Chapter 67: Red Forest 1

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Red Forest 1

"Those are the Red Forests—the deadliest region on the entire continent, where beasts hunt not for food but for pleasure," Freya said with a cheerful smile. "Now, who’s excited?"

After dividing the students into ten teams of ten, Freya and the group began making their way toward the Red Forest, walking through the green grassland. Luckily, Fiona had been placed on Xavier’s team. By some chance Allen had also stuck right by his side.

"I told you it’s fate. We are meant to be together," Allen said.

"At this point I don’t even think you were joking anymore," Xavier replied.

While the teams were being formed, every student had hoped to get Xavier—the highest-ranked student among them. Each was disheartened when the teams were announced and Xavier was not in their team. He had been placed in Group 3, Team 10. Besides Fiona and Allen, Xavier had seven other members from his year who were quite delighted to have him leading them.

"Remember, this is not a competition between you. It is a group survival training subject, so teamwork is an important part of the scoring system for these lessons," Freya reminded them. If they wanted to return unharmed, they could not afford to turn on one another.

With every step the distant Red Forests drew closer, until the huge black trunks, thick branches, and dark leaves filled their vision. They were already at the entrance, the first trees rising directly in front of them. Even the grass began to lose its green color, slowly turning gray and then pitch black. The soil beneath the black trees was the same dark shade. The branches overhead were thick enough to block any direct sunlight.

They stepped into the forest and the air immediately grew denser, heavier—a weight that took a moment to settle.

"It’s creepy," Allen said.

"We’re just at the periphery. We haven’t even gone deep yet," Xavier replied.

They kept pushing deeper until it became difficult to tell day from night.

"It’s called the Red Forest, but all I see is black," one student muttered.

That was when Professor Freya began a short lecture while they continued forward.

"The Red Forest is the ground where the great demonic war took place. These are the lands where the founder—the first emperor—together with the armies of the entire continent, fought against the Demon King and his forces for more than a decade in the final battle. All the different races set aside their animosity and gathered as one to defeat him. This ground was once a barren battlefield. The rumors say that every demon who fell here acted as a sapling. Later, when the Demon King was sealed, those remains turned into these dark trees, forming a natural boundary against the demon territory," Freya explained.

The students listened intently. They could not afford carelessness while standing in the very forest she described, changing the way they looked at the black trees surrounding them.

They continued deeper into the Red Forest, still listening to the lecture, until Freya suddenly raised her arm above her head. The signal was clear: halt and stay silent. Every student froze. Deep in the forest, the gesture could mean only one thing—danger.

Fortunately for them, Professor Freya was a beastmaster. Every group had a professor with some experience dealing with beasts, but a true beastmaster was a specialist. They handled every kind—demonic, magical, or ordinary. With Freya at their head, the students believed their chances of survival were the highest among all the groups.

"Hmm... it’s fine. This much they can handle," Freya murmured to herself before turning to face the students.

"All right. Just remember what you’ve learned at the academy and apply it. I’ll be watching," she said, then leapt onto a nearby tree and settled on a thick branch.

"Professor, aren’t you supposed to protect us?" one student asked.

"Not really. If something truly dangerous appears, of course. Otherwise, I’ll simply provide guidance," she answered from her perch.

Low growls leaked from beyond the trees ahead.

Grrrrhhh... rrrraaagh...

Six sharp, blood-red eyes stared at the students through the darkness.

Some students drew their swords. Others opened small spellbooks, offensive spells already at their fingertips. Still others gripped enchanted talismans, ready to form a protective barrier at a moment’s notice.

Allen stepped behind Xavier as Xavier called upon Zuzu’s powers. Fiona moved in front of him, putting her body between him and the threat.

"Don’t move. If anything comes for you, I will take care of it," Fiona said. Xavier was her master; protecting him was her duty.

Through the darkness the beasts stepped closer and came into view. Each stood over four meters tall on its hind legs, with a wide chest and broad shoulders. Big hooves leaving deep imprints in the dark soil. Thick brown fur hung from their bodies. Their faces were elongated, crowned with asymmetrical branching horns. If Xavier had to describe them, they looked like mutated elk—deadly, dangerous mutated elk. Their jaws and hands were covered in blood. Long, flat, blunt, chisel-like teeth were visible and stained red. Two more of equal size and menace stood just behind the first.

Hssskreeee... graaaahhh...

Students began stepping back in fear. Even Allen, who stood behind Xavier and knew that if anyone could deal with the threat it would be him, retreated farther.

Each group of one hundred contained twenty top-rankers, and each team of ten had at least two. Those top-rankers were the only ones still trying to keep their teams calm and form some kind of strategy. In Xavier’s team, that responsibility fell to him and Fiona.

"These little guys are called dreadhorns. They’re territorial creatures, and it looks like they don’t appreciate invaders. What are you all so scared of? It’s a hundred of you versus only three of them," Freya called down.

"From which angle does that look little?" Allen muttered in a scared voice.

"I’m not letting you do this alone," Xavier told Fiona, who still stood in front of him.

"Xavier, I must protect you," Fiona replied.

"I feel the same way. You’re my woman, and it should be me who protects you," Xavier said. "Did you forget that night when I asked you not to be just my servant, but to be my woman? As my woman, it’s your duty to accept my protection."

Fiona hesitated, then reluctantly agreed.

The moment was cut short by a long, hard, horrifying screech from the dreadhorns.

SKREEEEEEEAAAAAARGH—!!

Dreadhorns charged toward the students with bloodied jaws and hands—one of them aiming directly at Xavier and Fiona.

RRAAAAKH—SKREEECH!! GRAAAAHHH!!