Chapter 41 – The Forest Burns Quietly
Chapter 41 – The Forest Burns Quietly
Tyler and Milo stood on the outskirts of the Shindo forest, the thick canopy above allowing only specks of sunlight to pierce through the dense foliage. A gentle mist drifted between the trees, carrying with it the musty scent of moss and damp bark. Somewhere distant, a crow cawed, its cry echoing through the woods like a warning.
“So,” Tyler muttered, cracking his knuckles, “let’s clean up some bandit camps on our way. King Wing’s gonna love it.”
“You sure we should be doing this now? Shouldn’t we rest after that last fight with the Hivebound Cockroach?” Milo asked, still nursing the phantom ache of his previously shattered chestplate.
“Rest? Come on, I’m practically itching to test out my new skills.” Tyler smirked. His confidence was palpable. The last time he has faced the bandits, he only had [Sprint], [Rage] and [Spider Web]. Travelling through the world, he had added many skills to his arsenal. This included [Fireball], [Screech], [Forcepush] and lastly [Gigantify].
It didn’t take long. Deeper in the woods, they found the telltale signs of the Timber Faction—woven wooden barricades, crude watchtowers, and the burnt-out remains of carts. These bandits were known for their ambush tactics, hiding in forests and using the terrain to their advantage.
“You planning to go giant again and stomp the whole camp flat like you had done in the desert?” Milo asked.
Tyler shook his head. “That would be overkill. And to be honest, the side effects from overusing [Gigantify] are brutal. Remember the cockroach fight? My joints felt like molten glass, and my spine… let’s just say the pain made me consider crawling instead of walking.”
Milo winced. “So, what then?”
Tyler simply smirked and tapped the runestone on his belt. “This time, it’s all about [Poison Mist].”
They stepped into the Timber faction camp boldly—no stealth, no subtlety. A cluster of six bandits noticed them immediately.
[Enemies Identified: Bandit Level 30 x6]
“Ooh, they’re higher level now,” Milo commented, gripping his blade.
“Won’t matter,” Tyler replied coolly. He rushed to the centre of the camp, luring the bandits toward him. As they closed in, he let the skill loose.
[Activated Skill: Poison Mist] [PE: 28/40]
A green, noxious mist burst from his body, spreading like a living entity. The bandits choked, their screams quickly muffled as they collapsed, one by one, unable to withstand the toxic cloud.
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[+60 XP]
[Level Up! Tyler Level 88 → 89]
Tyler watched, half-smiling. “Now that’s what I call efficiency.”
He couldn’t help but fantasize how useful this skill would have been earlier—during the cockroach swarm, the storm wizard battles, even the colossal elephant encounter. He silently thanked Myrrak for the incredible gift, then paused. Why had Myrrak surrendered so easily?
The more he thought about it, the more contrived it all seemed. Getting the exact skill that countered Myrrak’s poison? Receiving a map straight to the sanctuary? Was it all a coincidence, or was he being played? Tyler frowned, but quickly brushed the thought aside. In a game world, perhaps everything was meant to go this way.
Meanwhile, Milo had been clearing out one of the tents.
[Level Up! Milo Level 42 → 43]
“Tyler, you gonna slack off the whole time? Actually, never mind. You should rest. I can handle this batch.”
[Level Up! Milo Level 43 → 46]
With [Freeze Core] active, Milo elegantly swept through small clusters of enemies, turning the tents into icy tombs for the unfortunate bandits.
“Just one tent left. It’s the Bandit King’s. Want me to take it too?”
“Nope, I’ll handle it.”
The tent loomed larger than the others, thick vines draped over its flaps like curtains. Tyler stepped in casually—then paused.
[Enemy Identified: Bandit King Level 110]
“What the hell! Why is such a strong mob here?!” Milo yelped.
The Bandit King, a hulking figure wielding a massive claymore, charged at Milo. Tyler reacted instinctively, activating [Forcepush] and knocking the brute back. Then two [Fireballs] in quick succession.
They hit, but the Bandit King didn’t even flinch.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Tyler muttered. It was clear now—this wasn’t just another camp boss. This was a genuine threat. He had thought he could take it easy since it was neither a colossal elephant nor a swarm of cockroaches, it was just supposed to be a minor enemy. But it was his fault to think so, level 100 and above was no joke.
Desperate, he triggered [Poison Mist].
The cloud erupted inside the confined tent. The Bandit King staggered, clawing at his throat. His grip loosened. The claymore fell.
Tyler activated [Rage], rushed in, and stabbed repeatedly with his twinswords until the Bandit King fell with a heavy thud.
[+90 XP]
[Level Up! Milo Level 46 → 49]
Tyler chuckled. “Another one bites the dust.”
Then he noticed the level-up message.
Milo was glaring. “You idiot!”
“What now?”
“You used Poison Mist in a tent! You almost killed me! My health dropped to critical levels. I barely survived.”
“But you’re okay now, right? So stop being dramatic.”
“You never take responsibility! You could’ve killed me!”
“And yet, you stole my kill.”
“Because I had to! My health had almost depleted to zero. I stabbed the Bandit King in a last-ditch effort and levelled up, fully restoring my health. It was the only way to survive!” Milo shouted. “You need to stop using deadly skills so carelessly. You do not know the weight of the power you possess.”
“What are you, Uncle Ben? Saying things like ‘With great power comes great responsibility’?”
Milo grumbled. “Ugh. Just… promise me. No [Poison Mist] in enclosed spaces.”
“Maybe.”
“Not maybe. Say yes.”
“Fine. I won’t use it unless you’re clear. Happy now?”
Milo sighed. “Good. You take outside, I’ll handle the tents.”
“Deal.”
As they walked away, Milo pointed ahead. “I saw smoke earlier. Another camp, maybe.”
Tyler grinned. “Let’s collect the loot first.”
[Acquired Items: Timber Faction Flag, 630 Gold]
Far away, deep within the shadowed forest of Shindo, the earth quaked. Birds scattered. Trees groaned under the pressure of an unseen force.
A broken altar, forgotten by time, pulsed with flickering crimson light.
The air thickened, the sky dimmed, and beneath layers of charred stone, something ancient stirred.
Something was waking up.
And it remembered fire.