"My lord, what was that?" Vargan asked, his heavy frame trembling slightly.

He hadn't seen anything like it the first time he came here.

The forest had been terrifying enough then but now? Where had that thing even come from? Why was there even a goddamn monster with a bow? Or was it a human?

"I forgot to tell you," Azel said with a calm voice. The reason he didn't tell them about it was because he didn't think anyone had the ability to see that far… A little oversight on his part.

His cloak spread slightly as he moved it to shield Selene behind him. "Mind your eyes. Don't look at that monster. It'll shoot you down just like that."

No one argued. Every werewolf's eyes flicked to the spot where the unlucky hunter had stood seconds ago.

The black flames that devoured him finally began to fade, leaving only ash and scorched ground. It smelled of burnt fur.

Azel watched quietly.

It seemed the boss had stopped shooting because it had already killed the one that looked at it.

He took a deep breath and gestured forward. "Alright… follow me."

The others obeyed, still shaken, and entered the forest behind him.

The moment they crossed the treeline, the world changed.

Roots coiled like snakes underfoot, and if you listened long enough… one could hear whispers carried in the wind.

There were several paths ahead, small dirt forks leading deeper into the woods.

Selene glanced down each one and shivered.

Every path had several mana signatures, meaning there were strong monsters up ahead.

It didn't feel like a normal forest.

It felt designed to kill them.

"We'll be going here," Azel said, pointing to one of the narrow paths. "Safe route. I marked it last time I came here."

He turned around, scanning their faces. "Our goal for tonight is at least three Marrowcruncher bears. No unnecessary movement and no noise. If you see anything strange, tell me immediately."

The group nodded nervously, trying to steady their breaths.

As they began moving, Azel's gaze drifted toward one of the hunters who had knelt near a small cluster of glowing red flowers.

"What are you doing?" Azel asked, frowning.

The werewolf turned with a grin, holding a small blade.

"It's an amazing flower, my lord. My wife loves flowers a lot. I'll give it to her for her collection."

Azel's expression went blank.

He wanted to laugh. Or cry. Maybe both.

'How are they still this reckless after everything?' he thought.

Did they not understand that everything in this forest was trying to murder them? Or did he need a practical example?

Before he could shout, the hunter gently cut the flower's stem.

The petals shimmered then burst into a cloud of crimson gas.

The werewolf collapsed instantly.

Gasps erupted from the others.

"Maybe I didn't say it before…" Azel muttered, rubbing his temples. "Everything in this forest except the air is trying to kill you."

To make his point, he pulled a dagger from his belt and stabbed it into a nearby tree.

The metal slid in easily, and when he yanked it free, a thick, glowing sap oozed from the wound.

"This sap isn't poisonous to me," Azel explained, pressing his hand against it. The sticky liquid clung to his skin harmlessly. "But…"

He grabbed the paralyzed hunter's arm and dipped the man's hand into the sap.

A sizzling sound filled the air.

Smoke curled upward as the werewolf's skin blistered instantly. The smell of burning flesh spread.

Azel pulled the arm back, shaking off the sap.

"The sap burns you like acid," he said flatly. "So try not to touch anything unless you want to lose a limb."

It was in the System description after all.

Selene swallowed, glancing nervously at the glistening bark. T

The others nodded stiffly, the lesson burned into their minds.

It was strange even after seeing death already, none of them looked ready to back down.

They just adjusted their grips on their weapons and followed.

Azel sighed and motioned to Vargan.

"Carry him."

The massive werewolf grunted, lifting the paralyzed man effortlessly over his shoulder.

They continued deeper into the woods.

After what felt like hours, they reached a clearing that had long green grass.

Azel raised a hand, signaling them to stop.

There, in the center of the open space, sat a massive Marrowcruncher bear. Its fur was dark gray, its body almost as large as a carriage, and its claws dug deep trenches into the dirt as it lazily stared at the starless sky.

Selene could feel the pressure of its mana even from here. These monsters weren't to be trifled with…

Azel crouched as he looked over to Vargan.

"Lesson one in hunting," he whispered. "The bait."

Vargan blinked. "The… bait, my lord?"

Azel pointed casually toward him then at the limp werewolf draped over his shoulder. "Throw."

Vargan blinked again, then nodded slowly. "Understood."

He didn't question it.

With a grunt, he flung the paralyzed werewolf like a sack of potatoes. The body rolled across the dirt before stopping several meters from the bear.

For a second, nothing happened.

Then the bear's nose twitched.

Its massive head turned, eyes locking on the helpless werewolf. The beast's lips peeled back, revealing jagged, yellow teeth.

It roared… a deep menacing sound that shook the clearing. Birds scattered from the trees. The paralyzed man screamed, panic overriding every trace of paralysis as he scrambled to his feet and ran in circles like a headless chicken.

'He was scared out of being paralyzed,' Azel thought, suppressing a chuckle. 'These werewolves are too funny.'

Vargan stared, dumbfounded. "My lord, what do we do now?"

Azel clapped a hand on the ex-lord's shoulder, grinning. "We? You're next."

Before Vargan could react, Azel's arm shot out.

In one smooth motion, he flung the giant werewolf through the air.

"Make me proud, Vargan!"

Vargan's bellow of panic echoed through the trees as he hurtled toward the Marrowcruncher like a speeding bullet.

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