Chapter 6: Into The Black
The Black Forest—a place shrouded in dark legends and whispered fears, known for its monstrous inhabitants, demonic forces, and deadly flora. A realm where the very air was thick with danger, and the deeper one ventured, the more dangerous and deadly it became. The forest was divided into six distinct stages, each more treacherous than the last:
- D Rank
- C Rank
- B Rank
- A Rank
- S Rank
- And the final, most feared: Calamity Rank
It was said that no hunter, no warrior, no matter how powerful they think the are, had ever ventured deep enough to face a Calamity Rank monster. These creatures were not merely beasts—they were living cataclysms, capable of leveling an entire nation in a single day. The mere mention of their name could send shivers down even the bravest of souls.
Justin's heart pounded in his chest as he absorbed the information. Still, he needed to break his curse, and that meant finding a way into the forest.
"So how do i get... I mean, how would a warrior reach the forest if they wanted to hunt monsters?" Justin asked, his voice casual but laced with curiosity.
Gilly, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow at the question.
"Well, the Black Forest is several miles away from the clan grounds. But there should be a teleportation spell located near the back of this castle's field." She hesitated for a moment, her expression tightening.
"But, Young Master, why are you asking?"
Her tone shifted, suspicion creeping in.
"You're not thinking of going there, are you?" she asked, her voice a mix of scolding and concern.
Justin winced inwardly.
'Ah, did she caught on.' Gilly had always been sharp—ever since he could remember, she had treated him like a younger brother, though she was only twenty-one, she had protected and cared for him since the day he was born. Even when she was insulted and mistreated because of her association with him, she never wavered, she never once abandoned him. The thought tugged at his heartstrings. She didn't deserve to be lied to.
"Of course not, Gilly," he lied, forcing a laugh, though it rang hollow. "Just curious, that's all."
She gave him a long, searching look, but after a moment, she sighed.
"Alright, Young Master. It's late—try to get some rest." With that, she gathered the plates and left the room, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
As soon as her footsteps faded, Justin's expression hardened.
'Time to venture into the Black.' He quickly dressed, opting for a black shirt, black trousers, and a long, dark cloak with a hood to obscure his identity. It wasn't much, but it would help him blend into the shadows. Before stepping out, he grabbed a dagger —the very same one he had used earlier to cut his palm, slipping it into his pocket as he quietly exited the small castle.
The building he lived in was modest, a one-story structure on the outskirts of the clan's estate, far from the grandeur of the main castle. After his failed suicide attempt, they had moved him here—isolated and forgotten, with only Gilly by his side. There were no guards, making it easy for him to slip away unnoticed.
At the rear of the castle, nestled between two crumbling stone pillars, was an old, weathered altar-like pavement. In the center of the altar lay a 7th-tier magic teleportation circle, its intricate runes barely visible beneath layers of dust. This portal was unlike the others scattered across the clan grounds—it was unguarded, likely because no one in their right mind would willingly step into it.
"Tsk... They probably think no one's foolish enough to use this gate and head into the Black Forest." Justin stared at the altar for a moment before taking a deep breath. His heart pounded in his chest as he stepped onto the pavement, waiting for the magic to take hold.
Nothing happened.
"Uhh... Great Sage, why isn't anything happening?" he asked frowning, confusion settling in.
{Answer: You need to state the destination where you wish to be teleported.}
Justin groaned. "You could've mentioned that sooner."
{It's basic knowledge, Master.}
He narrowed his eyes. "You're mocking me again, aren't you?"
{.....}
"No comment, huh? Fine, let's focus," he muttered, shifting his attention back to the task at hand. He cough a little, checking his voice.
"The Black Forest!" he said aloud, his voice steady.
As soon as the words left his lips, the runes beneath him ignited with a brilliant blue glow. The air hummed with energy, a high-pitched siren sound filling his ears before the world around him dissolved into a blur.
In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
When the world reformed around him, Justin stumbled, his stomach churning as though he had just ridden a rollercoaster.
The next thing he knew, his feet hit solid ground.
"Ugh... I feel like I just went up and down an elevator at the same time," he muttered, feeling nauseous.
The air around him was thick, tingling with raw energy. Even without the ability to sense Mana or Aura, he could feel the power coursing through the place. A shiver ran down his spine, a strange sense of anticipation filling him.
"Umm... Great Sage, are you sure we're in the right place?" he asked, glancing around.
{Positive, Master. We have arrived in the Black Forest.}
It was the dead of night, and the moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow across the land. To his surprise, the Black Forest, contrary to its ominous name, was eerily beautiful.
The trees shimmered with soft luminescent hues, and the plants glowed in vibrant colors, casting a surreal, almost dreamlike light across the landscape. Small ethereal orbs drifted through the air like fireflies. It was a place both enchanting and unsettling—a contradiction of danger and allure.
Thanks to the endless flow of Mana and Aura, the Black Forest was considered the most fertile land in the entire Kingdom of Zebedonia. Fruits that grew here were of the highest quality—some even evolved into miracle fruits and elixirs, capable of enhancing a person's cultivation. The rivers that ran through the forest had divine properties, their waters purifying both body and soul.
"Wow..." Justin breathed, his eyes wide in awe. "I thought it would be all dark and terrifying, but who knew the forest was this beautiful?"
He let out a breath and strolled deeper into the glowing wilderness.
"So Great sage, this is good enough to lift the curse right" he asked.
{Master, I have already begun lifting the curse.}
He blinked. "Already? How long will it take?"
{Approximately ten minutes. Nine minutes remain.}
"Alright!" Relief washed over him. For the first time in what felt like forever, things were going his way. He continued walking, marveling at the vibrant flora, when suddenly, his foot landed on something odd.
A strange, glowing symbol flickered to life beneath his feat.
"What the—what is this?!" Justin's heart raced as he felt a strange force binding him in place.
"I—I can't move!" Panic crawled up his spine. He tried to move, but his body refused to obey.
{Master, you have stepped on a Movement-Restricting Teleportation Spell.}
'Shit! A trap!' Panic surged through him as he struggled to break free, the glowing circle flared, and before he could even process what was happening, his vision blurred once more, and in an instant, he vanished.
---
Meanwhile, back at the main Cullen clan estate, In one of the Ten ruling houses of the Cullen Clan, far from the isolated castle where Justin resided, a lavish room was bathed in the warm glow of ethereal orbs.
One of the Cullen clan's young masters, elegantly dressed in fine robes, stood by the window, gazing out at the moonlit night with a smirk on his lips.
A glass of wine swirled lazily in his hand, the deep red liquid reflecting in his cold, calculating eyes.
"Congratulations on entering the Apprentice Stage, Young Master," a personal guard said, knelt in one knee, bowing low before him.
"You are now more than prepared to enter the Cullen Warrior Academy," Herrick said with admiration.
"Of course," the young man replied, his tone smug. "I am a genius, after all." He took a small sip of his wine, a self-satisfied smirk on his lips.
The young master tilted his head slightly. "I hear the rest of the young masters have reached the Apprentice Stage as well?"
"Yes, Young Master," the guard confirmed. "All except the 10th Young Master of course."
The young master's expression twisted into one of disgust.
"Ah, yes. That disgusting peasant blood... How is he faring?"
The guard hesitated. "He still hasn't woken up yet, Young Master."
The noble hummed in thought, swirling the wine in his glass.
"Young master, Shouldn't you eliminate him first if you plan to become the future lord of the Cullens?"the guard said with a smirk.
The young master sighed, swirling his wine before taking another sip.
"Well, what can he do?" The young master sneered
"He's a lifeless boy with shattered bones, waiting for his inevitable demise."
But then—his smirk returned.
"Still… you do make a good point." His gaze turned sharp.. "If I want to secure my place, I should start by eliminating the weakest link."
He set his glass down.
"Herrick."
"Yes, Young Master?"
"Send a shadow assassin." His voice was calm, almost bored, but the cruelty in his eyes was unmistakable.
"I want to hear news of his death by morning."
The guard bowed deeply, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
"As you command, Young Master."
With that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving the young master to sip his wine, gazing out at the moon with satisfaction.