chapter 51 Into the Depths of the Forest

Into the Depths of the Forest

The eerie silence after the battle against the shadowy creatures was far more unsettling than the fight itself. The dense mist that had clouded their vision was slowly dissipating, revealing the twisted trees and the faint, unnatural glow pulsing deeper within the forest.

Shiranui, perched on Alden's shoulder, flicked her tails uneasily.

["Something ahead, master. It's not like those weaklings."]

Alden adjusted his grip on his dagger but remained silent. He wasn't about to say anything unnecessary. Not yet.

Leonhardt's emerald-green eyes scanned the surroundings, his brow furrowed. "We need to keep moving. Standing around will only get us killed."

Alicia wiped her sword clean, golden eyes glinting with focus. "The question is, which direction? If this place is leading us somewhere, should we even follow it?"

"Like we have a choice," Reynard muttered, his fox-like grin ever-present. "I don't like being led around, but going back might just get us into another trap."

Seraphina crossed her arms, her icy-blue eyes sharp. "Agreed. Moving forward is the only option."

Elena sighed, adjusting her cloak. "I can heal minor injuries, but if we run into something worse, we won't be in great shape."

Luca sniffed the air and frowned. "The scents here are all mixed up… But I think I sense something ahead. Something alive."

Sylvara pressed a hand against a nearby tree, closing her eyes. A pulse of green mana spread from her palm. "There's mana up ahead. Twisted… but alive."

Alden exhaled quietly. "Then let's not waste time."

The group moved forward, their steps cautious as the forest seemed to close in around them.

---

The Ruins in the Forest

After nearly half an hour of walking, the trees suddenly thinned out, revealing something ancient.

A massive stone structure loomed ahead—ruins swallowed by time, covered in moss, with strange carvings glowing faintly along its surface.

Leonhardt narrowed his eyes. "This… wasn't in the Academy's maps."

Alicia traced her fingers over the carvings. "It's old… but untouched."

Seraphina examined them more closely. "These markings… They don't belong to any modern language."

Sylvara inhaled sharply. "It's elven. But… an ancient dialect I don't recognize."

Reynard's grin widened. "Ruins in a haunted forest? This just keeps getting better."

Luca's ears twitched. "Something's inside. Watching us."

Alden remained still, his black eyes hidden behind his sunglasses. In the original game, this event was supposed to happen on the third day.

We're ahead of schedule.

Shiranui growled softly. ["Something strong is here."]

Kurenai, his sword, hummed faintly. ["Stay alert."]

---

The Guardian Awakens

A deep, rumbling sound filled the air.

The ground shook.

A heavy pressure settled over them, suffocating and oppressive.

Then, two massive golden eyes snapped open within the ruins.

Alicia tensed. "That's…"

A colossal stone guardian emerged, its fifteen-foot-tall frame covered in cracks that pulsed with ominous red mana.

Leonhardt clenched his fists. "A dungeon guardian?"

Sylvara muttered a curse. "Something's controlling it."

The guardian let out a deafening roar, shaking the very foundation of the ruins.

Then—it charged.

Leonhardt was the first to move.

With a burst of mana, he dashed forward, his sword crackling with lightning as he slashed at the guardian's leg. The attack landed—but left only a faint scorch mark.

Alicia followed, flames engulfing her blade as she struck at the other leg.

But—the guardian barely reacted.

Luca leaped forward, claws glowing with earthy mana as he struck its arm. The stone barely chipped.

Sylvara conjured vines, wrapping them around the guardian's legs. It ripped through them effortlessly.

Seraphina formed spears of ice, aiming for the glowing cracks. The spears shattered on impact.

Reynard vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind it to stab at the gaps between its joints. The blade struck true, but the damage was minimal.

Elena gritted her teeth, already preparing healing spells.

Alden watched. He knew how this fight played out.

This guardian wasn't unbeatable. It had weak points—if they found them.

He stepped forward. "Its joints. Focus there."

Leonhardt glanced at him. "You sure?"

Alden nodded slightly. "It's moving too smoothly for something that big. That means its weakest points are where it bends."

Alicia exhaled. "Makes sense."

Seraphina adjusted her grip. "We'll see if that works."

---

Leonhardt struck again, this time aiming for the knee joint. The guardian staggered slightly.

Alicia, following his lead, slashed at the same spot. A crack formed.

Luca, seeing the opening, leaped in with a powerful kick, causing the guardian to stumble.

Sylvara reinforced her vines, locking its legs in place just enough to give Reynard an opening.

Reynard flashed behind it, aiming directly at a weak joint. His dagger plunged in, sending a shockwave of mana through the crack.

Seraphina launched a precise ice spear—this time targeting an already damaged joint.

The guardian roared. Its movements became sluggish.

Leonhardt took a deep breath, his sword now crackling with intense mana.

With one final, lightning-infused strike—he pierced the guardian's core.

A blinding flash erupted—and the monster crumbled.

Silence.

Leonhardt let out a heavy breath, sheathing his sword. "That was… something."

Alicia wiped the sweat from her brow. "Yeah. But we won."

Seraphina crossed her arms. "That thing wasn't just a construct. Something made it."

Elena checked on everyone, casting small healing spells where needed. "At least no one got seriously injured."

Luca cracked his neck. "That was fun."

Reynard smirked. "You have a twisted sense of fun."

Sylvara knelt near the ruins, pressing her hand against the stone. "There's more to this place. I can feel it."

Alden remained silent.

In the game, this was where the protagonist and his allies unlocked their first power-ups.

The guardian was meant to test them.

And after defeating it, they were supposed to find something hidden here.

Were things still following the original path?

Shiranui let out a small hum. ["Master, there's more."]

Kurenai agreed. ["The ruins are still alive."]

Alden exhaled.

This wasn't over.

And deep within the ruins, something began to stir.

To Be Continued…