"You both packed everything you needed to?" I asked Ariel and Dion once again to make sure they had everything, as we reached the gate of Asul Extension. I saw Zuriel along with Nyx standing there with a strange expression as they looked at me, wondering what I was trying to do.
'Man, it gets harder to explain every time they ask more questions,' I thought as I recalled a few moments ago where I had to explain to them why, how and where I was going and also with whom. To be honest, I wanted to use Charm Magic on them, but since Nyx was already back to normal, that option didn't seem like a good one. So I had to make up shit in order to explain everything.
'Even so, they don't seem to buy most of it…' I sighed before waving to Zuriel before leaving from that place. The guards greeted me as they opened the gate.
The gates usually are closed at night and open early in the morning, so as to protect the city from monsters. We were leaving early in the morning at my sudden demand, no wonder it was a bit confusing for others as to why I was in such a hurry.
The gate opened completely and I, along with Dion and Ariel, left under the constantly narrowed gaze of Nyx and Zuriel. They kept looking at us for quite some time before finally leaving as we reached quite a distance.
'Last night was hectic too…' I thought as I recalled how I had to backtrack everyone present in Ariel's research room and then erase their memories, replacing them with new ones. While also discussing with Nyx, Zuriel and others about me going to the Hellfire Forest…
"I didn't expect you would put so much significance in this," Ariel asked with a little bit of shy expression as she turned her head down and I made an awkward expression as I nonchalantly replied,"Neither did I."
"Huh?!" Ariel looks at me with a slightly confused expression as she tilts her head a little. I then shook my head as I answered her,"it's nothing," before I moved on to check the directions towards the HellFire Forest.
I kept reading through the map towards the HellFire Forest, the type of monsters it had, and the vegetation it had. I didn't have time to do it before, so I was trying to grasp as much knowledge of that place as possible.
The HellFire Forest, as the name suggests, is a forest forged with fire. The trees, namely Fire Trees, growing there have the special property of absorbing fire mana and using them as nutrients to grow, ultimately becoming fiery in nature. After growing enough, the leaves of those Fire Trees start burning themselves, making the whole tree turn into a Fire Tree.
The trees which haven't fully grown also start burning, however instead of adapting naturally to it, they die out much faster, with only a few exceptions which barely survive. The fire then gradually spreads all over the forest, burning most of it, which later once again sprouts trees growing from the dead remains of the burnt out ones.
The trees, which started burning on their own, later develop a white flame and are called Elder Trees. Those trees are quite a bountiful material and each of their parts sells for quite a high price. Those trees do not harm their own kin and the other Fire Trees grown around them actually benefit as they grow comparatively faster.
Over the course of a millennium, repetition of this cycle has actually created a forest full of Elder Fire Trees, that are now converting the nearby trees of other species into their own. While it is also said that the centre of the HellFire Forest contains the very first Elder Tree and it is fairly different from the others.
How is it different? Nobody knows. Also, the monsters only exist in the outer HellFire Forest with little to no monsters within the Elder Forest. Though the monsters outside the Elder forest aren't really that easy to beat, too. In total, 5 types of monsters are found there, with each having their own specialty.
The Fire Wolves, the Black Hawks, The Basilisks, The Red Giants and the Flame Minatours are the ones who are found there in the outer Hellfire Forest.
Each monster has its own den and pack, with about 500 to 700 monsters of each variety. There is a hierarchy among each type, with the King sitting at the top, rounding it to 5 Kings ruling the surroundings of Elder Fire Forest.
Those 5 Kings have their own area division and each area is said to have intelligence equal to a human. Though, the level of their power is still unknown, which is expected to be at least SSS+ according to the System's power structure.
While that is all true, it doesn't mean that people don't venture into the forest. People with greed or ambition exist everywhere. There are adventurers strong enough to challenge the monsters of the outer forest and they venture into the forest in search of something from time to time. Needless to say, they have skills to back up their power as well.
The best element to venture into the forest is Light, Life and Fire related magic while also having the ability to defend yourself against the fire attacks. Needless to say again, that you need at least an ability or artefact to protect yourself from the fiery surroundings too.
Water magic or anything related to that is totally not allowed as it will not only make you a target of the forest but also give up your location to all the beings present within the forest labelling you as dangerous.
I then looked through other things that the forest had to offer and a few things did excite me, before we finally reached the entry point of the HellFire Forest and it was quite… beautiful, to say the least.
"We need a porter of at least the level of High Guardian!! A STRONG PORTER PLEASE!! IS THERE ANYONE HERE WILLING TO JOIN US"
"TWO HEALERS PLEASE!!"
"WE NEED A PERSON WITH SCOUTING ABILITY!!"
I saw multiple people shouting while about 50 to 60 people were selling the things that they got from inside the forest. There was a huge crowd trying to buy the stuff too, while there were adventurers who seemed to be getting ready for departure, too.
'Going alone is the best choice… but I wonder if I could join a party that I can manipulate…' I thought as I looked around and not too far from us, I found a party of three. Three girls, to be honest, sitting as they sipped water and sobbing as they had a really scared and terrified expression on their faces. There were a couple of people who seemed to be comforting them.
A thought suddenly came into my mind as I moved towards them and Ariel and Dion followed behind me towards them.
"It is okay, Iliara. This happens to the best of us… I know Flare is-" a man was trying to comfort one of the girls whose name seems to be Iliara but before he could say anything more…
"Flare is not dead!! I will go in again. All I need is a new team and we will save Flare from those filthy minatours," spoke Iliara with a glare as she looked at that man. That man, looking at that glare, took a step back as he gulped, holding his crotch.
'That's quite the control she got over her power,' I thought as I looked at her crimson face. She had black hair and black eyes, with hair reaching her torso while she wielded a spear and from the looks of her strong build, she looked like she possessed some powerful skills of spearmanship.
"HA! What are you?!! Are you crazy?! Flare is Dead! Nobody whom the minatour has taken ever come back from that forest!! They are taken directly to the Minatour King… even if she is alive now, do you think anyone would be willing to join your party now?" Spoke that man as he looked at Iliara. The other two girls were still crying as they glanced at the surroundings.
Looking at their expectant gazes, everyone turned their head away before slowly starting to disperse. Not even moments later, everyone had already left to do their own work, and I sighed as I moved towards the three of them.
"I can help you three, but in return I want something from that forest," I spoke as I reached them. Nobody is easier to manipulate than someone who has lost someone and is desperate to save them.
"You… are you mocking us?" asked Iliara as she looked at me, but before she could say anything more, the other girl stopped her from speaking anything and looked at us.
"Hey… this is Iliara and I am Iliana. We are sisters and this is Vatra. She is the sister of Flare, the girl in question. As you can see, we are already quite low on our luck, so can you please spare us… we can't handle any more… humiliation…" spoke Iliana, trying to make as less of a mess as she can.
Iliana looks the same as Iliara, except she seemed younger than Iliara. Iliara, if I had to guess, was about 25 to 30 years in age while Iliana looked about 20 years in age. They had an average height of about 5 feet 8 inches, with a muscular build.
Vatra, on the other hand, had bluish purple hair with a pure white face. She looked about 16 years old and was the most timid of all. Her hair covered most of her head so her eyes weren't visible, and she was holding a small wand in her hand. I saw her head filled with bruises left and right, wherever visible.
I, instead of talking to Iliana, moved towards Vatra as I stood in front of her. She looked at me, lifting her head up and I saw her beautiful red gem like eyes before I slowly touched her head and spoke,
"Light Magic: Healer's Pity," and then… her wounds began healing at a rapid pace, making her and the sisters look at me with a dumbfounded expression. The most shocked was Vatra herself as she kept gazing at me continuously. I could only chuckle a little at her reaction as I then healed her fully before taking a step back.
Everyone who was looking at me had a shocked expression as they realised what I had done right now… though I kept looking at Vatra only before I spoke with a humble smile on my face.
"My name is Zero. A Light element user, who specialises in combat, healing, and scouting. I am in dire need of something in that forest so… How about we make a deal, Miss Vatra?"
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