After leaving the Stone Forest region, Ian plunged into the rolling gray-white mountain range.
The moment he entered, he sensed an atmosphere utterly different from the surroundings of the forge camp.
The air was filled with raw, unpurified currents of Magic Power, mixed with sulfur, humus, and an indescribably fishy-sweet stench.
"Poison miasma!" Ian remained alert, holding a Limit Break version of the [Basic Antidote Potion] in his mouth without swallowing it.
The map here was nearly blank, which meant Wizard Apprentices had either never set foot here or had failed to bring back detailed information after doing so.
The terrain of the mountains was incredibly complex. Steep cliffs were everywhere, while bottomless fissures spread like wounds in the earth, exuding an icy chill. Vast clouds of poison miasma drifted from the cracks and dispersed on the wind.
Twisted, knotted trees grew everywhere. They did not resemble ordinary plants, with dark purple bark and leaves whose edges gleamed with a metallic cold light.
Occasionally, they moved without wind, producing faint metallic chimes that sounded almost like whispered conversation.
Ian's [Eye of Vigilance] was greatly weakened here. The dense, suppressive magical environment reduced its detection range by more than half.
The image also suffered interference from time to time, becoming blurry and indistinct.
He did not dare relax in the slightest. He focused his Mental Power to the utmost, like the most vigilant nocturnal beast, placing every step with extreme caution.
His gray robe was covered in dust and plant sap, blending into the surrounding environment.
"I have to get through this area as quickly as possible and find somewhere relatively safe."
However, the dangers of this unknown region far exceeded his expectations.
On the second day after entering the mountains, as he followed a dried-up riverbed in search of a