The Mad Dog of the Duke's Estate

Rahat, a dark elf, frowned as he glanced around warily. He didn't know when it had started, but the unsettling feeling that he was moving in circles wouldn't go away.

The tree he had marked earlier stood before him once again, and the longer he remained in this place, the worse the hellhounds' condition became.

These demonic monsters were usually never afraid of anything. Their only goal was to kill their opponents. And yet, now, they trembled in fear.

When did everyone vanish? Rahat thought.

He couldn't see his comrades, who had been following closely behind. It sounded absurd, but it seemed he had been isolated. Right here, in the depths of the Eastern Great Forest.

At that thought, Rahat came to an abrupt stop. He wondered, Is this perhaps an elven trap?

Theories surfaced in his mind, but he quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought. It couldn't be the elves, since this territory had belonged to the dark elves for three months now. The elves were too preoccupied fortifying their defenses around Aileen to be setting up elaborate traps in a place like this.

Then who could be doing this? Rahat thought.

It wasn't magic. If this were an illusion spell, the artifact he carried would have reacted long ago.

Rahat summoned his dark mana, scanning his surroundings once more. "Can anyone hear me?" he called out, infusing mana into his communication orb.

There was nothing. Even his communication magic refused to activate properly. It felt as if something unseen was devouring the dark mana in the air.