Elsewhere in the empire, Imperial stood with Elara, Reyn, and the unique's.
Isla stepped forward.
"I can teleport us to the nearest town close to the Curse Shrine."
With a surge of magic, they vanished and reappeared at Rome Town in the southern region.
The town was eerily quiet. Only a few people could be seen, all of them withdrawn and isolated.
Isla looked around.
"The shrine is half a day's walk from here. If we go by foot, we'll reach it before nightfall."
As the group prepared to set off, Isla approached Asher.
My lord if you don't mind can I visit my family here? I'll rejoin in a few minutes
Asher looked towards imperial,
Imperial gave her a silent nod.
As Isla walked away, Asher turned to Imperial.
"Why are you heading into the Cursed Shrine? That place is so dangerous even the Royal Army avoids it."
Imperial looked ahead.
"There's something behind that shrine's gate. I intend to retrieve it."
Reyn picked up a newspaper from a nearby bench and skimmed it. His expression darkened.
He handed it to Imperial.
"They printed our picture… but look at this."
A headline caught Imperial's eye:
"Gayle Hale Found Dead Under Mysterious Circumstances—Is the Red-Marked Imperial Responsible?"
Imperial's gaze hardened.
"I don't have time for this. I need to finish here and head there… as soon as possible."
A few minutes later, Isla returned. The group set off toward the Cursed Shrine.
It took nearly the entire day, and by the time they arrived, the sun had dipped below the horizon. Shadows stretched long. A dense forest now loomed before them.
Asher spoke quietly.
"We've arrived. The shrine lies deep within this forest. The cursed zone starts from here. But be warned—the gate you seek is sealed with ancient magic. Anyone who tries to open it has their magic repelled and also then burned the person into ashes."
Without hesitation, Imperial stepped into the forest. A dark magic waves released from him.
Asher looked at the others.
"Isla, Seth—stay here and guard the entrance. If anything dangerous comes out, don't let it pass."
The others followed Imperial, pressing deeper into the forest. The air was heavy—thick with a strange, cursed magic that made every breath feel unnatural.
Beasts howled in the distance. The rustle of movement echoed around them.
"This place feels like a living hell," Reyn muttered, eyes scanning the darkness.
Suddenly, a beast lunged from the left—a massive, shadowy creature snarling with unnatural rage.
Vera stepped forward, thrusting her hand downward.
"Wood Magic: Pierce!"
A jagged wooden spike burst from the earth, impaling the creature clean through its stomach. It shrieked once, then fell limp—its body pinned midair.
Asher narrowed his eyes.
"Don't assume it's over just yet."
Suddenly that beast with his hand hold that wooden spike and pull it out from ground . a;; shocked . his wound is also vanished .
Asher – they all are immortal with good regeneration ability , fighting them is not an easy task .
Then suddenly they surrounded by shrieking bird-like beasts with twisted forms and glowing eyes.
Vera and Renji drew their weapons.
"We'll hold them off," Vera said. "Keep moving—we'll catch up after."
More beasts emerged from the darkness.
Asher turned to them.
"Be careful—they're drawn to strong magic. Vera, Renji, don't let any of them get past you."
"Yes, my lord!" they answered in unison.
[Scene: Deep within the Cursed Forest]
As Vera and Renji held the line behind them, Imperial and the others moved deeper into the heart of the Cursed Forest. Darkness swallowed the path ahead—so thick even the moonlight struggled to pierce the canopy above.
Suddenly, the ground trembled.
Trees quaked. Birds screeched and scattered into the sky.
A deep rumble echoed beneath their feet—something ancient was awakening.
Then—without warning—hundreds of beasts emerged from the shadows. Between 100 to 200 monstrous creatures, each one of a different species, stepped forward and surrounded them. The air turned heavy.
Imperial narrowed his eyes.
("They're all around Ashenfang's size… But are they as strong as him?") he thought.
Then, the beasts shifted, parting like waves to form two large paths. The forest fell eerily silent as two massive beasts, nearly three times larger than the others, emerged from the darkness.
Asher's expression darkened.
Asher: "They're called the Guardians of the Cursed Forest. Normally, they don't appear this quickly… and never in this many numbers. It's because of your magic, Imperial. You've stirred them awake."
Imperial (calmly): "I don't have time for these insects. Reyn. Elara. Handle them."
The two nodded without hesitation.
Imperial stepped forward, moving straight toward the two towering beasts. The others—Asher, Caleb, and Soren—watched in awe as he walked casually, undisturbed by the monstrous presence before him.
As he neared the beasts, something astonishing happened:
The smaller creatures began collapsing, some fainting from sheer pressure, others trembling violently as they struggled to remain standing.
Even the Unique's members felt it.
A wave of magical pressure so heavy—it made their knees weaken.
Then—
The two giant beasts struck, their massive weapons crashing down.
Clang!
But the blows never reached Imperial.
Reyn and Elara intercepted the attacks with ease, blades clashing in a thunderous shockwave. Imperial didn't even look back—he simply glanced toward Asher.
Asher's eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Then, without a word, Asher began following him—along with Soren and Caleb. The beasts that remained standing began shaking uncontrollably as Imperial walked past them.
________________________________________
[Battle: Reyn and Elara vs. the Twin Guardians]
As Imperial and the others continued forward, Reyn and Elara engaged the two colossal beasts in an all-out battle. Steel clashed, magic surged, and roars echoed throughout the forest.
The red-furred guardian lunged first—faster than its size should allow.
Its fist came crashing down toward Elara.
She leapt aside and slashed her bleeding palm mid-air.
"Dark Blood Magic: Crimson Blade Arc!"
A whip of blood lashed out, slamming into the beast's arm and splitting the fur open. It roared in pain.
Reyn was already in motion, threads slicing through the forest air.
"Dark String Magic: Shadow Flare Snare!"
From both sides, invisible threads coiled around the obsidian beast's limbs, binding them briefly and allowing Reyn to anchor to a tree and leap above.
Mid-air, he threw forward dozens of thin, sharpened threads, aimed at its glowing blue eyes.
The obsidian beast raised an armored arm just in time. The threads cut—but not deep enough.
The Guardians retaliated.
The red beast slammed its foot into the ground.
A shockwave of corrupted curse magic spread in all directions—trees snapped, the soil cracked, and both Elara and Reyn were forced backward.
The obsidian guardian roared, and curse mist began leaking from its back like smoke from a volcano.
Elara took the lead.
Blood coiled around her arms like armor, her eyes glowing an intense crimson.
She darted forward, cutting her side again and forging a twin-bladed glaive made of hardened blood.
"Dark Blood Magic: Fang Reaver!"
She spun the glaive in wide arcs, driving it into the chest of the red-furred beast. It grunted, stumbling back.
But then it roared again—and black mist poured from its mouth.
The mist latched onto her weapon like sludge and melted it away.
"Shit—!" Elara staggered back, coughing.
Reyn dashed beside her, threads binding to her shoulder to pull her out of the reach of a sudden claw swipe.
"We need to stop underestimating them," Reyn hissed.
Elara grinned. "Wasn't planning to die today anyway."