Chapter 426
Chapter 426 Change
The sudden appearance of Fire Throne had clearly affected the development of the Black Forest.
Those who felt the greatest of impact were the townsfolk of Pinecone Town.
As one of the border towns of the human settlements, they had always lived in the shadow of the terror of magical creatures. Every time a large-scale stampede broke out from the Black Forest, they would have to rush to request aid from the nearest place: Baldan City. That was because there was an adept’s tower located there.
The adept clans that had stakes in Pinecone Town would also send some adepts and apprentices to help repel the stampede. Still, this sort of aid was always limited. These outsider adepts and apprentices would never give their lives for the town if the danger exceeded their expectations.
There had already been two tragic cases of Pinecone Town falling to a stampede of beasts since its inception. And after every tragedy, the adepts would bring in a new batch of migrants to populate the town.
This town was undoubtedly a terrifying place that was both home and horror for the citizens!
In truth, Billis had already been surprised by the hustle and bustle of the place long before he reached the messy pile of rocks where the Fire Cave was.
Billis had already met several small parties hurrying to Fire Cave even while he was less than ten kilometers away. Their parties varied in size. Some were hunting parties with a dozen members, while others were exploration teams with three to four men. Parties of two individuals like Billis and his guide were non-existent.
The further they went, the more parties they met. They were either dragging large prey behind them or carrying huge blood-soaked bags on their shoulders as they excitedly walked through the Black Forest.
Many parties would yell and greet each other when they crossed paths, asking questions here and there. “How’re today’s spoils?” “Did you find another hidden den somewhere?” And all sorts of other strange inquiries.
Billis was utterly stunned when he finally made it through the forest and arrived at a vast space.
Here was the Black Forest!
This was a dangerous territory one hundred and fifty kilometers deep in the Black Forest!
Yet, there was a row of crude wooden huts and tents in front of Billis’ eyes. There were easily four hundred of these makeshift shelters. Adventurers and mercenaries wearing various costumes casually walked around this temporary camp. One could see people selling beast and animal hides in personal booths everywhere, as well as apprentices in short robes haggling with mercenaries.
This place had become a temporary base; a bridgehead and an outpost for the adventurers exploring the nearby area to get supplies. The overseers of this temporary base were the apprentice adepts from the Fire Throne.
A dozen ferocious, large predators had been confined in a massive wooden cage made of thick logs in the corner of the base. There were even monsters like iron rhinoceroses, razor boars, and berserk apes.
Several mercenaries carried bound beasts on their shoulders and hurried over to that place. Billis saw them hand over the animals to an apprentice in a green robe, who seemed to be in charge of managing the bestiary. Those mercenaries then received a heavy pouch from the apprentice.
“Sir, we have arrived at the Fire Cave!” The guide was an honest villager from Pinecone Town. He looked at Billis with hopeful eyes.
Billis took out a small pouch from his belt and tossed it to the man.
Fifty gold coins!
If this were in the past, Billis would never have been able to get these harmless villagers to venture into the Black Forest no matter how many gold coins he promised. In fact, not even if he had promised magical crystals! However, the appearance of Fire Throne had turned the Black Forest into a remarkably safe backyard. Most adventurers could walk about exploring and hunting without any fear for their safety.
After dismissing the guide, Billis built up his courage and walked to the massive cave in the center of the base. He could feel the oppressive fire elementium pressing against his face from three hundred meters away.
Fire Throne, here I come!
Chapter Notes:
Editor Ryu: We’re now into July (2018 for those who are reading this in the far future), so please stop by and check out the to find out what’s coming up this month, including how we’ll do bonus chapters this month (we’re trying something different this month).