CHAPTER 65: LEFT BEHIND

The two ferocious wolves crouched down and immediately sprinted toward Robin Hood, who was several meters ahead of them. Recognizing the situation, Robin Hood quickly drew his arrow and aimed it according to Shaan’s instructions.

[Shaan, how much longer do I have to wait?] Robin Hood’s face looked tense, with sweat streaming down his forehead. [These damn wolves are already very close to me.]

"Just a little longer... just a little longer, you have to—Now, Robin Hood!"

The shot streaked through the air and struck the ground directly in front of the wolves. In an instant, a loud explosion occurred.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion ripped through the forest floor. Trees around them shook violently, leaves and debris flying in every direction. Smoke surged into the air, thick and fast, clouding everything in sight.

Smoke engulfed them, and the sharp blast left the wolves dazed, snarling blindly into the haze. Their glowing eyes flickered as they tried to regain focus, but the blast had thrown off their senses. Their vision blurred, and they couldn’t see.

’Perfect! Now’s my chance!’

Shaan dashed with all his might toward the two trees directly behind the two ferocious wolves. He instantly focused all his mana into his dual short swords, and it gleamed as a brilliant aura wrapped tightly around them, pulsating with raw energy. With all his strength, Shaan swung his blade, and in an instant, he managed to fell both trees, which then crashed down onto the two wild wolves, killing them instantly.

[You have killed 2x Zerawulf.]

[You have obtained dark crystal x8]

[Robin Hood trusts you more, your bond increases by +8]

"Finally..." Shaan let out a long sigh. "At least these wild wolves are dead."

[Amazing, Shaan. I’m truly impressed by your crazy idea.]

"Now we must catch up with Nalira and the others," Shaan said as he walked out of the area. "We need to—"

Suddenly, Shaan’s vision blurred, and for some reason, his entire body felt weak for a moment. He then decided to find the nearest tree around him, leaned against the nearest tree, and pulled out the remaining of his Red Moon Berries in his pocket.

[Shaan, are you okay?]

"I’m fine, Robin Hood." Shaan quickly devoured the red moon berries. "I’m just exhausted from using too much mana trying to bring down those two big trees."

[Oh... okay,] said Robin Hood. [Take it easy. I’ll protect you until you feel better.]

"Thank you, Robin Hood."

After a few minutes of rest, Shaan decided to continue his journey out of the forest. Although he was not yet fully recovered, at least his condition was much better than before. He kept walking until he finally reached the edge of the forest.

"There it is. The Dark Tansel Swamp."

Shaan could only stand in silence as he looked at the swamp, which felt... so different from ordinary swamps. The swamp itself was black, and it was so dark that he couldn’t see anything inside it. Only a row of large trees could be seen along the edge of the swamp, with roots protruding deep into it.

[Shaan, we need to find the others. They might still be here, waiting for us.]

"Right. We need to find them immediately."

For several minutes, Shaan walked around the edge of the swamp, but he didn’t see Nalira, Chelsie, or Mr. Courier anywhere nearby. He occasionally glanced toward the swamp, thinking perhaps a terrifying creature might emerge from the swamp and suddenly attack him, but...it turned out his thoughts were wrong. Everything seemed calm, and there was no suspicious movement within the swamp itself.

"It’s strange. If this swamp is fine, then why... Why are there no signs of life in it at all? Could it be that there is something..."

[Shaan, look at that.]

Robin Hood’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Shaan turned his gaze forward. From a distance, he could see a small wooden house on the edge of the dark swamp. Not only that, but right behind the house was a small wooden dock with a boat conveniently moored there.

[A boat! It’s a boat, Shaan!] Robin Hood patted Shaan’s shoulder enthusiastically. [With that boat, we can cross this dark swamp and get away from this cursed place.]

"You’re right, Robin Hood." Shaan smiled. "But why haven’t I seen Chelsie and the others at all?"

[Maybe they’re already inside that house, waiting for us,] Robin Hood suggested. [Come on, let’s check it out.]

They picked up the pace, moving quickly toward the house. But the moment Shaan reached the front of the wooden house, he stopped. Honestly, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The door was rotting and blackened from moisture, and vines covered the entire roof. The place looked... abandoned, neglected, and it looked like no one had ever lived there before.

[Shaan, what are you doing there?] Robin Hood furrowed his brow. [We have to go in and find the others, remember?]

"Right, I’m sorry."

When Shaan turned the doorknob of the small house, he suddenly heard the sound of an engine coming from behind the door right in front of him. His heart dropped. That sound... it was unmistakable, that’s the boat’s engine and someone had just started it. Which meant... the boat was about to leave. Without thinking twice, he pushed the door open and ran toward the small wooden dock behind the house.

"Hey, wait!" Shaan ran with all his might to catch up with the ship that was about to move. "Chelsie, Nalira, Mr. Courier, wait for me!"

Although Shaan kept shouting their names, strangely, the ship didn’t stop at all and kept moving further away from the small wooden dock behind the house. Shaan tried to muster all his strength to chase after the ship, but to no avail. His strength hadn’t fully recovered from the previous fight, so he was left behind.

"Why... why do they leave me?"

Shaan stood frozen at the edge of the dock, his heart heavy and his mind spinning. The boat drifted farther and farther away, its shape growing smaller until the fog swallowed it completely. He didn’t scream. He didn’t chase it anymore. He just stood there. Disappointment twisted in his chest, but more than that hurt. A dull, familiar kind of pain. The feeling that he would always be forgotten, always left behind.