The clearing was still smoldering when Drako finally stepped fully into view.

  Up close, there was no mistaking the precision in his posture — relaxed, but coiled. The kind of Drakziel who never truly let his guard down.

  Alice exhaled shakily and lowered her blade.

  “…You have my thanks,” she said sincerely. “That would’ve ended badly.”

  Erica gave a short nod, Surtr resting against her shoulder.

  “You came in at the right time. I’ll admit that.”

  Drako inclined his head slightly.

  “Princess, thank you, and you fought well yourself.”

  William, however, did not lower his guard.

  His enhanced aura dimmed slowly, but his eyes remained sharp.

  “…We didn’t ask for him,” William muttered.

  Drako glanced at him — not hostile, not amused.

  Simply indifferent.

  “I wasn’t summoned by you.”

  His gaze shifted past William — landing squarely on Jericho.

  “I came for my king.”

  The air shifted slightly at the title.

  Jericho didn’t deny it.

  He stepped forward.

  “You’ve been deeper than us,” Jericho said. “I can see it in your cloak — sap burns, black resin… you crossed the inner ring.”

  Drako’s faint smile widened just a fraction.

  “I did.”

  Erica straightened.

  “What did you see?”

  For the first time since his arrival, Drako’s tone lost its lightness.

  “This forest isn’t just evolving randomly.”

  He turned slightly, gesturing toward the dark expanse ahead.

  “There are layers to it. The outer region — what you’ve been fighting — those are the overflow mutations. Excess soul energy saturating lesser creatures.”

  William folded his arms. “And the inner region?”

  Drako’s eyes sharpened.

  “The density spikes exponentially.”

  He paused.

  “I found the source.”

  Silence fell over them.

  Jericho’s mercury stirred faintly at his fingertips.

  “Explain.”

  Drako’s voice lowered.

  “There is a clearing at the heart of this forest. No sunlight reaches it. The trees bend away from it as if in worship… or fear.”

  Alice swallowed slightly.

  “And in the center?”

  Drako held Jericho’s gaze.

  “A beast.”

  Not just any beast.

  “A sovereign. I didn’t really gaze upon it but, it felt powerful— it got me alittle excited, but I had to focus on finding you.”

  They sighed, shaking their heads.

  But his words about the beast lingered, as he spoke.

  “It is not merely enhanced,” Drako continued. “It is evolving intentionally. Its soul energy is stable — controlled. And it seemed like the other creatures… they respond to it.”

  Erica’s grip tightened on Surtr.

  “You’re saying something in there is commanding them?”

  “Yes.”

  William’s jaw clenched.

  “And you didn’t attack it?”

  Drako’s eyes flickered — calculating.

  “I did not come to slay it, I came for my king— believe me it was difficult not testing it a bit.”

  His gaze returned to Jericho.

  “I felt it would be a good intel to have when I meet up with you my king, so I opted to inform you first.”

  A heavy wind moved through the canopy, branches creaking like old bones.

  Jericho stepped forward slightly.

  “How strong?”

  Drako did not hesitate.

  “Stronger than anything you’ve faced in this forest.”

  A beat.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “Possibly stronger than all of us — individually — well, except for my king, he is the definition of greatness.” Drako said proudly.

  Everyone rolled their eyes, as Jericho blushed.

  And then, Silence thickened.

  The hum of soul energy deepened again — almost as if reacting to the conversation.

  Alice’s voice was softer now.

  “So this wasn’t a random investigation…”

  Jericho’s expression hardened.

  “No.”

  He looked toward the darker path ahead.

  “We walked into it’s territory.”

  Erica’s lips curved slightly — not in fear, but anticipation.

  “Good.”

  Drako agreed, as the battle junky he is.

  William exhaled through his nose.

  “Then we stop it.”

  Drako’s eyes gleamed faintly.

  “It already knows we’re here.”

  The forest shifted.

  Not violently.

  But deliberately.

  Something far deeper within let out a low, resonant sound — not a roar… but a declaration.

  Jericho’s mercury coiled around his arm.

  “Then we don’t keep it waiting.”

  ?

  Far from the capital, the roads of the Holy Kingdom of Righteous stretched through quiet hills and scattered villages, with it looking more advanced thanks to the Golden Mind.

  Two cloaked figures moved along a narrow path beneath the fading evening sky.

  Prince Tazz walked slightly behind, his head lowered beneath the shadow of his hood. His royal garments were gone, replaced by simple traveling clothes that hid any trace of his identity.

  Leading the way was Kolpa.

  Unlike the prince, Kolpa walked with calm confidence, his eyes constantly scanning the road ahead.

  The kingdom was no longer the same place it had been for Tazz.

  Wooden boards stood outside village gates and crossroads… each one bearing the same image.

  A wanted poster.

  The drawing wasn’t perfect, but it was close enough.

  <“Prince Tazz — Traitor of the Crown.”>

  A reward had been offered to anyone who could provide information about his whereabouts.

  Every time they passed one of those posters, Tazz felt something tighten inside his chest.

  Once, those same roads would have been filled with people bowing to him.

  Now they would turn him in without hesitation.

  The weight of reality finally settled in his heart.

  He had truly lost everything.

  His title.

  His home.

  His future.

  And perhaps even his name.

  Kolpa glanced back briefly.

  “Keep your hood lower,” he said quietly.

  Tazz nodded and pulled the fabric further over his face.

  For now, survival was the only thing that mattered.

  And Kolpa was the only person still standing beside him.

  ?

  Meanwhile…

  Deep within the forest, in a while other nation, Jericho and the others continued their journey beneath the towering trees.

  The forest had grown quieter as the sun slowly sank toward the horizon.

  Leaves rustled softly under their feet as the group walked together.

  After some time, Jericho slowed his steps slightly and turned his gaze toward Alice.

  “Alice,” he said.

  She looked up at him.

  “Yes?”

  Jericho studied her for a moment before speaking again.

  “Are you alright?”

  Alice blinked in confusion.

  Jericho continued.

  “Back there… when we thought we might lose you.”

  For a brief moment, Alice remembered the fear from earlier. The moment when everything had gone wrong… when the situation had spiraled out of control.

  If Drako hadn’t intervened…

  She might not have been standing here now.

  Alice smiled softly.

  “I’m alright,” she said.

  Jericho exhaled quietly in relief.

  “I’m glad.”

  He looked ahead for a moment before continuing.

  “I wouldn’t have known how to handle it if something had happened to you.”

  Before she could respond, Jericho gently reached out and patted her on the head.

  The simple gesture completely caught her off guard.

  Alice’s face instantly turned bright red.

  Her heart jumped wildly in her chest as she quickly looked away, trying to hide her expression.

  “J-Jericho…!” she muttered quietly, flustered.

  Meanwhile, Erica, who was walking a few steps ahead, glanced back with a small amused smile.

  But Jericho simply continued walking as if nothing unusual had happened.

  ?

  Not long after that, the group finally arrived at a small clearing within the forest.

  The open space allowed the last orange light of the setting sun to shine through the trees.

  Jericho stopped and looked around.

  “This should be a good place to stop for the night.”

  Everyone silently agreed.

  The day had been long, and exhaustion was beginning to settle into their bodies.

  They quickly prepared a small camp within the clearing.

  Once everything was set, Jericho turned to the group.

  “The ladies should rest.”

  Alice and Erica didn’t argue. The journey had been tiring, and the thought of sleep was more than welcome.

  Before long, the two of them settled down near the fire and drifted into sleep.

  Jericho watched the forest silently for a moment before speaking again.

  “We’ll rotate watch tonight.”

  William nodded.

  Drako leaned casually against a nearby tree.

  The night air slowly grew colder as darkness spread across the forest.

  While the women slept peacefully beside the fading firelight…

  The three men remained awake.

  Watching.

  Waiting.

  Guarding the night.

  ?

  Night settled over the clearing like a heavy blanket.

  The forest of the Darkburn Canopy had grown eerily quiet. The usual sounds of insects and distant creatures were absent, replaced by an unsettling stillness that pressed against the senses.

  The small fire crackled softly in the center of the camp.

  Nearby, Erica and Alice slept peacefully, exhaustion finally claiming them after the long day of fighting and travel.

  Jericho sat on a fallen log near the edge of the clearing, his eyes fixed on the dark forest ahead.

  William stood a few steps away with his arms crossed, occasionally glancing into the shadows between the trees.

  Drako leaned against a thick trunk, his hood lowered, quietly observing the surroundings.

  For a long time, none of them spoke.

  The silence was comfortable… but alert.

  After a while, William exhaled slowly.

  “Well,” he muttered, breaking the quiet. “Today certainly turned out more interesting than expected.”

  Jericho let out a small chuckle.

  “That’s one way to put it.”

  William glanced toward the sleeping forms of Alice and Erica.

  “At least they’re getting some rest.”

  Jericho nodded.

  “They earned it.”

  The fire popped softly, sending a few sparks drifting into the air.

  William looked toward Jericho again.

  “You handled those creatures well today,” he said. “Your control over that mercury ability keeps improving— I guess you are finally learning restraint.”

  Jericho scratched the back of his head slightly.

  “I’m still getting used to it.”

  Drako finally spoke from where he stood.

  “My king is being modest.”

  Jericho sighed.

  “Drako… you don’t have to call me that.”

  Drako simply smiled faintly.

  “nonsense, that is who you are.”

  William rolled his eyes slightly but chose not to argue about it this time.

  Instead, he turned his gaze back toward the forest.

  The deeper darkness between the trees felt almost alive.

  After some time, Jericho stood up.

  “William, you should rest for a bit. I’ll take the first watch.”

  William shook his head.

  “I’m not tired yet.”

  Drako pushed himself away from the tree.

  “Then I’ll take the next rotation.”

  Jericho nodded.

  “Alright.”

  For a while longer, the three of them remained awake together.

  Then eventually William stepped away to sit near the fire, resting while still half alert.

  Drako disappeared briefly into the trees surrounding the clearing, quietly checking the perimeter before returning.

  Jericho remained standing at the edge of the clearing, watching the forest.

  The darkness between the trees stretched endlessly.

  Time passed slowly.

  The fire dimmed as the night deepened.

  Above them, the moon rose higher in the sky.

  But even as the camp remained still…

  Something in the forest had begun to move.

  Far beyond the clearing, deeper within the endless sea of trees, the undergrowth shifted.

  Branches trembled.

  Leaves rustled in slow waves.

  Whatever it was did not approach recklessly.

  It moved with patience.

  Carefully.

  Silently observing.

  Back at the camp, Jericho suddenly felt a faint sensation run across his skin.

  Not danger.

  Not exactly.

  But something close to it.

  His eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the darkness again.

  Behind him, Erica shifted slightly in her sleep but did not wake.

  Alice remained curled near the fire.

  William sat quietly with his eyes closed, though he was far from truly asleep.

  Drako returned from the forest edge and leaned once again against the same tree.

  The clearing returned to silence.

  But the forest itself had changed.

  The stillness was no longer peaceful.

  It felt… aware.

  And somewhere in the darkness beyond the reach of the firelight…

  Something watched the camp without revealing itself.

  Waiting.

  Patient.

  As if deciding what to do next.