I Received System to Become Dragonborn-Chapter 825: Just Entered

Beneath the trees and hidden among the thick bushes, countless eyes watched the adventurers as they stepped into the forest. Sharp, vigilant, and full of hostility — the gaze of those watchers followed the nine figures as if they were enemies trespassing on sacred ground.

They were the tribesmen of this forest. Every forest had its own hidden people, but here, something more bound them together — a force that connected their minds into one. When they tapped into it, they became a single hive, thinking and acting as one.

Because of that connection, information traveled fast among them. Word of the five adventurers — Mark, Thorne, Selene, Kaela, and Eccar — who had already clashed with other tribes on their way to Qomore Kingdom had reached this forest long before the party arrived. Through the unseen force, the tribesmen here already knew their faces, their strength, and the power they had displayed during those earlier battles.

Now, they waited, ready to strike against these intruders. They knew why these adventurers had come — to disrupt the resurrection of their ancient king. That, they could not allow.

One by one, the glowing eyes in the shadows withdrew as the party passed by. It was not yet time. The road ahead was still long, and their moment to attack would come later — when the advantage was theirs.

Meanwhile, it wasn't just Jan, the ranger, who sensed the watchers. Eccar, too, could feel their presence lurking beyond sight. He said nothing to the others, but a frown flickered across his face. Why were they waiting? Why not strike now?

Whatever the reason, Eccar knew one thing — if these tribesmen were planning something, it was unlikely to be anything good.

The party kept moving, their boots crunching softly against the dirt path as they pressed deeper into the forest.

Minutes passed, the sunlight above filtering through the canopy in scattered patches. But then, almost too gradually to notice at first, a thin mist began to creep along the ground.

Kaela was the first to slow her steps. She glanced around and muttered, "Anyone else seeing this?"

Thorne grunted, adjusting the grip on his sword. "Yeah. I don't like this. Forest mist this thick that appeared this sudden was never a good sign."

Selene frowned, her hand already drifting toward the small pouch of charms at her belt that she just bought.

"This is definitely not a natural mist. No wind or river nearby, and yet here it comes."

Annette looked up from her quiet steps. "Should I cast a blessing? This feels wrong." her voice edged with concern.

Mark raised a hand to signal them to slow down but keep moving. His face was tight with focus. "Not yet. Let's not burn through our strength until we know what's causing it. But keep sharp."

Jan, walking a little ahead, paused and crouched to touch the earth. His fingers brushed the damp soil.

"This wasn't here yesterday. It's meant to disorient and push us off the path." He looked over his shoulder. "Everyone, stay close, closer than now. No wandering."

Eccar, still calm, walked at the rear. The others could see he was still smiling faintly, but there was a knowing glint in his eyes.

"Feels like we're being welcomed," he said dryly. "But not in a friendly way."

Selene gave him a sidelong look. She said, "You can say that again."

But Selene thought that seeing him, her feeling is easing a little.

The mist thickened, swirling higher around their boots now. Visibility shrank with every step. The cheerful light filtering from above dimmed as if the sun itself was fading behind a veil.

"Weapons ready. If this turns bad, we form a circle and watch each other's backs," Mark said, his voice turned hard.

There were nods all around. Metal rasped softly as blades were drawn and Magic were prepared.

The forest that once full of distant birdsong and the rustle of leaves now fell eerily silent, swallowed by the growing mist.

And out there in the unseen fog, they knew that the watchers waited.

They pushed onward, their formation tightening as they moved deeper into the suffocating mist. The air grew heavier with every step and suddenly the warmth of the sun was completely lost behind the thick swirling fog.

Then came the cold.

It crept in slowly at first, a faint chill that licked at their skin, but soon it deepened and sinking into their bones.

The forest around them now felt as if it had been claimed by some distant winter.

Jan stopped in his tracks, his instincts screaming now. He turned his head sharply toward Esther and Selene.

"You two," he said. "Light the path. Use whatever you can. This isn't just mist, it's some Magic meant to sap our senses."

Selene blinked at him, then nodded quickly. "Understood."

She reached into her pouch, pulling out a small charm etched with faint runes. Whispering under her breath, she snapped her fingers, and a faint bluish flame ignited above her palm, casting an eerie but welcome glow.

Esther already one step ahead. She drew a circle in the air with her staff. Golden sparks followed her motion and a hovering bright and steady light flared to life, pushing back the mist in their immediate area.

"This is better," Kaela muttered, drawing in a breath as the light gave them a clearer view of the path directly ahead and around.

Jan's eyes didn't leave the deep fog still swirling beyond their small circle of light.

He then turned toward Annette. "Annette. Now's the time. Cast a protection. I can feel it… something's coming and it's not going to be kind."

Annette's face looks pale but composed. She gripped her holy symbol and nodded.

"Right." She stepped forward, raising the symbol high. "Light, shield us from the unseen and ward off the evil that stirs." Her voice rang out steady and a faint shimmer like a soft golden dome spread outward from her, wrapping around the group like a protective shell.

The chill eased slightly inside the barrier, but it still pressed in from beyond.

Mark's jaw clenched as he looked at Jan. "You're sure it's coming?"

Jan's hand rested on his bow, his knuckles white.

"I can feel them. They're closing in. Not yet attacking, but they're surrounding us now." He spat to the side, his eyes narrowing. "They're herding us deeper."

Thorne growled under his breath. "Cowards playing with smoke and cold. Let them come already."

Eccar, still at the rear, finally let his smile drop. His eyes turned serious as he spoke for the first time since the cold arrived. "They probably want to wear us down first. This is just the start. Get ready, guys."

The party tightened their grip on weapons and spells, their breaths misting in the cold air.

They keep moving for now.

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