Chapter 662: Forest

Clyde and Mina emerged inside a dense forest.

The trees rose high above them, their enormous trunks twisting toward the sky, layers of thick branches and leaves blocked most of the sunlight.

Only a few thin rays managed to slip through the canopy, making the forest floor covered in patches of dim green light and deep shadows.

Vines hung from the branches, moss covered the roots, thick vegetation crowded every path.

Yet despite the abundance of life, the forest felt strangely dead.

There were no birds singing, insects buzzing, or distant cries of animals echoed through the trees. Even the wind seemed reluctant to enter this place, leaving the forest trapped in an unnatural silence.

Mina slowly looked around, her hand already resting near one of her twin daggers.

Beyond the enormous trees, they could see far in the distance pieces of land floated high above the treetops, carrying the remains of buildings and roads. Some structures had been torn apart, their fragments hanging in the air as though gravity had forgotten them. Others floated upside down, surrounded by clouds of dust and debris.

The sight was enough to remind them that this was not an untouched world. It was another Ruin.

Only this particular section had been swallowed by forests and vegetation.

Clyde studied their surroundings before speaking. "Stay alert. A Ruin can look peaceful and still kill you from any direction. The trees are not the only thing you need to worry about."

Mina nodded. "I understand."

She drew both daggers and held them loosely at her sides. Her posture changed almost immediately. She lowered her center of gravity, slowed her breathing, and began watching everything around her.

Every movement in the bushes caught her eyes, every strange shadow between the trees made her eyes linger for a moment longer.

Clyde noticed the change but said nothing.

They continued deeper into the forest.

The farther they traveled, the thicker the vegetation became. Roots pushed through the soil, strange flowers grew from the sides of trees and released glowing spores into the air.

Some plants moved whenever they passed, their leaves twitching despite the absence of wind.

Mina noticed it too. "This place is strange," she said.

"It is," Clyde replied. "Something worse is waiting ahead. Get ready."

As if responding to his words, the bushes suddenly exploded. Several creatures rushed from the vegetation.

They looked like combinations of plants and animals. One of them had the body of a large wolf covered in bark, with thorn-covered vines replacing its tail. Another one looks like a giant reptile whose scales had been replaced by layers of leaves and thick roots. A third creature moved on four insect-like legs while flowers opened and closed along its back, releasing clouds of poisonous pollen.

Mina dashed forward as the nearest creature lunged at her. Its jaws snapped shut at her head, but Mina twisted beneath its attack and drove one dagger into the soft growth beneath its jaw. Her second blade followed immediately, cutting through the creature’s throat.

Dark green blood sprayed across the ground. The creature died.

Another beast charged from her left.

Mina pivoted, crossed her daggers, and caught its claws between the blades before kicking it backward. She followed with a rapid dash and struck its exposed core.

The creature shattered against the forest floor.

Clyde dealt with the remaining monsters even more quickly. His sword flashed through the darkness, cutting through bark, vines, and flesh with every precise movement.

Within moments, the forest had fallen silent again.

Mina stood among the corpses, breathing steadily.

She looked at her bloodied daggers before wiping them clean against the body of one of the creatures.

She had expected the first fight to feel different. Instead, she felt calm.

The creatures were strange and dangerous-looking, but she handled them without losing control. Her movements felt natural, and she did not need Clyde to save her.

A small sense of confidence settled inside her. At least for now she knew she could hold her own.

Clyde glanced at her and said, "You’re doing fine."

Mina looked toward him. "That means I’m really ready?"

"Don’t get ahead of yourself."

Mina gave a faint smile before turning forward again.

They continued through the forest.

After several more minutes, Clyde suddenly stopped.

Mina nearly walked past him before noticing.

"What is it?" she asked.

Clyde remained silent for a moment. He sensed something. He recognized it immediately. It was Demonic energy.

His eyes narrowed as he focused deeper into the forest.

"There," he finally said.

Mina followed his gaze.

"What did you find?"

"Exactly what we came here for."

The trace was weak, but it carried the same quality Clyde felt around other Demon-related artifacts.

Clyde immediately started moving. "Come on. We’re going faster."

Mina tightened her grip on her daggers and followed.

They pushed through the vegetation at a much faster pace, weaving between enormous roots and trees as Clyde followed the faint demonic presence. The deeper they went, the stronger the sensation became.

The forest began to change around them.

The plants became darker. The leaves lost their natural color, turning black at the edges. The air grew colder, and faint traces of dark energy clung to the trees like smoke.

They moved carefully through the forest, their steps slow as they watched the shadows between the trees. They didn’t speak.

The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became, and the faint trace of Demonic energy continued to grow stronger.

Anything could have been waiting behind the trees.

Then Clyde suddenly stopped. Mina nearly walked into him.

"What is it?" she asked.

Clyde raised one hand, silently telling her to stay still.

He slowly looked through the gap between two enormous trees.

What he saw immediately reminded him of the burning city Ruin.

In a clearing ahead several Demon guardians knelt around a single object at the center of the area. Their bodies were larger than ordinary monsters, covered in strange mutations that mixed flesh with the vegetation of the forest.

They knelt there. As if they were worshipping something.

At the center of the clearing stood a wooden staff. A powerful Demonic aura radiated from it.

Clyde’s eyes narrowed.

Mina stared at the clearing, her expression becoming tense.

"Those things guarding the wood artifact?"

Clyde nodded slowly. "Looks like it."

He studied the guardians from behind the trees.

There were more of them than he had expected. Judging from the aura coming from the wooden staff, the artifact was strong.

"Come on," Clyde said, stepping to the clearing.

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