Chapter 1202 The True Killer Part One
As night fell over the forest, Gaya's frustration reached its peak. She kicked a nearby tree in annoyance. "What are we supposed to do in this damn forest?" she exclaimed, her voice echoing through the trees.
Michael observed silently, considering Silvaris's likely plans for this part of the dungeon. He was about to respond when he heard Gaya let out a loud curse. Holding her foot, she grimaced in pain.
"Why the fuck are these trees so damn strong?" she groaned, hopping on one foot.
Michael knew that even without her full cultivation, Gaya was remarkably strong, thanks to her intense training regime and her innate Naga strength. Curious, he approached the tree she had kicked and punched it himself. The solidity of the tree surprised him; it felt like punching a concrete wall.
"These trees weren't this strong during the day," he mumbled to himself, piecing together his observations.
He then leaped up and grabbed a branch, attempting to break it. With considerable effort, he managed to snap the branch, but it was far from easy. Still nursing her sore foot, Gaya tried to break another branch and failed, leading to another round of cursing.
"Damn it! What's up with these freakin' trees? They're like iron at night!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with irritation and bewilderment.
"It seems like the night affects these trees, making them tougher," he concluded. "Silvaris must have designed this place to change with the time of day."
"But why?" Gaya asked, puzzled by the sudden change in the trees' strength at night.
Michael pondered for a moment, his gaze shifting upward. Without responding immediately, he began to scale the tree, taking advantage of the sturdiness of the branches that now felt strong and rigid, unlike their more fragile state during the day.
Watching Michael climb the tree, Gaya had a smirk forming on her lips.
"Look at you, climbing like a monkey," she joked, her laughter ringing through the quiet of the forest.
From his higher vantage point among the branches, Michael shot back with a playful retort.
"Better a monkey than a foot-sore snake who can't kick a tree without hurting herself," he called down, his tone light and teasing.
Despite the sting of his words, Gaya couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head in amusement. Michael's laughter joined hers as he continued his climb, the moment of levity bringing a brief respite from the tension and uncertainty of their situation.
From the top of the tree, Michael had an unobstructed view of the vast forest that stretched out around them. Under the starry sky, the forest was a sea of darkness interspersed with the silhouettes of countless trees. But as he scanned the landscape, one particular tree caught his attention. It had a subtle glisten, barely noticeable but distinct enough in the moonlit night.
"What do you see up there?" Gaya called out from below.
"Looks like our thief has hidden a tree in the forest, literally." Michael yelled back. He then marked the direction fo the tree in his Environmental Map.
Once back on the ground, Gaya looked at him expectantly.
"What did you mean by that?"
"There's one tree up there, different from the rest. It's slightly glistening under the night sky." Michael explained what he had observed from his vantage point.
Hearing his explanation, Gaya's eyes widened in realization, and she let out a curse.
"That sneaky bastard," she muttered.
"It makes sense, though. Silvaris is a thief, and he did say we need to think like a thief. A good thief hides his possessions in plain sight."
"Exactly. That tree might be our key to finding a way out of this part of the dungeon or discovering what Silvaris has hidden here."
"Let's not waste any time," and began to head in the direction of the glistening tree.
Following close behind, Gaya commented, "Typically, a night like this in a forest spells trouble."
"Sometimes, things are simpler than they seem, and the answer is staring at us the whole time," Michael replied. His voice carried a hint of optimism, suggesting that they might be closer to unraveling the mystery.
As they made their way through the forest, they stumbled upon another body. This grim discovery marked the fifteenth body they had found so far, adding to the somber atmosphere. This time, it was a human body hanging from a tree.
Gaya looked at the body hanging by his neck and felt pity for the golden haired human.
"Suicide?" she asked, although she knew the odds of it were minimal.
Michael gave the scene a quick look. He didn't spend much time contemplating it.
"Looks like it." He then continued to walk past the body, maintaining their course towards the glistening tree.
Leading the way with a calm demeanor, Michael soon found himself on the edge of a swamp. The swamp emitted a foul smell, a mix of decaying vegetation and stagnant water. In the murky waters, crocodiles could be seen swarming, their eyes glinting menacingly in the dim light.
Upon seeing the crocodiles, Gaya couldn't help but roll her eyes. She looked up at the sky, addressing Silvaris with a tone of mockery.
"Crocodiles? Really, Silvaris? That's weak," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
As Michael scanned the swamp, he noticed several human limbs and blood splatters scattered around the edges, a clear indication of a violent encounter. He realized that some adventurers must have either stumbled upon the swamp accidentally or, like them, were drawn here by the glistening tree, only to meet a grisly end at the jaws of the crocodiles.
"Without spells and celestial energy, dealing with these crocodiles is no joke," Michael remarked, his voice serious. While seemingly mundane compared to other threats they had faced, the crocodiles posed a significant danger in their current state.
Each crocodile in the swamp was massive, their scales a dark, muddy green that allowed them to blend seamlessly with the swamp waters. Their eyes, cold and unblinking, watched Michael and Gaya intently, ready to snap their powerful jaws at the slightest provocation. The largest of them, easily over twelve feet long, had numerous scars across its body, suggesting it was the dominant creature in this swampy domain.
Assessing the situation, Gaya stepped back cautiously and suggested.
"Just roast them with your dark flames and get this over with,"
Michael responded with a chuckle, finding amusement in her straightforward approach. He then raised his hand, focusing his energy, and cast the Ring of Flames. A wave of dark, menacing flames shot forth from his hands. The black flames engulfed the swamp, instantly vaporizing the crocodiles and scorching the swampy grounds.
As the flames subsided, Michael's head rang with the familiar notification of his achievement.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully being a badass. The reward is 5000 Badass points]. The system's acknowledgment brought a slight smirk to his face.
After Gaya watched the display of power, she couldn't help but express her envy.
"I wish I had my own primordial flames," she commented, her tone half-joking, half-wistful.
In response, Michael playfully knocked her on the head.
"Don't be too greedy, snake," he teased, his eyes twinkling with humor.
Continuing their venture through the enigmatic forest, Michael and Gaya finally reached their destination. The glowing tree stood before them, pulsating with a strange golden glisten that set it apart from its surroundings. It was an ethereal sight, the tree's glow providing a stark contrast against the dark backdrop of the night.
As they approached the tree, they noticed several adventurers gathered around it. It was clear that, like them, these adventurers had either stumbled upon the tree accidentally or had managed to locate it through various means such as spells and artifacts. Some were examining the tree closely, while others seemed to be discussing their findings in hushed tones.
When Michael and Gaya moved closer to the glistening tree, they overheard the conversations among the various groups of adventurers. The discussions were a mix of caution, curiosity, and speculation.
One group was debating whether it was safe to touch the tree.
"It could be a trap," one adventurer argued, his eyes warily scanning the golden glow of the tree.
"Every time we've touched something in this damn forest, it's led to trouble."
Another adventurer, brimming with curiosity, countered, "But what if it's the key to getting out of here? We can't just ignore it."
Nearby, another group was discussing the bodies they had found throughout the forest.
"Someone, or something, is picking off adventurers one by one," a grim-faced woman said.
"We need to figure out who or what is behind these killings before we end up the same way."
Her companion, a tall man with a scar across his cheek, nodded in agreement.
"And let's not forget that some of these deaths are bizarre. It's not just about being killed. There's a pattern or a message in these murders."
Michael and Gaya listened quietly, absorbing the information and weighing their options. The tree, with its alluring glow, seemed like a significant element in the forest, but the risk of traps or unknown consequences made them cautious.
After a moment of contemplation, Gaya whispered to Michael.
"We need to be smart about this. Let's observe for now and see if we can learn anything from these groups."
Meanwhile, from a distance, hidden within the shadows of the forest, Jin observed the scene unfolding around the glistening tree. His eyes narrowed as he watched Michael and Gaya join the other adventurers who were gathered there, all drawn to the mysterious glowing the tree.
"The rats are in place. It's time to trigger the trap." His voice was low but carried a tone of cold anticipation.
It was clear that Jin had been planning something, and the gathering of adventurers around the tree provided the perfect opportunity for him to set his plan in motion.
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