Chapter 340 Frieghenart Forest
?Frieghenart Forest, a flourishing land that was home to 3 tribes of Tanaeki. A forest filled with the laughter of those tribesmen, chirping of birds and the love of nature.
Yet it all changed 10 years ago when a spatial crack opened on top of this peaceful forest. By the time news of this sudden incident reached the ears of the World Association or the Adventurer's Guild, it was too late. And when the help arrived, this forest was all empty and everyone inside dead or missing.
Some said that everyone was pulled into the spatial crack and died there, while some said a few monsters managed to jump out the crack and killed and ate everyone. The end result was obviously a whole lot of nothing, as after solving the open gate, no one thought important enough to use their treasures to track the people killed below.
The primitive tribes had refused the World Association's advice to move near the cities several times before and chose to stay in the same place away from everyone, believing in just their own God and their own culture of prayers and sacrifices for safety, so when shit happened and they disappeared, the World association didn't care about them either.
After that incident the once lively forest had turned into an empty ruin that no one cared for. Yet it all changed again 4 years after when a team of nomads disappeared near the forest.
The adventurer and investigators who came to check this place also disappeared mysteriously, and finally after some more small accidents, the anomaly inside this place came into the light .
Mutation
The trees, animals, birds - or anything else inside this forest seemed to be going through a strange mutation that made them crazy and bloodthirsty. All kinds of atrocities and anomalies have been born into this place ever since then.
It had been quite a famous hunting ground for a few years until the world association bought this place and secured it for private purposes.
As for what that purpose was doesn't need to be said - host these kinds of exams and tests for students.
"Pity these idiots have no idea what this place actually is, and what's so scary about this forest." Rio thought and sighed to himself.
Maybe it was fate's fault for keeping the truth hidden until the protagonist appears in academy, or maybe it was just the laziness of the staff who didn't check the forest carefully and just assumed that it was just a normal case of mutation.
Anyway it was good for him.
…
Five days later
In a large cave-like pattern many students gathered as everyone felt the raging mana fluctuations here and heard the loud roar that shook the ground for miles.
After five days of fighting though the forest of nightmares where fog was filled with illusion, and every tree was a monster in disguise - most of the students have been eliminated. Some by themselves, some by other students.
Many students have hoarded a lot of points, and stole a lot of herbs all the while 'killing' many students from other academies and getting them eliminated - but Rio didn't do those things.
Ever since he entered the forest and got teleported away, he had been wandering around the forest keeping an eye on everything though the spells like deadman's eyes, birds eye view, sight of night etc.
He did kill a lot of monsters, but keeping his image as the Angel in mind, he didn't eliminate a single student. Hell he even made sure to jump into fights and save some people every now and then.
"It's too high level. We can't kill her."
"How about we all work together to injure it first. The final blow can depend on whoever takes the shot."
"You're just saying it cause your academy has the highest manpower left."
"Got any better ideas, idiot. Or do you want to just keep hiding behind this rock and wait to get killed."
Currently all the students inside the cave patterns were facing what looked like the boss monster of this forest.
In front of them was a large broken statue, 20-25 meters tall, standing in the center of this cave pattern. Crafted from cold, gray clay, the statue bore the likeness of demihumans or halflings, with exaggerated features that seemed to twist and contort in the dim moonlight.
Though motionless and lifeless, it exuded an aura of dread that sent shivers down the spines of all who watched it. Its empty eyes, devoid of any discernible emotion, always seemed to be watching everything from a land far away.
In front of this statue was floating a Howling Banshee who was controlling her army of abominations.
A spectral figure cloaked in tattered robes of midnight black. Her ethereal form seemed to flicker and waver in the faint light, giving her an otherworldly appearance. Strands of black hair cascaded from beneath a hood that obscured her face, leaving only a glimpse of piercing red eyes that glowed with an otherworldly light.
Beneath the Banshee's command, a horde of abominations walked through the cavern, their twisted forms casting grotesque shadows upon the rocky walls.
Among them, tree monsters known as Rootbinders prowled with gnarled limbs outstretched, their bark-like skin crackling with a dark energy. With each step, they sent tendrils of roots snaking across the entire cavern floor, capturing victims and dragging them to the feet of the clay statue for the grisly fate of a sacrifice.
Above, Giant mutated birds soared through the air, their rotten wings casting ominous shadows across the ground below. Their blood-red eyes, which gleamed with malevolence as they swooped down to catch their prey. Their razor-sharp talons and broken beaks glistened in the dim light as they swooped down to snatch up the hopeless prey.
Some birds weren't even alive as they looked more like corpses or skeletons flying above with empty eye sockets. Their piercing screeches echoing off the cavern walls. With each flap of their wings, they unleashed blasts of wind that sent debris flying everywhere.
Among the chaos, Nightmarrow creatures emerged from the very ground itself, Their shifting forms were made from the swirling sands. Just like sandworms, they slithered and slunk through the caves, leaving a trail of desolation in their wake. These monsters would dissolve and spread their magic in a wide area causing everyone trapped inside the sand to fall into crippling nightmares.
Normal animals that were peacefully living in the forest before like lions, elephants, hyenas & some pets like cows, buffalos, dogs or even cute rabbits - all of these had also mutated and had turned into grim abominations. Some grew extra pairs of limbs, some had weird glowing eyes and twisted mouths. Some puffed up like a balloon, waiting to burst at slightest touch, while some jacked up like they went to gym and took steroids for decades.
Combined they all looked nothing short of some failed Frankenstein experiment. Making proud of the Forest's name.
But obviously the most terrifying of all was still the Banshee herself, her presence suffused with an aura of dread that sent shivers down the spines of all who watched her. With a mere flick of her cloak, she released billowing clouds of fog that seeped into the minds of her victims, twisting their perceptions and driving them to madness.
After days of fighting amongst themselves and the criminals trapped inside these forests, the students were already little worn out and less on mana and supplies to maintain their peak abilities, and now they had to fight this boss level bs creature for the final points.
Unsurprisingly everyone who managed to survive all this time is a known person or a genius talent of their academies, so no one wanted to give up on this chance to get those highest points.
Even the criminals still alive were looking at the Banshee like it was their ticket to freedom. Not aware that even if they won and did everything as ordered, even then they'd only get death after this tournament.
Rio moved his gaze from one corner to other, watching as he realized basically all the elites and noble heirs currently studying in first year were here, along with the no name known students who'd grow up to play important roles in some future arcs and events - he couldn't help but nod his head and smile to himself, that saving all these idiots the past five days and making sure they all get here safely wasn't a waste of his efforts.
The trap was ready, the bait was awoken, and the prey had finally stepped inside. All he needed now was the signal to close the door and capture it instantly.
He turned his attention to the statue in the middle and then at the light of the moon sweeping slowly through the open stone spaces..
'Could Leon ever guess that the treasure that can spell doom for all his story and plans of fate, was something he handed it out himself.' Rio said, bringing out a simple small white stone from his storage ring.
Smiling as it started to shine as he channeled his mana and the moonlight reflected upon its surface.
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Author note - anyone remember what Rio's talking about? What stone, what leon, when did that happen?
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