"Croock!!"
The harsh, guttural cry of a hidden swamp toad echoed through the massive expanse of ancient trees, breaking the morning stillness.
Dai Yaun stood at the edge of the largest forest he had ever seen in his life. The sheer magnitude of the Brightmoon Forbidden Forest left him feeling daunted. The endless sea of trees stretched far beyond what his eyes could see, rising and falling across hills and valleys. Insect cries echoed from deep within, creating a constant, eerie chorus.
He felt as if he had returned to the moment he first stepped into the Blackscale Forbidden Forest. However, this place was far larger. While the Blackscale jungle had been dense and dark, the Brightmoon Forbidden Forest looked greener and more alive, yet its massive scale made the previous one seem like child's play. No matter which direction he looked, there was nothing but an endless expanse of towering trees.
Dai Yaun had not waited for the morning to fully arrive in Brightmoon City. He left quietly before most residents woke up, slipping away from the awakening town to continue his journey toward Baixin Azura Province.
As he stood before the spiraling forest, he recalled the information he had gathered during the past two weeks.
According to the local lore, the Brightmoon Forbidden Forest was systematically divided into four distinct concentric layers. The first was the Peripheral Layer, which served as a buffer zone between civilization and the true wild. Beyond that lay the Outer Layer, followed by the treacherous Inner Layer, and finally, the mysterious Core Layer. There were rumors of another layer beyond the core, but no one had confirmed it.
Explorers had discovered hidden paths that ran through all four layers, providing a dangerous but usable passage for travelers who wanted to move between provinces.
The geography of the forest was immense. The Peripheral Layer stretched across a breadth of roughly three kilometers. From there, the distance doubled with each subsequent tier. The Outer Layer spanned six kilometers, the Inner Layer twelve, and the terrifying Core Layer was said by surviving adventurers to stretch across a vast, suffocating distance of nearly thirty kilometers.
Beyond the core, a mirrored sequence of the three outer layers existed on the opposite side, descending back down toward the borders of the Baixin Azure Province. In truth, no single mapmaker knew the exact surface area of the entire jungle. It ran endlessly east and west like a massive, green scar dividing the two great human territories from each other.
There were also many myths and legends surrounding the Brightmoon Forbidden Forest — stories of ancient beasts, lost ruins, and mysterious phenomena that appeared in the deeper layers. Dai Yaun had listened carefully to every piece of information, knowing that carelessness here could cost him his life.
The most famous tale among the frontier hunters spoke of the Lunar Eclipse Sovereign—a mythical, peak-tier spirit beast that supposedly slept within the deepest valleys of the Core Layer. It was said that whenever the beast rolled over in its slumber, the spiritual energy of the entire forest would fluctuate, causing the local flora to bloom overnight or driving the tier-one and tier-two beasts into sudden, territorial frenzies.
It took him two full days to cross the Peripheral Layer.
When he finally stepped into the Outer Layer, Dai Yaun narrowed his eyes at the sharp change in environment. Twin red threads hung between two large trees every three meters, forming a straight line. Whether they were placed by humans or something else remained unknown, but hunters and adventurers seemed to use them as markers to signal the transition from the Peripheral Layer to the Outer Layer.
The moment he entered the Outer Layer, the temperature dropped noticeably. The amount of sunlight filtering through the canopy also decreased, making the forest much dimmer even though it was still broad daylight. The air felt heavier, carrying a damp, earthy scent mixed with the faint smell of decaying leaves and unknown plants.
The trees here were significantly taller and thicker than those in the Peripheral Layer. Their broad canopies overlapped heavily, creating large patches of shadow on the forest floor. Thick vines hung from many branches, and the ground was covered in layers of fallen leaves, moss, and occasional patches of strange fungi that glowed faintly in the dim light. The sounds of insects and distant animal calls were louder and more frequent, creating a constant background noise that kept Dai Yaun on high alert.
He walked carefully, his iron rod resting on his shoulder. For the first few hours in the Outer Layer, he did not encounter any danger. He moved at a steady pace, conserving his energy. When he felt tired, he found a relatively safe spot near a large tree with good visibility and sat down to rest.As he pushed deeper into the Outer Layer, the silence became heavier, broken only by the crunch of damp leaves beneath his heavy boots. Despite the ominous atmosphere, Dai Yuan maintained a steady, unhurried pace.
He took out some of the meat jerky he had prepared before leaving Brightmoon City. The dried meat was tough but filling. He ate slowly, washing it down with water from his canteen. According to his calculations, these supplies should last him nearly a month if he was careful.
After resting for a short while, Dai Yaun continued his journey. The Outer Layer felt endless. Every step took him deeper into a world where sunlight struggled to reach the ground. The trees grew so tall that looking up made him feel small. Occasionally, he heard rustling in the bushes or the sound of something moving through the branches above, but nothing attacked him.
As he pushed deeper into the Outer Layer, the forest quitetness became heavier, broken only by the crunch of damp leaves beneath his heavy sandals. Dai yaun remained cautious, constantly scanning his surroundings. The deeper he went, the more he felt the oppressive atmosphere of the forbidden forest. This place was truly dangerous. Even without immediate threats, the environment itself felt hostile — as if the forest was watching him.
As evening approached once again, Dai Yaun found another suitable spot to rest. He leaned his back against a thick tree trunk, holding his iron rod across his lap. The sounds of the forest continued around him — the calls of nocturnal creatures beginning to wake up.
He closed his eyes for a moment, resting but not fully sleeping. Tomorrow, he would continue pushing deeper into the Outer Layer.
His long journey through the Brightmoon Forbidden Forest had only just begun.