Chapter 138: Convergence of groups
Within the Crimson Forest, a miasma of drifting, faintly poisonous fog wove through thick roots and towering blood-red trees. Marching steadily through this ominous land was a large troop escorting over 70 shackled prisoners—most of whom bore varying degrees of injuries. Some were gravely wounded, others untouched but hollow-eyed and helpless.
These captives were overwhelmingly non-human—predominantly demons, with a smaller number of demihumans. Among them were hobgoblin types, Chitinous Stalkers, and Bramblefiends. There were even several members of the violent and perverse Mireheart race, bound in heavy shackles with grotesque injuries.
(Note to readers: See Chapter 75 for more information on these races.)
The group herding them bore no uniform garb or race—but what unified them were the crimson-glowing eyes of every member. Silent, disciplined, and brutal, these crimson-eyed figures either forced prisoners forward or dragged them behind enchanted magical vehicles.
Atop one of the largest vehicles sat five of the troop's leaders. At the center was a young woman with the alluring beauty of a fae—yet with distinct demonic features that revealed her dual heritage. Long black hair streaked with white and gold flowed freely over her barely-covering red-and-black robes, which, despite their revealing cut, were reinforced with powerful enchantments.
This was none other than the reborn soul of the hobgoblin demon Ramorous' victim—now something far more dangerous.
To her side, a crimson-eyed elven man stirred, an intrigued expression forming across his face.
"I've just received word," he said, his voice smooth, "that one of my kin has appeared in this region. Their identity is concealed, but the aura doesn't lie—it's a Royal Fanged Elf who's awakened their vampiric bloodline."
At that, the other leaders turned their attention to him with mild curiosity.
"Oh? Coming to take command, maybe?" chuckled a burly, beast-like demihuman with canine traits. "Not that just any royal can lead us."
"Hard to say," the elf replied calmly. "We'll have to meet them face to face."
Suddenly, the demon-fae woman stiffened, a shiver racing down her spine as her eyes flickered with sudden awareness.
"We need to move toward the central zone. Immediately," she said, her tone low but urgent. "Something big is about to happen. And maybe…"
Her voice trailed off. A vague image crossed her mind—a memory of the mysterious masked benefactor who had once unknowingly intervened in her life, setting her on the path to this strange rebirth.
"Oh? A hunch?" asked another leader, this one a demon woman with unsettling energy. Her voice held a sadistic edge. "Fine. Let's head out. I'll notify the others to start converging. Though I'm not really done with my revenge just yet… Hehehe."
The others nodded in agreement, though the demon-fae woman threw a sideways glance at the sadistic woman. She sensed something off. A subtle trace of killing intent leaked out, and though it vanished quickly, it wasn't missed. Her instincts, now far more refined since her rebirth, remained sharp and she was prepared to kill this woman if necessary..
Was it because of the sacrifice of the demon woman who merged souls with her? Was it due to Master Farraleaf's overwhelming power? Or maybe had something deeper awakened within?
She wasn't sure—but she stayed cautious. If the need arose, she would not hesitate to strike.
The troop quickly reorganized, changing direction toward the central region of the Crimson Forest. They were not alone.
Elsewhere in the forest, other factions stirred.
In one direction, a violent contingent of battle-hardened experts bulldozed through terrain and monsters alike, making a blood-soaked beeline toward the center. Their bloodlust ran rampant—even injury did little to slow them.
In other distant zones, betrayal sparked chaos. Powerful individuals in multiple factions suddenly turned on their own comrades—slaughtering their way free before vanishing into the forest's depths. Even the miasma's poison didn't deter them. Their pursuers followed with righteous fury, igniting faction-wide conflicts in their wake.
The central region had become a beacon for the ambitious, the mad, and the desperate.
Meanwhile…
Elton, Christy, and Shayleaf continued their advance toward the heart of the forest. Though monsters attacked from time to time, they were cut down with relative ease.
Interestingly, the intelligent beings they encountered—the humanoid cultivators with crimson eyes—did not attack. Instead, many would pause, watch from a distance, and even bow slightly in passing. It was a jarring shift from the earlier hostility.
Only after several such encounters did understanding dawn on them.
"It's because of Shayleaf," Elton murmured, half to himself.
"Mm… and maybe you too, Gege," Christy added, her Aka Boshi no Tengan scanning their surroundings. "You both carry royal Fanged Elf blood. This forest was shaped by a powerful fanged elf, after all."
Shayleaf didn't say much. She just smiled faintly, her vampiric aura pulsing gently around her like an echo of something ancient. Though her demeanor remained composed, a storm quietly brewed within her—tied to the forest, her bloodline, and the power waiting to be unlocked at the forest's core.
And so, unaware of the convergence forming around them, the trio pressed forward—toward the center of a gathering storm.