God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

The journey back was much more uneventful than the journey into the forest.

They were waylaid by more than a few rabid Mutant Creatures. However, these ones were relatively weak and unintelligent, so dealing with them was no problem at all. The group had grown used to the wild rhythms of the dark forest.

The sharp cries in the distance, the rustling that came from the bushes and the bramble, the very little light diffused by the canopy of trees, embroiling the world in even more darkness, the snarling creatures half-lost in their own madness.

Compared to the coordinated air the {Willow Direwolves} and the {Blood-Curse Bats} gave off, these beasts were nearly no different from mundane animals. Only, they were much more powerful and twisted than regular beasts.

Singing blades. Magic that turned the ground inside out. Spells that made the air boil. Strikes that uprooted trees and cracked the earth, causing it to spill vicious magma were more than enough to deal with such beasts.

Besides Steve getting abducted and almost consumed by another carnivorous plant—which he barely managed to escape by burning the vines with an alchemical fire with a wicked appearance, things went mostly smooth.

In the end, they managed to make it back before the day had run out. As a viscous blackness settled over the forest, darkness the wind and the earth, they saw the man-made lights.

Thanks to the enchantments surrounding the place, Mutant Creatures were unable to notice it.

Upon sighting the first man-made building he had seen in the past two days, Blaze let out a long, weary sigh of relief.

His shoulders sagged and he nearly sprinted forward. He didn't say it aloud, but Cain could see that he was clearly exhausted. Dealing with monsters in a chilly, humid forest was not a very pleasant experience after all.

"Finally back," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

"That was rather fun, wasn't it?" Steve said from behind, his voice far too casual for Blaze's taste.

He shot him an annoyed look,

"And what was so fun about that?"

Steve rubbed his chin, pretending to consider it seriously.

"For one, we managed to get a much deeper understanding of the forest and its inhabitants. We also got to learn a fair bit of new information. Even better than all of that, is the new resources we have at hand now. Isn't that right, Cain…"

"Hm? Oh, yeah..." Cain answered absentmindedly, not even glancing up.

His thoughts were elsewhere, perhaps stolen or captured by some evil in the air. That, or he was a bit overwhelmed by all that had happened so far.

Steve stopped walking and turned around to face him. His boots sank slightly into the dark wet earth.

"What's this? You've got something on your mind?"

Cain stopped as well and looked up. His eyes were still sharp, but there was a deep exhaustion nestled at the back.

Seeing the looks on both their faces, mostly curious with a little bit of concern, he couldn't help but chuckle a bit.

Then he heaved a heavy sigh,

"Yes, I do. I can't help but feel a bit anxious. Although it's been some time already, it all still seems to move too fast for me to handle."

Steve folded his arms and narrowed his eyes as he nodded. He knew exactly what Cain meant.

"Such is the nature of our burdens. However, you must feet not."

"You just need to clear your head. A good fight tends to work wonders for that."

Cain raised a brow. "And where would I find a 'good fight' around here?"

They had fought a lot as they made their journey back. But none of the battles had been challenging. It barely tookma sword swing to slay most of them.

Steve smirked. "Funny you should ask. You remember when I said I was mapping out a few dangerous zones in the region? Well, there's a particular den east of the river that we never approached alone. Normally, it would be too risky to go there, even with a well-defined team, but perfect for... someone like you, dare I say."

Blaze shot him a skeptical look, crossing his arms.

"That place... is it what I think it is?"

Steve cackled menacingly.

Blaze sighed, "Youbreally recommend he run off into a deathtrap just to feel a bit better?"

Steve shrugged. "I wouldn't call it a deathtrap. We'll call it a focused challenge. There's only one beast there— a territorial, powerful, and very aggressive creature. Dealing with is was par for the course, but is a rather annoying bastard."

Blaze sighed and turned to Cain,

"It also wasn't very hostile when we encountered it. Only slightly troublesome. I believe it should be even more terrifying. Perfect for... someone like you."

Cain grimaced, "Oi, what the hell do you both mean by 'someone like me'?"

Steve continued, "It doesn't stray far from its lair, but it is also very territorial."

Cain sighed then nodded slowly.

The idea had some merit.

He couldn't lie that he was a bit battlestarved. Perhaps engaging in actual combat would do him some good.

"Tell me more."

Steve crouched and began drawing in the dirt with a stick,

*We're here. The den is here, past the marshland. The creature..."

Blaze glanced at Cain. "You're seriously considering this?"

Cain stared at the crude map for a while,

"I've been feeling a bit restless. Perhaps this is what I need. Of course, you are welcome to join me."

Blaze snorted, "I'll pass."

Steve stood up and dusted his hands with a grin stretching his cheeks, "And there is your beast."

***

The night came and left without pause.

When morning came, there was little difference.

The forest was still cold and humid while the sky was still dark.

A heavy sense of dread hung in the air.

Cain on the other hand had a contemplative look on his face.

He had changed into a light brown leather armor with minimal enchanted steel plating.

Steve and Blaze had other things to attend to, so this was going to be a lone journey.

'Feels like a vacation...' He thought to himself.

A small smile crept onto his face as he took a step forward into the dark forest draped with heavy blankets of fog.