Several days had passed since the fierce battle against the Mud Creature Army. The atmosphere in the Nexus was beginning to recover, but vigilance remained high. In the main courtyard, all the guards gathered before Zenless and Marcus, who stood with great authority.
"K'tharrh the Hydra has shown his fangs. We cannot just defend," declared Zenless, his voice firm, breaking the silence.
"We must know his strength and his plan.Therefore, I have decided to form a special team to infiltrate his territory and spy on his headquarters."
Marcus stepped forward, his eyes sweeping over every face present. "I will lead this team. We will enter the Night Forest, where his lair is believed to be. I need four people for this task: Forest Guardian, Voice, Stone Sentinel, and Iron Knight!"
The names echoed across the courtyard. The four guards who were named exchanged glances before stepping forward in unison. Their faces were filled with determination.
"Ready, Your Majesty!" they exclaimed almost simultaneously, their voices united and full of conviction.
"Prepare and bring only necessary supplies. You depart before sunset," ordered Zenless.
Soon after, the four guards said their goodbyes to their comrades. Leon nodded, while Deathblade Dancer only offered a sharp glance. Led by Marcus, the five of them left the Nexus and headed towards the forest long considered forbidden.
Upon reaching the edge of the forest, they were all somewhat astonished. Outside the forest, the sky still showed an orange twilight. Yet, just a few steps ahead of them, beyond the first trees, the pitch-black darkness of night had already engulfed the area, as if an invisible wall separated two worlds.
"Lord Marcus, how can this forest..." murmured Voice, bewildered.
Marcus sighed. "This is why this forest is called the Night Forest. Its soil was cursed forever by the blood of a god who was mortally wounded in a war millions of years ago, stabbed by an ancestor of the demon race. The curse locks this forest in eternal night."
He offered no further explanation. "Come on, let's go in. Our time is limited."
They proceeded along a dark path. The atmosphere was silent and eerie, with only the sound of leaves rustling in the night wind audible. After walking deep enough, Forest Guardian suddenly stopped.
"What is it?" asked Iron Knight.
Forest Guardian looked towards Marcus, who was walking ahead. "Lord Marcus, why didn't you bring a fire magic user? They could have been a light source. And how can you use fire magic? Aren't you famously unable to use magic?"
The question hung in the air. They all stopped abruptly. Marcus also halted, his back still turned to them.
Suddenly, the atmosphere turned ice cold.
Marcus slowly turned his head. A strange, faint smile was etched on his face. "You are very observant, Forest Guardian. Indeed, I usually cannot. But I'll show you how."
Before anyone could react, Marcus's body suddenly vanished and reappeared right behind Forest Guardian with unnatural speed.
"Lord Mar—" Forest Guardian's words were choked.
SCHLUCK!
A hand pierced through his back and out of his stomach, clutching something pulsating. Forest Guardian's eyes bulged, his mouth agape in shock and unimaginable pain. Fresh blood flooded his mouth.
Marcus pulled his hand back, leaving a horrifying hole in Forest Guardian's body. "Like this."
Forest Guardian's body fell to the ground, lifeless. His eyes were still wide open, frozen in an expression of terror.
"NO!" Voice screamed hysterically.
Stone Sentinel and Iron Knight immediately assumed defensive stances, their faces pale with fear.
But it was all too late. Marcus moved like lightning. The sounds of screams of pain, and shattering stone filled the air. Voice tried to scream, shattering Marcus's eardrums, but the attack was ineffective. Stone Sentinel was easily shattered to pieces. Iron Knight was cleft in two, along with his famously sturdy armor. In an instant, all four guards were killed without being able to fight back.
Marcus stood among the corpses, not even breathing heavily. He then did something horrifying with a cold expression: he cut off one of his own hands and gouged out one of his own eyes.
With a body now full of severe wounds and drenched in blood—both his own and that of his victims—he limped away, leaving the Night Forest.
---
The next day at the Nexus, the atmosphere was still calm. Suddenly, the shout of a demon soldier at the first gate shattered the peace.
"Your Majesty Zenless! Your Majesty Zenless!"
A soldier ran quickly towards the third gate, his face panicked. "Lord Marcus... He has returned... Severely wounded!"
Hearing the report, Zenless and Leon, who happened to be nearby, immediately rushed to the first gate.
A horrifying sight greeted them. Marcus lay weak before the gate, his body covered in terrible wounds, one of his arms severed, and one of his eyes a hollow, empty socket. His breath came in ragged, weak gasps.
"Zero... Quickly..." groaned Marcus in a hoarse voice, as if using his last ounce of strength.
"Take me...to the city... Find a healer... who can cure me..."
Zenless knelt, his face filled with worry and disbelief. "Who did this? Where are the others?"
Marcus shook his head weakly, as if too weak to speak. "We... Were ambushed... They... all dead..."
Leon, his heart pounding, carefully lifted Marcus's body. Blood still seeped from his wounds.
"I will find the best healer, Marcus. Hold on!" said Zenless, his eyes glistening with mixed emotions—worry, anger, and disbelief.
With Leon's help, they carried the dying Marcus away from the Nexus, heading towards the city in hopes of saving his life.
=== CHAPTER 35 END ===