Chapter- 18 Lake full of Elixir
9th March | Naga Forest
The morning light filled the cave, casting a soft golden hue over the cave walls. Outside, the forest awoke slowly with the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves.
One by one, members of the group stirred, gathering their things and preparing for departure.
The night had passed without any major incident. Occasional beasts had approached and attacked the cave they were resting, but nothing beyond the expected happened.
The guards on duty, each shift led by at least one 1st Stage Body Refinement warrior, quickly dealt with any minor threats. The camp remained calm, and the group was rested, alert, and ready to move..
After packing their things and camp gear,they resumed their journey, heading northeast through the Naga Forest.
As the group moved occasionally beasts also attacked, but none posed a threat and were solved by the guards without much effort.
The group followed the same movement strategy as yesterday non-combatant were in the centre, while the three teams led by Marcus, Tristan, and Rhea surrounded and flanked them.
Around mid-morning, with the sun climbing steadily over the treetops, the team is approaching a lake surrounded by a vibrant green environment.
The scene around looked as if it was a fairy land.
The perimeter of the lake was alive with activity, filled with various herbs and beasts occupied the periphery of the lake. As if guarding the precious treasure from any intruders.
As the Vector's group approached its edge, the party's herbalists and scholars immediately noticed something special— wild herbs and medicinal plants scattered along the perimeter of the lake and various beasts guarding them.
One of the Herbalists exclaimed, "These are medicinal plants…. Is that BloodMoon plant?… and over there on the western perimeter is BloodRoot… and also that's… Yes, it is Heartleaf!."
"This is really a place filled with treasure troves.", A scholar said.
Vector and the three commanders' eyes narrowed.
Vector after witnessing so many medicinal plants immediately became alert.
There are around 15 1st order beasts and around 40 Blood Energy- awakened beasts, most probably these 1st order beasts subordinates.
But most of them dared not not approach the group as they felt a powerful and terrifying presence.
Their instinct screams if they attack the group ahead, you will not even know how you died and your presence will be erased from existence… and this presence they were terrified of was Sebastian.
Vector with serious tone issued orders, "Rhea and Tristan, you guys protect the people here"
His gaze moved to Marcus, "Marcus, we are going to solve the beasts."
He emphasized, "There are also some 1st stage beasts. I will handle them. You take your team and solve the Blood Energy– awakened Beasts."
Sebastian as usual remained still, and didn't participate in the battle.
Marcus gave a short nod and his team moved forward to clear the beasts, weapons drawn.
Vector also drew his bow from the back and started firing arrows at the beasts. In 4-5 seconds he cleared one 1st stage beast with his powerful and precise arrow, aiming at their head and occasionally these arrows pierced the creature's eyes.
"Good thing I practiced archery first", Vector is really glad that he learns the Archery Arts first…With his keen aim and rapid fire, Vector eliminated multiple first-stage beasts from a distance.
Marcus' Team also solved the beast as they moved with coordination and killed the beasts.
After around 15 minutes the Vector and Marcus' team killed the beast.
Under Marcus's instruction, a small team of herbalists and scholars spent some time collecting and harvesting the Medicinal plant.
These herbs were valuable, many of them played a vital role in helping individuals awaken their Blood Energy and supported the process of Body Refinement.
BloodMoon plants are used to make elixirs, which can help in awakening Blood Energy.
BloodRoot vine is even more so used for making Healing elixir and the HeartLeaf plant it is used to make elixir which can enhance the Vitality of a person who was in 3rd stage a very rare.
As there are few herbs that can be used to enhance Vitality that to at 3rd stage. Enhancing the Vitality means the person has more lifespan.
While only one or two of the herbs would help Vector personally at his level, they were priceless to his soldiers and craftsmen. Even if the boost they offered was small, every bit of strength mattered, and he intended to make full use of it.
The collection took nearly an hour. By the end, the area was so thoroughly harvested it looked barren, as though not a single blade of grass remained.
Around 10 a.m., with several bundles of valuable herbs secured, the group resumed their march through the forest towards Vantara Village.
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After they left the lake and continued their journey to Vantara… Sebastian detected the presence of another human than the group marching forward.
"There's someone nearby," he murmured. He didn't catch him immediately and tried to see what the man was planning.
As they march forward the unknown man also hears the sound of marching, the man instinctively becomes alert. And stealthy moved towards the marching group.
The man finds a group of people fully equipped with weapons marching towards his Village direction, Vantara.
After scouting, the man quietly withdrew and tried to move ahead to inform the village head to make preparations if the group was going to attack their village.
Sebastian murmured as he realised that the unknown man was going to leave, "He is leaving."
As he glanced toward the direction where the man is leaving.
Vector on the side is also aware of the man's presence. As Vector's Blood Energy is advancing to Intermediate Mastery his detection range has also increased slightly.
So he already knows when the man approached the group to scout.
Sebastian gave a nod to Vector and vanished like a shadow into the trees.
Moments later, Sebastian appeared behind the Man.
Sebastian's movement was so fast that Vector felt that Sebastian vanished before his eyes like he was teleporting. He can't even follow him with his naked eyes.
Sebastian captured the man immediately. He took him to the Vector and let him deal with the Man.
The stranger looked startled but not hostile.
After a quick interrogation, they learned he was a hunter and herbal gatherer from Vantara Village, who came out early in the morning to hunt the beast.
A team goes daily to hunt beasts and gather supplies they can find. But the man came ahead of the team to scout the area ahead.
The man said "Hello, I am Ron. Villager of Vantara."
The man continued, "I don't have any hostility towards you, it's just that after seeing your group marching towards my village, I became alert. And was leaving to inform the village chief of marching to the Village."
The Man explained to them that he had scouted them out of caution, uncertain of their intent.
Once Vector explained their mission, that they are going to vantara to meet their village chief, the man's guarded expression softened but he was still worried.
"If what you say is true," he said, standing upright now, "then I will take you to meet our chief. Follow me, I will take you to the village in the shortest time."
Thanks to Ron's knowledge, the group cut their travel time nearly in half. As they moved closer to Vantara Village, the eastern Naga Forest began to thin, revealing signs of settlement, cleared land, and small outpost platforms high in the trees.
[To be Continued…]