Chapter 63 : Unbelievable
Sai Mo returned to Hayden — without the Flower of Light.
He began treating him with the herbs he had bought, but they were nowhere near as potent. They were only temporary supports that allowed the body to endure for a short while, not true medicine capable of saving a man standing at death's edge.
This situation lasted for two whole months — two months of slow, shared agony for both Hayden and Sai Mo.
By the end of that time, Hayden's body had grown visibly frailer. His skin had turned bluish from the poisons and ailments eating away at his flesh, and his wounds had deepened instead of healing. He was only a few breaths away from death now — every exhale sounding like a faint toll from a bell announcing the end.
Sai Mo didn't know what else to do. In a moment of helpless despair, he went to the Forest of Dreams — seeking calm, or perhaps the whispers of his family's spirits to guide him. He only wanted a word of comfort… or a trace of peace.
But what he saw there shattered his heart even more.
Around a hundred soldiers surrounded the Forest of Dreams, forming a complete perimeter, preventing anyone from entering. The sight of cold armor and grim faces made Sai Mo kneel upon the ground, tears streaming from his eyes — crying like a child forbidden from embracing his mother.
Indeed, a hundred soldiers stood guard, their eyes sharp, their hands clutching their weapons tightly.
Two months had passed since Luo Rei's group entered the forest, and no one had come out since.
The Lord of Phoenix Flame City had sent many strong individuals — knights and warriors of renown — but none ever returned.
The lord himself was torn between sorrow and fury, grief so deep it hollowed him out, for his own sons were among the missing. Yet even so, fear paralyzed him. He knew that stepping into that forest could mean his own end. And if he died or vanished… who would protect his city? Who would guard his family? Who would preserve all that he had built?
The fear of death was not the issue — it was the fear of the unknown that froze his will.
That nameless, shapeless dread that turned people into trembling sheep, too terrified to take a single step forward.
And so, the Forest of Dreams remained — dreadful, silent, mysterious.
The unknown had always been far more terrifying than death itself. That was human nature — at least for most.
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One of the soldiers struck the ground with his spear, grumbling,
"Damn it! Why do I have to guard this cursed place? Why don't we just destroy it already?"
Another soldier answered with a sarcastic tone, though a glint of fear lingered in his eyes.
"Destroy the Forest of Dreams? Are you an idiot? There are several reasons why we can't do that."
The first soldier frowned irritably.
"And what reasons would those be?"
The second cleared his throat, as if preparing to recount an old legend.
"First of all… they say that when General Luo Sui first came here, he brought with him the Phoenix Spear — one of the rarest and most powerful weapons — and it's still lost inside.
Second… rumor has it there's a treasure, a weapon, or perhaps a forbidden technique the rebels planned to use against Phoenix Flame City, still buried somewhere in there.
And third, and most important of all — how exactly do you destroy a spatial domain as strong as the Forest of Dreams?
From what I've heard, this forest is actually someone's 'Trait,' and it feeds on the life force of anyone who enters. The more victims it consumes, the stronger and denser its aura becomes. Unless it's broken from within, no one outside can destroy it. Understand now?"
The first soldier fell silent for a while, then asked hesitantly,
"If the Forest of Dreams is someone's Trait… does that mean the user is still alive? And do Traits die with their owners, or can they remain even after?"
The second soldier hesitated, as though treading too close to secrets beyond his station.
"I'm not sure if it really is a Trait — it's all just legend and rumor. But… let's assume it is. There are Traits that remain long after their owners' deaths — either because of their immense power, or the depth of emotion fueling them, or because they're tied to some binding formation that continuously absorbs magical energy.
Imagine your Trait is water. You form a massive sphere of water and hurl it at your enemy — but before it lands, you're killed. What happens next?"
The first soldier replied cautiously,
"It would disappear… wouldn't it?"
The other shook his head.
"Not necessarily. It depends on the nature of the Trait itself. Some Traits alter reality or the very balance of nature. Take a weather-altering Trait — if someone turns the sky into a raging storm and then dies, the storm doesn't vanish immediately. It could linger until the natural balance returns — or maybe never fade at all, if sustained by strong emotions and constant magical flow.
If someone poured their entire life force into a Trait, added an external source of energy, and carried in their heart emotions of pure hatred, grief, or vengeance… that Trait could last for years, even after their death. But eventually… it would fade — sooner or later."
He paused, his eyes narrowing toward the forest, voice dropping lower.
"The Forest of Dreams reshaped an entire space. Its existence this long means its creator's emotions were deep — and that it continues to draw energy from the ground, from every life that enters it. Maybe that person is still alive inside… or maybe not. What matters is that it hasn't weakened — in fact, it's grown even stronger because of its victims."
The first soldier swallowed hard, sweat gathering on his brow.
"I see… but damn! How many people went in for it to keep feeding all this time? It's been years since that incident, and it's still here!"
The second answered, voice low but certain,
"Don't forget — human energy isn't truly finite. One being can absorb another endlessly, as long as the source is alive and willing. That's how you extract pure essence.
The second condition is sustenance — food and water. As long as the victims can eat and drink, they can keep providing energy until their natural death.
But if the energy is drained recklessly, it'll deplete in minutes — though it'll eventually regenerate. If the process continues for years… the source remains open indefinitely."
The first soldier shuddered at the very idea. Goosebumps rose across his skin, and sweat trickled down his temples. He muttered softly,
"Damn it… I just hope I never end up in something that demonic…"
But before he could finish his words, the ground beneath them trembled violently!
The very walls of the Forest of Dreams quaked — deep, thunderous vibrations, as if the earth itself was breathing in fury.
Suddenly, an immense roar echoed from within the depths of the forest. It wasn't human — it was the cry of a colossal beast, furious, broken, and filled with sorrow!
A demonic roar that shattered the silence and pierced every heart like a blade.
The soldiers panicked, stumbling back from the perimeter walls. They trembled like leaves in a storm, terror gripping their chests as the earth continued to shake.
The tremors went on for fifteen endless minutes — each one feeling like an eternity.
All the soldiers gathered before the great gate, drenched in sweat, eyes wide and fixed upon the forest's interior, waiting — dreading what they might see.
And then… the shaking stopped.
A dreadful silence fell.
But one soldier froze, his face drained of color, his eyes locked upward in horror.
Another shouted,
"What are you doing, idiot?! Grab your weapon — get ready!"
But the first didn't move. He couldn't.
Confused and growing anxious, the second soldier thought, What in the hell is he staring at?
He raised his own head… and what he saw made his blood run cold.
For a few seconds, he could only stare, paralyzed — then screamed at the top of his lungs:
"The Forest of Dreams… it's gone!!!"
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