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Chapter Five: Deep Behind Enemy Lines

Ander grimaced, "I ran into a Skrins Lord, nearly killed him... damn close."

Forseti eyed the spear in Ander's grip, "Is this the Lord's weapon?"

"Yeah."

Suddenly, a golden light flashed from Forseti's waist—Sanctuary's Holy Light Compass emerged, trembling slightly, its direction unstable.

Forseti realized the spear, tainted with sin, triggered the compass.

"After your fight, how far was it?" Forseti pondered.

"Not too far."

Forseti hesitated, "If I can pinpoint the Skrins Lord's exact location, will you join me in killing him?"

Ander scoffed, "Impossible."

Forseti pressed, "Will you come?"

Ander raised an eyebrow, "Are you serious? Can you really find the Lord?"

"I know a bit of magic," Forseti pointed to the spear, "With this, I can locate the Skrins Lord's hideout."

Ander stared at the spear, silent, then spoke, "While the Lord isn't strong, he's likely surrounded by many Skrins. Just us two—it's suicide."

"We'll avoid the others. I'll find the Lord, kill him swiftly, and escape. Once he's gone, Skrins' fragile discipline collapses," Forseti reasoned. "How precise is your magic?" Ander asked.

"There's some margin of error," Forseti gestured with his fingers.

"You get the glory, I take the loot—deal?" Forseti offered. Unsure of what lay in the Skrins' lair, he didn't mind.

If lucky, they might face elite Skrins, reaping greater rewards.

Ander nodded thoughtfully, "Let's bring Wayne. Safety in numbers."

Rescued by Forseti before, Wayne became a trusted ally of Ander and Forseti.

"Agreed," Forseti replied.

"When do we leave?" Ander queried.

"In three to five days when we're all free," Forseti planned, aware of their patrol duties.

Ander handed the spear to Forseti, "This is for you."

Forseti cut a piece of the spear's wooden handle, pocketing it, "That's enough."

After consulting Wayne, they agreed to venture deep behind enemy lines in six days, despite camp regulations. As Asgardians, they revered warriors; minimal punishment awaited victory.

Forseti's haste stemmed from Swiftness Potions. Though the compass guided him, encountering Skrins was likely, necessitating preparation. Confidence bolstered, Forseti spent two days crafting six Swiftness Potions, distributing two to each.

Night fell.

Wayne inspected the potions Forseti handed him, puzzled.

"These speed potions will aid our escape from Skrins," Forseti explained.

"Let's go," Forseti urged.

Under a dark, windy moon, they slipped past inattentive patrols into the dense, damp forest.

Before departing, Forseti secured the spear fragments in Sanctuary.

The Holy Light Compass on Forseti's waist flickered, guiding them deep into the forest.

"Move," Forseti led, Ander and Wayne following.

Lord Skrins' lair lay near camp.

Hours later, the compass swung sharply, signaling proximity.

"Watch out," Wayne whispered, pointing ahead.

Skrins gathered—eating, fighting—bestial, lacking intellect beyond mere instinct.

Few within ten miles possessed intelligence, elite among them.

The trio stealthily skirted Skrins, advancing towards their target.

As they delved deeper, Skrins thickened, the stench overwhelming.

"Any ideas?" Ander murmured.

Forseti frowned, scanning ahead.

Ahead, amidst the horde, a massive, hollowed tree served as Lord Skrins' palace, elite guards patrolling.

"That's a group of... no, a horde of Skrins."

At this moment, they were clustered in twos and threes, some eating, others biting each other, almost naked like beasts... In truth, most Skrins were little more than beasts, judged by the Holy Light.

Within a ten-mile radius, intelligent Skrins were rare—a few geniuses among them.

The three carefully skirted around the Skrins, continuing toward their objective.

However, as they ventured deeper, Skrins gathered in larger groups across mountains and plains, their pungent body odor assaulting them.

Struggling onward, they pressed deeper into the forest.

Yet, trouble soon emerged.

"What now? There's no clear path," Ander murmured.

Forseti frowned, gazing ahead in silence.

Ahead, Skrins sprawled densely, leaving little room to maneuver or sneak.

Their objective remained clear, though.

Amidst the sea of Skrins, a massive half-tree stood—a structure with carved doorways, evidently transformed into a makeshift fortress.

Elite Skrins patrolled its periphery, somewhat organized despite their chaotic movements.

Undoubtedly, the structure—a towering half-tree—was Lord Skrins' palace.

The Holy Light Compass pinpointed it precisely.

Oddly, the compass trembled rhythmically, suggesting Lord Skrins' activity within...

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