We broke into a sprint the instant the explosion echoed through the plains, racing across the open field toward the rising pillar of smoke. It loomed like a dark omen against the gray sky, twisting higher with every gust of wind. Each step carried us closer to something unknown—and almost certainly dangerous.
Our pursuit led us into the depths of Zener Forest, a region whispered to be even deadlier than Syler. Where Syler's trees soared nearly two hundred and fifty meters tall, Zener's barely reached a hundred. Yet despite their smaller stature, the forest pulsed with raw, untamed life. The canopy fractured sunlight into narrow, flickering beams that danced across the undergrowth. Vines wound around trunks like veins, and a heavy, unnatural stillness cloaked the forest—one that made even breathing feel intrusive.
The moment we crossed the first line of trees, the sounds began.
Crunch!
Snap!
Skitter!
The forest came alive with motion. Crawling, slithering, watching—creatures hidden beyond sight. Every direction whispered with faint movement, the soft rustle of danger carried on the wind like a warning.
We pressed forward, hearts pounding, weapons drawn. The ground crackled beneath our boots, and the air thickened with the scent of scorched earth and burning mana.
Then—
BOOM!
The second explosion hit like a thunderclap. The shockwave surged through the soil, shaking roots and trees alike. Dust and leaves spiraled upward as the ground trembled underfoot.
Master narrowed his eyes, his tone low but steady. "We're close. The blasts are getting stronger—and more frequent."
We nodded and quickened our pace.
After several tense minutes weaving through uneven ground and tangled roots, we reached a clearing—or what remained of one. The earth was charred black, cracked and smoking as if lightning had struck it again and again.
And there, standing amid the devastation, were six creatures, each wreathed in a pulsating red aura. They were humanoid in form but carried an unnatural stillness—wrong in every sense.
Their bodies exuded waves of heat and corrupted power, skin rippling like molten metal beneath their claws. Their eyes gleamed a feral yellow, and when they bared their teeth, the light reflected off sharp, serrated fangs.
But what froze us wasn't their presence—it was what they were doing. They weren't hunting. They were fighting each other.
The clearing trembled with their fury. Every blow split the air, every impact sent shockwaves through the soil. Flames roared, mana crackled, and the ground quivered under their relentless onslaught. Trees shattered like twigs, debris flying in all directions.
We crouched behind a cluster of thick trunks, breaths shallow. The demons hadn't noticed us yet—too consumed by their own madness.
"Demons," Master whispered, voice calm but edged with steel. "Not ordinary ones. These are higher-class."
Kylon's grip on his sword tightened. "Then why the hell are they fighting each other?"
None of us had an answer.
One demon snarled something in a harsh, guttural tongue before lunging at another, claws flashing. A second demon lifted its arm and conjured a blazing arrow of fire, loosing it like a comet into its rival's chest. A third responded by summoning a swirling red vortex that ripped through the clearing like a miniature storm, bending light and space in its wake.
The sky itself seemed to shudder.
BOOM!
KABOOM!
BOOM!
Each blast tore through the forest, lighting the air in bursts of crimson and gold. The ground rippled with shockwaves; the air burned with heat and fury.
Then Aur's voice echoed softly in my mind—steady, analytical even amidst chaos. "They're fighting over something… that dead beast near them."
I narrowed my eyes, scanning through the smoke and glare. "Where?"
"There," she replied. "Under the fallen tree in front of them. Small body, it is drenched in blood."
I spotted it—a carcass half-buried beneath twisted roots. Its fur was scorched and torn, the pool of blood beneath it still steaming. I hadn't noticed it at first, hidden amid the carnage.
Before I could react, Aur darted off my shoulder, her small form gliding low through the grass like a living shadow. She slipped between the flickering roots and vanished toward the corpse.
The demons didn't notice. Their fight only grew more violent.
"Aur!" I shouted through our mental link. "What are you doing?!" Her tone came back light, teasing. "Filling my tummy, of course. Can't fight on an empty stomach, papa."
I groaned inwardly. "You want them to get angrier and attack you too?"
"Oh, come on. You'll protect me, right? Besides, it looks like you're about to fight them anyway."
I clenched my jaw, watching her inch closer to the carcass like a mischievous cat. "Yeah, but—"
Before I could finish, Master's voice slid into my mind, calm and commanding through the Source. "Don't worry, I'm using telepathy. Listen closely."
My focus sharpened instantly.
"Two of those demons are as strong as high A-rank beasts. Kylon and Krent will handle them. You and I will deal with the real threats. I'll take the two strongest—their power rivals near SS-rank beasts. You take the remaining ones; they're on par with S-rank beasts."
A faint pressure settled in my chest, heavy but grounding. I nodded silently as he continued.
"Don't use your forms—not even the goddess armor. You're free to use all your elemental magic, but fight clean and fight smart. I'll give the signal when it's time."
His voice faded, but the weight of his command lingered.
I turned toward Krent and Kylon, crouched beside me behind the same tree. Their gazes were locked on the chaos ahead, every muscle coiled and ready.
Leaning closer, I whispered, just loud enough for them to hear, "We move when Master signals. He's assigning targets—two of you take the lesser demons. We'll handle the rest."
Both men nodded silently. The air between us thrummed with anticipation.
The ground vibrated as another blast shook the clearing. The stench of scorched bark, ozone, and blood thickened. Leaves quivered above us, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
And then—