The perspective shifts back to Cipher. At this moment, the four of them were fully equipped and ready to depart. After passing through the Century Gate, they arrived at the outermost edge of the Great Forest.
This area was still technically within the territory of the All Nations Alliance. Right next to the Century Gate, a simple village could be seen, and many similar settlements were scattered throughout the vicinity.
After all, the Great Forest was incredibly rich in resources. Hunting a few animals and gathering some medicinal herbs was more than enough to sustain an entire village, and as long as one didn't venture too deep, the risk of encountering danger was quite low.
However, Cipher merely glanced at the nearby village from a distance, with no intention of approaching it. The cat ears atop her head twitched slightly as she turned her gaze toward the boundless forest ahead.
She stretched languidly, her well-defined curves forming a perfect S-shape, before announcing, "Mmm~ Let's go!"
Cipher led the way, with Aria second, Feidric third, and Douglas bringing up the rear. The instant the four of them stepped into the forest, Cipher felt as if she had entered another 'world.' The 'Great Forest' and the All Nations Alliance outside seemed to be separated by a distinct boundary.
Just a meter back, the surroundings had been empty wasteland. But a meter forward, it transformed into a dense, lush forest. The trees and vegetation appeared to be held back by an invisible Air Barrier, not growing a single inch beyond the line.
Feidric explained, "This is likely the work of the Father of Oaks. He nurtures all life within the Great Forest. Even though this place is a region rather than a nation, it still led to territorial strife with the All Nations Alliance."
"So, long ago, a Great Druid left the forest to negotiate with the All Nations Alliance of that era. They drew a clear border, and since then, no vegetation has ever crossed that line."
"But," Douglas interjected, "I heard the villagers from the surrounding settlements can hunt freely in the forest. Isn't that a problem?"
After all, a border has been drawn, he thought. Normally, you shouldn't be able to cross it at will, right? Otherwise, what was the point of drawing it in the first place?
Feidric replied, "I'm not sure. Perhaps it's the Father of Oaks' benevolence? The Druids of the forest rarely venture out, and the beasts never stray a single step beyond its bounds. Yet, outsiders are allowed to enter to hunt, gather herbs, and acquire resources for survival."
"It's as if the border was established with the All Nations Alliance, not with these ordinary people. As long as they don't engage in large-scale logging or arson, the Father of Oaks probably doesn't mind such minor matters."
Aria nodded, her expression showing she understood. "Oh, I see! So that's how it is~!"
As they spoke, the four continued deeper into the forest. Although villagers often came here, the area remained incredibly primitive. There was no path worthy of the name—just a dense, unbroken carpet of vegetation covering the ground completely.
This meant that with each step, no one knew what they would find beneath their feet—flat ground, uneven rocks, twisted tree roots, or even a hidden pit or a venomous snake.
And don't forget, Cipher was still wearing high heels. For an ordinary person, walking here in such footwear would be self-inflicted torture. But for Cipher, it wasn't a problem at all. She could support her entire body and maintain perfect balance just by touching the ground with the tip of one foot.
Her cat tail swayed from side to side as she hopped nimbly through the dense vegetation, scouting for a stable path for her teammates to follow.
Aria then asked, "So, where are we supposed to go now?"
Their mission was to investigate the forest, but they had no idea where to start or what to look for. In a forest this vast, it felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Feidric thought for a moment, then began chanting an incantation. When you don't know what to do next, a Divination School spell is always a safe bet. As the magic completed, he murmured, "Which direction will be most beneficial for our mission?"
This seemed like a catch-all divination, the kind you could use in almost any situation. But because the question was so broad, it rarely yielded a precise answer. For instance, Feidric's current spell would, at best, point him in one of the four cardinal directions: east, south, west, or north.
Still, in a way, even a general direction was enough. Feidric had considered asking directly, "Where is the source of the problem in this forest?" But if a major issue was involved, it would likely be connected to an Outer God. In that case, the divination magic would almost certainly fail, and Feidric himself might suffer a backlash.
He'd also thought about divining the location of the Father of Oaks. If something was wrong in the forest, asking that god would be the surest way to get answers. But the deity's divine rank was too high to be divined. So, for now, he had to settle for this vague approach. After all, "how to properly use Divination School magic" was a discipline in itself.
The magic quickly provided an answer: south, the direction they were already heading.
"No problem," Feidric said. "Let's keep going this way for now."
However, as the group ventured deeper, the vegetation, which had initially been barely ankle-high, grew progressively taller, eventually reaching their calves.
"I'll take the lead," Douglas said. "I can clear a path through this undergrowth for you."
Cipher thought for a moment. Instead of falling back to the rear, she took a couple of quick steps toward a towering nearby tree. As if walking on flat ground, she effortlessly scaled the tree—at least ten meters tall—and perched on a sturdy branch.
A cat climbing a tree? Too easy.
Cipher waved down to the others. "I'll travel up here! It'll give me a better vantage point to scout for you!"
But it was less about seeing and more about hearing. Cipher scanned her surroundings, but the dense foliage completely obscured her vision. She could barely see anything. In contrast, her cat ears twitched slightly, allowing her to hear every rustle and movement around them with perfect clarity.
Below, Douglas drew his double-bladed axe and began hacking a path forward. The massive, heavy weapon whistled through the air as he swung it, a display that looked incredibly draining.
But with Aria's Divine Artifact buff, such exertion was a minor issue.