Chapter 488: Steps into Poison

Luke leapt onto a massive branch, his body far too light for someone carrying that many weapons and intentions. The landing was almost silent, just a faint tremor rippling through the wood beneath his feet. He did not slow down. If anything, he accelerated, pushing off again and weaving through the trunks as if the terrain belonged to him.

“Hey! I’m not that agile, don’t just take off like that!” Layla shouted, her voice echoing from several yards below.

Luke ignored her. He climbed higher, using thick branches for leverage, vanishing for moments at a time behind dense foliage. The forest here was not just thick. The air felt heavy, watchful, like the place itself was tracking every movement.

“You want to go to the Spore Forest, don’t you?” Layla’s voice came from below.

Luke stopped. Silence settled over the area for a few seconds before he dropped back down with the same ease, landing in front of her.

“You know which direction it is?”

“Of course I do. I’m extremely useful.”

“Then tell me.”

“Just like that?”

Luke studied her for a moment, weighing whether the conversation was worth the effort. Then he turned, already preparing to move on alone.

“The faster I handle this, the faster you go back to Maine. But fine, I’ll find it either way. A forest covered in green mist should be easy to spot from a distance.”

He took a step.

“Alright, alright, I’ll tell you!” she said quickly, hurrying to catch up.

Luke stopped but did not turn right away.

“Look, it’s a dangerous place. Everyone talks about it. There are beasts, powerful monsters, and the air itself is toxic. The deeper you go, the deadlier it gets.”

Layla took a deep breath, as if organizing her memories before continuing.

“And the alchemists have the advantage of making antidotes to protect themselves, which makes it the perfect place for them. And besides…”

She hesitated for a brief second.

Maybe that’s where one of the treasure sites is.

Luke gave no outward reaction, but the information fit far too neatly to ignore. He clearly remembered that part of the meeting. Cassandra speaking in a low voice. Peter listening closely. A detail tossed aside like an afterthought, now suddenly heavy with meaning.

“I’ve been to the exit base once,” Layla continued. “It’s near the mountains, past the Black Ravine. The forest is west of the ravine.”

“Ravine?”

“It’s massive. Like a black tear dropping into an abyss. There are giant worms down there. Arcadia is to the east. The mountains are to the north. We’re way down south.”

The moment she finished, Luke took off at a run, decisive, without looking back.

“Wait, you bastard! Don’t leave me alone in this place!”

Layla’s voice faded behind him as he plunged into the undergrowth, the vegetation swallowing his silhouette in seconds.

Luke stepped off the path and into the brush, slowing his pace just enough to focus. For a brief moment, the world around him seemed to recede as he turned inward. Angie and Charlie slipped out of his soul, materializing at his side as if they had always been there, merely unseen.

Layla emerged seconds later, breathing hard, gripping her bow tightly.

“Don’t scare me like that and… wait. Who are they?” she said, instinctively raising the weapon.

“Hello again, Master Luke.”

“Greetings, my lord.”

Luke lifted a hand in a simple gesture, signaling that everything was under control.

“Layla, these are members of my team who were waiting for me here. Charlie and Angie,” Luke said. “And team, this is Layla. Unfortunately, she’ll be traveling with us.”

Layla narrowed her eyes, studying the two with renewed attention.

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“You’re the knight who traveled with him during the tutorial?”

“A pleasure, Miss Layla. My name is Charlie,” she replied with a polite nod. “Yes, I was the one accompanying him back then. I’ve seen you a few times, but we never really had the chance to talk.”

“And this is Angie,” Luke added.

“It’s not a pleasure to meet you, but… pleasure,” Angie said, removing her helmet.

Layla’s eyes widened instantly.

“Y-you’re gray?”

“Of course she’s gray, Layla. Are you not literally seeing the color gray?” Luke replied dryly.

“I’m a humanoid familiar,” Angie said, slipping smoothly into her disguise.

“A familiar? Wow. That’s expensive. You look just like the statues from the tutorial.”

“I was one of those statues. That’s where I was found.”

“That explains a lot,” Layla muttered.