Two hundred soldiers affiliated with the Veil of Shadows cult had left their territory to begin the operation under the leadership of senior soldiers. Among those two hundred were Kurumi, Hu, and Taka. From the very first steps, the tension hanging in the air was almost tangible. As they moved between the colossal trees, the wind stirring the leaves produced a sound that would normally soothe the human soul; yet now, it did the opposite—it strained their nerves and tightened their chests.

  Hu was one of those most affected by the oppressive atmosphere. While walking, she suddenly stopped and pulled out her weapon from her bag with a metallic clink. Taka shot her a sharp glance. Hu, however, spread her arms with a careless shrug.

  “What? You always have to be prepared. We don’t know where they’ll come from.”

  Kurumi took a deep breath. This operation was practically leading them to their deaths, and the chances of success were extremely slim. For nothing more than emptiness… Who would want to die for that? These dark thoughts were interrupted by the voice of Mika, recognizable by her jet-black hair.

  “Sir,” Mika said firmly, “wouldn’t it make more sense to move from above the trees? At least until we reach the area, we wouldn’t run into void creatures.”

  One of the senior soldiers, Kuryi—short-haired, with an old scar splitting his face—nodded in approval. But when he turned his gaze toward the towering trees, the reality became clear: a spell powerful enough to lift two hundred soldiers that high would be required.

  Just then, as if stepping forward as a savior, Taka raised his hand.

  “Actually… I can cast barrier magic.”

  Hu turned to him in surprise. “What good is a barrier going to do?”

  Taka continued, “I can keep the barriers active for a while and use them like steps. But not all of us can go… at most, ten people.”

  Kurumi scanned the soldiers with her eyes. That meant the rest would stay below—face to face with death. At that moment, Kuryi’s harsh, commanding voice echoed through the forest.

  “Very well! Taka, Hu, Kurumi, Mika, Aryu, Takamura, and Jhun—you’ll go from above under the lead of three senior soldiers and provide reconnaissance. If you sense danger, send a signal immediately. We’ll launch the first assault, and you’ll support us from above to trap them. I’ll stay below with two hundred recruits and six senior soldiers.”

  After a brief hesitation, Kurumi and the others agreed. Taka raised his arm and whispered the incantation.

  “Yuranjus.”

  A small, glowing blue square-shaped barrier appeared on the ground. Taka swung his arm forward. “All right. Let’s go.”

  Kurumi and the others stepped onto the barrier behind him. With each step, new magical barriers formed in the air, extending upward like a staircase. Three senior soldiers led the way: Tomori, noticeable with her serious gaze and glasses; Daichi, with his messy hair and sleepy expression, looking far too relaxed for such a mission; and at the very back, Gendo, a symbol of discipline with his rigid posture and heavy presence.

  Kurumi and Hu followed closely behind them. Taka, who was creating the steps, walked at the very front. Mika quickened her pace and came up beside Kurumi.

  “Let’s watch each other’s backs,” she said quietly.

  Kurumi nodded in response. Hu turned her head toward Kurumi and grumbled,

  “Does anyone know how much longer? I’ve always hated climbing stairs.”

  Daichi, who overheard, let out a tired sigh, as if even being here was a burden.

  “About two or three kilometers. We’ll reach it in less than half an hour.”

  Kurumi swallowed. A strange tightness formed in her throat. Her eyes drifted downward instinctively; the other soldiers were still running along the forest floor, as if afraid to lose sight of them. Up above, the wind blew harsher, and the silence grew heavier. They were all walking a path with no return.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  As Kurumi and the others continued forward, speaking quietly among themselves, time slipped by unnoticed. With every step closer to the Shogun Region, the air grew heavier, the forest closing in on them like a living, breathing entity. Kurumi looked around. The wind had picked up; massive trees swayed, their branches rubbing together as if whispering incomprehensible words. These whispers brought no peace—they were omens of approaching disaster.

  With unease settling deep in her bones, she took ZARONSELIUS from her back into her hands. The magical bow felt cold and alien in her grip. The need to stay alert at every second seeped into her very core.

  Mika’s gaze fixed on the bow. Her eyes widened slightly, and her voice trembled without her realizing it.

  “That… isn’t that the Demon Bow from the legends?” she said. “What is it doing with you? Do you have any idea how dangerous that weapon is?”

  Without taking her eyes off the forest, Kurumi replied calmly, though with exhaustion in her tone.

  “Master Rex said the demon inside it has been completely destroyed. Other than providing infinite arrows, it doesn’t really have much function anymore.”

  Mika’s shock didn’t fade. “Still…” she muttered. “Why does a weapon like that belong to a rookie like you?”

  The question made Kurumi pause. Truly… what had she done to deserve such a weapon? The answer never reached her lips. Hu’s firm voice broke the silence.

  “She noticed Master Rex was injured while everyone else was focused on the battle,” Hu said. “She got him to the infirmary and saved his life. I think that’s more than enough reason for her to carry that bow.”

  After that, Mika fell silent. The matter was settled. Kurumi felt an unexpected warmth inside her at Hu’s defense, but it quickly vanished beneath the suffocating darkness of the forest.

  Then—

  Crack.

  The dry sound coming from the branches of a massive tree made them all flinch. Kurumi whipped her head around, scanning the area. Her eyes searched the shadows for a threat, but she saw nothing. They were almost at the Shogun Region.

  Hu let out a relieved breath. “I think we’re being paranoid about everything.”

  As Kurumi turned toward her, something caught the corner of her eye. Between the trees… an unnatural purple blot. Her heart raced instantly. She raised her guard on instinct.

  Hu looked at her in surprise. “Kurumi, what is it?”

  Aryu added anxiously, “Did you see something?”

  Kurumi was just about to answer when the shadows split apart.

  “WATCH OUT!” she shouted.

  A void creature leapt from between the trees like a nightmare. Kurumi instinctively drew ZARONSELIUS and fired. The magical arrow shot straight into the creature’s wide-open mouth—but the mouth was nothing but teeth. The arrow shattered between them and vanished.

  The creature crashed heavily onto Taka’s barrier.

  Daichi’s expression hardened as he drew his sword. Steel clashed with massive claws, the sound screeching through the air. Kurumi looked around and realized this wasn’t a single attack. There were more. Many more void creatures were leaping from the trees toward them.

  “We need to get down!” Kurumi shouted.

  At that moment, Gendo didn’t hesitate. He charged straight at one of the massive creatures, grabbed it, and hurled himself over the edge of the barrier along with it. It wasn’t an attack—it was a deliberate sacrifice.

  Jhun turned to Taka in panic. “How much longer can you hold on?”

  Taka’s face was deathly pale, his breathing erratic. It was obvious his mana was nearly depleted.

  “A little longer…” he said weakly. “Enough to get you down…”

  He formed another barrier below them. Everyone jumped in desperation. Kurumi noticed the barrier beneath her feet beginning to turn transparent.

  “Taka, s—”

  Her words were cut short.

  The barrier shattered like glass and vanished.

  Gravity dragged them down mercilessly. Screams echoed through the darkness. One voice was louder than the rest—Takamura’s.

  “We’re going to die! We’re going to die! I don’t want to die! No! I’m still so young! I have a family waiting for me—I don’t want to die!”

  As Takamura’s screams continued, Kurumi looked at ZARONSELIUS in the middle of the fall. Her eyes filled with tears.

  “Please… save us,” she whispered.

  She hurled the bow with all her strength. ZARONSELIUS embedded itself into the trunk of a massive tree like a grappling hook. The magical arrow stretched taut. Everyone grabbed onto one another, forming a human chain. At the very end was Tomori, holding onto an utterly exhausted Taka.

  They swung and slammed into a tree branch, then slowly climbed down to the ground.

  When they reached the forest floor, what awaited them was not salvation.

  The soldiers had gathered in one spot, all staring in horror at the same place. Senior soldiers Daichi and Tomori were speaking with the others, deep grief etched across their faces.

  Kurumi and Hu pushed through the crowd.

  And they saw it.

  Gendo’s body… and the remains of the void creature. Gendo’s head was gone. While grappling with the creature in midair, it had bitten his head off and devoured it. The creature had died from the impact as well, but what remained was a hollow body, blood pouring from within.

  Kurumi’s gaze went empty. She couldn’t react. Hu nudged her, said something, but the sounds felt distant, unreal. Kurumi could only stare at the headless body.

  But there was no time to linger.

  The sounds from deeper in the forest were growing louder. Branches were breaking. Growls were approaching. The darkness was impatient.

  And the Shogun Region had already claimed its first blood.