After leaving the Hala outpost, the expedition team arrived at the entryway that Ismile had previously guarded. When they showed their entry pass to the guards, they were let in without any problems.

“Be careful. Another expedition team entered and returned with only some of their members, and the survivors were half-dead. That happened only yesterday… Ah, I hope I didn’t offend anyone,” the guard said, noticing one of their members looking particularly stiff. The guard recognized Lakshasha as one of those who had come back alive.

Boom, as soon as the team went through the entrance, the door closed again. Everyone raised their head and saw the natural landscape concealed by the castle walls. It was a bright jade-colored pasture with greeneries like trees scattered all about. It was surprising that the frightening events they heard from the rumors were taking place in such a beautiful forest, and without a word, the team started their march.

Because they left the outpost base in the afternoon, the sun in the sky soon began to sink. Aware of this, Lakshasha maintained a brisk pace and pushed the team rigorously. Their surroundings soon turned dark. But it wasn’t because the sun had set. Golden sun rays simply failed to penetrate the thick canopy, and the expedition team was now walking through a dense jungle. The trees they saw from time to time were all clustered tightly together, and as they ventured further inwards, the trees grew bigger...