Chapter 50

(Alden's POV)

The deeper they went, the worse it got.

The forest wasn't just dense—it was wrong. The trees, once tall and proud, were twisted, their bark cracked like dry skin. The air carried a faint, acrid scent, and the soil beneath their boots felt brittle, as if life itself had been drained away.

Something had corrupted this place.

Leonhardt adjusted his sword belt. "We should move before whatever did this finds us."

Sylvara brushed a strand of green hair behind her pointed ear, frowning. "The land is… broken. I tried connecting with the trees last night, but it's like they're screaming. Whatever's infecting this place, it's deep-rooted."

Alicia exhaled, crossing her arms. "Which means we have no idea where we are or how to get out."

Reynard chuckled, unfazed as usual. "Lost in a dying forest with mana-draining monsters and no clear way back? Fantastic."

Seraphina shot him a glare. "You're way too cheerful for someone who almost got torn apart last night."

The fox-eyed noble grinned. "What can I say? It keeps things interesting."

Elena tried to lighten the mood. "If we stay focused, we'll find a way out."

Alden, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. "Luca, what do you smell?"

The beastkin, crouched low, ears twitching, shook his head. "Nothing. The scents are all mixed up, like the forest itself is shifting."

Alden didn't reply. But he was sure of one thing—this place wasn't normal.

Shiranui, the small white fox perched on his shoulder, flicked her tails. ["Master, I don't like this. The energy here is… decaying."]

Kurenai, his sword, spoke in his mind. ["It's not just decay. It's corruption."]

Alden sighed. Just great.

---

They moved carefully, weapons drawn.

Luca suddenly stopped. "We've been here before."

Leonhardt frowned. "Are you sure?"

Luca scowled. "I don't get lost."

Reynard sighed. "A cursed forest. Perfect."

"This isn't natural," Seraphina muttered. "We're being led somewhere."

Elena clutched her staff tighter. "The mana here… it's wrong."

Alicia conjured a small flame, but instead of burning the mist away, the fire flickered erratically, like it was struggling to stay alive.

"This place is draining magic."

Sylvara placed a hand on a dying tree, her eyes widening. "Not just magic. Life."

Luca growled. "We need to move. Now."

Alden stayed silent, but yeah. This was bad.

---

The fog thickened, making it hard to see.

Leonhardt drew his sword. "Stay close."

Alicia's flames barely lit anything. "This mist is wrong."

Then came the rustling.

Luca's ears twitched. "Something's coming."

A shadow lunged.

Luca barely dodged as clawed hands swiped at him.

Figures emerged from the mist—twisted humanoid shapes with glowing red eyes. Their bodies flickered like they weren't fully real, like they were half-erased.

Leonhardt's sword crackled with lightning. "Formation!"

Alicia's blade ignited. "They don't look solid. Watch it."

Sylvara lashed out with vines—nothing. The attack phased through.

Seraphina hurled an ice spear. The creature absorbed it, its eyes glowing brighter.

"They're feeding off magic!"

Alden sighed, drawing his dagger. "Then stop using it."

Leonhardt slashed one down with a clean strike. The creature screeched and dissolved.

Reynard grinned. "Finally, something simple."

The group switched to melee combat. No spells, no flashy techniques. Just steel and instinct.

---

Alden moved through the battlefield, his dagger flashing in precise strikes. A clean hit to the head made one of the creatures shatter into mist.

Leonhardt glanced over. "Good call."

Alden shrugged. "Obvious."

Reynard was grinning like a lunatic, handling two at once.

The battle was short but brutal. The last creature faded, and the mist began to thin.

Elena exhaled. "That was… exhausting."

Alicia wiped her blade. "What the hell were those?"

Luca's tail flicked. "Not normal beasts."

Sylvara eyed Alden. "You seemed to know something."

He shrugged. "Just paying attention."

Leonhardt crossed his arms. "You're always too quiet."

Alden said calmly "Observing."

Before they could continue, Shiranui's fur bristled.

["Master… something bigger is ahead."]

Alden's smirk faded.

Deeper in the corrupted forest, something pulsed.

Yeah. This was about to get worse.