Shadows of the Demon Forest
I wandered aimlessly, just following behind the Old Man.
Where we were headed didn't really matter anymore.
Explaining why would take... sorry, but it's a bit long-winded.
Before we start, I might as well recap something you may have forgotten.
The place I'd just been was Rotten.
Don't get it twisted—this isn't the big city I described earlier.
It's all the lands under Marquis Certhem Rotten's control. People just call the whole territory Rotten.
Guess slapping the name of the biggest city in the region on it made it easier to remember.
To tell them apart, you just go by context—city or territory.
Anyway, back on track.
Certhem Rotten—he's the marquis.
His biggest job? Guarding the border.
You'd think it's usually against other countries, but Rotten's different.
Picture a rough square—like the continent, all jagged edges.
At the top: the Astra Empire, claiming nearly 70% of the square's area.
Below that, a bunch of smaller nations fill in the rest.
If you've followed so far, you've got a rough sketch of the Lunia Continent map, named after Goddess Lunia herself.
Whatever your mental image looks like, paint the edges black.
That's the uncharted wilds—the Demon Realm.
Demon Realm and black? Perfect color combo.
Anyway.
Now that you've got a basic grasp of the world, let me properly introduce Rotten.
It's in the north of the Astra Empire, guarding the empire's border against the Demon Realm.
And this border? Not some arbitrary line on a map.
The Astra Empire built a massive wall called Caliseo with overwhelming tech and cash to keep the monsters from strolling right in.
That wall is the border.
So, the point of this long, boring, pretentious ramble?
I'm outside Caliseo right now.
The Demon Realm.
Land where no one lives.
Monsters everywhere, no edible food, not even drinkable water. Once a bountiful goddess's domain.
Once you're here, who gives a shit where you're going?
It's already fucked—how much worse can it get?
Besides... it's not like I was dragged here against my will.
The day before—when I decided to follow this old geezer.
I hounded him about our destination. Everything else was fine, but I wanted to know where.
He told me:
"To the Demon Realm."
I didn't come here clueless.
I could've turned back then, easy.
It's not like I swore to die for the old man or anything. If I didn't wanna go, I just wouldn't.
But I chose to follow him anyway... probably because of shit like this.
- Swish.
- BOOMCRASHKABOOM!!!!
"A forest, huh..."
A forest.
No joke— a real fucking forest.
Even with all my mercenary studies on herbs and ecology for survival, "forest" was the best I could describe it.
I'd crammed that stuff to stay alive.
Mercenaries get dragged everywhere, treated like half-disposable meat shields with crap supplies, so self-sufficiency's key.
Herbs and ecology? Basic merc knowledge.
But this forest didn't match any of what I'd learned.
A few trees vaguely resembled known ones here and there, but most were warped beyond recognition by demonic energy.
The Old Man navigated this unknown hell like it was his living room.
I trailed behind him again.
"Whoa..."
I gawked around the forest.
The Demon Realm's woods were bizarre as hell, drawing my eyes constantly.
The mystery of the unknown fired up my explorer's itch.
- Whoosh. Whoosh.
"Hm?"
Did I just see something wrong?
Something black zipped overhead.
- Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
Nope, eyes weren't lying.
Some shadowy thing was circling me and the Old Man.
Seeing me tense up, the Old Man finally cracked open that heavy mouth of his to explain.
"We used to call them ghost monkeys. You can't see their bodies, but their shadows show, so they're harmless in daylight. They get dangerous in dark spots or at night—watch out then."
"!!!!!"
The things called ghost monkeys charged while I was glued to his every unknown word.
"Ook!"
"Eek-ook!!"
The Old Man said their shadows were clear in daylight, low threat.
But predicting attacks from shadows alone? Not used to it yet—tricky bastards.
"Fuck... seriously!!"
I dodged some by twisting my torso, smacked away the unavoidable ones with my sword.
After a while fending them off, I started getting the hang of tracking their shadows.
If it kept going like that, I could've wiped the pack.
Yeah, if it kept going like that.
"Huh?"
The ghost monkey shadows suddenly thickened.
Like... two monkeys per shadow now.
Thought it was my imagination at first, but they multiplied to three, four...
"What the fuck..."
Soon the whole area went pitch black.
I realized it then.
At least a hundred of these monkey shits.
And they weren't just numerous—they were smart.
Black as night everywhere, but no mass assault. Small groups hit-and-ran like guerrillas.
Numbers and angles varied every time.
If they'd rushed en masse, I'd have hit something.
"Ngh."
Cuts were piling up on me.
Couldn't see 'em, but they were real—reading air currents to block as best I could.
But focus was hitting its limit.
Why the hell aren't any going for that monster old man?! Discriminating against me or what?!
No sword skills from him.
Hood up, but they had to know he was an old guy.
Yet only me...
I look like easy pickings, huh?
Pissed.
Furious.
My weakness burned like never before.
Strength was never my top goal before.
I became a merc 'cause I liked helping people. If power was the aim, I'd have joined the knights.
But right now? I needed strength I'd put off.
Maybe I'd lived too safe till now.
Inside that massive wall, facing controlled threats—no obsession with power.
Truth is, to protect and help anyone anytime, you need to be the strongest thing around.
Can't even protect yourself otherwise.
Finally, truly realized it.
"RAAAAAGH!!!!!!"
Rage boiled to my scalp.
Didn't wanna lose to these fucks.
And I was disappointed in my complacent self.
- Shiiik!!!
I swung on instinct.
Swing, swing, swing again.
Like a cornered lion's last roar, I clung on.
Took wounds that'd scar, blood pouring everywhere.
Didn't care.
Adrenaline surged; consciousness sank into a trance.
More efficient,
slash these damn things better,
feel them without eyes or sight,
I focused, refocused.
Controlled every muscle twitch to fulfill the primal urge to lop their heads.
Then,
at some point, a dark red energy trailed my sword.
- WHOOSH!
Darker, fiercer than the flames that burned my childhood village.
It whipped wildly, carving through the monkeys.
My body twisted like a coiling river.
As I willed, as I desired.
Aura brutally annihilated the foes before me.
"Hah... hah..."
But that was it.
Temporary awakening let me grasp aura, but these weren't my usual monsters.
My sword was gummed with their blood, chipped everywhere.
Useless for more hits now.
"Eek."
Their stares.
Those cries grated.
Mocking me.
Like scorning my futile flash-in-the-pan struggle.
If only I were a bit stronger.
Longing and regret flooded my mind.
I want strength. Strength.
Short as it was, no one burned for it like I did then.
Thought I'd collapse.
But right then,
"Huh...?"
The Old Man drew aura from his fingertip.
Clear, thick.
Dark red, just like mine.
- Swish.
He drew a line.
Left to right.
A plain horizontal stroke.
But how much profundity in that simplicity.
- BOOMCRASHKABOOM!!!!!
"Insane..."
I propped myself with my sword.
But I didn't miss the unreal sight before me.
Lifted my head, burned it into my brain.
"This is the realm you must reach."
The dense forest.
The swarming monkeys.
Vaporized by one gesture from the Old Man.
All that remained where the forest stood: weeds that had bowed to him early,
and the stumps of foolish trees too stiff to bend.