The discovery of Lord Valerius's meticulously kept "Secret of the Seven Signs" transformed Eric's mission from a blind search into a targeted strike. The scrolls laid bare the cult's subtle infiltration, their targets, and the increasing frequency of their activities in the Dragon's Roost.
"Alright, team, new orders," Eric announced, his voice sharp with urgency as he addressed Kord, Anya, Lysa, Jin, Roric, and Seraph. Lady Lysandra stood nearby, her expression a mix of terror and grim determination. "The cult is using the disappearances to gather resources, and Valerius's notes confirm they're operating deeper within the Whispering Woods. We don't have time for a full-scale Directorate deployment to every affected village. Our immediate priority is to minimize civilian casualties and gather intel on their main base."
He turned to Jin, Roric, and Seraph. "You three will spread out to the surrounding villages. Warn the elders, the village heads, everyone. Tell them there are dangerous individuals operating in the area, and to prepare for a potential monster horde. Instruct them to gather their people, secure their homes, and set up whatever defenses they can. Emphasize vigilance. And most importantly, call for backup from the nearest Imperial garrisons. Tell them it's an urgent, high-level threat, a direct order from Lord Eric of Dragon's Roost, supported by the Directorate."
"Understood, Team Leader," Jin replied, already moving.
"We will do our best to prepare them," Roric added, his face grim.
"And I'll ensure the message gets through," Seraph affirmed, her aura already shifting subtly, ready for stealth and swift travel.
Eric then looked at Kord, Anya, and Lysa. "You three are with me. We're going into the Whispering Woods. Lady Lysandra, you will remain here at the manor. It's safer. Your father needs care, and your information is already invaluable. Our servants will protect you."
Lysandra, however, stepped forward, her eyes blazing with newfound resolve. "No, Lord Eric. My father brought this evil here. I want to help. I know these woods better than any of your people. I can guide you, and I can fight. My cultivation is not weak."
Eric hesitated. Her knowledge of the terrain could be invaluable, and her determination was undeniable. "Very well, Lady Lysandra. But you stay with me. Follow my lead, and do not engage unless absolutely necessary. Your safety is paramount."
She nodded, a grateful and resolute look on her face.
Within a few hours, a small, hastily assembled army of villagers and local guards had gathered around the main village near Eric's manor, their faces grim but determined. They were armed with whatever they could muster – spears, bows, even farming implements. Eric, standing before them in his tailored robes, addressed them, his voice calm yet commanding.
"People of Dragon's Roost!" he projected, his voice carrying clearly. "I am Lord Eric, your protector. We have discovered that a dangerous cult is operating within our lands, responsible for the disappearances you've experienced. They are a threat not just to our domain, but to the entire Empire."
He continued, his voice hardening. "My agents have gone to call for Imperial reinforcements. They will come. But until then, we must be prepared. Prepare your homes, secure your families. Barricade your defenses. And be ready. If this cult is truly active, they may unleash a horde of monsters upon us, as they have done elsewhere. Guard your villages, protect your homes, and trust that aid is on its way. We will strike at their source!"
A murmur of fear and determination ran through the crowd. Eric then gave specific instructions to the village heads and their experienced guards, advising them on defensive positions and evacuation routes. He ensured they understood the severity of the threat, but also instilled a sense of hope and defiance.
As dusk settled, casting long, eerie shadows, Eric, Kord, Anya, Lysa, and Lady Lysandra entered the dense, ancient embrace of the Whispering Woods. The forest lived up to its name; a low, unsettling whisper seemed to pervade the air, made of rustling leaves, unseen movements, and faint, distant roars. The trees grew thick and tall, their branches intertwining to form a dense canopy that blocked out the sky, plunging the forest floor into perpetual twilight.
Almost immediately, the attacks began. From the gnarled roots and twisted undergrowth, forest beasts with glowing red eyes lunged. They weren't powerful, mostly D-rank creatures corrupted by a lingering, dark Qi, but they were relentless and numerous.
Eric moved like a phantom, his Wyvern-blade appearing and disappearing in flashes, cutting down the monstrous animals with precise, efficient strikes. Kord was a whirlwind of blunt force, his fists crushing skulls and sending creatures flying. Anya moved like liquid shadow, her daggers silencing threats before they could even roar. Lysa unleashed bursts of spiritual energy, incinerating smaller creatures and creating barriers. Lady Lysandra, though clearly frightened, fought bravely, her own Qi flaring as she used simple, but effective, combat techniques to defend herself.
"Be cautious!" Eric warned, his voice low amidst the sounds of battle. "Preserve your Qi! We don't know what lies deeper within. These are just scouts, a nuisance."
They pressed onward, deeper into the forest. The air grew colder, heavier, saturated with a faint, unsettling aura that Eric recognized from the Blackwood manor. It was the corrupt Qi of the Crimson Veil, subtle, yet undeniably present.
As they navigated the labyrinthine paths, Eric's senses, particularly his enhanced draconic perception, picked up a more distinct, pulsing signature. A faint foreign Qi, alien and malevolent, growing stronger with every step. It wasn't the ambient corruption; it was a concentrated source.
"This way," Eric commanded, his eyes narrowing, his hand gesturing towards a barely discernible path leading deeper into a tangle of thorny bushes and ancient, twisted trees. "I'm picking up a distinct Qi signature. It's strong, and it's foreign."
They followed him, pushing through the dense foliage until the trees began to thin, revealing a hidden clearing. At the far end of the clearing, nestled against a sheer rock face, was the gaping maw of a cave. It wasn't a natural cave; its entrance had been crudely expanded, and its jagged edges seemed to pulse with a faint, unholy crimson glow.
And standing before its entrance, silhouetted against the dark interior, were a dozen figures. They were cultists, clad in their familiar dark robes, their forms rigid and menacing. As Eric and his team emerged from the tree line, the cultists turned, their faces obscured by deep hoods. But in the dim, pre-dawn light, Eric could clearly see their eyes. Every single one of them glowed with a chilling, malevolent red light, fixed directly on him and his team. They were waiting. They knew.
A cold certainty settled in Eric's gut. This wasn't just a random encounter. It was an ambush. The cult had been watching. And they were ready.