Chapter 68 — The First Mission
Morning finally arrived in the Golden Sanctuary.
Unlike the strange world beyond the Thirteenth Gate, the Sanctuary followed the natural rhythm of day and night.
Golden sunlight poured across the floating buildings, illuminating the enormous gardens and training grounds below.
Seraphina stood outside the mission hall with her sword at her waist.
Caelan was already waiting.
"You came early."
Seraphina smiled.
"So did you."
"I couldn’t sleep."
"Neither could I."
Before they could continue, footsteps approached.
Azrael walked toward them with Lyra resting comfortably on his shoulder.
"You two look suspiciously cheerful."
Seraphina raised an eyebrow.
"You’re just jealous."
"Of what?"
"Nothing."
Caelan tried not to smile.
Azrael noticed.
"Interesting."
Seraphina immediately changed the subject.
"Where’s Elder Solis?"
A calm voice answered from behind them.
"Right here."
Solis approached carrying a thin golden scroll.
"The three of you are officially assigned to your first mission."
Azrael became serious.
"What are we doing?"
Solis handed the scroll to Seraphina.
She opened it.
A three-dimensional map appeared above the parchment.
Several floating islands surrounded a massive dark region.
"Your destination is the Astral Wilds."
Caelan’s expression changed.
"The Astral Wilds?"
Solis nodded.
"It’s a dangerous region located beyond the outer territories of the Golden Sanctuary."
Azrael studied the map.
"What are we looking for?"
"A group of disciples disappeared there three days ago."
Seraphina frowned.
"How many?"
"Seven."
Azrael’s expression became serious.
"Any survivors?"
"One."
Solis paused.
"He returned unconscious."
"What happened?"
"We don’t know."
The map changed.
A large forest appeared.
"Before losing consciousness, he repeatedly said one thing."
Azrael looked at Solis.
"What?"
Solis’ eyes became colder.
"He said..."
"The forest moved."
Silence followed.
Caelan looked at the map.
"An illusion?"
"Possibly."
Azrael shook his head.
"Not necessarily."
Solis looked at him.
"Explain."
"Natural forests don’t move."
Azrael pointed toward the map.
"But something powerful could."
"Or..."
His eyes narrowed.
"The forest itself could be alive."
Solis smiled faintly.
"That’s why you’re going."
He handed the mission scroll to Azrael.
"Your objective is simple."
"Find the missing disciples."
"Determine what happened."
"And return alive."
Seraphina looked at him.
"That’s all?"
Solis nodded.
"Do not investigate anything beyond your mission."
Azrael immediately noticed the wording.
"You expect us to find something dangerous."
Solis didn’t deny it.
"I expect you to encounter something you don’t understand."
He looked at all three.
"When that happens..."
"Don’t be heroes."
"Survive."
An hour later, the three stood before a massive transportation gate.
Golden runes covered its surface.
Beyond it was a distant forest beneath a dark purple sky.
Caelan checked his equipment.
Spear.
Healing crystals.
Emergency communication token.
Seraphina adjusted the straps around her sword.
Azrael simply checked Astraeus.
Lyra jumped from his shoulder and landed beside him.
"You too?"
The fox wagged her tails.
Azrael sighed.
"Fine."
Seraphina smiled.
"She likes danger."
"She likes food."
Lyra immediately looked at Seraphina.
Seraphina laughed.
"I’ll bring something back."
The fox happily returned to Azrael’s shoulder.
Caelan looked at them.
"Is she always like this?"
"Unfortunately."
Azrael stepped toward the gate.
"Let’s go."
They crossed.
The moment they arrived, the atmosphere changed.
The warm golden sunlight of the Sanctuary disappeared.
Cold mist covered the ground.
Enormous trees surrounded them.
Their trunks were wider than buildings.
Their branches twisted unnaturally high into the sky.
No birds sang.
No insects moved.
Even the wind was silent.
Seraphina looked around.
"I don’t like this."
Azrael activated Origin Perception.
The world sharpened.
He immediately noticed something.
"Don’t move."
Caelan stopped.
Seraphina froze.
"What?"
Azrael slowly pointed toward the trees.
"Those aren’t normal trees."
Caelan examined them.
"What do you mean?"
Azrael narrowed his eyes.
"Their roots."
Several roots were visible beneath the soil.
They weren’t growing randomly.
They formed patterns.
Almost like veins.
"They’re connected."
Seraphina’s expression became serious.
"How far?"
Azrael expanded his perception.
His pupils contracted.
"Very far."
Then—
Something moved beneath them.
THOOM!
The ground shook.
Caelan immediately raised his spear.
Seraphina drew her sword.
Azrael pulled Astraeus.
Lyra’s six tails stood upright.
A crack appeared beneath their feet.
"Move!"
The three jumped apart.
A massive root burst from the ground.
BOOM!
It slammed into the place where they had been standing.
Azrael swung Astraeus.
CLANG!
The root was harder than steel.
He was pushed backward.
"That’s not a normal plant!"
Seraphina attacked from the side.
Golden energy surrounded her blade.
SLASH!
Her strike cut through the outer layer.
Dark liquid spilled from the wound.
The entire forest trembled.
Then every tree around them moved.
Not with the wind.
With intention.
Caelan’s eyes widened.
"The forest really is alive."
Azrael looked around.
Hundreds of roots were beginning to emerge.
"Everyone..."
He raised Astraeus.
"We’ve been noticed."
The forest suddenly became silent again.
Then a deep voice echoed between the trees.
"Intruders."
Seraphina’s expression changed.
"That wasn’t a beast."
Another voice followed.
"Children of the Academy..."
The roots slowly withdrew.
The trees parted.
Something enormous stood in the darkness.
Two glowing eyes opened.
Azrael felt a pressure unlike anything he had experienced since entering the Academy.
His System immediately appeared.
"WARNING"
Unknown Lifeform detected.
Threat Assessment: Uncalculable.
Origin Perception unable to determine full structure.
Recommended Action: Retreat.
Azrael stared at the final line.
The System had never recommended retreat before.
Not against the Judicator.
Not during the Trial Tower.
Not even when facing the mysterious stranger.
His grip tightened.
Seraphina noticed his expression.
"What does the System say?"
Azrael answered honestly.
"Retreat."
Caelan’s eyes widened.
"Then we should retreat."
Azrael nodded.
"Agreed."
They turned.
The trees suddenly closed behind them.
The path disappeared.
Seraphina looked around.
"We can’t leave."
The deep voice echoed again.
"You entered willingly."
The ground trembled.
"Now..."
The glowing eyes became brighter.
"...prove that you deserve to leave."
Azrael slowly raised Astraeus.
Seraphina stood beside him.
Caelan tightened his grip on his spear.
Azrael smiled faintly.
"So much for a simple rescue mission."
Seraphina looked at him.
"You always attract trouble."
"Me?"
"Definitely you."
Caelan sighed.
"Can we argue after we’re alive?"
Azrael laughed.
"Fair enough."
The enormous creature moved.
The entire forest shook.
And somewhere deep within the Astral Wilds...
Seven missing disciples opened their eyes.
They were trapped inside a massive chamber beneath the roots.
One of them whispered:
"Someone came."
Another looked toward the darkness.
"Who?"
The first disciple smiled weakly.
"Three idiots."
A distant roar shook the chamber.
"But..."
His smile disappeared.
"...they’re not alone."
Above them, Azrael’s System flashed again.
"Hidden Mission Triggered"
Mission: Escape the Living Forest
Secondary Objective: Locate the Seven Missing Disciples
Unknown Objective: ???
Reward: ???
Failure: Death
Azrael stared at the final line.
Then slowly smiled.
"Now..."
He raised Astraeus.
"...let’s find our missing disciples."