Chapter 62: The Black Forest
Holding a strip of cloth, Su Xiao wiped the Dragon-Slaying Flash clean before sheathing it, then began wiping the bloodstains from his hands.
Brother Umbrella stood awkwardly in place. He had wanted to help, but he hadn’t even charged behind the boulder before the fight ended.
“See that? Same buffs, but look how fierce he is.”
Little Confused wasn’t bothered by the few corpses behind the boulder. Though she was young, she understood the cruelty of Reincarnation Paradise well.
“I’m the main tank, main tank, main tank!”
Brother Umbrella repeated the important words three times.
“Then go tank.”
“Tank your sister, I hadn’t even charged in before the enemies were dead.”
Brother Umbrella sat back in the driver’s seat.
“Driving suits me better. But is he really a first-rank contractor? I’ve seen something similar before, but this is ridiculously strong.”
Su Xiao tossed some food and fresh water onto the armored vehicle. He hadn’t killed those contractors quickly to show off; after finding their bullets ineffective, they had pulled out a blue-quality rocket launcher. Though they looked pained, they intended to blow up the vehicle.
The armored vehicle was important and couldn’t be damaged for now.
After this minor incident, Su Xiao confirmed one thing: Little Confused was very useful. Without her buffs, he couldn’t have killed those contractors in such a short time.
Little Confused’s value was proven. Brother Umbrella, in the driver’s seat, wasn’t too nervous. Entering the Black Forest would be his domain.
The armored vehicle sped along, stopping after several hours.
A forest came into view. It was dense, completely blocking the sunlight. More importantly, the trees, branches, and leaves were all pitch black.
The Black Forest had arrived. Ahead was its entrance.
“Drive in?”
Brother Umbrella looked at Su Xiao and the others. Though Little Confused was the team leader, all actions were decided together.
“No. Driving in might get us killed.”
Su Xiao decided to abandon the vehicle. He had considered driving into the Black Forest earlier, but now it clearly wasn’t feasible.
Just standing outside the Black Forest, Su Xiao felt it was like a beast waiting to devour any living thing that dared enter.
“What about supplies? We need a lot of food and fresh water.”
Little Confused picked up a small backpack containing food and water. Her physique could only carry her own daily needs.
“I’ll handle it.”
Old Bal picked up a large bag. Brother Umbrella said nothing; he couldn’t carry weight because he would walk at the front of the team. That was a main tank’s dignity.
Su Xiao couldn’t carry weight either. If danger erupted, he would also be on the front line. If they cooperated, cowering in the back wasn’t his style.
“I’ll scout ahead.”
Brother Umbrella signaled for the others to follow. Though he was a main tank, he didn’t use a shield. Instead, he wore thick metal gauntlets that extended to his forearms, each as thick as a human torso.
Brother Umbrella didn’t need a shield. His two gauntlets in front of him formed a shield, and they were far more flexible.
Steam rose from the gauntlets. Brother Umbrella’s goofy demeanor vanished as he cautiously moved forward.
They hadn’t entered the Black Forest yet. Su Xiao was puzzled about why only this spot was the entrance, as it looked no different from other places.
As he approached the Black Forest, Su Xiao understood. The forest’s edge was shrouded in a layer of black mist. From a distance, it wasn’t obvious, but up close, it was visible.
Picking up a branch, Su Xiao tossed it into the black mist.
The branch flew midair. As soon as it entered the mist, it instantly decomposed, turning into a wisp of smoke that dissipated.
Su Xiao frowned. With this black mist, the Black Forest was like a cage, only accessible through the entrance.
That was exactly the case. The Black Forest was a prison holding something terrifying.
On the tenth day of the trial—the final day—this black mist would vanish, and the thing inside would break free.
The mist now was already very thin. Months ago, it had been like a wall, completely obscuring the view inside.
The so-called entrance also had mist, but it was very sparse.
“How do we get in?”
Su Xiao looked at Old Bal. The Sun Woman must have told him the method. Brother Umbrella and the others also had a way, but it was too costly.
“One minute.”
Old Bal took a deep breath, his eyes turning blazing red.
A stream of flame shot from Old Bal’s mouth, white in color, straight into the black mist.
Crackle, crackle, crackle…
Like firecrackers being lit, explosions echoed from within the mist.
After spewing fire for a full minute, the sparse mist at the entrance burned a hole through.
“Quick, it only lasts a dozen seconds.”
Old Bal looked drained, but he charged ahead first.
Seeing Old Bal rush forward, Su Xiao followed behind. The group dashed through the mist, officially entering the Black Forest.
Once inside, Su Xiao noticed the trees weren’t actually black. The blackness they had seen earlier was due to the mist.
Contrary to the imagined dead, oppressive scene, the Black Forest was filled with birdsong and floral scents. The clear air even had a faint sweetness.
[You have entered the danger zone: Black Forest.]
[You are being eroded by the Source of Black Mist, taking 1 point of true damage per second. After more than 10 minutes of erosion, damage doubles. (Example: After 10 minutes, 2 true damage per second; after 20 minutes, 4 per second; after 30 minutes, 8 per second; after 30 minutes, a death judgment occurs every 5 seconds.)]
Su Xiao took out a processed Primordial Seed and gently squeezed it. Tiny green vines sprouted from the seed and clung to his clothes. The erosion from the [Source of Black Mist] ceased. No wonder Old Bal said the Primordial Seed was the ticket to the Black Forest—without it, even chugging potions would lead to death within half an hour.
Looking at the surrounding greenery, Brother Umbrella sighed, “This is the Black Forest? Different from what I imagined.”
Brother Umbrella walked ahead, warily scanning his surroundings.
“Don’t move.”
Su Xiao barked, slowly approaching Brother Umbrella. A dagger slid from his sleeve.
“Poisoned?”
Brother Umbrella froze, turning his eyes sideways to look at a red bug on his shoulder. It must have fallen from a tree. Neither Brother Umbrella nor Su Xiao had sensed it; Su Xiao only saw it thanks to his exceptional vision.
“Probably highly venomous.”
Su Xiao’s hand moved, leaving an afterimage in the air. He flicked the bug off Brother Umbrella’s shoulder with the dagger, but the tip nicked the bug’s outer shell.
Sizzle.
Green smoke rose from the dagger’s tip, rapidly corroding downward. Su Xiao immediately let go. Before the dagger hit the ground, it was already riddled with holes.
“This…”
Brother Umbrella’s expression soured. The Black Forest was more dangerous than expected.
“Let’s plan the route.”
Su Xiao didn’t bother with the bug. He had experienced similar situations too many times.
Old Bal pulled out a map.
“We’re here.”
Old Bal pointed to a corner of the Black Forest.
“We need to cross half the Black Forest and finally reach here.”
Old Bal pointed to the opposite side of their location. To get there, they had to traverse half the forest in a semicircular path.
“Too far. We only have twelve hours, then we need to return here. Given the size of Devouring Island, it’s impossible.”
Brother Umbrella’s face darkened. The Primordial Seeds he carried could only last 24 hours.
“We don’t need to return here. If we succeed, we can exit from that side. And don’t equate the Black Forest’s area with Devouring Island. I don’t know the specifics, but time will be enough—as long as we don’t die on the way.”
Old Bal’s words were startling.
“That’s different from what the Sun Woman said.”
“Hmph. She only dares to cower in the Red Soil region. In every generation, we Asamen people are the ones who venture deep into the Black Forest. Where do you think this map came from? Could those thick giant fingers draw such a detailed map? If it weren’t for the crisis, one Primordial Seed wouldn’t have gotten us this map. This map was my ancestor’s work. Legend says the Sun Woman used it to curry favor with the giants. I thought it was just a rumor before.”