Chapter 194: Encounter

“Okay, okay, I got it,” Sadi said, sticking out her tongue and slipping into the nearby woods to keep watch.

Asna sighed and pulled out a map to study it.

The Lim Mountains were vast, and with only four people, searching the entire area was nearly impossible.

To quickly find clues, they needed a plan.

Asna pondered over the map, circling a few spots with a feather pen.

One circle marked the patrol area of the missing team, while the others were Asna’s calculated guesses.

These locations were based on the patrol’s schedule and estimated disappearance time, offering potential sites where they might have encountered danger.

Searching these spots increased the likelihood of finding clues.

Asna planned to check these areas first, eliminating them one by one before searching elsewhere.

Progress through the forest was slow, and by sunset, they had only just entered the Lim Mountains.

Asna glanced at the map again, estimating it would take seven to eight days to search all the spots.

It was slow, but necessary.

A thorough search of the vast mountains was impossible with limited manpower and time.

After sunset, the group found a sheltered spot to rest for the night.

Wandering the mountains at night was too dangerous.

Asna and the cleric sat by the campfire, while Sadi prepared a rabbit with her dagger, and the warrior kept watch.

While handling the rabbit, Sadi remarked, “Asna, we’ve walked all day and found nothing. Where could they have gone?”

“I don’t know. We’ll have to see if we can find any traces tomorrow.”

Asna hadn’t detected any lingering magical energy, unsure if it had dissipated over time or if they simply hadn’t found it yet.

“Others haven’t found anything either. I wonder if we’ll succeed,” Sadi mused.

They’d encountered other adventurers during the day without conflict.

Everyone sought the missing patrol’s clues.

Without conflicting interests, no one acted rashly.

Asna’s team was formidable enough to deter most adventurers.

Half an hour later, as they roasted the rabbit over the fire, Asna suddenly stood, staring into the distance.

“Asna, what’s wrong?” Sadi asked.

The group’s demeanor turned serious; Asna’s tension indicated something significant.

Asna’s senses were sharp, especially for danger.

Her fearful expression sent chills down their spines.

For Asna to react this way meant something serious was happening.

Taking a deep breath, Asna steadied herself, “There’s a strong magical presence over there.”

She pointed to the dark mountains, but Sadi and the others sensed nothing.

“Abandon the mission. We need to leave now!” Asna decided.

“What? Abandon it?” Sadi was stunned.

The mission’s reward was substantial, and leaving now seemed rash.

Traveling at night was risky.

Asna explained, “That magical presence could be a mid-level spellcaster, or even higher. It’s beyond us.”

“The danger the missing team faced might be greater than anyone imagined. We must leave, even if we encounter magical creatures on the way back. It’s better than meeting a high-level spellcaster.”

Her words made the others realize the gravity of the situation.

A high-level spellcaster?

To Sadi and the others, Asna was already an impressive spellcaster, but she was only an apprentice.

They’d rarely seen official spellcasters, let alone high-level ones.

Such beings were almost mythical.

Knowing one was nearby, they felt an urgent need to escape the Lim Mountains.

They didn’t wait for the rabbit to cook, extinguishing the fire and packing up to leave immediately.

Asna’s judgment had always been accurate.

Sadi and the others trusted and followed her decisions without question.

They moved quickly in the dark, faster than during the day.

They’d been leisurely before, but now it was a race for survival.

Once accustomed to the forest’s darkness, they moved with ease.

Their physical fitness allowed them to see well even at night.

“Good evening, everyone.” A voice suddenly came from behind.

Turning, they saw a black-haired man standing on a tree, smiling at them.

Asna’s eyes widened in terror, her mouth agape, then she clamped a hand over it, her expression one of extreme fear.

“Asna! Asna! What’s wrong?” Sadi noticed Asna’s reaction immediately.

The black-haired man seemed ordinary, doing nothing, yet Asna was terrified.

To Asna, the man’s magical power rivaled a mid-level spellcaster.

More alarming was the immense bloodline power within him.

Asna could see others’ bloodline strength, usually a faint red glow.

Stronger knights had a red glow around them.

Great knights were enveloped in a red aura.

The strongest bloodline Asna had seen was an elf, shrouded in a red mist, indicating potent bloodline power.

But compared to the black-haired man, they were insignificant.

His red aura was like a sea of blood, a tidal wave reaching the sky.

Asna looked up, seeing the red glow covering the night sky.

In the glow was a black humanoid silhouette with bat-like wings, larger and more imposing than any bat’s.

It was a sight Asna had never seen, an anomaly in his bloodline power unlike anything she’d encountered.