The group trudged towards the dead forest.

With each step, the silhouette of the tower got smaller.

The safety of the tower was replaced by the perilous expanse of the Netherveil, the air reeking of lava and sulphur.

And now finally in front of them was the dead forest and rightly so, as all the trees were dried up, blackened like everything else in the Netherveil.

Yet they creaked as if alive, a howling sound occasionally coming from deep within.

"You sure we shouldn't take the other way," Jake broke the silence, gulping as he looked at the forest.

Serif glanced at him, honestly that'd have been the first choice, if not that they had to go through the den of that thing, he looked to the left.

And they had learned that at the cost of three members of the team, the first day they came down.

He could remember it like it was yesterday, the cyborg-like creature, each movement a blur, its blade turning three of them to dust as it chased them. Yet as soon as they left the pagoda, it immediately stopped after.

Even he wouldn't be bold enough to head there again, the only other way was around the dark forest, yet that took way too much time, reducing their chances of survival by far.

"Try to see if you can spot anything from above," Serif said.

"Me…" Jake pointed at himself.

"Who else can levitate here, idiot," Tavena clicked her tongue.

"R..right," he rubbed the back of his head and looked away.

Dropping his bag, he took a deep breath, eyes closed.

Then it fluttered open as his feet slowly drifted off the ground, ascending with each second.

"Hey, would you look at that, the little bird is finally leaving its nest," Orivin burst into a boisterous laughter.

His eyes widened as Jake almost faltered in the air, almost falling, but recovering, ascending higher.

"Shouldn't have spoken so soon," Orivin chuckled.

Serif's eyes slightly narrowed as he saw Jake's eyes widened, brows pulled back, as he stayed afloat above the forest.

It isn't good news.

Jake lost his balance again, struggling to stay afloat, and then he fell, screaming as he approached the ground.

But then, the much anticipated crash didn't happen, his eyes slowly opened, his face almost having a date with the ground, he heaved a sigh of relief.

Then Orivin burst into laughter again, Tavena looking away, chuckling, Serif shook his head.

Looking to the side, he noticed someone's boots next to his face, he gulped hard and looked up, Zhadra 's stern face staring down on him, one hand outstretched, holding his leg, saving him.

"Hi…" before he could complete it, she released his leg, face slamming to the ground.

"Don't worry kid," Orivin patted Jake's shoulder, "it's nothing to be embarrassed about, on the bright side you can brag to the others about being touched by Zhadra, that's quite an achievement y'know."

He burst into laughter again, Jake's head lowering further, it didn't help that Tavena was also chuckling.

"You okay," Serif asked.

Jake simply nodded without looking up.

"What did you see?" Zhadra asked.

Jake shuddered at the question.

"Yeah what made you lose composure like that, gods I thought you saw the devil himself, y'know." Orivin's boisterous voice resounded, a smile on his lips.

Jake looked at Serif, lips trembling, "Sir, I th…think it's a really horrible idea to follow this forest." He fumbled over his words.

Serif's eyes narrowed, what could he have seen to have gotten him so shaken up.

"What did you see?"

He looked at Serif, then at Zhadra, and finally the forest, "f…f…fire," he muttered, a frown appearing on Serif's lips.

"What," Ovirin asked.

"It's on fire, the forest, black flames over it."

Serif's eyes narrowed, brow scrunched, black fire, where had he seen that.

"Are you sure," Zhadra bent down, asking Jake.

"You sure your mind wasn't making things up," Tavena asked, rubbing her hand.

Jake shook his head, "I'm sure of it, black flames as far as I could see, but that's not the worst…" his eyes narrowed, a terrified look hidden within.

"When I looked closer, trying to see into the forest, something looked back, so…something terrifying, I felt suffocated, like I'd die if I continued looking a second longer." Jake explained.

"Haha," Orivin burst into laughter again, " your mind playing tricks on you boy, happens a lot of times when you can't comprehend what you're seeing."

"I've experienced it a lot in the mountains, y'know, it's just your mind," he pointed to his head.

"No," Jake shouted back, jaw clenched, eyes closed, "I know what I saw, I…know w.w..hat I saw, the fear I felt was real."

He looked at Serif, "Please, let's take the long way."

Serif locked gaze with him, this time the boy did not break eye contact, he looked on with pleading eyes.

"I agree," Zhadra said, standing up, "the forest is too mysterious, too dangerous, I'd reckon our chances of survival will be less than ten, we should take the long way."

"It's better to be behind schedule, than make unnecessary sacrifices."

"I agree," Tavena nodded her head.

Serif looked towards Orivin who simply shrugged and looked away.

Serif's eyes moved to the forest again, he took a deep breath, too much mystery surrounded it indeed, he was hoping to use Jake's info to plan a route, but…

In a way it was successful, considering he now knew more about the forest, that being said, they're right, he looked to the right, the forest stretching into the distance.

Then to the left, the dark dojo, no ruins, where that cyborg lived, they had just one choice now.

"Alright…" Before he could complete his statement, the ground shook, a roar resounding from the left, the dark dojo.

Serif dropped to one knee, hands over his ear.

The roar was suspended for a few seconds, then silence, Serif breathing heavily, he looked around, Zhadra on her knees, Jake sprawled on the floor, Tavena crying, looking up blankly, Orivin groaning, jaw clenched.

Then boom!!!

A shockwave came from the dojo, a tremor spread along with it, something flew out of the dojo, heading straight into the sky.

The figure stayed afloat for a second, two massive wings spreading behind it.

Then it vanished, a sonic boom resounding the next second as it streaked across the sky heading for…

Serif's eyes widened, the transport tower.

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