CHAPTER 45: BARKSPAWN

Gabby thought to himself:

"I’m an outcast. Growing up in a magic tower since childhood has weakened my social skills.

It’s no surprise. I only met my seniors yesterday, and I never went through the same hardships they did.

Still, I must learn to survive in this kind of place—where monsters like Thrix have evolved just to stay alive.

Lately, I’ve been wondering where we really are. Not in terms of location, but the realm itself.

I read in some books that this portal leads to another dimension. They even call it a different planet.

There are only two active lands ruled by monsters: one is the Curse Forest of Monsters in South Thorpes, and the other belongs to a different kingdom.

We had made it through the night without any more casualties."

A girl with long hair and soft, curly bangs walked up to him. Her round, innocent eyes met his as she asked, "Did you eat breakfast yet?"

Gabby nodded. "Yes. How about you?"

She sighed. "Not yet. I’ve lost my appetite after everything that happened yesterday."

She hesitated before adding, "The guy Thrixell killed he was my friend. I don’t support killing monsters or this whole survival mission."

She gently reached out and patted the head of a bird resting near her, the only creature that seemed to offer her comfort in this unforgiving place.

Gabby thought to himself, "She can tame animals?"

Robin overheard her and cut in, "You’re too gentle for this kind of world, Maya."

"I still believe humans and monsters can live in peace," Maya said quietly.

Robin’s eyes narrowed as he declared, "Peace sounds noble, Maya. But it’ll get you killed. Monsters don’t care about coexistence. They act on instinct. To them, we’re nothing but food."

Maya looked away, her fingers tightening around the folds of her mantle.

Gabby’s thoughts stirred quietly, "Von’s right. This world doesn’t reward kindness. We fight because we have to survive. That’s the flaw in idealists, they deny reality. Wishful thinking doesn’t make something true. We cannot let emotions cloud our judgement."

Von, leaning against a nearby tree, spoke calmly but firmly. "That’s enough, Robin. She’s still grieving. Give her time to process what happened."

He straightened, eyes scanning the horizon. "We begin the expedition today. According to the map, we’ve got six hundred fifty leagues ahead of us."

He turned to the group, his voice unwavering. "Let’s move out, everyone."

And so, the walk began. Boots pressed into damp soil. The forest swallowing their steps in uneasy silence.

Gabby thought to himself, "I was assigned to the rear. Of course I’d be the bait. The noble position of monster appetizer."

As they walked deeper into the forest. The chirping birds had vanished and the forest is visibly quite.

Von led the squad from the front, eyes fixed on the path ahead. The rest followed in silence, staying alert.

Three hours into the march, Maya slowed down. Her steps grew heavy.

"I’m tired," she said quietly.

Gabby noticed, but said nothing. He only glanced at the forest around them.

He thought, "It’s too quiet. No monsters. No animals. Not even insects."

He asked softly, "How many Ascended heroes are with us?"

Maya replied, "Von and Robin. Von’s a Master tier. Robin’s Elite."

Gabby nodded, thinking to himself, "There are levels of combat mastery. Awakened, Advanced, Elite, Ascended, Master, Grandmaster, and Legendary. Robin may be an Ascended hero, but if he’s only Elite tier, then he doesn’t fully control his powers."

He looked at Von and thought, "That means Von is the strongest here."

Then suddenly—it struck.

Three thick, razor-sharp vines shot toward Maya. They were fast and aimed to kill, but Gabby reacted just in time. He pushed Maya aside and dodged the attack, saving her.

More vines burst from every direction, thick and violent.

One of the expedition members was hit directly in the chest. He screamed in pain, but no one could help—everyone was busy trying to survive.

In seconds, he was dragged into the underbrush. The only thing left was a trail of blood.

Von rushed forward, ready to give chase, but Robin grabbed his shoulder and held him back.

"He’s dead," Robin said grimly. "We’re being ambushed by a Barkspawn."

Barkspawn stood motionless among the trees, so still that no one realized it wasn’t just another trunk. Its body, tall and wide, was layered with cracked bark, dry and jagged like ancient armor forged from forest decay. Moss clung to its limbs, weaving through grooves like veins, and vines dangled loosely from its shoulders.

The key difference from a regular tree was it’s amber eyes.

Von shouted, "Formation." As he gripped his staff tightly.

The ground suddenly burst open beneath their feet. Thick roots erupted from the soil, whipping through the air with razor-sharp and wild. Dirt flew everywhere as the roots twisted and writhed like hungry snakes.

One of the squad members wasn’t fast enough.

She cried out as the roots wrapped tightly around her body, squeezing until she couldn’t breathe. The Barkspawn, hidden in the trees, was trying to suffocate her and dragging her slowly toward its wooden mass.

Robin saw her struggling.

Without hesitation, his golden aura flared. Bright and sharp. In one clean motion, he swung his weapon through the air. The vines snapped instantly, falling in pieces onto the forest floor.

The woman collapsed, coughing hard, eyes wide with shock but alive.

Robin stepped back, eyes locked on the Barkspawns, his aura still glowing. "Stay close and alert."

The barkspawns shifted. It sensed power and strenght. A meal unlike the rest.

The vines writhed eagerly. Roots curled with anticipation. The forest almost smiled.

Robin remarked, "Everyone, stepped back."

The Barkspawns focused their attack on Robin, releasing a massive swarm of vines and roots from every direction.

Robin lowered his stance. His back straightened just enough to keep balance, while his knees bent, ready to spring. One foot stepped behind the other, angled for a tight pivot.

He held his sword close to his chest, the tip tilted downward, edge poised diagonally.

Dust curled at his feet. Leaves swirled gently around him.

His golden aura coiled into the blade with steady precision.

Just before the vines reached him, he whispered,

"Windblade Swordstyle, Third Form: Shred."