Chapter 27: The Forest’s Price

The air crackled with tension as the remaining members of the Iron Vanguard surrounded Jian. The leader, a tall man with a cruel smirk, took a step forward, his weapon gleaming in the faint light filtering through the bioluminescent trees.

"Don't make this harder than it has to be," the Vanguard leader said, his tone dripping with arrogance. "We've already dealt with the beast. Now, step aside and let us take the Spirit Core."

Jian's gaze flickered over the group. There were four of them left, all well-armed and seemingly undeterred by the recent chaos. He wasn't in the mood for a prolonged confrontation, but it was clear the Iron Vanguard wasn't going to let him walk away easily.

The forest around them seemed to hold its breath, the bioluminescent plants flickering softly in the oppressive silence. Jian's senses were heightened; he could feel the slight shift in the wind, the faint rustle of leaves, the pulse of energy coming from the Spirit Core deeper within the forest. But his focus remained on the enemies before him.

He was aware that a fight here would come at a price. The Iron Vanguard would not yield without a struggle, and the forest's hazards would only make things more complicated.

"I'm not here for your core," Jian said, his voice calm but firm. "But I won't let you take it from me."

The Vanguard leader's eyes narrowed. "You've got a lot of courage, for someone about to lose everything."

In a flash, the battle began.

The Vanguard leader lunged, his sword swinging with deadly precision. Jian anticipated the move, stepping to the side and using Shadow Stride to slip behind the man. His blade flashed out, but the leader spun, blocking with his shield at the last moment.

The Vanguard's remaining members closed in, circling Jian like wolves. Jian knew he had to be fast—if they managed to pin him down, it would be over. He wasn't in the mood to fight a drawn-out battle.

In an instant, he activated Abyssal Cleave, slashing through the air with a surge of shadow and frost. The Vanguard member on his right was caught off guard, a deep gash opening along his side as he stumbled backward. The others hesitated, giving Jian the precious moments he needed to regroup.

He used the environment to his advantage, slipping between trees and shadows, vanishing from their sight and reappearing at unpredictable angles. The Iron Vanguard was strong, but they were predictable, reliant on their overwhelming force and disciplined formations.

Jian, on the other hand, was a ghost in the woods—unpredictable and elusive.

He reappeared behind the Vanguard leader, striking with a precise slash aimed at his back. But the leader was quick, spinning around just in time to block with his shield. The force of the blow sent ripples through the shield, but it held. Jian's blade recoiled slightly, and the leader took advantage of the opening, swinging his sword in a horizontal arc.

Jian ducked just in time, the blade slicing through the air above his head. He countered with another strike, but this time, the leader was ready. He parried and pushed forward, forcing Jian back.

"Is that all?" the Vanguard leader taunted. "I expected more from you."

Jian's eyes narrowed, and his grip on his blade tightened. He was getting tired of this charade.

"I didn't come here to play games," Jian muttered under his breath.

With a sudden burst of speed, Jian moved again, this time targeting the Vanguard members closest to him. He struck without hesitation, his blade flashing in the moonlight. The first Vanguard member crumpled under a swift strike to the throat, his body falling limp to the ground. The second was less fortunate, catching the brunt of an Abyssal Cleave that split his defenses wide open.

Jian wasn't holding back now. His blade danced with precision, cutting down one Vanguard member after another. Each movement was calculated, deadly, and efficient. But the leader was still standing—he wasn't so easily defeated.

"You're a skilled fighter, but you'll still fall," the leader said, his voice steady despite the chaos around him.

Jian didn't respond. He lunged forward, blade raised high, and in one fluid motion, he struck.

The Vanguard leader raised his shield, but Jian's blade struck with overwhelming force, the shockwave knocking the shield aside and leaving the leader exposed. Jian's sword drove into his side, deep enough to make him stagger, but not enough to end it all.

The leader gasped, eyes wide in pain, but he still managed to hold his ground. "You... you can't win this. The Vanguard will come for you."

Jian didn't flinch. He wasn't concerned about the Vanguard's retaliation. He had fought his way through more than just guilds—this was just another challenge to overcome.

With a final, swift movement, Jian twisted his blade, delivering a fatal blow to the Vanguard leader's chest. The man's eyes lost their focus, and he collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Silence followed.

Jian stood over the fallen leader, chest heaving with exertion. The remaining members of the Iron Vanguard had been dealt with quickly, their strength no match for his speed and strategy. He wiped his blade clean, not bothering to look at the corpses he had left behind.

He had survived, but the price was steep. The Warden's Wilds had claimed another piece of his soul, and the forest around him seemed to recognize it, the shadows growing darker as if preparing for the next trial.

Jian exhaled, his breath visible in the cold air. "Time to find the core," he muttered, moving forward.

But as he stepped deeper into the forest, the ground trembled beneath him. He felt it before he saw it—the unmistakable presence of something far larger, far more dangerous.

The true test had only just begun.

End of Chapter 27