Shadow lead the way. All of you, stick close. His hide is thick—he won’t be caught off guard by a sudden attack,” Roddy said gravely. The slight agitation of his totem beast had warned him: the monster within was not as weak as he had imagined.

The others nodded, and they stepped into the cave. Instantly, a nauseating stench hit them, so overpowering it almost choked them. Each of them hurried to cover their nose with a sleeve.

No sooner had they entered than a flurry of wings sounded overhead. Looking up, they saw, by the faintest glimmer of light, an unsettling sight—countless bats, disturbed by their arrival, opened their eyes, tiny red glows filling the darkness above.

“Damn, that’s a lot of bats!” Roddy couldn’t help exclaiming.

Now fully roused, the bats began to swoop down, filling the space around them, encircling the group like a living sphere.

“Don’t move. If we keep still, they won’t notice us,” Neil whispered urgently.

The four froze like statues. After a long moment, the bats settled again, clinging to the cave walls. It was still daylight; the bats would only venture out to hunt at night, so they were unlikely to attack.

With relief, the party crept quietly through the bat-infested section. Beyond, the cave ceiling was no longer crowded with bats, but instead covered in glowing moss, casting a faint light that softened the darkness.

Stranger still, thick vines now blocked their path, woven together to form a dense green wall.

Roddy wasted no time. He stepped forward, hacking at the arm-thick vines with powerful blows. His strength and stamina were so extraordinary that Charles could only watch in envy, keeping his own guard up against possible threats.

After a while, they discovered that the wall, though it had seemed thick, was actually narrow, and Roddy’s brute force had split it open. Light poured through the opening, and as they peered inside, the four were left speechless with astonishment—

Within lay an enormous underground space, filled with towering trees that reached toward the cavern’s distant ceiling!