Souls Online: Mythic Ascension-Chapter 235: Confrontation with Madness

The forest thickened quickly, shadows swallowing the edges of the path as the trees closed in around them. The canopy above filtered what little sunlight remained, casting the trail in muted tones of green and gray.

Rachel took the lead, her movements light as she stepped over roots and ducked under low-hanging branches. "Feels like something’s watching," she muttered, not slowing her pace.

"It always does in here," Adam replied, scanning the area as he walked. "That’s what makes it the perfect place to ambush someone."

Lily glanced around, her fingers flexing slightly over the grip of her gun. "So far, I see nothing. No markers. No signs of struggle."

Luna moved ahead, her boots quiet against the mossy ground. "We don’t need signs. Just means they’re smart. Stay alert."

As they walked deeper, the usual sounds of the forest dulled. The wind grew still. Even the chirps and distant rustling seemed to vanish.

Rachel stopped. "Anyone else notice that? It’s too quiet."

Adam felt a chill ran down his spine as he felt something was off. He opened his mouth to say something but before he could, an arrow whizzed out of nowhere and pierced his throat with near perfect precision.

[-381!]

[Stunned!]

[Silenced!]

The sheer power of the shot caused him to stumble in place, his sweet tasting blood filled his mouth, preventing him from speaking. .

"Horo!" Lily screamed, wanting to rush over to him but Rachel held her back.

Adam staggered, clutching his throat where the arrow had struck. Thick purple blood oozed from the wound, its sweet scent filling the air. The arrow remained lodged but began to hiss softly as the corrosive blood melted it away.

Lily broke free from Rachel’s hold, rushing to Adam’s side with wide eyes filled with worry. "Adam, stay with us. You’re not going anywhere," she said, pressing her hands gently but firmly against the wound, trying to slow the flow.

Rachel tightened her grip on her staff, eyes darting through the shadows. "The arrow is dissolving, but we don’t know if there’s more waiting. We need to find whoever did this."

Luna crouched, muscles taut as she scanned the forest. "Attackers could still be close. Watch your backs and keep moving."

Adam’s voice came out hoarse but steady. "I’m fine. Just give me a moment."

Lily nodded, relief mixing with caution. "Regeneration or not, you’re hurt. We need to protect you."

Adam’s eyes flashed with sudden urgency as he detected something. Before Lily could react, he shoved her backward with surprising strength.

"No," he said through gritted teeth.

A second arrow sliced through the air, aimed straight for Lily. Adam twisted just enough to take the full impact in his shoulder.

[-174]

He snarled as the sharp pain exploded through him. Purple blood welled from the wound, hissing as it ate away at the arrow’s shaft.

Lily’s face twisted in shock and fear. "Adam!"

Rachel gripped her staff tighter, voice sharp. "We need to get him out of here before they finish him off."

Luna’s eyes burned with determination. "Cover him. Move now."

Adam swayed but forced himself upright, ready to protect the group at any cost.

Luna’s eyes narrowed, her breath coming faster as anger flared. "They think they can pick us off like prey? Not while I’m here."

Rachel closed her eyes and reached out with her magic, searching for the source of the attack. The moment she connected, a wave of raw, violent desire crashed through her senses. It was a brutal hunger to slice flesh, crush bone, and tear through organs with savage pleasure. The overwhelming force of murderous intent was like nothing she had ever felt before, pure and unrelenting.

Her knees weakened and she doubled over, fighting to keep control. But her body rejected the vile energy. She stumbled backward and vomited onto the damp forest floor.

Luna’s eyes flashed with alarm and anger as she took a step forward. "What did you find?"

Rachel swallowed hard, voice trembling. "The attacker isn’t just dangerous. They crave carnage. It’s the twisted mind of a true predator, someone who lives to destroy.

Rachel struggled to swallow again, struggling to push past the nausea. The presence she’d sensed was something else entirely, wild, unpredictable, and twisted.

Luna’s gaze scanned the darkened woods, sharp and alert. "Whoever this is, they’re not just hunting. They’re toying with us."

Lily’s fingers tightened around her weapon, eyes flicking nervously between the trees. "It feels like something is watching from just beyond sight, waiting for the right moment to strike."

Adam winced but kept his stance firm. "They’re not after just a quick kill. This is personal or worse, they want to make us suffer."

Rachel tried to steady her breath, the heavy pulse of madness pressing in on her mind. The attacker wasn’t simply dangerous. They thrived on fear and chaos, like a predator savoring the hunt far more than the kill.

A soft movement caught Rachel’s eye. Somewhere in the shadows, a figure lingered, barely visible, watching them with cold, twisted amusement.

"Someone’s out there," Rachel said quietly. "Waiting. Watching. Enjoying every second of this."

Luna’s voice dropped low. "Then it’s on us to make sure they regret it."

The forest held its breath, thick with tension and the promise of violence yet to come.

Luna’s eyes narrowed as she locked onto a faint movement in the shadows. Her breath steadied, instincts sharpening like a blade. Without waiting for anyone else, she lunged forward, sweeping low through the underbrush.

A figure darted between the trees, almost too quick to see, but Luna’s reflexes caught the slightest twitch of motion. She swung her arm hard, aiming to catch whoever was watching them off guard.

The attacker let out a low, chilling laugh, slipping just out of reach. Leaves rustled as they vanished deeper into the forest, but Luna didn’t hesitate. She pushed forward, muscles coiled and ready for the next strike.

"Show yourself!" she called, voice cold and commanding.

Rachel, still recovering from her magical backlash, watched Luna move with a mixture of awe and worry. "Be careful," she warned, but Luna was already gone, tracking the predator by pure instinct.

Adam gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet despite the pain in his shoulder. "She’s right," he said through clenched teeth. "We can’t wait to be picked apart."

The forest seemed to close tighter around them, shadows twisting and shifting as the unseen hunter toyed with their prey. But Luna moved with purpose, determined to end the game on her own terms.

A sudden snap of a twig echoed ahead. Luna spun toward the sound and launched herself at the figure, catching them by surprise. Her fist connected with a harsh crack, sending the attacker sprawling against the rough bark of a tree.

[-336]

They laughed again, wild and unhinged, eyes gleaming with madness. "Finally," the voice hissed. "Interesting prey~!"

"You aren’t the hunter here asshole!" Luna hissed back, her eyes beginning to glow with crimson fury. She pulled out her axe while Lily levelled her gun at the man in front of them.

It was time for some payback.

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on fre𝒆web(n)ovel.co(m)