Darrel wasn't about to let Ethan have the points uncontested.
Without a word, he and his faction followed, maintaining a cautious distance.
This wasn't an alliance anymore—it was a competition.
Whoever killed the beast lord first would gain double points, and Darrel wasn't about to let Ethan take the lead.
Ethan's group pressed on, pushing through exhaustion as they reached the edge of the forest.
Or at least—what used to be a forest.
The sight before them was unnatural.
Every tree stood lifeless.
The leaves had withered to dust, leaving only barren, skeletal branches.
The ground, once lush with grass, was now a field of decay.
A cold, unsettling air hung over the land.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
The beast lord was supposed to be up ahead.
But this? This looked more like a graveyard.
Ethan's expression hardened.
"This isn't normal," Jonah muttered.
Without hesitation, Ash—one of their best scouts—stepped forward.
