Rebirth-Transcending All Beings-Chapter 41: Fake

The path that lay before them began to narrow as they walked. The trees grew denser with every step as they stepped on crushed leaves.

The chilling air brushed past their skin and clothes as they had finally arrived at Ashwood Forest once more.

No words passed between the two, just the sound of crunching beneath them. Vergil’s right hand hovered near the hilt of his sheathed sword.

His eyes scanned the ever-expanding line of trees. The woods ahead felt too still.

Too quiet.

[Something’s off.]

’He’s farmed the place till nothing was left,’ Vergil’s eyes narrowed. Eleanor walked beside him, each step controlled as she scanned the area.

Vergil broke the silence. "Keep to range, and use your rapier only if it’s an emergency."

"I’m aware," her tone was calculated. "Try not to fall behind."

Vergil clicked his tongue before keeping his voice level. "He’s not making this easy for us."

"I’ve scattered mana in the area, but not even a single disturbance — how bizarre."

"Do you smell that?" Vergil asked. The air around them was tainted with the smell of iron. Vergil’s sword was now half-drawn.

[Primal Awareness has been activated.]

"Blood," he muttered as he sniffed lightly.

She glanced at him. "Are you certain?"

"It’s faint, but it’s there."

They pressed further as the thicket of trees around them revealed their hollow and dead nature.

And there they found it. A skeleton leaning against a hollowed tree with no leaves. A spine lay next to it like some twisted offering.

Vergil stared for a moment. "He did the same thing to him," Vergil spoke. "He played with them."

Eleanor covered her mouth. "Disgusting."

"But it wasn’t as if he was eaten, a better word for it may be absorbed." Vergil stood up after inspecting the spine. "He’s luring others in."

"Then let’s make haste," Eleanor said coldly.

’She’s ready to kill.’ Vergil nodded. "Let’s move."

They moved ahead towards where the rotten stench was coming from before a piercing scream pierced the air. "Someone — god! Please, I’m stuck!"

Vergil halted mid-step, raising a hand to Eleanor who stilled at the voice.

A small clearing opened up before them, where a group of adventurers had gathered near a figure pinned beneath a fallen log.

The man wore tattered light armour, his leg stuck.

"Hold still!" One of the adventurers called, a woman with earth-coloured armour and a staff. "We’re getting it off you!"

Name: Morvax

Level: 21

Rank- I

Race: Demon

Title: The Flesh Echo

Authority: Transformation

Strength- 50

Constitution-50

Dexterity-47

Intuition-35

Demonic Energy: 50

Passive Skills:

Mimic Flesh (D)

Instinctive Adaptation (D) –

Monstrous Vitality (D+) –

Active Skills:

Morph Form (D)

Echo Movement (D)

Flesh Puppet (C)

Vergil’s lips curved into a smile. Amused at the situation. He had found him, and he was stronger.

Yet he didn’t draw his sword, but took a silent step back into the thicket of fog that began to enshroud the place.

"What is it?" Eleanor whispered. He didn’t answer at first just gazing.

"A party that includes our fun–little–friend."

Eleanor blinked once. "Are you certain?"

"100%." Vergil nudged her shoulder. "But let’s play along with his act."

His smile faded. "Let’s go greet our ’friends’."

------

Ahead the adventurers worked together positioning themselves to lift it.

"On three." A broad-shouldered man spoke. "One–two–three!" The three adventurers lifted the tree, allowing the man to crawl from the spot.

Then, the crunch of leaves drew their attention. Three heads turned sharply as two figures stepped from behind the line of trees and fog.

A man clad in steel spoke. "Who’s there?!"

Vergil lifted his hand in greeting, his voice calm. "Easy there. We heard some noises and came over, thought you could use the help."

The young mage, staff in hand, released the tension. "At least it’s more adventurers."

Eleanor didn’t speak, her eyes flickering between the party and Morvax.

And then, their eyes met. Vergil met Morvax’s.

And something shifted, a twitch in his disguise as Morvax’s thoughts stirred like a tornado. ’Is that really him?’

A thrill pulsed within him as he restrained the smile that threatened to break the illusion of pain and fatigue. ’How perfect is this?’ They had both grown stronger. Maybe they had found each other — maybe fate had reunited them.

But Morvax couldn’t care. The pain in his voice was only half-fake. Letting the joy mingle with the performance.

"I thank you for coming, I thought I was done for." He breathed. "I’m Kael."

Vergil knelt beside him with a calm and unreadable expression. "Kael huh, adventuring alone can be pretty dangerous."

Eleanor looked at them, remaining oblivious.

"Was scouting for herbs... bad idea, I guess," Kael replied, managing a pained chuckle. "The tree suddenly collapsed on me."

[....] The system was laughing in Vergil’s head. And Vergil was also laughing inside but kept it in. "Well good thing we showed, it would be a shame to lose you."

Kael’s eyes glimmered with amusement before Eleanor interrupted. "So why are you guys here?’ She looked towards the adventurers.

The broad-shouldered man stepped forward. "The name’s Darin." He offered a small wave. "We’re a D-rank party. Got a request from the guild that both folks and adventurers were going missing."

"We thought we’d check it out and we found Kael."

The others gathered around, catching their breath from lifting the log. Their gear was functional, no orientation and just what was necessary.

Vergil activated Analysis on the three individuals. Darin, Thorne and Lisa. They were quite strong, with stats from 30 to 40. But considerably weaker.

Vergil nodded as the pieces began to fall into place. "I’m Vergil and my friend over here is Eleanor. Our quest was a missing persons request, the same as yours."

Kael gave a warm, relieved smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I’m lucky you all showed up when you did. I don’t think I’d have made it out..."

The group slowly relaxed now that the adventurer Kael was saved. Their wariness gradually thinned as the conversations continued.

Darin grinned, slinging his axe over his shoulder. "Didn’t expect anyone else to be this deep, still, glad we found the guy. Could’ve been ugly if he stayed pinned under that log much longer."

"Yeah," Vergil replied casually. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Then Lisa murmured to herself. "Weird, there’s no mana fluctuations in the area, almost too stable."

Darin clapped lightly on Vergil’s shoulder. "Have you two signed a contract with the guild?"

"No," Vergil replied.

"Ah, so Freelancers then," Darin said, impressed. He pointed at Thorne. "He was also like you one time, you’ve got the vibe. Especially her."

He gestured toward Eleanor.

Eleanor didn’t even blink. "Don’t lump me in with you."

Before long, a break in the trees revealed crumbled ruins of a structure from hundreds of years ago. Vines had mostly overtaken it as chunks of weathered and shattered stone lay around it.

Only a weathered archway remained intact, half-buried in fog. "Ruins, out here?" Lisa asked, voice hushed.

Darin whistled. "Creepy place eh, bet monsters have taken over."

Vergil didn’t respond. He stilled at the sight of the archway for a moment, then looked toward the darkened doorway in thought.

At the back, Kael’s smile wavered as he stared at the ruin, but not with fear. No, it was hunger that gleamed in his eyes.

"Finally, we have arrived."

His eyes stared at the others, starting with Darin. Too loud, he was the first to go. Then the mage and the quiet one.

Finally, his gaze moved to Vergil. ’You’re the only one that excites me. The only one I want to rip open slowly. I wonder... would you scream?’