Chapter 43 On the Road (3)

  A bit of inspiration... I'll update once today, and then organize my thoughts, and also finish my homework...

  The Dark Forest of Tania and Charles City, like the city itself, did not always bear this name. This once lush forest was transformed into its current state after the great war between the allied forces of Tania and Charles Andel. A certain druidic faction within Charles City claims that this is a result of being infused with large amounts of negative energy, which undoubtedly originated from the invading army of Tania, who had many clerics in their ranks. The Lord's Manor has adopted this view. However, other lords who have already introduced the worship of Sol and show devotion to it scoff at such nonsense.

  Whether this statement is true or not, the dark forest indeed feels very dark. Although Ais is a seasoned mercenary who has been through dozens of battles, she still feels afraid of the evil atmosphere around her. This is a fear that comes from within, a fear of the unknown. She hides behind Jony and tightly wraps her arms around his left hand.

  Joni also felt that the forest was a bit eerie, but at this time he was already happily confused because of the girl's embrace, although Aisley only hugged his arm. He occasionally turned back to talk and laugh with Aisley, trying to calm her down and make her happier - she was holding on a bit too tightly.

  Audrey, on the other hand, was a seasoned mercenary through and through. Years of being a knight hadn't made his mercenary skills rusty at all. At this moment, he walked ahead, vigilantly observing every suspicious spot along the way. Hearing the two children chattering behind him, Audrey remained unmoved. But in the end, he couldn't help it and turned back to growl in a low voice, "You two think this is an excursion?"

  After all, the accumulated prestige has been a long time. Being frightened by Odala's gaze, Joanie didn't dare to say more, and Astrid also let go of Joanie's left hand obediently. After Odala hummed coldly and continued forward, Astrid stuck out her tongue. Joanie was charmed by this ponytail girl, his heart surged with emotion, and he grasped her right hand in one motion. Astrid was startled, her face slightly flushed, but she also allowed him to hold her hand.

  This feeling... is pretty good.

  Happiness is always so short-lived. Just as Johnny was indulging in the softness in his hands, a small group of lizards appeared before their eyes.

  Lizards are naturally harmless, but this group of lizards is standing up and holding weapons in their hands...

  "Warlock!" Johnny yelled, releasing Astrid's hand, drawing the massive sword from his back and shielding her behind him.

  "Cut the nonsense." Odara also picked up her weapon, "This isn't our target, it's a Lizardman."

  To Johnny, it was like saying "this isn't a glasses snake, this is a glasses king snake" - he could hear the difference but to his eyes they were all just the same thing.

  "Are we going to fight again?" Johnny asked softly.

  Audrey's eyes were fixed on the lizardmen slowly approaching them: "Of course we have to fight, these little guys look like they're starving."

  Hungry...... Jony and Astrid both felt a little sick, they each gripped their weapons tightly.

  At this time, six lizardmen on the positive side charged towards the three under the command of one who looked like a leader, wielding weapons or claws. At the same time, two lizardmen rushed out from the thicket beside Joanie.

  There's actually an ambush!

  Joni turned around to face the sneak attacker, taking a step forward to block Aethereia's path, thinking to himself: Odara is nothing special after all.

  Astrid drew her bow and aimed, shooting an arrow into the chest of a lizardman that was running at high speed from the side. The arrowhead stuck in its chest, and the fletching quivered slightly on its body, but the lizardman only paused for a moment before continuing to charge towards the three people.

  Audrey felt embarrassed for not discovering the ambush, seeing the enemy arrive, so he turned embarrassment into strength, took a step forward, swung his sword out, and ended one of the small monsters that rushed to the front. He then cut open the chest of another slightly slower lizardman with momentum. Four more lizardmen followed up, swinging their weapons at Audrey, who dodged them all. Immediately after, another sword strike beheaded the previously injured monster, and a successive slash slit the throat of another one.

  In an instant, the three Lizardmen went to meet their Lord God.

  The leader-like lizardman was a leader because of his stronger strength, and also because of his better equipment. His left hand held a turtle shell shield, and his right hand was a metal-headed club that wasn't bad, probably stripped from some unlucky adventurer. This strong leader in the lizardman world relied on his many years of experience in robbery and hunting to finally hit Oudala in an attack, causing...

  Audrey ignored the attack. His robust body and armor from Tabriz made him completely ignore the lizardman leader's attack. The large sword in his hand was still efficiently reaping the lives of monsters.

  Audrey was cutting down the lizard-like creatures with ease, and Johnny wasn't having too much trouble either. Although these reptilian creatures seemed quite fearsome, it turned out that even under the hands of Johnny and Astrid, two young and inexperienced warriors, they couldn't last more than three rounds. Astrid's second arrow killed off the stubborn lizardman, while Johnny took down his own opponent with his third strike.

  Easy peasy.

  "I was scared to death!" Astrid patted her own chest, still frightened, "I've never seen such a terrifying monster before!"

  Joni glanced at Astrid and laughed: "You're afraid of spiders?"

  Astrid's face turned red. As a forest ranger, she was afraid of these cold-blooded animals... "What's wrong with that, she's just a girl," she argued.

  Johnny didn't say anything, he just smiled.

  "Both of you, stop talking." Odara spoke up, "Joni, go and take down the valuables from these rascals."

  Looting a corpse? Jony thought back to the time he cracked open a goblin's skull, and his heart was filled with nostalgia for the days when he used to pick up equipment in the game. Back then, whether it was heads or fingers, weapons or gold coins, as long as you clicked twice with your mouse, everything went into your inventory... Inventory?

  "Master, we didn't bring a bag when we came out, where should I put the things I picked up?"

  Audrey looked at Johnny strangely: "Were you really a mercenary before?"

  Jony nodded.

  "What's with the thieving thoughts?"

  Under Odara's direction, Jony picked up the metal-headed mace that looked like it was still usable from the lizardman leader's hand and inserted it into his own waistband. Then... then there was nothing. Jony looked at the lizardman's smooth body and shook his head repeatedly.

  These guys are really poor.

  Leaving behind a corpse, three people continued on their journey.

  "It's possible there are other lizardfolk tribes around here; we should probably get moving," Odara said.

  Bandits who can raid human villages and caravans would not naturally live deep in the forest. Before long, Odara stopped in her tracks. She carefully examined a wooden pillar in front of her, on which were carved some strange symbols that clearly did not grow here naturally.

  "That's the hunter's mark," Odara said quietly to the two behind her. "The War Lizard is just ahead."

  Joni curiously walked up and took a look at the mark, asking in his mouth: "Is this the symbol of some secret organization? It looks so strange!"

  Odala's face was covered in vertical lines: "These are letters of a universal language, you idiot."

  Joni awkwardly withdrew his head in the laughter of Astrid, then expressed his long-held wish: "Master, can you teach me to read?"

  The feeling of being illiterate is too terrible!

  "Alright." Odara agreed in one breath, "I'll teach you once things settle down in the North."

  The days of being illiterate will have to continue...

  Estelle was carefully looking forward at this time. The front of the mark was quiet, nothing.

  "Let's go." Odala called out to the two of them, "Don't look anymore, the War Lizardmen aren't some kind of powerful monsters. With me here, you don't have to be afraid."

  The dark forest was still quiet, as if the whole world had only three people.

  This world wouldn't be so peaceful after all. In the shadow of the trees, a pair of eyes is quietly watching.