Heavy cloud layers blotted out the daylight, churning slowly like a mire. The dense forest, too, had taken on a strange, somber hue. Twisted, gnarled branches reached toward the sky, trying to seize the last sliver of sunlight.
From time to time, winds carrying the stench of decay swept past, stirring mournful whimpers like weeping. In some patches of the black earth, stark white bones lay half-buried. Shifting shadows hid deep within the forest, as though waiting for passing travelers to visit them.
Wang Gulas stood before the forest and could not help tightening his collar.
He raised his head to look at the bizarre branches and leaves that seemed like strange creatures within the forest, then let out a sigh.
To be honest, he had absolutely no desire to come here.
But this time, he had no choice.
Wang Gulas let out a soft breath and stepped into the forest. The dry branches beneath his feet snapped crisply, the sound echoing through the gloomy depths as his figure gradually vanished into the dense woods.
Crack!
Somewhere, compacted earth hardened into granules suddenly shattered, and an arm that had long since become white, withered bone stretched out from within.
Amid a spine-chilling scraping sound, a human-shaped skeleton swayed as it rose to its feet.
Its clothing had long rotted away over the endless years, leaving only a few scraps of broken armor. It had likely been a soldier or a knight in life.
The skeleton stood motionless where it was, ghostly blue Soul Fire gradually igniting in its hollow eye sockets.
It stiffly moved its feet and began wandering aimlessly through this nearly boundless dark forest...
Wang Gulas heard the strange sounds behind him and glanced back.
He quickly withdrew his gaze, his footsteps never slowing. He had no great