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Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Journey to the Endless Forest

With a coffee in hand, Orion strolled back into the HRF and made his way to Erica's lab. Just as he was about to leave, Erica's sharp voice cut through the air. "Trash Orion, there's an emergency meeting. Drop whatever useless thing you're up to and follow me." An uneasy shiver ran down Orion's spine at her tone.

"Come on, let's go. There's someone who needs your expertise." Her words carried an ominous weight. Orion's mind raced.

Who in their right mind would seek me out for this? Either the pay is miserable, or the job is extraordinarily dangerous. I'm betting on the latter.

As Orion entered the meeting room, a wave of intense energy hit him. His eyes scanned the room, landing on a group of men clad in heavy armor, bristling with weapons and artifacts. Their predatory gazes sent a chill through Orion. He tried to maintain his composure, though inside he was bracing for impact.

One of the mercenaries, a burly man with a blonde ponytail, stepped forward. His face was average, but his presence was anything but. "Greetings, Mr. Orion. I'm Brandon, and these are my trusted allies. We've heard quite a bit about you and decided you're the one for this task." Brandon's voice held a trace of nervousness.

"And what mission is that..." Orion began, but Erica cut him off. "Oh, he's already been briefed and agreed to participate," she interjected, then leaned in to whisper in Orion's ear. "The higher-ups are watching this mission closely. Don't screw it up or even think about backing out." Orion's options were gone before he could even protest.

Brandon handed Orion a paper detailing the mission. As Orion read, his face paled. The task was daunting: a powerful cultivator's ruin had been discovered, but the treasure seekers who entered had either perished or vanished without a trace. The mercenaries had managed to survive, but they were tight-lipped about what they had encountered.

"This is our token," Brandon said, giving Orion a green token. "It'll grant you access to the Teleportation Array for the Sacred Realm. We depart in four days. Be ready and meet us at Blue Bird Tavern once you arrive." With that, Brandon and his team left, their departure as swift as their arrival.

Erica looked at Orion with a smirk. "Genius Orion, you're dismissed. I'm giving you some time off to draft your will." Her mocking tone stung, but Orion didn't let it show. He decided to make the most of his time and visit his sister.

The journey to Daria's school took four hours. Daria was Orion's only family left after their mother became a Hollow. She was his anchor, his reason to keep pushing forward. He had taken on the world's burdens at a young age, driven by an unyielding determination that had shaped him into a Master Scientist. But life was unforgiving.

"Hey, bro. What's up? You seem miles away," Daria asked as she approached him. Seeing her face brightened his mood. He reassured her about the mission and promised to return safely, though her fear was palpable.

In the following days, Orion busied himself with preparations: writing his will (yeah, he did take Erica's advice), informing his school of his departure, gathering supplies, and intensively cultivating.

On the fourth day, he headed to Blue Jade City's Station, presenting his token to the skeptical guard. The portal activated, and Orion felt a dizzying whirl as he was transported to the Sacred Realm. He staggered out, sickened by the experience, drawing disgusted glances from passers-by.

After purchasing a map, Orion made his way to Blue Bird Tavern. The mercenaries had been waiting, their patience wearing thin. They had planned to set off in the morning, but Orion's tardiness had pushed their departure to nightfall. Brandon paid for their lodgings, and the group rested before embarking on their journey.

As darkness fell, the group set off towards the Endless Forest, a place of mystery and peril. The forest was infamous for its vastness and the formidable beasts that lurked within.

Orion's gaze dashed about in the forest registering the strange plants and beasts but his fixated in the sky, as he saw two moons.

Two moons, that's unnatural.

"It was believed that Earth also once had two moons but that our negligible amount of Spiritual energy wasn't enough to support both moons, thereby leaving us with only one. That also explains the mutation of our beasts after the reemergence of Spiritual energy."

As if reading his thoughts, Brandon explained to reason for the two moons .

As they approached the forest, Brandon instructed Orion to keep up as they quickened their pace. The journey was grueling, with Orion struggling to match their speed. They encountered low-level monsters, easily handled by the mercenaries while Orion was kept from fighting.

Gradually, they ventured deeper into the forest, where the monsters grew more dangerous. Brandon, cautious now, led them to a towering, snow-covered mountain, a mysterious landmark in the hot environment.

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