Chapter 114 - 022: Fear Reappears

Chapter 114: 022: Fear Reappears

Climbed over the Snow Mountain.

Crossed the grasslands.

Traversed the forest.

Using the “Object Swelling Technique,” Lynch turned a fruit into a boat, drifting down the winding creek. The fish in the river responded to Lynch’s call, clustering together, eagerly pushing the small boat forward.

Low-level Zero Ring Spell of the Spiritual System: “Call of Nature.”

During the day, they hiked over mountains and ventured across rugged landscapes. If they grew tired, one would rest on Frankenstein’s broad shoulders—most often Avery. Since advancing to become a Mid-level Knight, Lynch’s robust constitution effortlessly handled such journeys.

At night, they gathered around the fire, sharing idle conversations under the stars while enjoying meals. Occasionally, they ventured into the forest, foraging for mushrooms or hunting to supplement their supplies.

Beneath the vast glittering starlight, they discussed caring for their companion, the plump bear cub. Avery decided to name it “Fatty,” reasoning it looked quite stout.

As dawn broke, they greeted each other with soft good mornings.

The harmonious camaraderie between the two created an inexplicable rhythm, transforming what could have been an arduous and distant journey into a blissful and pleasant one.

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.

The two were now less than 100 kilometers away from the Dark Forest.

They arrived at the final stop of this journey—

The Forest of the Dead.

…

The Forest of the Dead lies in the northeastern region of the Ramos Duchy.

Its original name was the Jade Forest—a lush, vibrant haven brimming with life. Several small towns thrived around the forest, where humanity and nature coexisted in harmony.

But at some unknown time, the trees here began to wither, the flora decayed, and it became a gathering place for Dead Souls, earning its infamous name.

Stepping into the forest, Lynch observed the scenery around him.

He was met with a sight of gnarled, lifeless trees. Their trunks twisted into grotesque shapes resembling the fingers of the dead. Moss and fungi covered their bark, lending an ancient and decayed appearance. Sparse, pale leaves hung feebly, as though life had been stripped away, leaving only skeletal husks swaying in the wind.

Underfoot, thick layers of dead leaves and brittle branches cracked softly with each step, like walking over the dust of time. The entire forest was shrouded in a dense gray mist. Light was scarce, the oppressive gloom weighing heavily on the air.

Occasionally, a chilling gust would sweep through, causing the leaves and vines to rustle—a sound like the murmuring whispers of countless Dead Souls.

“What an overwhelming aura of death. Where is this place?” Lynch remarked with a click of his tongue.

The concentration of Dark Elements and Death Elements here was astonishing, almost to a maddening degree. Each breath carried the weight of hatred, despair, and myriad other negative emotions.

Approaching a tree trunk, Lynch noticed the bark suddenly tremble. Numerous blood-shot eyes emerged, glaring at him with a deep-seated resentment that felt personal and ancient.

Modos’s Eyes of Hatred—necromantic parasitic creatures.

Shifting his gaze downward, he saw several soul sparks sprouting at his feet. Nearby, crooked, pale plants resembling human finger bones were rooted in the soil.

Finger Bone Grass—a necromantic magic plant.

Other necromantic vegetation such as Death Spirit Flowers, Curse Grass, and Corpse Vine—all of which were rare even in the Dark Forest—were plentiful here.

“The Jade Forest,” Avery answered.

She paused, glanced around, and corrected herself: “However, its current name is the Forest of the Dead, a plantation created by Black Wizards.”

Lynch froze for a moment. “Are you saying the elemental environment here was artificially created?”

“Exactly.”

Avery sighed lightly: “The Shadow Swamp slaughtered everyone here in every cruel way imaginable, trapping their hatred and despair eternally in this place. They turned them into nourishment for this Land of Death.”

As she spoke, faint distorted figures appeared within the mist. They had contorted faces and twisted expressions.

“I’ll kill you!”

“I hate this world!”

Their feral screams echoed as they charged toward Lynch and Avery, only to implode abruptly into smoke, dissipating into the fog.

These were souls unable to transcend.

Lynch marveled: “Truly gruesome.”

As a wizard proficient in Necromancy, he fully understood the steps required to create such an ecosystem. It was precisely because of this knowledge that the Black Wizards’ methods left him horrified—this was far beyond mere destruction of humanity…

They ventured deeper into the forest, the gray mist resounding with various eerie cries.

“I’m in so much pain, I’m in so much pain!”

“Save my child!”

“Why? Why make us endure this?”

“Where’s Grant? Where is Grant?”

“He abandoned us!”

Pain, grief, despair, anger, and distortion—waves of negative emotions saturated the forest.

For ordinary humans, being here for just a few minutes would result in mental collapse, leading to mild sobbing and loss of life direction, or worse, a complete loss of survival instinct, with suicidal tendencies taking hold.

Even Lynch, a transcendent, felt uncomfortable walking amidst it all.

The journey continued.

The far end of this forest marked the start of the Dark Forest. This was one of its key entrances—an unavoidable path for their return to the Dark Forest. Despite the discomfort, they had no choice but to press on.

After walking for a while, a small town appeared in view.

At first glance, it resembled a typical medieval village—clean streets bustling with people who chatted and laughed as they moved about, with pristine white pigeons soaring past the bell tower.

But in an instant, the tranquil scene vanished into oblivion.

The streets became deserted, strewn with decaying leaves and weeds. Crumbling buildings riddled with spider webs lined the area, cloaked in desolation.

“Caw, caw!～”

Dry croaks echoed from the mist. Two half-decomposed crows, with exposed white bones and singular crimson eyes, perched atop the town’s sign, staring directly at Lynch and Avery.

Crossing a ruin, a scorched wardrobe caught Lynch’s attention. Within it were the skeletal remains of a little girl clutching what was left of a teddy bear.

A magic array was inscribed beneath the wardrobe—it was one designed to collect despair.

Nearby stood two wooden stakes bearing a pair of corpses—likely the girl’s parents?

’So… were they forced to watch their daughter burned alive to harvest despair?’

As if responding to Lynch’s speculation, the mist twisted and shifted again.

In a house, a Black Robed wizard taunted the couple bound to the stakes: “Heh, heh, heh, keep your eyes wide open. Watch as I trick your precious daughter into entering this room. She’ll certainly obey.”

Soon, the door opened, and a young couple entered, leading a little girl by the hand—their faces identical to the pair bound to the stakes.

The couple on the stakes screamed the girl’s name in desperation, but it was as if they existed in a separate dimension. No matter how hard they shouted, the girl remained oblivious, clinging tightly to her “parents.”

Her parents instructed: “Sweetheart, it’s dangerous outside. Quickly, hide in this wardrobe. Remember, stay inside no matter what happens.”

The girl nodded obediently: “Lulu won’t come out.”

With that, she climbed inside the wardrobe without hesitation.

The next moment—

“Boom!”

Flames ignited, slithering snakes of fire consuming the wooden wardrobe, gradually enveloping the little girl within.

Feeling the searing pain, the girl instinctively wanted to escape, but seeing her parents outside, she stubbornly stayed put. When the agony became unbearable, she clung tightly to her cherished teddy bear.

Throughout it all, the girl held unwavering belief in her parents, burning alive before their very eyes.

“Ugh!”

Avery’s body swayed suddenly, collapsing limply to the side.

Lynch quickly caught her: “Are you okay?”

Avery shook her head, her voice weak: “I… I’m fine…”

She wasn’t fragile by nature; her current state stemmed from intense mental attacks.

The forest teemed with overwhelming negativity, and the elemental environment perpetuated potent spiritual assaults. Avery, attuned to opposing elements, was particularly vulnerable here. Coupled with her lingering injuries, the stress compounded.

Lynch frowned: “If it’s too much, temporarily block your senses.”

Avery stubbornly shook her head: “No need.”

“After all…”

She looked around, declaring solemnly: “This is a rare opportunity.”

“Opportunity?” Lynch questioned.

Avery didn’t elaborate further; perhaps her emotions were still influenced by the forest’s elemental environment.

Resolutely, she steadied herself, gritting her teeth: “I need to witness this. Witness every grim act of the Black Wizards. Etch it into my memory. Carve it into my soul. Record it all!”

“Let it serve as a reminder—a reminder of what defeat looks like! I absolutely cannot lose! The world must not fall into the hands of these demons!”

Must not lose?

Lynch was perplexed by her words.

Just as he was about to ask Avery for clarification, heavy footsteps suddenly echoed from the distance.

A shadowy figure began to emerge through the mist.

Standing over three meters tall, the figure towered like an iron monolith. Its elongated, mechanical-biological arms nearly dragged along the ground, and its exposed chest cavity housed a chaotic web of metallic conduits and transparent containers filled with colorful fluids.

Lynch’s pupils instinctively shrank. What he saw was unmistakable—

The alchemical man who had brought him an unforgettable terror!

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