Way of the Knights

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In the end, Raven fought the urge of exploring alone and instead took careful note of the place. He then decided to the rendezvous point and regroup with the team. Once back, he found out that the rest were already waiting for his return. Upon seeing him, the team unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. They then sat on the ground as one by one they turned in their reports.

"I found nothing worth of mentioning, I scanned my area properly and only found aftermath of the Diamond Dust Eclipse." Alina reported.

Hearing her report, no one was surprised, they too had did a brief scan around her area of responsibility and found nothing so they know she wasn't lying.

And as the reports of the next person, the team found nothing worth mentioning at all. Aside from few skirmishes of beasts and random encounters, nothing was really out of place. Of course, not until Raven made his report.

"During the first few meters of investigation, I too found nothing worth taking note off. But when I came close to the edges of direction, I found something amiss."

"There's this beautiful place in there. Baptized by a golden light, abundance of trees, verdant flora and fauna, some regular animals that's living and co-existing in peace, and there's even clear stream of water and a wooden hut on a distance."

"On normal cases, this shouldn't be anything special, and could even be considered a safe place. Like an oasis in the middle of a vast desert. But counting the events of what we encountered during this journey, this place sticks out like a sore thumb. The most important thing to mention is that, why was this place remained intact after a Diamond Dust Eclipse occured? I didn't even see any speck of Diamond Dust on any leaves within that forest, the trees in there are some regular trees and we all saw what happens to those when the eclipse occured right? So I highly suggest that this place is focal point of our Investigation."

The team was mildly astonished when they heard about his findings. It seems that this method of investigation was effective since now, the might have a solid clue about the cases of disappearance.

"It really is highly suspicious. A forest full of life in the middle of a devastated surroundings, and composed of regular animals that aren't affected by the Diamond Dust Eclipse? That's not something that one could normally see." Jordan analyzed.

"If there's any concrete detail I found about the forest, it would only be one thing." Raven said which made the others look at him. "That is, that place is nothing but an illusion."

Jackson's eyes gleamed as he heard this. The cogs on his brain started working and a brief idea surfaced his mind, and from his deduction skills, it's highly plausible that he's correct.

"That changes many things then." He said, "Under normal circumstances, this wilderness is teeming with tall trees and wild bushes plus some beast lurking around. This image becomes the perfect cover for this place since one would immediately think that they encounter a safe zone and will decide to go in. But since it is an illusion, whatever's beyond that place might probably the reason of the disappearance of our people."

Jackson's line of thought was similar to Raven's thoughts as well. The rest also started thinking that this scenario is highly plausible as well.

"It's decided then, we move out and investigate this place. Remember to be careful! Assume that it will only get dangerous from now on."

Hearing Jackson's reminder, everyone solemnly nodded. Without any further ado, they then followed the same trail that Raven took to arrive at the scene earlier. With Raven's lead, the team avoided any forked paths so it didn't take them long enough to arrive at the same location. And upon their arrival, their expressions are a sight to behold. The beauty that greeted them was truly outstanding, inviting even. But bearing the earlier observations of Raven on their mind, made this place less inviting, on the contrary they felt slight trepidation as they stared at that place for some reason.

"J-Janine!?" George muttered under his breath, loud enough to be heard by both Raven and Jackson. George was about to stand up and call for the person he saw inside the forest when he felt the strong pull of Raven by his side.

"L-let me go! It's Janine, my fiance! How could she be here! This place is dangerous, I have to get her out of this place quickly!"

But Raven's grip was like a solid metal cuff, it didn't help that George was only at Early Stage Warrior Realm, which did nothing to help him free from Raven's grasp.

"Calm down and use your fucking brain!" Raven sharply said beside him. George winced and his full attention was now on Raven. "You already said it yourself! How could she be here!? Is she stronger than you? Or an adventurer like you as well? Once again! Think about it!"

His words caused George to wake up from stupor, he thought for a bit and tried answering his questions. And when he discovered it, the thought sent shivers to his spine and made his back drenched in cold sweat.

Janine, George's fiance was of course not an adventurer and most definitely not stronger than he is. In fact, Janine is a commoner, someone who only pursue the path of knighthood to extend their lives for a couple of years. There's absolutely no way for her to appear here since going out of walls needs tons of preparations, and even if she could apply for an exit, she would never reach this place alive because she's too weak!

Then how come she saw her just now? The answer lies with one word: Illusion.

George slumped into the ground weakly, lips trembling as he stared at the place with even more trepidation. They haven't even gone in and he was already a mess. He's an adventurer for crying out loud! And yet, even with that in mind, a simple illusion almost made him do something that he might've not come back alive from.

The rest of the team also inhaled sharply as they realized this. Even Raven himself was surprised, he wasn't aware that it could do that! Or maybe it tried to but since Raven's ocular technique and spiritual sense were active, it didn't have any effect on him.

Speaking of ocular technique, an idea crossed his mind which could possibly help their current situation.

"Everyone should know how to use Energy Vision right?" He asked the team, seeing them nod he added, "Good! Now activate it and never turn it off. Also, place a protective energy shield around you as early as now! Who knows if there's an ambush lying in wait after we enter this place."

Raven's wisdom has long since been acknowledged by the whole team. He achieved multiple feats that no normal genius could do. Therefore, without even batting an eye, they immediately followed his suggestions.

Eyes gleaming and bodies covered by a layer of defense, the team's confidence rose quite a bit. After picking themselves up, Jackson gave out the signal and they slowly approached the place.The closer they got to the place, the more nervousness crept up to them. The adventurers swallowed nervously as they approached, more specifically George since the memory of him almost eating a loss was still fresh from his mind.

Jackson was leading the group, following him was Raven, on his back was Jordan, Alina and George. As they were only one step away from the place, Jackson signalled everyone to stop and lower their postures. He crouched down, picked up a stone and threw it towards the vicinity of the place. Everyone followed the movement of the rock and what happened next shocked them.

As the rock travelled mid-air, it encountered some sort of weird phenomenon and disappeared, leaving some strange ripple.

Jackson's eyes glowed, Raven on the other hand reached an understanding. "It's an Illusion Curtain." He whispered towards Jackson. "What now?"

"Illusion Curtain." Raven repeated, "Think of it like this, it's some sort of a barrier that also serves as a concealment. The surface of the curtain shows a wonderful image but if you pass through it, the scenery on the other side might change, leading to dazing, confusion or dizzying feeling. What's more is that, we could only enter. If we want to exit, then we have to find out the source of the Illusion and destroy it."

Jackson's brow raised as he heard Raven's explanation. In his head he thought, 'Who am I to doubt him?' Several idea flash in his mind before he gathered up the resolution. He then gave the signal to move on, meaning that they will enter this one way entrance. As the leader of the group, he of course went ahead, followed by Raven and highly hesitant adventurers.

As their bodies passed through the Illusion Curtain, they felt like they pierced a thin film. And due to dazing, their vision needed to adjust for a bit after entering.

And when they regained their visions, they saw something that might haunt them for several days.

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