novelraw Chapter 79: Shadowy Forest
Chapter 79: Shadowy Forest
Lin Xun was just about to explore the path behind the shed.
[The Apostle, battered by hardships, continues riding along the road for nearly half a day’s journey. You will reach the end of this chapter, “The Temple Ruins of the Church of Divine Light.”]
[Do you want to continue forward?]
He widened his eyes. Was Chapter 323 really about to end?
Thinking back, in this third-difficulty chapter, he had already spent a long time strategizing. Not only had he fully explored Saint Rance, but he had also discovered the Forgotten Abyss of the Fading Afterglow.
But he had just obtained the Ancestor Giant’s Tomb map from the last stop at the burial chamber, with a massive reward right in front of him. Yet now the cursed game was telling him that the chapter was ending.
Could it be that the Ancestor Giant’s Tomb belonged to the next chapter?
Lin Xun frowned and opened his inventory, attempting to click on the Ancestor Giant’s Tomb Map.
[You have used the Ancestor Giant’s Tomb Map. You can now follow its guidance to find the path to that location.]
[According to the map’s guidance, you realize that heading southwest along the road will eventually lead you into the Shadowy Forest.][Do you want to head to the Temple Ruins of the Church of Divine Light, or divert to the Shadowy Forest?]
Lin Xun let out a long breath. Thankfully, the hidden map was part of Chapter 323.
If the cursed game had told him that entering the Shadowy Forest required progressing to Chapter 324, he would’ve been forced to use the Anchor Bookmark to continue the Blood Sun worlds’ journey.
He clicked on Shadowy Forest.
[You ride the lion, leaving the road and galloping southwest…]
The text froze at that point, likely indicating that the Yellow-Robed Bishop was currently racing ahead on the lion.
Compared to last time, when the Yellow-Robed Bishop had to run a marathon on foot in the Forgotten Abyss of the Fading Afterglow, the lion ride this time was clearly much faster.
[As you race along, you notice sparse trees beginning to appear ahead. These tall trees have twisted, withered trunks, and their leaves, which should be green, exude an eerie crimson hue, as if stained with blood.]
[Slender vines dangle from the branches, swaying gently in the wind.]
[Scarlet sunlight pours down, passing unhindered through the leaves and casting grotesque shadows of branches and trunks onto the ground.]
[As you gallop on, the sparse crimson trees grow denser. Yet the ground beneath you splits open with cracks, leaving no grass or vegetation, while the crimson trees grow even thicker and taller.]
[Along the way, you don’t see a single living creature. The entire forest is deathly silent, with only the rustling of crimson leaves stirred by the wind.]
[You have entered the Shadowy Forest!]
[You follow the map’s guidance and are about to continue your journey, but you notice the surroundings have grown so silent that your hair stands on end. Even the rustling of wind in the branches has disappeared without a trace.]
[Do you want to keep moving forward, or stay where you are?]
Lin Xun became alert instantly.
Instead of charging ahead recklessly, he cautiously chose to stay put.
Moving quickly, he dismounted and issued a guard command to the Three-Headed Lion.
[The cautious Apostle chooses to stay put, carefully scanning the surroundings to guard against any danger.]
[The Corrupted Three-Headed Lion stands guard quietly at your side, crouching low and gathering strength, ready to spring into action to shield you from any threat.]
[The crimson shadows of the trees ahead sway and shift, gradually drawing closer to you…]
[Facial features emerge from the mottled bark of the tree trunks. They sway their branches and vines, wriggling their thick roots as they slowly close in on you!]
[Do you want to attack the Corrupted Forest Treants?]
What was this? Some kind of Groot?
The description shows that these treants weren’t moving very fast.
Riding the Three-Headed Lion, he could kite them like a mobile artillery platform.
In other words, were these mobs here just to hand over experience points?
With that thought, Lin Xun immediately began his kiting tactics.
[You swing yourself onto the Corrupted Three-Headed Lion, gripping its mane tightly behind its head.]
[You issue a combat command to the Corrupted Three-Headed Lion to maintain distance.]
[The Three-Headed Lion under you keeps retreating, always maintaining a set distance from the Corrupted Forest Treants…]
Lin Xun opened the panel and clicked Corrupt Sunlight.
[You raise the Thunder Dragon Staff-Spear and chant the incantation…]
[A flash of red light…]
[You defeated a Corrupted Forest Treant. Experience points increased slightly.]
[You obtained Crimson Branch (Junk) *1]
[The scorching heat from Corrupt Sunlight made the surrounding treants thrash their branches wildly.]
[Sparks from the heat burst into flames among the treants, igniting a blazing inferno!]
[You defeated a Corrupted Forest Treant. Experience points increased slightly.]
[You defeated a Corrupted Forest Treant. Experience points increased slightly.]
[You obtained Crimson Leaf (Junk) *1]
[You defeated…]
—
Lin Xun’s single laser blast ended up setting the treants on fire.
The game text on the screen jumped frantically, a true one-shot harvest.
Watching the repeated “experience points increased slightly” notifications, he once again rediscovered the simple joy of gaming.
[Overconfident Apostle, you failed to notice that the scarlet sunlight around you has been overshadowed by a massive silhouette.]
[Noticing the sudden dimming around you, you whip your head around.]
[A towering ancient tree, blocking out the sky, had appeared behind you at some unknown point, its enormous roots writhing as it loomed closer.]
[On the thick trunk, which would take over a dozen people to encircle, massive humanoid facial features emerged. The two dark hollows where eyes should be blazed with crimson light.]
[The Corrupted Ancient Primordial Tree, having been spotted by you, rips countless thick roots from the earth. With a thunderous roar and flying chunks of cracked soil, its roots intertwine into two colossal tree legs.]
[The Corrupted Ancient Primordial Tree strides toward you, each massive step shaking the ground.]
[Do you want to recklessly attack, or acknowledge your weakness and flee?]
“Damn! Took out the kids, and now the parent shows up. Even game mobs call their family!”
Lin Xun grumbled as his hands moved fast, slamming the retreat option.
[The Apostle, at least wise enough to know his limits, yanks the lion’s mane hard. The Corrupted Three-Headed Lion lets out a mighty roar and bolts away at full speed…]
As Lin Xun fled, he hit Corrupt Sunlight again.
Just running away without testing the boss’s strength? That wasn’t his style.
[Gripping the mane with one hand, you raise the Thunder Dragon Staff-Spear with the other and chant the incantation…]
[A flash of red light…]
[A thick crimson beam strikes the massive trunk of the ancient treant behind you, leaving a small round charred mark. Compared to the enormous tree trunk, it’s like pricking it with a tiny needle.]
“…This cursed game dares to mock me for being weak?”
Cursing under his breath, Lin Xun stopped using skills and focused entirely on fleeing.
If you can’t win, just run. No shame in that.
[Your mount, the Three-Headed Lion, is frantically escaping, but the deafening footsteps behind you keep drawing closer…]
“The treant’s massive size means each of its strides equals half a marathon for my lion!”
“What now? Am I about to lose 2 soul strength points again?”
The rapidly updating game text showed the giant treant was closing in fast.
“Rather than die together with the Three-Headed Lion, I should just cancel the summon and die alone. That way, I’ll save 1 point of soul strength.”
Just as Lin Xun was about to give up on escaping and dismiss the Three-Headed Lion to minimize losses.
He suddenly remembered that he had the Dancer shell.
The powerful stealth skill was practically a god-tier escape tool!
Plus, the Dancer was equipped with the Phantom of the Night Cloak, which blocked detection and concealed scent.
With the combo of stealth skill and special gear, he had a good chance of handling the current crisis.
With that realization, Lin Xun hurriedly opened the Shell Slots.