Capítulo 4: The Pursuers
In the ethereal glow of the Dream Forest, where the trees bore purple leaves and dark academia trunks, Orion and Vale found themselves at the threshold of the unknown. The entrance was a mesmerizing spectacle, with fireflies dancing in a symphony of light, creating a surreal and enchanting atmosphere.
Vale hesitated, his voice tinged with a mix of excitement and apprehension, "Well, here we go. Are you 100 percent sure you're ready?" His eyes scanned the forest, a beautiful yet foreboding expanse that stretched infinitely before them.
"Yeah, I am. We just need to get in deep into the forest," Orion replied, his voice carrying a determined resolve, his eyes reflecting the vibrant hues of the forest.
Vale tried to lighten the mood, his voice carrying a hint of nervous laughter, "Alright then. I bet the rumors aren't that bad, creatures strong enough to kill you instantly don't exist here right?" He glanced at Orion, seeking reassurance.
Orion remained silent, his face a mask of grim determination, leaving Vale to stew in his growing anxiety, "Right?" Vale pressed, his voice echoing ominously in the forest's eerie silence.
Meanwhile, at the dark guild's headquarters, a plan was set into motion. The room vibrated with a palpable tension as the members gathered, their faces a canvas of grim determination and dark intentions.
"The culprits are long gone, as they're probably nowhere near the place where Richsteist died. But, there is probably a trail of scent that we could track down to," Draven, the leader of the group, stated, his voice echoing with authority.
The boss nodded, his eyes flickering with a sinister red glow before returning to their normal hue. In a blink, a man with striking blue hair appeared beside him. His features were sharp, with piercing ice-blue eyes that held a depth of knowledge and cunning. His physique was lean yet muscular, a testament to his prowess as a tracker.
"Hi, I'm Lysander. I'll be helping you track down the culprit," he introduced himself, his voice carrying a calm confidence that belied the gravity of their mission.
Draven nodded, his face a stoic mask of leadership, "I'm Draven." He gestured to his companions, a fierce woman with a predatory grace named Seraphine, and Valerius, a man whose presence commanded respect and authority.
Lysander acknowledged them with a nod, his mind already working on the logistics of their mission, "I'll prepare some of my tools first. It could take approximately 28 hours, then we can get going."
The trio nodded, their figures vanishing in a swirl of dark energy, leaving Lysander with the boss. "Keep a watch on them. They may be too impulsive sometimes," the boss warned, his voice carrying a note of caution.
Lysander nodded, his face a picture of determination, "Understood."
Back in the Dream Forest, Orion and Vale ventured deeper, the forest swallowing them in its mystical embrace. Vale broke the silence, his voice carrying a hint of worry, "Is this deep enough?"
"Yeah, we've gone deep enough. Let's set up camp," Orion replied, his eyes scanning their surroundings, a beautiful yet eerie canvas of purple foliage and dark trunks.
As they set up their camp, a realization dawned upon them, hitting them with a comical yet concerning reality. They exchanged a glance, their voices overlapping in a chorus of realization, "We forgot to bring food."
Orion sighed, his face a picture of resignation, "Do you want to hunt for some food together?" His eyes scanned the forest, a beautiful yet potentially dangerous expanse that stretched infinitely before them.
Vale nodded, his face reflecting a similar determination, "What about the camp?"
"We should stick together here. There are a lot of dangerous creatures here according to the rumors," Orion replied, his voice carrying a note of caution that echoed ominously in the forest's eerie silence.
As they ventured further, Orion spotted a rare sight, a white deer grazing peacefully amidst the vibrant foliage. "An Albino Deer. We could cook it," he suggested, his eyes locked onto the graceful creature.
Vale chuckled, his voice carrying a hint of admiration, "I'm glad you can cook. Grimshaw has taught you a lot, not just in honing your dream skills, right?"
Orion nodded, his face reflecting a deep respect for his mentor, "Yeah, I owe a lot to him."
The tranquil ambiance of the Dream Forest was suddenly shattered as Orion and Vale approached the ethereal Albino Deer. Without warning, the ground beneath the deer erupted, and a creature of nightmares burst forth, its sword gleaming with deadly intent as it impaled the unsuspecting deer.
This creature was a grotesque blend of humanoid and beast. Its physique was reminiscent of an orc's – bulky and muscular, yet its limbs were unnaturally elongated, giving it a spider-like silhouette. Its skin had the rough texture of tree bark, a perfect camouflage amidst the purple trees of the forest. The creature's face stretched into an elongated snout, its yellow eyes gleaming with malevolence, and its mouth was filled with jagged teeth that promised a swift and brutal end. Every growl, every roar it emitted was a haunting symphony that echoed eerily throughout the forest.
"INTRUDER!" The creature bellowed in a language unfamiliar to the duo, its voice dripping with aggression.
Reacting swiftly, Vale summoned a gust of wind, attempting to knock the creature off balance. But the creature, with its uncanny agility, managed to stay grounded. Redirecting its attention to Orion, it lunged at a speed that seemed impossible for its size. Orion, tapping into his "All-Sight" dreamsign, narrowly dodged the creature's attack. Yet, the creature's swift reflexes allowed it to pivot and strike again, grazing Orion's arm with its sharp claws.
The creature, sensing an opportunity to overpower them, discarded its sword, opting to use its raw, brute strength. It activated its dreamsign, "Red Malice", and a horrifying transformation ensued. Its muscles swelled grotesquely, its stature towering, and its eyes ignited with a fiery rage that seemed to burn even brighter. With a roar that echoed through the forest, it lunged at Vale with terrifying speed.
Caught off guard, Vale could only brace himself as the creature's fist connected with a sickening thud, sending him crashing into a nearby tree. But the creature wasn't done. In a display of sheer ferocity, it charged at the stunned Vale, its arm pulled back for another devastating blow. Before Vale could recover, the creature's fist smashed into him with such force that it sent him crashing through the tree, his body flying before hitting another tree with a bone-jarring impact, leaving him battered and gasping for breath amidst the splintered wood and broken branches.
Orion, seizing the momentary distraction, charged at the creature from behind. But the creature, with its heightened senses, dodged just in time. Not to be deterred, Orion used his teleportation skill to reposition himself and landed a solid punch, sending the creature crashing into a tree.
The creature, recovering quickly, growled at Orion, "Do you really want to die?" The words, though spoken in Sylvanspeak, carried a universal threat.
Orion, recalling the translation skills imparted by Grimshaw, responded desperately, "FRIEND! FRIEND! MISUNDERSTANDING!" The creature's brow furrowed in confusion, clearly taken aback by Orion's sudden use of its native tongue.
Orion, sensing an opportunity to deescalate the situation, quickly added, "We're NOT here to harm! We're FRIENDS! We just needed FOOD!"
The creature, still wary but now more intrigued than aggressive, retorted, "Just speak English, human."
Orion's face flushed with a mix of relief and embarrassment. "We just wanted some food," he reiterated, "We didn't come here to fight or kill."
The creature's piercing yellow eyes studied Orion intently, its next move uncertain, as the tension in the forest grew palpable.
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
Heoaid
Heoaid Chapter 4 is posted!! As always, anything is appreciated, if you like it, add it your library, and it'll motivate me A LOT!!!!
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