Affinity:Chaos

"We should be getting close, I remember this place!" Ellis said excitedly as they got close to a swamp.

"Yeah, according to the map, if we continue heading in this direction, we would get there in about thirty minutes or so," Grey replied after looking at the map.

He took a look at the swamp in front of them before shaking his head.

"Unfortunately, we'll be going around it," Grey added.

"Huh? Why? Going around would take at least another two hours," Ellis asked, confused.

"Did you go through here the last time?" Grey asked.

"Yes, senior Zeke," Ellis nodded.

"Hmm, it's because they didn't perceive you as a threat. Although I can't be sure they'll be able to sense me, I don't like taking unnecessary risks," Grey mumbled.

"Who's they?" Ellis asked nervously.

"Oh, there are two Overlord Plane beasts in this swamp. It's weird since they shouldn't be in this region," Grey replied nonchalantly.

"What?!" Ellis exclaimed, sweating furiously.

He passed through this place when he was exploring previously, even when he was running away from the bear, he passed this place as well. Now, Grey was telling him there was an Overlord Plane beast here, and it's not one but rather, two!

'I… I… I almost died!' He thought in horror.

"Let's move, there's unrest in the swamp," Grey retreated, before turning in the other direction.

"Yes, Senior!" Ellis yelled before rushing after Grey, fearing to stay even two meters away from him.

One has to remember that he was almost killed by a Bear in the Early stages of the Origin Plane, there's no contest once an Overlord Plane beast appears, it will kill him with a single smack.

Grey found the appearance of the Overlord Plane beasts quite strange, although it was impossible, it was quite rare that the beasts would come this far out. According to what he had heard about this place, the essence energy in the Magical Beasts" forest increases the deeper one goes in.

He could already confirm it since he had already noticed the difference in the essence here compared to the outer perimeters.

The Overlord Plane beasts always stay in the deeper parts of the forest or around there since the essence would make them improve faster.

One hour later.

"Huh? Is something going on?" Grey raised a brow as he stared ahead of them.

He could sense the aura of yet another Overlord Plane beast. Finding the first was already strange enough, yet he had sensed another one.

"What's it, senior?" Ellis asked, scared.

"I've told you to stop calling me senior, my name's Zeke," Grey said while rubbing his head, a little frustrated.

"Okay, senior," Ellis nodded.

"Fuck! You know what, suit yourself. There's an Overlord Plane beast ahead of us," Grey gave up on Ellis, he could call him whatever he liked, he didn't care anymore.

"A… A… Another one?" Ellis asked, visibly shaking.

Grey threw a glance in his direction, not expecting he was such an easily frightened person. Usually, all the people who come to the Magical Beasts' forest are mostly fearless. Ellis was the person with the weakest resolve he had ever seen.

"Yes, we'll have to take a detour again," Grey nodded.

'If there are more Overlord Plane beasts, then something is definitely going on around this place or in the deeper parts of the Magical Beasts' forest that made them come this far out. No matter what it is, getting involved with this strength of mine isn't a good idea.' He thought to himself.

It's just like when they went to the Chimera forest, the increase in beasts of the lightning element increased exponentially as they drew closer to the lightning tree. There might be a chance that there's something out here that drew the attention of these beasts.

The second possibility is that something major is happening in the deeper parts of the Magical Beasts' forest that scared these beasts away. Sage Plane beasts are rumored to be in the deepest parts of the Magical Beasts' forest, this is why it's still under the control of magical beasts even though there are tons of treasures here that are beneficial to humans.

….

The duo once again took a detour, and after four hours and taking two more detours, they finally got to their location.

Grey stood in front of the bamboo forest, looking at the bamboos.

'Hopefully, it's here. If not, I'll have to continue exploring the forest,' He thought to himself.

Just as he took a step inside, he hastily retreated and shoved Ellis to the side.

Bang!

The ground exploded, sending debris and bamboo shoots everywhere.

Grey waved his hand and an earth wall appeared in front of him, blocking the debris and bamboo shoots coming in his direction.

Ellis on the other hand had no idea what was going on, but on seeing the bamboo shoots coming towards him, he hastily set a water sphere around him that stopped the bamboo shoots and debris.

"What… what was that?" He asked while looking around nervously.

Grey looked around before furrowing his brows, he didn't sense anything, until the last moment when they were attacked. This meant whatever was hiding was very good at concealing itself.

There's also the possibility that it was a person, but he was more inclined to believe it was an attack from a beast.

'Hmm, whatever it is, it will surely attack again.' He squinted his eyes.

He had tried to feel the vibration of the earth since the attack looked like what came from underground, but he was unable to get anything.

Grey and Ellis increased their vigilance, awaiting the next time the beast attacked again.

Grey was looking around while closely monitoring the vibrations of the ground. He was able to sense the vibration the last time, this was what enabled him to dodge the attack.

Ellis scurried over to where Grey was standing, unlike him, he didn't even sense anything, so standing on his own was no different from inviting death.

Just as he was about to get close to Grey.

"Get back!" Grey yelled.

"Huh!" Ellis panicked and immediately tried retreating.

Unfortunately, he was a tad too slow and was caught in the attack.

Boom!