The Fate That Awaits
Entering Herkalus Forest
Noaterra's expedition finally entered Herkalus Forest.
The atmosphere was completely different from Terrania Forest.
Towering ancient trees rose so high that they nearly blocked out the sunlight. Thin mist drifted between their massive trunks, while parts of the forest had become muddy swamps that were difficult to cross.
There wasn't a single sign that humans had ever passed through this place.
Lee gazed toward a grove of dead trees in the distance.
"At last..."
"...I'm back here."
Noah turned toward her.
"That's right."
"This is where you found me."
"What were you doing here back then?"
Lee smiled faintly.
"I've lived as a wanderer."
"While searching for the child from the Elven Prophecy..."
"...I also had to earn enough money to survive."
She pointed deeper into the forest.
"That's why I hunted monsters in dangerous places like Herkalus."
"There are far fewer hunters competing here."
"But in return..."
"...the gemstones are worth much more."
Curious, Noah asked,
"If not here..."
"...or Terrania Forest..."
"...where do most hunters go?"
Lee answered immediately.
"Near the Kingdom of Primoterra lies Poibas Forest."
"The monsters there are much easier to hunt."
"There are still dangerous ones, of course, but they aren't nearly as threatening as those in Herkalus or Terrania."
"The downside..."
"...is that rare gemstones are much harder to find."
Noah nodded thoughtfully.
"So Magnora still has countless other regions..."
"This continent is truly enormous."
Lania, walking beside the wagon, carefully observed their surroundings.
Every so often she studied the direction of the wind, the arrangement of the trees, and even the condition of the ground.
She was searching for a safe place to camp.
By sunset, the group finally stopped at a small clearing surrounded by rocky outcrops.
It was far from comfortable.
But at least it was open enough for them to keep watch over the surrounding area.
The tent was pitched once again.
A campfire was lit.
Noah chuckled as he looked toward the swamp in the distance.
"Looks like we won't be taking a bath tonight."
Lee laughed while arranging the firewood.
"If you want to bathe in that swamp..."
"...be my guest."
Everyone laughed quietly.
For a brief moment...
Herkalus Forest didn't seem quite so frightening.
As the fire crackled to life, Lee picked up a charred stick from the campfire.
On a whim, she wrote something across the back of the wagon.
MISSION OF NOATERRA
Noah grinned.
"I don't know why..."
"...but seeing words like that makes me feel even more motivated."
Lee glanced back with a smile.
"You really are strange."
"What was life like in your world?"
Noah looked up at the darkening sky.
"I used to play a lot of games."
"Many of them let you build cities, develop kingdoms, and manage entire communities."
"Maybe..."
"...that's where my dream of building Noaterra began."
Lee simply smiled.
"You're strange."
"But..."
"...I think I'm starting to understand the way you think."
That night was unusually quiet.
Too quiet.
There were no monster howls.
No sounds of battle.
Even the wind had almost stopped blowing.
The silence itself made the forest feel even more unsettling.
Eventually, everyone fell asleep.
Only Lucia, still in her Rabiba form, slowly opened her eyes.
She quietly hopped out of the tent.
Her gaze swept across the campsite.
Nothing.
No killing intent.
No hostile presence.
After a few moments...
She quietly returned to the tent.
The Sacrificial Altar
Morning came.
Lucia slowly opened her eyes.
Then—
Every strand of her fur stood on end.
"My Lord...?"
She turned toward Noah.
Empty.
Without hesitation, her tiny body erupted in golden light.
An instant later, she had returned to her true form.
"My Lord!!"
"Lord Noah!!"
Lucia rushed outside.
Lee's tent.
Empty.
Lania's tent.
Also empty.
There were no signs of a struggle.
No blood.
No traces of battle.
Only silence remained.
Lucia's expression became tense.
As Noah's guardian, she could still sense that he was alive.
Their bond had not been severed.
Faintly...
She could still feel the direction of her master's presence.
Without another thought, Lucia spread her wings and shot into the forest.
Elsewhere...
Noah slowly opened his eyes.
His head throbbed.
As his vision cleared, he realized he was sitting against someone else's back.
His hands were bound tightly.
Lee was tied beside him.
On the other side, Lania was restrained as well.
Their backs rested against one another.
"Lee..."
"What happened?"
Lee shook her head anxiously.
"I don't know."
"When I woke up..."
"...I was already here."
Lania remained calm.
"My Lord."
"I'm sorry."
She struggled against the ropes but couldn't break free.
Noah immediately searched for Lucia.
But...
She was nowhere to be found.
"Impossible..."
"Even Lucia didn't notice?"
The massive stone door suddenly burst open.
BOOM!!
A man wearing crimson-black robes walked inside.
Two black horns curved backward from his head.
Behind him stood several warriors with single horns.
Lee's eyes widened.
"Demonics..."
The two-horned man smiled broadly.
"Hahaha..."
"Interesting."
"It's been a long time since we've offered human sacrifices."
He gave a slight bow.
"My name is Oroci."
"I am the leader of this place."
Noah quietly whispered to Lee.
"How did they kidnap us without Lucia noticing?"
Lee bit her lip.
"That's the ability of the Demonic race."
"They can completely conceal their killing intent."
"They leave almost no trace of their aura."
Oroci laughed after overhearing them.
"Looking for that little creature?"
"A holy being like that..."
"...isn't something we'd approach carelessly."
Lee tried to gather her mana.
Her expression immediately changed.
"Impossible..."
"My mana..."
"...it's completely drained."
Lania also tried to move.
But her hands were tightly bound.
The metal pen she normally carried remained hidden beneath her clothing, far beyond her reach.
Noah spoke silently to Astra.
"Astra."
"What exactly are the Demonics?"
Astra answered calmly.
Information.
Demonics are beings who serve the Demon Lord.
Noah was slightly surprised.
He immediately relayed the information to Lee.
Lee looked confused.
"All this time..."
"...we believed they were merely descendants of demons."
"If they're truly servants of the Demon Lord..."
"...then our history is incomplete."
Noah asked another question.
"Astra."
"Where did you get that information?"
Information.
The data originates from several ancient texts preserved within the Kingdom of Alpaterra.
Noah fell silent.
"Alpaterra again..."
"Why does nearly every piece of ancient knowledge seem to come from that kingdom?"
A small seed of suspicion began to grow in his mind.
A few moments later...
The long blast of a horn echoed through the cavern.
DOOOOOOM—
Oroci smiled in satisfaction.
"The time has come."
The Demonics dragged Noah, Lee, and Lania outside.
Before them stood a massive stone altar.
Hundreds of Demonics surrounded it.
Cheers echoed throughout the cavern.
Oroci raised both hands.
"People of the Demonic race!"
"We have devoted ourselves to the Demon Lord..."
"...and received his power!"
"Today..."
"...we shall offer three humans as sacrifices!"
"Fate has truly favored us!"
Thunderous cheers shook the altar.
Noah looked up at the dark cavern ceiling.
Then he laughed softly.
"Haha..."
"Fate?"
"But..."
"...this isn't the fate I chose."
Far away...
Without anyone noticing...
Lucia's crimson eyes had already found the trail leading to the altar.
The great battle of Herkalus Forest was only moments away.