Chương 15: Darkwood Wildlands
Even though the distance is long, they reached the District 12 within 2 hours.
From here, the Darkwood Wildlands border is around 50KM, which they can either trek on foot or take public transport.
When Gin asked, Emeera's group favored public transport as they are not a kind of peoples capable of walking more than 50 KM on foot. So they took public transport from the nearby stop and reached the border region in thirty minutes.
Like on Northern wasteland, a wall was erected at the border of Darkwood Wildlands, to prevent the wild beasts from trespassing into the human territory.
One could see several soldiers wearing the army combat clothes, atop of the wall constantly keeping watch on their surroundings.
Apart from that, it's a lively place as many rankers, researchers and adventures were going in and out of the border gate.
Gin walked towards the soldiers guarding the gate and showed them his Ranker ID to get permission to cross the wall.
Since everything is fine, Gin's team along with Emeera's group crossed the wall and set foot in the outer region of the Darkwood Wildlands.
Even though there's some distance between the border wall and the Darkwood wildlands, it was able to capture everyone's attention.
The Darkwood wildland before them was dense, darkly green and mesmerizing as if the heaven itself favor this place. The air here was fresh, pure and soul-refreshing!
Gin opened his holographic map, checked the direction of travel as requested by Emeera. After confirming the route, they marched towards the dark green forest without wasting any time.
Gin and Yirene led the way by walking in front of Emeera's group while Hammer and Astro followed in back so that they can easily guard against any form of attack.
Only when they completely entered the wildlands, they found out why it's called Darkwood Wildlands.
The trees here were majestic, densely packed, and twisted – forming an arch above their heads, clouding the sunlight.
"Everyone, be careful from here!" Gin softly spoke.
It's a dangerous place so they have to be wary of their surroundings and watch out for wild beast's unforeseen attacks.
There was complete silence around them, occasionally, they would hear some 'roars' and 'howls' from the distance.
They treaded along the direction mentioned by Emeera. "Mister Gin, how long it will take for us to reach our destination?" Emeera noiselessly asked, after walking for around 30 minutes.
"We hardly traveled some distance, Miss Emeera but you were already impatient. We can only reach the target location by tomorrow morning." Gin shook his head and said.
"What? It will take one day for us to reach there! why?" The rich man, clog, urged.
"It's around forty kilometers from here to the location you guys mentioned. Moreover, we are traveling in a lush forest filled with a variety of wild beast waiting for their prey, so we can only proceed slowly and carefully."
Everyone on Emeera's team nodded their heads and quietly followed Gin, without asking anymore question.
On their way, they encountered many wild beasts but they are only at the level of Rank-3 or Rank-4. Some of the lower-ranked wild beasts didn't even try to attack them noticing their strength.
It's nothing surprising as it was only the outer edge of the forest and they haven't even actually entered the outer region of the Wildlands.
This trip truly broadened Gin's horizon about nature's creation as he observed different kinds of plants, blooming flowers, trees, and wild beasts.
Around noon, they took a short 20-minute break to rest and fill their stomachs, and once again continued their journey.
Thankfully, at around 7 in the evening, they came across an open field vegetated by grass and other non-woody plants, unlike trees and large plants.
A bespeckled sky filled with stars and a silver moon. It was a good place to take rest and guard against the wild beasts that may try to attack them.
They are only 10 some kilometers away from the desired location which they can only travel tomorrow. And also, the true outer region of the Darkwood wildlands starts from here.
Using the supplies they brought, they quickly set up the tent for a night of sleep, as it would be best for them to rest here till morning, and travel after replenishing their energy and strength.
---
Next day,
'Boom!'
A figure crashed heavily onto the tree and slumped to the ground but in the next second, it lifted itself from the ground as if nothing happened.
That figure is a Rank-6 wild beast, the Blue-eyed leopard; possessing super agility and high strength.
The blue-eyed leopard shook his head in pain and glared warily at Gin with its gleaming deep blue eyes.
It's five feet tall, weighing around 300 kg, covered in light-colored golden fur, along with white spots all over its body.
In an unhurried pace, it began to walk in a circle trying to find the weakness of its prey. Abruptly, it sprang with a deadly pounce targeting Gin's neck, striving to kill its prey with a fatal blow.
The attack was swift and fast, rendering no time for its prey to escape. Unluckily, its prey is Gin whose strength is equal to that of 6-star Ranker.
Gin nimbly avoided its sudden attack while Yirene slashed at the blue-eyed leopard's neckline using her sliver white sword.
The leopard's head severed while its headless body smashed onto the nearby tree and lifelessly fell on the ground.
Everything happened too quickly, from the stealthy attack of leopard to Yirene's sword strike and a silver-white flash cleaving its head.
Astro and Hammer who were at the back were also couldn't react in time and only witnessed everything in a trance.
Even Gin was amazed, he knew Yirene would help him but he didn't foresee, she would kill the Rank-6 wild beast in a single strike. Gin was sure, he won't be able to kill the beast even in ten moves.
'Looks like she concealed a portion of her strength. Well, that's a good thing anyway.' Gin mused.
"Oh my god! Yirene, I didn't know you were this strong!" Hammer said while gazing at the lifeless leopard.
Gin stooped down and touched the blue-eyed leopard's headless body. When he circulated his 'physique scripture', a red mass of energy rushed into his body. It was filled with vitality and essence energy.
When he killed the fiery serpent during his Ranker examination, the same thing happened but Karina told him that only Rank-7 and above wild beasts can possess source liquid.
The red mass of energy surged through every part of his body according to the physique scripture and brought forth a refreshing and comforting sensation to his entire body.
He could feel his strength slowly improving while every cell inside his body is in some kind of evolution. But the process suddenly began to decline, as if the energy provided by Gin is not sufficient for them to evolve.
It doesn't stop him from getting overjoyed. From this, Gin confirmed his hypothesis that he would be able to absorb the energy stored in wild beasts body utilizing his physique scripture.
"I just need to practice according to the physique scripture and kill some wild beasts to improve my strength, while I am here!' Gin thought.
"What are you doing, brother Gin?" asked Astro, seeing Gin touch the wild beast's carcass.
"Nothing."
Meanwhile, Emeera's group was terrified by the sudden attack and strength displayed by the blue-eyed leopard.
"Let's go, we are just 5 kilometers away from reaching the desired location." Gin spoke.
His words captured the Emeera team's attention and improved their mood.
They once again began their travel while Gin and Yirene led the way. When he looked at Yirene, he noticed she didn't have the silver-white sword on her, anymore.
"What happened to the sword?" Gin asked, curious. Unlike others, Yirene didn't even bring any backpack with her to carry things which further increased Gin's curiosity.
"I have a space-type magical treasure, capable of storing my things inside it." Yirene coolly replied.
"Oh!" Gin nodded. But inside his head, he began to wonder, 'What is space type magic treasure? Later, I will ask Hammer.'
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