"Then we don’t stop either."

The Black Hawk surged forward through the gap the A-10 had carved into the swarm.

The pilot pushed the helicopter hard, engines roaring louder as the aircraft accelerated over the canopy. The entire frame vibrated under the strain, rotors cutting violently through the air as they forced speed over precision.

Behind them, the vultures screamed.

Marcus looked back briefly through the open side.

The creatures were still chasing.

Their wings snapped open and closed as they dove through the air, weaving around each other in pursuit. Some stayed high while others skimmed just above the canopy, using the trees below like cover.

But the distance was finally growing.

Slowly.

Painfully slowly.

Still—

Growing.

"They’re falling behind," the co-pilot said, almost surprised.

Marcus kept watching them.

"Don’t assume they’re done."

The pilot didn’t take his eyes off the front.

"I’m not slowing down anyway."

Below them, the forest still moved.

The canopy rippled in sections as more shapes shifted beneath it, but the density was beginning to change. The trees were no longer packed as tightly together. Small breaks started appearing between them.

The forest was thinning.

Marcus noticed it immediately.

"Edge ahead," he said.

The pilot leaned slightly forward.

"...Yeah. I see it."

For the first time since entering the Forest of No Return, light opened up ahead of them.

Not filtered green light through leaves.

Real open sky.

The Black Hawk pushed harder.

The vultures behind them shrieked again, but something about their movement changed near the edge of the forest. Several of them slowed. Others circled back instead of continuing the chase.

"They’re stopping," the co-pilot said.

Marcus narrowed his eyes.

The creatures hovered near the treeline but did not cross it.

One of them perched briefly on a dead tree rising above the canopy. Its glowing eyes remained fixed on the helicopter as it disappeared into open air.

Then it turned away.

Back toward the forest.

"...Looks like they don’t want to leave," the pilot muttered.

Marcus looked back one last time.

The endless dark canopy stretched behind them like a living ocean. Even from this distance, it looked wrong.

Too still.

Too aware.

Then the forest disappeared behind the hills as the Black Hawk finally crossed into open land.

The difference hit them immediately.

The air felt lighter.

Cleaner.

The strange pressure vanished completely.

Even the helicopter itself seemed calmer now that they were out.

The pilot let out a long breath.

"...We made it."

Marcus stayed quiet for a second before finally nodding.

"Yeah."

The co-pilot leaned back into his seat.

"No offense, but I never want to fly over that place again."

The pilot snorted.

"You say that now until boss drags us back in there."

Marcus ignored that.

His attention shifted toward the horizon ahead.

Far in the distance, beyond rolling grasslands and dirt roads, faint walls could be seen rising against the landscape.

The kingdom.

Not huge from this distance, but large enough to stand out clearly.

Stone walls.

Watchtowers.

Thin trails of smoke rising from within.

Civilization.

After everything inside that forest, the sight almost felt unreal.

"We’re too visible if we land near the city," Marcus said.

The pilot nodded immediately.

"Agreed."

Marcus looked over the terrain below.

Open fields.

Sparse tree lines.

A dirt road leading toward the kingdom.

Then he spotted it.

A relatively flat clearing near the outskirts, partially hidden behind a low hill.

"There," Marcus said, pointing. "Set us down there."

"Copy."

The Black Hawk banked gently and descended.

The rotors kicked up dust and loose grass as the helicopter lowered toward the clearing. The landing gear touched down hard enough to jolt the cabin slightly before stabilizing.

The engines stayed running for a few seconds longer.

Then slowly powered down.

The roar faded.

Silence replaced it.

Real silence this time.

No screaming vultures.

No cracking trees.

No cannon fire.

Just wind moving through grass.

The crew sat there for a moment, letting it sink in.

Then Marcus unbuckled.

"Alright," he said. "Let’s move."

The side doors slid open.

Fresh air rushed into the cabin as everyone stepped out onto the grass. The helicopter crews immediately moved toward the cargo section while Marcus scanned the surroundings.

No threats.

No movement except distant farmland and the road leading toward the kingdom.

Good.

The cargo box remained strapped down exactly where they left it.

Marcus walked over and placed a hand against the metal surface briefly.

Still intact.

Still sealed.

Whatever Merchant Kelly had inside this thing, it had survived a living forest trying to kill them.

"Let’s unload it," Marcus said.

The crew moved immediately.

Two men loosened the securing straps while the others prepared the loading ramp. The box was heavy enough that even with multiple people lifting, it moved slowly.

"Easy," one of the crew muttered. "Don’t tilt it."

"I got it."

The crate slid carefully down the ramp and onto the ground with a heavy metallic thud.

Marcus turned slightly and focused.

A faint blue shimmer appeared in front of him.

Then—

The M939 truck materialized.

The large military cargo truck appeared in full, heavy tires settling into the dirt as if it had always been there. The crew paused for a second, still not fully used to watching Marcus pull vehicles out of nowhere.

The co-pilot shook his head.

"I’m never getting used to that."

Marcus ignored him.

"Load it."

The rear cargo bed of the M939 was lowered, and the crew began pushing the box upward using portable ramps. It took all of them working together to get it inside.

The truck groaned slightly under the weight once the crate settled into place.

"Secure it," Marcus said.

Tie-down straps were fastened tightly across the cargo while Marcus walked back toward the Black Hawk.

The helicopter sat quietly now, blades slowing to a stop.

It had done its job.

Marcus placed a hand against the side of the aircraft.

Then stored it.

The Black Hawk disappeared instantly, dissolving into particles of blue light before vanishing completely.

The clearing suddenly felt much larger without it.

Marcus glanced toward the truck.

"Everybody loaded?"

"Yeah."

Marcus climbed into the driver’s seat of the M939 while the others piled into the passenger benches and rear section.

The engine rumbled to life with a deep diesel growl.

Marcus rested one hand on the wheel and looked toward the distant kingdom.

"Let’s finish this delivery."