Possessing Nothing

One week, Lee Sung-min and Guangcheon tried to keep their distance from the chasers as they closed their breaks. Suddenly, they came across a dense forest. A lot of strange things happened in the humid forest, whether it was a monster or a common beast. The tall, dense tree was a natural maze. It is extremely difficult to maintain a sense of direction in these forests, even if the senses are the masters of sharp superpowers.

[There is a strange flow of Mana.]

It was not just Lee Sung-min who was affected. Just like you made a map in the dungeon, you gave up on Rubia, who was trying to use Mana to figure out its surrounding terrain. It was not unusual to fill the forest with Mana, but this forest was too much. An uncontrolled Mana is like a rough turbulence, making it impossible for Rubia to identify the forest as well.

[In the south forest, Manawa and the Force are in disarray. Long ago, humans feared the darkness of the forest and the sound of beasts' cries. Born of such horrors are monstrous, and the deeper the forest, the more monstrous and vigorous it is. No matter how brilliant a wizard may be, it's impossible to find a path in these woods.]

Heju said.

[I don't know if I have any skilled guides.]

There is no such thing. I tried to get an intermediary from the guide through Erebrisa, but the intermediary guides shudder across their heads, reluctant to become one.

“The Forest of Enchantment Prizes? Haha! These guys are dying to die. I assure you, there will be no one to guide you through those woods. No matter how good the money is, it will cost you your life. ”

The broker gave me some meaningless advice. He advised me not to go into the Forest of Temptation if my life depended on it.

“Why didn't you tell me? ”

[When this old man was alive, this forest was just a forest.]

I protested as if Heo Ju was unfair because of what Lee said. The days of Heju's journeying in the flesh were 400 years ago.It is said that in 10 years, the mountains will change. Since 400 years have passed, 40 times will change. It seems that this forest was not called the Forest of Temptation when Heju was alive, but it is not now.

This was the Forest of Death. Once you enter, you cannot leave. Somewhere in the forest, the power and magic of the forest mess up and confuse the sense of direction. The chances of escape at the end of Hehem are extremely slim.

“Why don't you smash it and move on? ”

I felt frustrated. His hands were tied with the strength of the crimson. The overwhelming hemorrhagic marshal shoots at the dense trees. Sung-min did not stop the miners. Up until now, I didn't care about the trackers and tried to stir up a fuss, but now that was also the limit.

I've been wandering around here for half a day. Seong-min turned her gaze to the side. On the big rock, there was a scar carved by Lee Sung-min. I saw that rock half a day ago, and I've seen that rock several times since. And I'm still looking at that rock.

Kuaaang! A pair of miners shoot forward. The strongman of the Hematoclastic Horseman struck down the tree. But the tree did not break. I was embarrassed by the face of the miner. Steel can't break a tree without a hemocyclist crushing it like a tofu.

[Consolidated.]

Heju mutters. Lee Sung-min raises his spear. He chose the most powerful and defeatist masonry he could unfold, and it was the ascension of the seven branches of the Nine Heavenly Palace. The strength of the hemocytoplasty is added to the flow of the tubing. As time passed, Lee Sung-min's spear repeatedly turned fierce and flowed a violent bundle of purple.

“Suck!”

While swallowing a short sigh, Lee Seong-min shot off the chasm. As long as it took time, the tubing was more powerful than a pair of mineral horses. But the tree remained the same. At this point, Lee Sung-min will be shocked and open his mouth. No, I didn't.

"Consolidated"?

[Strange... I've never heard of such excellent results. There are a lot of fencers who are good at fencing to the south, but they're not a scratch on the attack you hit with your force. No, that's not the problem.]

Look up, Heju said. Lee looked up at the sky. There was intense sunlight pouring down into the basket of endless trees, dense branches and leaves.

[Jump up.]

‘Indeed.'

If you can't break it from the front, climbing up a tree is also a way. It may be too conspicuous to do so, but it is a small matter to come here.

Lee took a high leap, blowing the inner air into the bridge. The flesh that surpasses man rises above the sky. Lee Seong-min stepped on a nearby branch and jumped up again.

“Ugh?! ”

Kuang! You hit your head in the air with nothing. Lee Sung-min flipped over, rattling in the air. And I looked up at the sky with unbelievable eyes. He hurriedly shakes his foot and opens the air. While barely balancing in the air, Lee Sung-min reaches out his trembling hand and stutters into the air.

There is an invisible membrane. I give it a push, but it doesn't get pushed.

[This is amazing.]

Heju grinned and laughed.

[This whole forest is in the middle of nowhere. This is not human territory. No matter how transcendent a shaman may be, it is impossible to tie a chain to this vast forest.]

“If so?”

[Perhaps this old man's irritated forest has turned him into a fool.]

The laughter of idleness intensifies.

*

“Damn it. I'll live to see the forest of temptations...”

Aladur sighs. With a whimpering sound, Ghost Zechariah felt the urge to kill Aladur, but he couldn't actually act. Aladur was the only lead in this dreadful forest.

“Terrible.”

Sitting and relaxing, Dang Ahhee frowned. The humid heat in the south is irritating, even if you are a seasoned master. And seeing the landscape that wouldn't change even if I walked, I felt like I was going to get mental illness.

“Hold the mantle steady. ”

“Men-what? ”

“Mind, mind. ”

Aladur shouts at the group.

“Dammit! You really, really don't know anything about this forest. I didn't think anyone else would be ignorant of this forest, My Lord! This forest is only a week away from Deven, and you haven't heard a word?! ”

Aladur rises to his feet. He stared at the Ghost with his grumbling eyes. Aladur would never have come to this forest if the Ghost had not come out forcibly.

“... I know about the Forest of Temptation. An uninhabited forest. A forest full of monsters. Once you enter, you cannot leave the forest. ”

Ghost Jegal replied.

“What are you afraid of? Do I look funny to you? Fifteen Swordsmen of the Southern Palace, ten Dark Stages of the Party, and twenty Swordsmen of Zegal-sega! Forty-five masters and their heirs are all here. No matter how powerful a monster comes out...”

“That's why they're Muslims! ”

Aladur distorts his face. He clapped his chest as if it were stuffy.

“It's because you have too much confidence in the shamanism that you're used to! Why don't you know that we are human beings when we have mastered the art of skilllessness, and that we are helpless and vulnerable when our heads fall off, or our hearts explode, or our flanks are torn off? ”

“What...? ”

“You don't know anything about the Forest of Temptation, but you don't. Well, you never know! There are only a handful of shamans who know the truth of this forest. Damn old people, they're forbidden and they keep their mouths shut, so there's this silly prank...! ”

“Calm down.”

Aladoor lets out a shout as he flicks his nose, and the palanquin opens his mouth. A sharp, razor-sharp aura rises towards Aladur. It was an invisible, intangible blade, and Aladur swallowed it as he felt the cold blade sweeping through his throat.

“Explain it easily. ”

“... there was a monstrosity 400 years ago. ”

Aladur scratches his neck without even knowing it.

“He was a great monster. We've got an incredible horseman and talented men to hunt that monster down. ”

“400 years... long time ago. Before the Zephyr family landed in Deven. ”

Ghost Zegal mutters. Hearing that, Aladur twitches his lips.

“A luxury taxpayer is a man after all. 400 years is a time no mortal can live. Anyway... 400 years ago. This forest was ruled by that monster. But that monster is dead. ”

“So?”

“Monsters are different from any monster. They use abstract concepts as mothers. So...”

Aladur glances at the dense forest.

“… let's say the bush shakes. Of course you'd think this. Do you have any little animals? Well, that's the idea. But what if I look through the bushes and I don't see any animals? ”

“You think the wind blew. Or the beast that shook the bush ran off. ”

“That's the general idea. But some kind of people, they feel fear there. What the hell is shaking the bush? ”

“… So? ”

“Fear is a sudden emotion. Have you ever felt someone's gaze in the dark? No matter how great an artisanal master may be, there are times when he feels fear. Especially when I was a child. Were you ever afraid to sleep alone? Do you think there might be monsters under the bed? Haven't you ever been afraid to go to the bathroom alone at night after hearing a scary story? Were you ever afraid of thunder on a rainy day? ”

“... I guess. People.”

“A monster is born out of such fear. ”

Aladur sighs and sighs.

“Because I was born with it, monsters are hard to deal with. Born of human fear, they are the natural enemies of man. Of course, if that monstrosity had been so powerful that everyone would have dried up a long time ago. Some of the monsters born of fear as mothers are called monsters, and they have a power beyond human common sense. The monsters that died 400 years ago. Heju was the most powerful of all the monsters. ”

“I don't know why we're talking about 400 years ago. You said the beast called Heju wasn't alive, that he was dead. ”

“Didn't I tell you that monsters are born of fear? ”

Aladur's eyes darken with grief.

“Death exists for monsters, too. But a monstrosity... A monstrosity that has been emphasized with an enormous amount of fear is a monstrosity and is placed on a vague boundary, not a monstrosity. Especially in this forest, where that monster used to rule. Fear in these forests means there's a possibility that it will unleash a remnant of that monster. ”

“You mean resurrect? ”

“It's not like that. The fear of monsters engraved on this land might be used as a form of terror and a completely different monster might be born. And... that's not all. This forest is dangerous for a different reason, regardless of the previous sojourn who ruled it. ”

Aladur squats. This is the story he heard before he left his teacher. Closed shamans rarely interact with the outside. Even when an unknown guild named Erebrisa approached, most shamans refused to interact with them. Aladur's master was also one of such shamans. I didn't know if he was still alive, but the teacher used to gather his disciples and say this straight away.

Never go to the Forest of Temptation.

There is a beast of immortality.

“... Immortal monster? ”

Hearing Aladur's words, Ghost Jegal bursts into laughter.

“This is it. W-what are you talking about? Immortal monster? Hahaha! ”

While smiling for a long time, the Ghost Jegal-tae shook his head.

“There is no immortality in this world. Demihumans who live for a long time end up dead. Is that all you're afraid of? ”

“Monsters are real. ”

“Have you seen it? ”

Aladur was unable to answer the question of the Ghost. It was his first time in the Forest of Delusion.

“Not just immortal monsters. I didn't tell you...! This forest is filled with the horrors he was raised to have caused by the untimely death. That means there's plenty of strength left! There are so many monsters who want to take that strength...”

“I'll kill Behr if he shows up. ”

“Damn it...! ”

Aladur tapped his frustrated heart in the reply of the Ghost. This is the end of the break. The Ghost draws the sword of the waist dance and aims for Aladur.

“Track down the nobles and minerals. ”

The Eye of the Ghost contained a harsh light.

“You'll have to kill them both to get out of these woods. ”