Chapter 31: A Sudden Attack
Roar!
The Black Death Forest, a vast expanse with no known end, teemed with thousands of species of trees and living creatures, making it a diverse ecosystem. Because of this, the forest was rich in Auraxis energy, leading to the growth of rare medicinal plants and the emergence of powerful beasts with strange lineages. However, the southern border of the forest was quieter than usual.
The sounds of beasts had disappeared, and the monkeys that usually filled the forest were no longer swinging through the branches, having fled elsewhere. This was due to the arrival of humans, the most dangerous creatures despite their seemingly harmless appearance.
Dozens of soldiers and workers from the Golden Lion Empire had spread across the area, cutting down trees and greedily digging into the earth, building large camps filled with basic comforts and simple defensive fortifications.
In a specific part of their bustling and crowded camp, there was a massive, deep pit with a wide opening. Beside it were piles of soil and shattered rocks, some of which bore ancient, mysterious inscriptions.
Workers hurried in and out of the pit with visible tension, carrying large boxes strapped to their backs filled with rocks and soil to avoid hindering the digging process inside.
In front of the massive pit, standing above ground, was a man in his late thirties with black hair streaked with gray, giving him a strange handsomeness. His eyes were dark and his skin slightly tanned. He had a small, pointed mustache and a very light beard, neatly trimmed in a traditional style. He wore a traditional outfit—a blue silk robe tied at the waist with a dark, slightly wide belt. Under his robe, he wore comfortable white training pants tied with several straps around the legs, which looked slightly mismatched with his noble attire.
The man held a blue fan with a golden scale symbol, fidgeting with it nervously, opening and closing it oddly. He tapped his toes on the dirty, muddy ground as if unable to stand still. After a long period of uneasy standing, he placed the fan over his mouth, furrowed his brow, and turned to a man standing beside him, dressed similarly, asking with clear anxiety, "Has Juror Victor not returned yet?"
The man beside him tensed, swallowing nervously. "No, Sir Juror Sergius."
Sergius moved the fan, showing his anxiety, and said cryptically, "This is a problem. Go and order the escorts to strengthen the defenses. All soldiers must remain alert and ready for battle. Also, provide the workers with some weapons during their break and position them in the rear lines."
Without any surprise or delay, the attendant ran off to relay the orders.
Sergius watched his subordinate’s retreating back, scanning his surroundings cautiously for a moment before exhaling heavily. Ever since they heard the three bell tolls from the city, their situation had turned upside down, and fear had gripped their hearts. They didn’t know what was happening or who was attacking the city. Because of this, they couldn’t retreat from the forest and could only defend, fearing they might fall into a trap set by the unknown enemy forces.