The Dark Forest’s Ambush

Facing the eerie forest, a primal fear of the unknown made any movement tense and hesitant. Yet, despite this, the soldiers of the squad pressed onward.

They relentlessly searched for their target’s presence within the shadowy woods, all while maintaining a vigilant watch over their surroundings.

“It appears this is as far as we can go; we cannot advance further,” the reconnaissance scout reported upon their return.

“Beyond this point lies truly dark territory. It would be exceedingly difficult to return if we ventured there.”

“We haven’t found any trace of the sister, not even a hint of that monster,” a soldier commented from the side. “Captain, we should retreat.”

“Hmph, so be it. Withdraw from this area and head back before nightfall,” Captain Vincent declared, turning around. Many trees here bore the marks of being snapped, suggesting something massive had passed through, though its exact nature remained unknown.

Such a sight made even a veteran like him, who had fought in these lands for years, feel a sense of dread. There was no need to expose others to further peril. Once darkness descended, the Legion of the Undead would become active, making their situation far more precarious.

“No sister, no monster. Did they simply vanish into thin air?” the young knight, clad in plate armor, mused. An old soldier beside him responded with a grunt.

“It’s never that simple. The dark forest devours people. Without proper guidance, one can easily disappear, even just wandering about. Aside from those who live within it, the northern forest is unforgiving to outsiders. Isn’t that right, Tian Wa?”

“Don’t call me by that nickname,” the reconnaissance scout, Tian Wa, grumbled, scanning the surroundings. “But I did find this, though no one was with it.”

“This is…” Captain Vincent murmured, examining the object the scout handed him. “This isn’t a cross from the rescue teams. This cross is much older.”

He then looked towards the old soldier in their ranks. The veteran stepped forward, scrutinizing the crucifix.

“It’s a Ludevia old cross, the kind issued to the knight orders during the Great Crusade,” the old soldier confirmed. “You wouldn’t see them now; the border churches can’t afford such silver. But a certain group often carries these crosses – the Black Cross Church, comprised mostly of monks, nuns, and knights from that era.”

“There are signs of a struggle over there,” the scout pointed out. “They’re all along another path. Someone cleared this area; otherwise, a place this deep in the forest wouldn’t have so few ghouls. Someone got here first.”

“The Black Cross Church? Did they venture this deep to rescue the sister?” Captain Vincent asked, then pondered, “But what would they be doing this far in?”

“Who knows? Those people are fanatics,” another soldier chimed in. “Their belief in ‘atonement’ drives them to fight in such conditions, not even caring if they become infected. They’re utterly insane.”

“Then again, at the border, if you aren’t already mad, you’ll likely be driven to madness. Still, this offers a possible outcome: the sister might have been rescued. Perhaps we can find them later and demand her return?”

“No, the Black Cross Church would never release a cleric,” the scout countered. “Their method of recruitment is to search border villages and forests for individuals with Holy Light or combat talent.

“Anyone they bring back will be developed into a member of their church. They consider themselves ‘untouchables,’ and for anyone who encounters them, it’s either join or die. That’s their rule.

“If the sister was truly rescued by them, we need to demand her back quickly. They can’t have gone far; we should be able to catch up.”

“…Captain, we still have enough time,” the scout stated. “I can move very fast along this path. I can go ahead and negotiate.”

“You can wait for me at the edge.”

“It’s too dangerous for you to go alone,” Captain Vincent replied. “We must go together.”

“There’s no time for that,” Tian Wa said, tying his scarf securely before setting off. “Captain, you and the men should go ahead. I just need to convey the message from the border outpost.”

With that, he advanced towards the direction of the human traces deeper in the forest, his figure quickly vanishing among the trees.

“Whew, he really is fast,” some soldiers couldn’t help but exclaim. “North forest hunters seem to have incredibly long legs.”

“They are the best scouts on the border. You must understand the difficulty of hunting here; their skills are several times greater than others in a forest infested with ghouls and demons,” the old soldier explained. “And he knows the Black Cross Church well, indicating he’s a hunter from a war-torn village.”

“…Such soldiers are the best resource for an outpost,” the heavy-armored knight remarked. Captain Vincent nodded.

“I only hope no harm befalls him. We’ll wait here for him for thirty minutes. If he doesn’t return, we retreat.”

After more than ten minutes had passed, the scout emerged from the woods.

“I found it. I found their camp. It’s strange; the camp is there, but not a single person is present… It’s a Black Cross Church camp, yet it’s empty.”

“Are there any signs of a struggle?”

“No, but they left in a hurry,” Tian Wa said, extending a hand to the old soldier. “Some water, please.”

“Look how exhausted you are,” the old soldier commented, handing over his water skin. Tian Wa took a gulp, his heartbeat gradually calming.

“But something feels very wrong… The further we go, the more unsettling it becomes. The air is off, the forest’s scent has changed.”

“You expect birdsong and blooming flowers in a place like this?”

“No, it’s different,” Tian Wa countered. “It’s the atmosphere. Even a forest like this should have living creatures, but here, it’s utterly silent, even the camp. It’s as if, for a brief moment, all living things simply vanished from this area. We cannot linger here. That’s the only judgment I can make; the rest is up to you.”

“I trust the judgment of my best scout,” Captain Vincent declared. “We’re leaving this place, quickly, quickly! Move swiftly.”

Seeing this, the soldiers immediately packed their gear and headed to one side. It was at this moment that someone noticed something amiss.

“Watch your surroundings!”

The words were barely out when dark shadows materialized around the trees.

“What’s happening?” Some still hadn’t grasped the situation, but Captain Vincent immediately commanded, “Combat formation! Prepare for battle!”

From the surrounding woods, figures clad in black robes emerged, one after another, forming a substantial encirclement. Now, the scout understood why the camp had been empty: by the time they reached this point, the enemy had already detected them and swiftly laid an ambush.

“Black robes, crimson crosses… the Black Cross Church,” the scout stated. “Is there an entire Black Cross hunting party here?”