Dryad Warrior

Rhode moved through the dense forest with the Vampire.

The forest was dim, with dead branches and leaves underfoot. The trees around them were enormous, so tall that Rhode couldn't tell which way he was going at a glance, with trunks that would take five or six people to encircle.

With no path and no guidance from a pathfinding spell, Rhode had trouble determining his direction. Even with a map, he needed a landmark to head towards his chosen destination.

According to the map, Rhode planned to head for the nearest river first and then follow it to a nearby town.

Rhode looked at the map in his hand. According to the map's markings, heading straight for the river would mean passing through a location marked with a danger symbol.

Unsure of his exact surroundings or potential enemies, Rhode didn't dare to rush towards the river. Instead, he moved forward with the Vampire, observing the environment as they went.

With his scouting spell, Rhode was adept at observing his surroundings. Although his movement was slower, he didn't have to waste time taking detours.

In Rhode's opinion, an enemy that an apprentice like Alot couldn't defeat didn't necessarily mean he couldn't defeat it either.

By heading directly towards the river, Rhode could use his scouting spell to detect enemies in the distance. If the enemy was powerful, Rhode could retreat, but if it was weak, he could defeat it.

Rhode estimated that with his ability to control the Vampire, he might not even lose if he faced Alot head-on. His string of victories had given Rhode confidence, making him eager to face unknown enemies.

Along the way, although he found nothing unusual, Rhode remained vigilant, not blindly pushing forward but constantly observing his surroundings.

As they moved further away from the Crypt, the forest grew darker. Rhode looked around; the trees were exceptionally tall, their leaves blocking out the light, forcing Rhode to navigate between them.

As he advanced, several crooked trees on the side caught Rhode's attention.

For some reason, the tall trees had fallen sideways, their thick trunks resting on other trees. The roots, which should have been firmly planted in the ground, were now exposed, still clinging to the soil.

This unnatural situation alerted Rhode. Using the senses granted by his scouting spell, he quickly scanned the surroundings but found nothing unusual, so he continued forward.

Not long after, suddenly, as if sensing something, a strong sense of crisis surged through Rhode. He quickly pulled the Vampire behind a nearby tree.

The ground began to vibrate rhythmically, approaching from a distance. In the forest, the sound of rustling leaves grew louder and louder.

Rhode knew that an enemy, some unknown creature, was approaching his position. Its imposing presence made even Rhode, hiding behind the tree, tremble.

The ground vibrations grew closer. The Vampire could also sense the enemy's power, its body trembling violently behind the tree.

The intense vibrations occurred just in front of the tree. Rhode realized that if it weren't for the tree blocking his view, the enemy would have already discovered him.

The Mental Mark pulsed intensely. As if by instinct, the Vampire felt fear. Rhode could only use Control Spirit to forcibly keep the Vampire still while suppressing his own aura.

The vibrations gradually receded. The enemy didn't find Rhode and the Vampire and instead moved deeper into the forest.

As the powerful enemy moved away, the Vampire gradually calmed down. Rhode, however, leaned against the tree trunk, recalling the enemy he had seen at the last moment.

At the very last moment of the enemy's departure, Rhode quickly glanced in its direction. With just one look, based on its appearance, he identified the creature's type.

A body as tall as the surrounding giant trees, a humanoid torso, its skin covered in patterns like withered wood...

A Dryad Warrior.

The vibrations subsided, but Rhode was still recalling the enemy's imposing presence.

Fifth tier? Or higher?

Rhode didn't know, but he knew that the enemy before him was far beyond his ability to handle. If it weren't for the Dryad Warrior's naturally low perception, he might have already been discovered.

Dryad Warriors generally ignored lost travelers, even helping them leave the forest. However, they didn't have such a good temper with Necromancers. Rhode didn't believe he would have a good outcome if he were discovered.

Fortunately, there was usually only one creature like a Dryad Warrior in a given area. Seeing the enemy leave, Rhode didn't have to worry about encountering another one.

With the Vampire, Rhode continued in the direction the Dryad Warrior had come from.

"Eri..."

Rhode had a general idea of his location.

Even before encountering the Dryad Warrior, just by looking at the towering trees, Rhode had already guessed he was in Eri. Now, after encountering the Dryad Warrior, he was finally certain.

Eri was ruled by elves, and most of its territory was covered in forests teeming with magical creatures like centaurs and dryads.

The Dryad Warriors Rhode had seen were powerful guardians of Eri. Their immense Strength and resilient vitality made them extremely difficult to deal with. Rhode remembered how formidable they were on the battlefield.

The gathering place for Necromancers, Dya, was located next to Eri, bordering its frontier. All creatures in Eri inherently disliked Necromancers. Necromancers had to be extremely cautious within Eri's borders, as they would be hunted by the native creatures if discovered.

Rhode knew his approximate location but still didn't know the current period in the game.

If he could know both his location and the current time, Rhode could leverage his knowledge of the plot from his past life to gain the greatest advantage.

After advancing for a while, a damp feeling permeated the air. As this feeling intensified, Rhode knew he was not far from his initial objective.

Finally, the obstruction of leaves ahead lessened, and the light brightened. A river appeared in Rhode's sight. The sound of rushing water reached his ears, and Rhode knew he had found the river marked on the map.

According to the map's markings, Rhode's next objective was to follow the river to the nearest town.

Arriving at the riverbank, Rhode looked at his reflection in the water: messy short hair of an indeterminate color, his face mostly obscured by bloodstains, his clothes torn in countless places, and various scabbed scars on his body. The flowing water couldn't show his specific features.

Rhode gave a wry smile. Since arriving in this world, he had been fighting almost constantly, with no time to clean himself up. Taking this opportunity, he discarded his torn clothes and cleaned himself by the river.