CHAPTER 517: TRAVEL AND NON-TRAVEL TRAVEL CHAPTER FORTY-SIX CAPTURE (PART 2)_3

However, the matter was not so easily resolved, for when dawn broke the following day, everyone suddenly couldn’t recognize their surroundings. Originally walking on a simple dirt path between the river and the forest, the path marked their direction through the grass. But now they seemed to have arrived at the heart of the forest, surrounded by golden trees. In the dense jungle, they couldn’t see far, and a layer of milky white haze covered the space above them. Only a winding gap led deeper into the forest, where it seemed bright light was emanating from.

"I really don’t understand what’s going on," Morgan said. "I didn’t close my eyes the entire second half of the night, constantly watching the stars in the sky or counting the stones at my feet. Yet, it seems in the blink of an eye, our surroundings transformed into this scene."

"It doesn’t seem to be caused by an Illusion Technique; the roots of those trees are firmly rooted in the soil, and they don’t look like they moved here out of thin air," Lynch said. "Although I’ve heard legends of walking intelligent trees, it’s clear that the plants here are of the most ordinary kind."

Zilvra picked up a stone from the ground and forcefully threw it toward the forest. With a series of echoing thuds, the stone didn’t manage to fly very far. She said, "Lynch, what should we do now? The only apparent choice is to proceed toward that bright light. However, there is a kind of giant beast in the Underworld that uses light to lure prey for hunting."

Since Lynch didn’t know what constituted the mist overhead, he disagreed with any suggestion to scout from the air. Given the density of the forest here, setting a fire could very likely suffocate the group alive. The Mage disliked this feeling, especially sensing those watchful eyes darting across his back. He released several Ghosts, commanding them to quickly find a path through the forest, preferably allowing a carriage to reach the riverbank. Yet, the Ghosts hadn’t ventured far into the forest when, as if harmed by a Priest’s dispersal power, they evaporated into a mist and vanished.

"It seems this should be our only choice, advancing along that path," Lynch said helplessly. "Even if we cleave a path through the forest with weapons, we cannot ascertain the direction. This milky white mist hides all solar characteristics; without a Ranger or Druid in the wild, it’s impossible to find direction. My greatest fear is that even if we find such a path, it might revert to a forest in an instant, re-covering all traces."

"It’s really annoying!" Morgan said. "It must be that group of things causing trouble; I can’t think of any other answer. In this area, there’s a group I don’t want to deal with, and yet all paths lead toward them. It would be stranger if it weren’t a trap!"

"A trap, I think it’s unlikely," Macken Knight said. "If you feel closely, powerful divine energy emanates from this forest, the kind felt only in the temple of Pate City. It’s even possible that the positive energy here far exceeds any other place in Anriel. Even though the other side always obscures their purpose, I still wouldn’t believe they intend to harm us."

Lynch considered countering Macken’s statement with the example of Great Mage Kuziman. Initially, Kuziman was regarded as a benevolent ally and wise advisor by all residents of Moon Harbor City. However, the conspiracy he harbored within led the entire city to destruction. The Mage hesitated, choosing not to bring up this deeply sorrowful past for the Knight, and simply said, "Repeatedly setting obstacles to block our journey north without offering any explanation. Now they conjure a maze of forests, looking like they’re ’forcing us to comply.’ Honestly, they’re no different from street thugs."

Macken Knight was silent for a moment, unable to find any words to defend them. He only asked, "Lynch, what mission do you have heading north? I always thought you were just traveling around."

The Mage packed their camping items into the Spatial Bag, then explained the Elf Queen’s commission to Macken and Morgan. After listening, Morgan seemed eager and excited, saying he finally found a chance to repay the Elf Queen for her warm hospitality years ago. Macken Knight merely nodded without saying much. The emergence of a "Savior"—a concept with strong religious connotations—near the sacred border of Pate, without the temple system receiving any revelation, was unsettling. According to Lynch, that person was not a Paladin, just an ordinary young warrior. This left Macken Knight, who firmly believed that the Light God would always deliver humanity from evil, somewhat disheartened.