Chapter 598: Chapter 301: Ambush and Tea

The Mist Forest stretches endlessly, characterized by thin swirling mist that gently drifts due to the dense concentration of magic particles in the air, nurturing this land that harbors countless lives.

Like a natural giant labyrinth, those towering and dense enormous oak trees, knee-high long grass clusters, and lush shrubs become adversaries to one’s sense of direction.

Anyone who ventures in rashly without adequate preparation before entering will get lost in this land cloaked by mist and greenery, sacrificing their own life, becoming nourishment to enrich the forest.

Adventurers may possess a stronger physique compared to ordinary people, have more professional equipment, or special abilities to navigate depths of forests.

But it does not mean they can disregard the mist and green leaves that fill every corner of their vision, and precisely locate their targets.

Especially when the task location is deep within the forest, far from any town.

In such conditions, certain distinct landmarks become lighthouses guiding adventurers through the gray mist.

Perhaps it’s a peculiarly shaped ancient oak tree, a mysteriously vast open field, or a small rocky hill emerging from unknown causes…

When adventurers spot these peculiar and unique locations, they can confirm their position within the forest.

Thereafter, whether advancing toward their commission target or returning, these landmarks serve as references.

The Rotroot Swamp is one of those commonly featured landmarks on major maps.

Located at the core area of Mist Forest, it is not simply a waterlogged hollow.

It is a vast, decaying and dangerous malodorous ground.

Above it eternally floats a thick, sticky yellow-green miasma that blends with the mist in the air, like some pathological filtration mechanism turning the warm sunlight and the vegetation’s life breath into a twisted, dull substance of decline.

The surface of the ink-black nauseating sludge is covered with a rainbow-hued, oily film that reflects faint light and slowly undulates, occasionally swelling into a big bubble, which upon bursting makes the surrounding poisonous miasma even denser.

This territory of death and ominousness, even a rural farmer who has never seen or heard of “swamp” would surely not dare approach it at first glance.

Adventurers surviving in the dangerous, demon-populated forest are more aware of its dangers.

Yet, despite this, several adventurer teams annually disappear near the swamp.

The reason… naturally lies in certain expensive crops growing only in the swamp’s depths, or rare materials originating from the silt at its bottom.

The “Oathkeeper Blackwood” team certainly knows the dangers of this Earth Realm.

In fact, thanks to years of accumulated rich adventuring experience, they’ve even fought enemies in the swamp and completed tasks multiple times.

Precisely because of this, they clearly know where the dangers are located, understanding that simply passing it as a reference point en route without delving or lingering for long won’t be much more perilous than those nearby dense woods.

Unfortunately, perhaps due to the arrival of new members, the “Oathkeeper Blackwood” team’s actions became too hurried, and they didn’t take some days’ rest in Neum City between tasks as usual after returning.

Otherwise, if they had the chance to sit in the White Sparrow Tavern’s hall, chatting with fellow adventurers beside them, they might have caught recent rumors about frequent disappearances near the Rotroot Swamp, thus altering their route.

But now, it’s too late.

“Squelch,”

Mud-covered boots struggled to pull from ink-black muddy waters, each step forward in the swamp becoming more arduous than before.

As the captain of the “Oathkeeper Blackwood,” the swordsman Margaret abandoned some defense to gain instantaneous bursts and adept blade control abilities.

Thus she lagged behind during the march, falling to the last position.

Standing at a height of 1.79 meters, notably above the average for human females, and with two long, powerful legs wrapped in durable leather trousers, the mud waters barely reached knee-deep, just around the shinbone region.

Her Level 4 professional grade made her far surpass ordinary people in physical endurance, so trekking through the swamp did not drain much of her stamina.

In contrast, it was Soldin, the stout dwarf at the front of the team, with his muscular frame, who appeared particularly struggling.

The mud reaching just about other teammates’ calves had already surpassed his knees, almost reaching his thighs.

He couldn’t pull boots out of the mud, to step into the air and conserve energy, only to awkwardly wade through the viscous sludge, step by step, struggling forward.

He wasn’t even the most burdened in the team.

The true obstacle slowing the entire team’s pace significantly was the fragile young mage, protected and sandwiched in the middle of the group.

His Level 1 professional grade was the lowest in the team, and the Mage profession made his physical endurance similar to ordinary people, and even worse due to his noble upbringing lacking training.

Now, only just entering the Rotroot Swamp, his head was already drenched in sweat, legs trembling, looking on the brink of collapsing.

“Hold on a little longer, we’re about to exit.”