Giant Beast Forest...
Rows of trees stood scattered across the uneven terrain in a chaotic yet strangely orderly pattern. Faint moonlight that had luckily filtered through the thick canopy shone down here. Birdsong, beast cries, and insect chirps echoed endlessly all around, while the rustling wind never ceased. If not for the magical beasts, Giant Beast Forest might have been an exceptionally pleasant place—very peaceful...
Yet that peace was soon shattered by a steady rhythm of footsteps...
As the footsteps grew louder, several figures slowly emerged beneath the faint moonlight, their appearances becoming clearer and clearer. One walked at the front, obviously the leader, while the other four guarded him like escorts, their faces filled with vigilance and caution.
They were Marcus and his four loyal subordinates, who had escaped from the camp!
A closer look would reveal that each of the four loyal subordinates behind Marcus had a person slung over their waist or shoulder!
Crunching over the dead leaves beneath their feet, the five slowly headed in one direction. More precisely, Marcus was hurrying toward a destination, while the four loyal subordinates followed closely behind him. Seeing their leader continue onward without looking back, occasionally changing direction, the four exchanged glances before lowering their heads and continuing their watch. From Marcus's movements, they could tell he was not wandering aimlessly, but moving with purpose—or rather, searching for something. Though his frequent changes in direction confused them, as loyal subordinates, they would not question their master's intentions...
Marcus did not speak to the four loyal subordinates either, as though they had never existed in the first place. His face remained dark as he walked and observed his surroundings. From time to time, he even closed his eyes, as if recalling something. Whenever he did so, Marcus would change direction,