Chương 75: The Journey Back

The gray talisman plaque had only just appeared in Rowan's hand when Sera recognized it immediately. She looked up toward Scree Slope. Behind the pile of rubble. The muffled impacts were still continuing. Several loosened rocks rolled down the slope.

"With both of us under one, it won't last long." Rowan looked toward the forest ahead.

"Long enough." Sera said nothing more. She stepped closer to Rowan. The distance between them rapidly closed until they were pressed close together. Rowan crushed the talisman plaque. Crack. Gray-white mana spread from the shattered bone fragment. It didn't form the wide area that had previously covered an entire group. Instead, it spread only a short distance outward, clinging closely to the two of them. Rowan could clearly feel it. His body heat. His scent. The shallow mana fluctuations around him.

All of them were rapidly fading. Beside him. Sera's presence was suppressed as well. From the other side of Scree Slope. Another impact came. Boom. The rubble blocking the animal trail visibly bulged outward. Rowan was about to leave. But Sera bent down first. She pulled a strip of cloth from inside her armor and quickly pressed it against the wound on her lower leg, which was still bleeding. She wrapped it around twice.

"This way." She gestured with her chin. Instead of continuing along the animal trail, she cut diagonally into the denser forest on the left. Rowan immediately followed. Neither of them used mana again. The Gray Deer Concealment Talisman Plaque suppressed their presence, while the shrubs and trees gradually hid the animal trail behind them. That path still carried the residual mana fluctuations left by Wellspring Step and the water-element spells from earlier.

If the bear continued tracking them— That would actually be the most obvious direction to follow. The two circled around a stretch of tangled tree roots, avoiding the dry branches underfoot as much as possible. The impacts behind them were already growing more distant. Crack. Another one. It sounded as though something had finally snapped completely. Sera turned her head and listened for an instant.

"It's almost out." Rowan's pace immediately quickened. They both knew. The last few bone spikes left behind probably wouldn't hold it for much longer. After they had gone some distance. A heavy roar suddenly came from behind them. Far clearer than before. Sera's steps paused. Rowan stopped as well. The two stood behind a patch of low shrubs. Neither moved. In the distance. The sounds of trees breaking came intermittently through the forest. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear had already broken free from Scree Slope.

A roar even more furious than before tore through the woods. Immediately afterward. Something else was smashed apart. The bear remained in place for a while. Perhaps it was tearing the bone spikes out of its flesh. Or perhaps it had suddenly lost both of their presences. Soon. The heavy impacts started again. But they weren't getting closer. Instead, they gradually moved farther away along the original animal trail. Sera listened for a while.

"It followed the traces we left earlier." Only then did Rowan continue forward. At least this time. Their gamble had paid off. But gradually, Sera's pace still began to slow. Every time her left foot touched the ground. Her body paused slightly. The wound had never truly stopped bleeding. And the pain she had suppressed earlier through mana and adrenaline was gradually returning. Rowan reached out and supported her by the arm. The two continued for another stretch.

The gray-white fluctuation covering them began to fade. Sera looked down.

"It's almost gone." Rowan stopped. Then crouched directly in front of her. Sera looked at him.

"Get on."

"..." Sera was silent for a moment.

"You sure?"

"You'll be slower walking on your own." Sera didn't bother being polite anymore. She placed both hands on Rowan's shoulders. Then leaned onto his back. Rowan stood. She was lighter than he had expected. Then again, with his body now strengthened by the Furnace Melding Art, carrying an adult wasn't much of a burden. The real problem was that he couldn't use Wellspring Step. The remaining effect of the Gray Deer Concealment Talisman Plaque had yet to disappear completely. The two of them could only continue on foot.

Rowan adjusted Sera's position slightly. Then continued along the gentle forest slope. Sera leaned against his back. Her breathing gradually steadied. After they had gone some more distance. The final trace of gray-white fluctuation disappeared completely. Rowan stopped for several breaths. There was no new movement in the distance. The Rock-Marrow Dire Bear hadn't caught up again. They had truly opened the distance. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Rowan lowered Sera beside a relatively flat rock. She sat down. Then directly tore open the blood-soaked fabric covering the outside of her left leg. A long wound ran diagonally across the side of her calf. At the deepest point, exposed muscle could be seen. But the bone hadn't been damaged. Sera looked at it.

"Not a big problem." Rowan took hemostatic medicine and a clean strip of cloth from his bag. He handed them to her. Sera accepted them. She skillfully scattered the medicine over the wound. Then wrapped it tightly. The entire process was quick. Once she was finished. She stood again. The moment her left foot touched the ground. Her brows still tightened slightly. Rowan crouched down again. This time, Sera didn't ask. She climbed directly onto his back. The two resumed their journey.

Without the restrictions imposed by the Gray Deer Concealment Talisman Plaque, Rowan actually moved a little faster. But he didn't immediately use Wellspring Step. They still hadn't completely left the area in which the Rock-Marrow Dire Bear might be active. After traveling for another while. Sera suddenly tapped his shoulder.

"Right." Rowan paused. There was still a faint path ahead that could barely be made out.

"We're not taking that one?"

"That path gets close to a marsh farther ahead." Sera pointed to the right.

"This side was cleared a few days ago. It's safer." Rowan changed direction. The forest immediately became much harder to traverse. Tangled roots rose from beneath the soil. One careless step could easily send a foot sinking into mud hidden beneath the fallen leaves. Rowan circled around a bush that nearly reached his chest. Sera suddenly asked:"What was that thing you used earlier?"

"What?"

"You kept using a movement spell." Sera reached out and pushed aside a branch that almost brushed across her face.

"But you were still able to cast Water Blade at the same time." Rowan stepped over a section of rotting fallen wood.

"A Mental Power secret art."

"It lets you control two spells simultaneously?"

"More or less." Sera clicked her tongue softly.

"Can all the mages from the Backwoods do that?"

"No."

"Then it looks like your teacher treats you pretty well." Rowan didn't respond. Ahead was a drop about half a person's height. He stepped off the edge and jumped down. When he landed, Sera on his back sank slightly with him.

"How did you advance to Dual-Phase?" Sera steadied herself with a hand on his shoulder.

"Why ask that all of a sudden?"

"Just curious."

"You're certainly direct about it." Rowan looked ahead.

"Forget it if it's inconvenient to talk about."

"It's not exactly a secret." Sera thought for a moment.

"First, you find a suitable second-phase Source Rune formula."

"Then you prepare the necessary materials according to the formula." Rowan stepped across an exposed stone to avoid a puddle.

"You use the materials directly?"

"Of course not." Sera raised a hand and pointed out a direction.

"A little farther that way. There's an old herb-gathering trail ahead." Rowan followed the direction she indicated. Sure enough, before long, the weeds beneath his feet became noticeably thinner.

"Different inheritances all have different methods of processing the materials," Sera continued.

"Grinding them into powder."

"Soaking them in blood."

"Nurturing them over time."

"There are all kinds."

"Once the materials are ready, you wait until your crystal core is at its most stable, then complete the second etching."

"And after that?"

"If you succeed, you become Dual-Phase." Rowan pushed aside a vine hanging in front of him.

"And if you fail?"

"Then it depends on your luck." Sera sounded remarkably calm.

"In lighter cases, the crystal core is injured."

"In severe cases, it cracks outright."

"People with the means will ask a priest to prepare a life-saving divine spell in advance."

"But even that only saves your life."

"If you ruin the etching, no one can give you another chance." Rowan continued walking as his thoughts shifted. Just like Terra. Source Runes. Crystal cores. Etching. There was no difference at the foundation. The only difference was that this world still relied on formulas, natural materials, and the processing methods of individual inheritances. Terra, meanwhile, had long since broken the most troublesome steps apart. Purification. Proportioning. Stabilization.

Until finally, everything became standardized Etching Fluid.

"Is that not how you do it in the Backwoods?" Sera suddenly asked.

"More or less." Rowan stepped over another root crossing the ground.

"The material processing methods are different." Sera didn't ask further. Clearly, she had once again attributed it to some so-called Backwoods inheritance. Naturally, Rowan had no intention of correcting her. They continued for some time. In the distance, the silhouettes of the antler warning posts finally became faintly visible. Sera suddenly spoke.

"One more thing."

"What?"

"Thank you." Rowan stepped around a vine ahead.

"If you really want to thank me, remember to include my payment when we get back." Sera laughed softly against his back.

"Don't worry."

"You'll get what you're owed."... Antler Camp. The wooden gate to the outer ring had only just opened. Bren was almost the last person to walk inside. His clothes were completely soaked in sweat. His arms were still trembling faintly. The two hunters carrying the stretcher hurried through the wooden gate. Inside the transparent solidified-water shell. Velesa remained completely motionless. Elaine stayed beside the stretcher the entire way.

"Clear the way!" She started shouting the moment she entered the outer ring.

"Clear off the long table in the middle! Quickly!" The people who had originally gathered around immediately scattered. Someone taking inventory in front of the material shed grabbed the account book, while two assistants simply swept the beast bones and tools from the table into a wooden basket.

"Put her here." Elaine pointed.

"Keep the stretcher level. Don't block the path." The outer ring quickly descended into chaos. Kane released the hand that had been supporting Talia. Talia steadied herself. Her injuries weren't particularly serious. But her face was still somewhat pale. Her armor was covered in mud and dried blood. The moment she entered the camp. She instinctively looked back outside the wooden gate. Sera still hadn't returned. That was when Oswin came over from near the material shed.

He still carried traces of having only recently returned from the forest. Mud stained the hems of his trousers. The old sword still hung at his waist. Beneath its hilt. The faded dark-red sword tassel swayed slightly with every step. Several pale golden roots protruded from the gathering bag on his back. When the commotion had first started. Oswin had still been speaking with Taun. But the moment he saw the group entering the camp. His expression changed.

"Talia!" He hurried over. His gaze moved from Talia's face to her shoulders. Then down to her legs.

"Where are you hurt?"

"It's nothing." Talia shook her head.

"Just scrapes." Oswin didn't speak immediately. Only after confirming once more that she could indeed stand on her own did he turn his head. Then. He saw Kane. The place where one ear was missing was still wrapped in a temporary bloodstained cloth. Blood had already dyed half the bandage red. Oswin's gaze paused.

"Your ear..." Kane flicked his remaining ear.

"It's fine. Still got one." Oswin's expression remained grave. He didn't laugh. His gaze continued farther back. The stretcher had already been placed on the long table that had just been cleared. Inside the transparent water shell, Velesa was so still that she barely seemed to be breathing. Oswin's expression finally darkened completely.

"Velesa?" He walked straight over. Elaine was checking the mana fluctuations around the outside of the water shell.

"How did she end up this badly injured?" Elaine didn't raise her head.

"She won't die for now." Oswin looked through the shell.

"Can she be saved?"

"Not at Antler Camp." Elaine reached out and felt the mana flowing across the shell's surface.

"This thing only freezes her current condition."

"If you really want to save her, you'll have to take her to one of the major towns around Chaos City at the very least."

"There's no one here capable of treating injuries like this." Oswin stopped himself from asking further. He turned back toward the others. Only then. Did he finally notice the enormous bear limb that had been dragged into the camp. Part of the outer rock armor had already shattered. Large patches of dried blood remained around the severed end. Oswin raised an eyebrow.

"That is..." Bren sat on the ground. His voice was somewhat hoarse.

"Rock-Marrow Dire Bear." Oswin abruptly turned his head.

"A Rock-Marrow Dire Bear?" Oswin looked toward Talia.

"Wasn't your target a Spiral-Crowned War Antelope?" Talia pressed her lips together.

"Yes."

"We killed the antelope too." Her voice became much quieter.

"After it died, its crown suddenly lit up."

"Velesa told me to throw it away."

"Not long afterward, the bear came." Oswin frowned.

"The crown?" Bren sat nearby and wiped some mud from his face.

"No idea what kind of spell it released after death."

"By the time we realized what was happening, the bear had already entered the battlefield." Oswin looked toward Velesa.

"She was injured by that bear?"

"Yeah," Kane answered.

"She almost died."

"Talia used something her grandfather gave her." Oswin looked at the transparent water shell. Then turned toward Bren.

"What happened afterward? How did you escape?" Bren caught his breath. Then briefly explained what had happened next. Sera arrived. The Sword Token forced back the bear. A single strike severed one of its forelimbs. Everyone began retreating. Two Gray Deer Concealment Tokens. And in the end. Sera stayed behind alone.

"Alone?" Oswin asked. Bren lowered his head.

"She was when we left."

"I don't know what happened afterward."

"Rowan went out later too." Marlock's voice suddenly came from nearby. Oswin paused.

"Did he know where Sera was?"

"No." Marlock stood beside the wooden gate.

"He entered the forest on his own." No one knew whether Rowan had managed to find Sera. The forest remained quiet. No one returned.... Time passed little by little. Velesa still lay on the temporarily cleared long table. Talia remained seated beside her. Someone brought her a cup of water. She accepted it. Took only one sip. Then rested it on her knees. From beginning to end, she never looked at the bear limb that had been dragged back. Kane rested against a wooden pillar.

His remaining animal ear still twitched occasionally at sounds from around the camp. Bren, however, couldn't sit still. First, he wiped down the Tendon-Cord Crossbow. Then he inspected the string again. Finally, he pushed against his knees and stood.

"I'm going back." Harg grabbed him.

"Back where?"

"To find the Camp Chief."

"You? Right now?" Harg directly pushed his crossbow downward.

"Your hands are shaking. You planning to go out there and deliver meat to the bear?" Bren clenched his teeth.

"She stayed behind so that we could come back—""Which is exactly why you can't go back."

"Sera got all of you home. Not so you could go out there and throw your life away afterward." A small hand grabbed the edge of Bren's clothes.

"Uncle Bren." Aila stood beside him. Bren looked down at her for a while. In the end, he didn't take another step. At the other side of the wooden gate. Marlock hadn't moved from his position once. Every time the copper bells outside rang in the wind, he raised his head. But his feet never crossed the boundary of the camp. Sera wasn't here. He couldn't leave now. Oswin, however, had already begun selecting people. Two caravan guards who were still capable of moving stood beside him. One was restringing a crossbow.

The other stuffed a waterskin and hemostatic medicine into a waist pouch. Oswin picked up a bracer from nearby and began fastening it around his arm.

"We can't take too many." He spoke to Marlock.

"There's still a Three-Phase mana-beast out there."

"I'll take two people and follow their return route to search." Marlock frowned.

"Wait a little longer." Oswin looked at the increasingly dark sky.

"If we wait any longer, it'll be night." He was just about to pick up his old sword. When suddenly. A sound came from the warning posts outside. Beside the wooden gate. One of the hunters was the first to raise his head.

"Someone's coming!" The crossbow in Bren's hands struck the edge of the wooden table. Aila had already run toward the gate. Oswin froze while fastening his bracer. Marlock directly stepped forward several paces. At the edge of the forest. A figure appeared first. Rowan. He wasn't walking very quickly. And there was someone on his back. Bren shot to his feet.

"Camp Chief!" Rowan walked through the wooden gate. Sera was lying across his back. Fresh blood from her left leg had already soaked through the newly changed bandage. Her equipment was covered in mud. Rowan himself didn't look much better. Scratches covered his clothes. There was even blood from the Rock-Marrow Dire Bear's wound splattered across his sleeves. But both of them were alive. The oppressive atmosphere throughout the outer ring immediately relaxed. Elaine looked up and saw Sera.

Relief first crossed her face. Then she immediately cursed.

"You trying to work me to death too?" Sera climbed down from Rowan's back. The moment her left foot touched the ground. Her body swayed. Marlock reached out and steadied her. Elaine had already walked over.

"Sit." Sera didn't argue. Someone took the Tendon-Cord Crossbow from Rowan. Another hunter cleared a place for her. Rowan stood nearby. He took two breaths. And said nothing. Elaine cut away the cloth around Sera's leg, already soaked through with blood again.

"It's not deep." Sera glanced down.

"Just treat it first."

"As if I need you to tell me." Elaine irritably reached for more medicine. Sera began removing her equipment. The short sword. The tool bag. And the gray token that no longer carried even the slightest mana fluctuation. The token had only just been placed beside her. When Oswin's gaze suddenly locked onto it. He stepped closer. His eyes settled on the center of the token. A fracture ran through almost the entire surface. Every armament pattern that had once been hidden inside had gone completely dark.

"This is..." Oswin seemed to confirm it carefully.

"Lord Graveblade's Sword Token?" Sera raised her head and looked at him.

"Yeah." Oswin stared at the fracture running across the token. For a moment, he said nothing. Nearby. Rowan had been inspecting the scratches on his arm. His movements paused slightly. Graveblade. He silently committed the name to memory.