Crimson Overlord-Chapter 297: Coming back

An ancient forest so old, the trees themselves seem like weathered giants, their gnarled branches reaching towards a sky perpetually filtered by a dense canopy.

Sunlight struggles to penetrate the emerald leaves, dappling the forest floor in a mosaic of light and shadow. The air hangs heavy with the scent of damp earth and moss, a symphony of buzzing insects the only sound that pierces the serene hush.

A winding path, barely wider than a deer trail, leads deeper into this primeval world. Lush ferns unfurl beneath your feet, their delicate fronds brushing against your ankles. Towering redwoods, their bark like weathered bronze, rise like silent sentinels on either side. Mosses and lichen cling to their ancient trunks, vibrant emeralds against the russet backdrop.

As you press on, the sound of rushing water grows louder. Rounding a bend in the path, you come face-to-face with a sight that takes your breath away. A majestic waterfall tumbles down a sheer rock face, its crystal-clear water cascading into a pool below. Mist hangs in the air, refracting the sunlight into a shimmering rainbow. The roar of the waterfall fills the air, a counterpoint to the chirping of unseen birds.

Across the pool, on the other side of the falls, a mountain rises, its peak shrouded in wispy clouds. Layers of emerald green forest climb its slopes, meeting a band of grey rock that stretches skyward. Atop the peak, a lone eagle circles, its cry echoing through the valley like a mournful trumpet.

This ancient forest, with its crashing waterfall and towering mountain, is a place of raw beauty and untamed nature. It’s a sanctuary for life, a timeless tableau where time seems to slow and the worries of the world melt away like mist in the morning sun.

Ilya, submerged in the cool water of the pool, could feel the spray of the falls tickle her skin. Her dark hair, usually pulled back in a braid, fanned out around her head like a mermaid’s crown. The scent of pine and damp earth filled the air, mingling with the smoky aroma of roasting rabbit that wafted from somewhere deeper in the woods. A smile touched Ilya’s lips. Her brother, Hellion, despite his mischievous streak, always knew how to find the tastiest game.

A twig snapped from the direction of the woods, and Ilya’s smile faltered. Her hand instinctively reached for the small dagger strapped to her thigh, a constant companion in this untamed wilderness. Hellion wouldn’t be so careless – he knew the forest like the back of his hand. novelbuddy.cσ๓

She listened intently. The sound of rustling leaves followed the snap, growing closer. A low growl rumbled through the trees, sending a shiver down Ilya’s spine. This wasn’t a deer or a wild boar – the growl was deeper, more guttural. Fear, sharp and icy, gripped her heart.

Emerging from the woods, lumbered a hulking creature. It was a massive bear, its fur the color of burnt umber, its eyes glinting with a predatory hunger. It was a powerful Origin beast she couldn’t fight at the moment.

The scent of roasting rabbit, carried on the breeze, had undoubtedly attracted it. Ilya held her breath, praying Hellion hadn’t been spotted by the beast.

The bear lumbered towards the pool, its every step shaking the ground. Ilya knew she couldn’t outrun it, not while submerged in the water. Panic threatened to consume her, but years of living off the land had instilled a fierce survival instinct. Thinking fast, she dipped beneath the surface, remaining perfectly still. The water, thankfully, was deep enough to conceal her entire body.

Above, the bear reached the pool’s edge. It sniffed the air, ears twitching, its dark eyes scanning the area. The scent of roasted rabbit grew stronger. With a low growl, the bear turned, lumbering back towards the woods, the rhythmic snap of twigs announcing its departure.

Ilya surfaced, gasping for air. Her heart hammered in her chest, a frantic drum against her ribs. She clung to the edge of the pool, her body trembling with the adrenaline rush. Then, a familiar voice broke the silence.

"Ilya! What happened?" Hellion emerged from the trees, a worried frown creasing his brow. He held a blackened but still-fragrant rabbit in his hand. Relief washed over Ilya, momentarily pushing aside the lingering fear.

Ilya explained what happened in a rush of words, her voice shaking slightly. Hellion listened intently, his face draining of color with each detail. The carefree smile Ilya had known was replaced with a grim determination. "A bear this close to the camp," he muttered, his voice low and serious. "We can’t stay here any longer. It’s too risky."

Ilya nodded, the fear slowly morphing into a steely resolve. She knew her brother was right. They had to pack up and move on before nightfall.

Meanwhile, deep within the emerald embrace of the forest, the Crimson Bear lumbered back to its lair. The memory of the tempting rabbit scent still lingered, fueling its frustration. As it reached the entrance, a figure emerged from the shadows, startling the colossal beast.

The figure was a young man, his black hair cascading down his shoulders like a midnight waterfall. But it was his eyes that truly held the Crimson Bear’s gaze. They were an intense crimson, the same shade as fresh blood, and burned with an unnerving intelligence. They seemed to pierce right through the bear, reading its anger and hunger with unsettling ease.

The bear, accustomed to reigning supreme in its domain, roared in challenge. It reared up on its hind legs, its massive form a terrifying silhouette against the fading sunlight. Its giant paws swiped through the air, aiming to crush the intruder.

But something unexpected happened. As the bear’s attack neared, the young man didn’t flinch. He simply stood there, meeting the bear’s ferocious gaze with his own crimson eyes. And in that locked stare, something shifted. The bear, for reasons it couldn’t understand, felt a primal fear grip its heart. The raw aggression that fueled its moment evaporated, replaced by a chilling sense of unease.

The Crimson Bear lowered its paw, the attack dissolving mid-air. It had never encountered a prey that felt so... dangerous. This human, with his chilling eyes and unwavering presence, was unlike anything it had ever seen. A tense silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the ragged breaths of the bear and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

The bear flinched at the sound of the human’s voice, a jarring contrast to the unsettling silence.

"Good boy!" the man, Orpheus, said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his crimson eyes. But the playful tone vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a chilling glint.

"It is bear barbecue tonight," Orpheus declared, his words laced with a cruel amusement that sent a fresh wave of terror through the bear. The beast whimpered, a sound so foreign to its nature that it shook the ground beneath them.

The Crimson Bear, a creature that had instilled fear in every living thing in the vicinity for as long as anyone could remember, was now reduced to a whimpering mess. The power dynamic had shifted on an axis, and the bear, for the first time, understood the meaning of genuine, soul-crushing fear.