Dawn arrived cold and gray across the southern wilderness.
Thin layers of silver mist drifted between the massive ancient trees while pale morning light slowly pushed away the darkness lingering across the forest. Dew clung to grass and roots beneath the expedition camp, reflecting faint sunlight like countless tiny fragments of glass scattered across the earth.
The camp had already awakened long before sunrise.
Armor was tightened.
Supply crates secured.
Weapons checked carefully.
The first batch stood prepared near the eastern edge of the clearing where several pack beasts waited beside sealed cargo containers filled with ancient books, medicinal records, weapons, mana crystals, and recovered treasures from the ruined Vaelari temple.
Ten explorers.
Ten people returning alive.
The atmosphere around them felt strangely heavy.
Not sorrowful.
Not regretful.
Uncertain.
Because while one path led back toward civilization—
The other continued deeper into the unknown wilderness.
Kel stood calmly beside the departing group while cold wind moved softly through his black coat. His dark eyes scanned the prepared cargo one final time while several mages reinforced protection seals around the ancient records carefully.
Nothing here could be allowed to disappear.
Not after everything they endured.
The leader of the first batch, Darren Holt, adjusted the sword hanging at his waist before stepping toward Kel.
The older scout looked far less tense than before.
Perhaps because now—
His decision no longer felt shameful.
"We're ready."
Kel nodded once.
"The eastern route remains safest."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"But avoid unnecessary combat."
Darren softly snorted.
"You sound like we're walking through paradise."
Several nearby mercenaries laughed quietly beneath the cold morning air.
Even Kel's expression softened faintly.
Then the black-haired man calmly stepped closer and handed Darren a small crystal communication device glowing softly with pale blue mana.
"If something feels wrong…"
Kel's voice lowered slightly.
"…contact us immediately."
Darren accepted the crystal carefully.
Then after brief hesitation—
He extended his hand.
Kel glanced at it briefly before shaking it without ceremony.
"…You know," Darren quietly muttered.
"…when this expedition started…"
His tired eyes reflected the pale dawn light.
"…I thought you were just another noble genius trying to play explorer."
A faint pause followed.
"I was wrong."
Kel remained silent.
Darren softly laughed once.
"Try not to die before we get back."
Sairen immediately laughed through the soul-link.
"…Humans really say strange farewell phrases."
Kel ignored her.
The first batch eventually departed beneath the pale dawn sky.
Pack beasts moved slowly through the eastern forest corridor while armored explorers disappeared gradually between massive trees and drifting silver mist.
Several remaining expedition members watched silently until the group fully vanished into the wilderness.
Then—
Kel turned around.
"We move."
The remaining explorers immediately gathered themselves.
No hesitation.
No delay.
And once again—
The Exploration Unit marched deeper into the southern wildness.
The further they traveled—
The stranger the wilderness became.
The forests grew denser.
The mountains taller.
The silence heavier.
Ancient roots larger than houses twisted across valleys while enormous black cliffs covered in glowing moss stretched endlessly toward the clouds above.
Sometimes—
The expedition discovered ruins buried beneath vines and stone.
But unlike the Vaelari temple—
Most were death traps.
Collapsed shrines filled with poisonous spores.
Ancient tunnels rigged with mana-triggered traps.
Ruined towers infested by parasitic creatures nesting inside old magical cores.
The wilderness constantly reminded them of one truth.
Not all ancient places wished to be remembered.
Several explorers suffered injuries during the week.
Broken bones.
Burns.
Mana poisoning.
Yet nobody died.
Because after the temple incident—
The expedition had changed completely.
They became slower.
More careful.
More disciplined.
Kel's leadership evolved alongside them.
He no longer simply explored.
He taught.
Every discovered trap became lesson.
Every monster encounter became study material.
Every ruin became analyzed before entry.
At night—
The explorers discussed formations and survival methods around campfires while mages documented unknown monster species discovered during the day.
And monsters—
There were many.
Gigantic wolf-like creatures covered in black stone-like scales.
Blind cave predators sensing mana fluctuations.
Massive insect colonies living beneath glowing fungal forests.
The expedition hunted many of them carefully.
Not recklessly.
Strategically.
Monster bones.
Cores.
Venom glands.
Regenerative tissue.
Everything possessed value.
The Southern Council's future strength slowly accumulated one harvested creature at a time.
One evening during the seventh day—
The expedition established temporary camp beside a massive river cutting through the wilderness valley like black silver beneath moonlight.
The atmosphere around the camp remained calmer now.
Experienced.
The surviving explorers had adapted.
Some prepared monster meat over fire while others repaired damaged armor or cataloged harvested materials.
Nearby—
Teren sat beside Edwin Hale discussing route structures calmly with several younger scholars.
The hesitation inside him had faded noticeably.
Not completely.
But enough.
And at the center of the camp—
Kel quietly studied a rough wilderness map beneath lanternlight.
Then suddenly—
The communication crystal beside him flickered.
Blue mana pulsed softly through the device.
Several nearby explorers immediately looked up.
Kel calmly activated the crystal.
Static crackled briefly.
Then—
Darren Holt's exhausted voice echoed through the mana communication link.
"First Batch reporting."
The surrounding camp instantly quieted.
Kel's expression remained calm.
"Report."
The crystal flickered again while distant wind and movement echoed faintly from Darren's side.
"We safely reached the Southern Council Headquarters."
Several nearby explorers visibly relaxed hearing that.
One mercenary even muttered a quiet curse of relief beneath his breath.
Darren continued speaking through the crystal.
"Took us seven days."
The sound of horses and distant voices echoed faintly behind him.
"The eastern corridor remained mostly stable…"
A faint pause followed.
"…until the fourth night."
Kel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"We encountered movement near the Black Root region."
Several nearby mages immediately exchanged serious looks.
"Monsters?"
Kel calmly asked.
"Unknown."
The crystal crackled softly.
"They didn't attack directly."
Darren's voice lowered slightly.
"But something followed us."
The camp atmosphere immediately became colder.
Darren continued.
"We only noticed because the mana beasts became agitated."
The fire beside Kel crackled softly beneath the dark wilderness sky.
"Large tracks."
A faint pause followed.
"Humanoid."
Several explorers visibly stiffened.
"But whatever it was…"
Darren's voice remained tense.
"…it stopped following us once we crossed the southern river routes."
Silence settled briefly across the camp.
Then finally—
Darren exhaled softly through the communication crystal.
"Anyway…"
A faint laugh followed.
"…we're alive."
The tension eased slightly afterward.
"The Council received the resources successfully."
Kel quietly listened.
"And?"
Darren softly laughed again.
"You were right."
The communication crystal flickered brighter momentarily.
"The entire Southern Council lost their minds when they saw the amount of knowledge and treasure we brought back."