Chapter 34: The survival examination had truly begun

After the group reached their destination, the four gathered near the edge of the designated area. Elias adjusted his bow and looked toward Kael.

"So, where are we going?" Elias asked.

"We obviously need to find a source of water," Kael replied as he unfolded the map.

Darius looked toward the forest.

"There should be a stream somewhere nearby," Darius said.

"There is one to the west," Kael said.

Elias glanced at the map and then back at Kael.

"You already know where it is?" Elias asked.

Kael tapped the map.

"It is marked here," Kael replied.

Elias studied him briefly before nodding.

"Fair enough," Elias said.

The four entered the forest together. Kael walked near the front with Darius, while Elias moved slightly higher whenever the terrain allowed him to do so. Mira remained near the center of the formation, keeping the group’s medical supplies close at hand. Their pace was steady, and they avoided making unnecessary noise as they moved through the trees.

The deeper they went, the quieter the surroundings became. Kael occasionally stopped to examine the ground, which eventually caught Darius’s attention.

"What are you looking for?" Darius asked.

"Tracks," Kael replied.

Darius looked down.

"I do not see anything," Darius said.

Kael crouched and brushed his fingers lightly across the disturbed soil.

"Don’t look for footprints. Look for disturbed ground," Kael explained.

Elias crouched beside them and examined the vegetation.

"What difference does that make?" Elias asked.

"Footprints can disappear quickly. Broken vegetation, displaced soil, and damaged leaves can remain longer," Kael replied.

Elias nodded as he studied the ground.

"So you can tell that something passed through here," Elias said.

"Exactly," Kael replied.

Mira marked their location on the map.

"If we need to retreat, we should know where we have already been," Mira said.

Darius nodded.

"Good idea," Darius replied.

Elias glanced at the marked location.

"That will also make it easier to find our way back," Elias said.

Mira nodded.

They continued moving, with Darius naturally taking the outer edge of the formation. He cleared low branches, moved obstacles from the path, and occasionally held branches aside so the others could pass.

Elias noticed something but said nothing. Instead, he moved farther ahead and checked the terrain from a better vantage point.

Not long afterward, they heard running water.

Kael raised a hand, signaling everyone to stop. The group became quiet as they listened, and several dozen meters ahead, a stream appeared between the trees.

Elias looked relieved.

"That was easier than expected," Elias said.

Kael shook his head.

"Do not drink it yet," Kael said.

Elias looked at him.

"It looks clean," he said.

"Clean does not always mean safe," Kael replied.

Elias nodded.

"Fair enough," he said.

Darius crouched beside the stream.

"I will handle the water," Darius suggested.

Mira stepped forward.

"I can help," she offered.

Darius shook his head.

"You are the healer. Organize the medical supplies while we are here," he told her.

Mira nodded.

"All right," she replied.

Kael began preparing the purification equipment. Once the water had been treated, they filled their containers and checked the surrounding terrain before deciding where to establish their campsite.

"We should establish a camp somewhere slightly elevated," Kael suggested.

Darius nodded.

"That will keep rainwater from flowing directly through the campsite," Darius said.

"And we should avoid placing it too close to the stream," Mira added. "Insects and animals may be attracted to the water."

Kael glanced at her.

"Good observation," he said.

They searched for a suitable location and eventually found a relatively flat area beneath several large trees. The work began immediately, with everyone taking responsibility for a different part of the setup. Mira organized the medical supplies and food, Darius gathered branches and cleared the ground, Elias scouted the surrounding area, and Kael handled the shelter and arranged their equipment.

By the time they finished, the campsite was stable and organized. They had a shelter, a safe fire pit, properly arranged supplies, and enough room to move around without constantly stepping over equipment. Their location was also elevated enough to avoid water runoff while remaining close enough to the stream for convenient access.

Elias climbed onto a low branch and surveyed the area.

"I have a hill to the north, the stream to the west, and a clearing south of here. Nothing large is moving nearby," Elias reported.

Kael looked up.

"Good work," he said.

Elias smiled.

"Thanks," Elias replied.

For the first time since arriving in the forest, Kael relaxed slightly. Their campsite was secure, their supplies were organized, and the team was working well together. Everything was going according to plan.

Then Elias’s expression changed.

"Kael," Elias called.

The tone of his voice immediately caught Kael’s attention.

"What is it?" Kael asked.

Elias pointed toward the trees.

"There is a broken branch over there," Elias pointed.

Kael stood.

"Show me," Kael said.

The two of them moved toward the location, and Darius noticed the change in their expressions before following them. Mira remained near the campsite but kept her attention focused on the three men.

Kael crouched beside the broken branch. It was fresh, and the exposed wood was still pale. He followed the disturbed vegetation toward the ground and soon found a set of large tracks.

They were much larger than the tracks of the magical beasts that were supposed to inhabit this part of the forest.

Kael’s expression gradually became serious.

Darius crouched beside him.

"What is it?" Darius asked.

Kael followed the tracks until they reached a nearby tree. Three long scratches had been carved into the bark.

His eyes narrowed.

He knew those marks.

"Bloodfang Direwolf."

His memories of Eclipse Hearts immediately surfaced. Bloodfang Direwolves were aggressive pack predators, but more importantly, they were not supposed to be here. Not in this section of the Emerald Forest.

Elias looked at Kael.

"Is that a normal wolf?" Elias asked.

"No," Kael replied.

"How bad?" Elias asked.

Kael stared at the scratches.

"Bad enough," Kael replied.

Mira approached carefully.

"How many?" Mira asked.

"I do not know," Kael replied.

Elias studied the surrounding ground.

"If there is one, we should assume there are more," Elias said.

Kael looked at him and nodded.

"That is the right assumption," Kael replied.

Elias sighed quietly.

"I am starting to dislike this forest," Elias admitted.

Darius stood and looked toward the trees.

"Should we move the campsite?" Darius asked.

Kael considered the question carefully. If they moved immediately, they could walk directly into the pack. If they stayed, the wolves could eventually find them.

His knowledge of the game had always been one of his greatest advantages, but this situation was different. Bloodfang Direwolves were not supposed to be here, which meant something had changed. If one thing had changed, there was no guarantee that anything else would remain the same.

"We will return to camp," Kael said.

Darius nodded.

"Agreed," Darius replied.

They returned to the campsite, where Mira immediately began securing the supplies while Darius checked the surroundings. Elias climbed higher into the trees and began scouting, while Kael stood near the edge of the campsite and listened.

The forest had become strangely quiet. The birds had stopped calling, leaving only the faint sound of wind moving through the leaves.

Then a distant howl echoed between the trees.

Everyone froze.

A second howl answered from another direction.

Then a third.

Elias slowly climbed down from the tree.

"There is more than one," Elias said.

Kael nodded.

"Yes," Kael replied.

Darius reached for his sword.

"Stay behind me," Darius said.

Kael looked at him.

"No need," Kael replied.

Darius frowned.

"I am protecting you," Darius said.

"I mean we are a team. We protect each other," Kael replied.

Darius stared at him for a moment before nodding.

"Fine," Darius said.

Mira tightened the straps on her medical pouch.

"What should we do?" She asked.

Kael looked at each member of the team before giving his instructions.

"Elias, stay behind us and keep a clear line of sight. If you see movement, tell us immediately," Kael instructed.

Elias nodded.

"Understood," Elias replied.

"Mira, stay in the center. Keep the medical supplies ready, but do not expose yourself," Kael continued.

Mira nodded.

"I understand," Mira replied.

"Darius and I will stay in front," Kael said.

Darius drew his sword.

"All right," Darius replied.

Kael looked into the forest. The shadows between the trees seemed darker than before.

He had entered the Emerald Forest expecting the examination to never follow the familiar pattern from Eclipse Hearts. His expectation wasn’t mistaken. The game might have given him knowledge, but it had not given him certainty.

The wilderness in front of him was no longer a scripted environment designed for players to conquer. It was real, and the three people standing behind him were relying on him.

Kael tightened his grip around his sword. He was no longer thinking about how to obtain the highest examination score. He was thinking about how to make sure all four of them walked out of this forest alive.

Another howl echoed through the trees.

Something moved in the darkness ahead.

Kael raised his sword.

"Stay close," Kael said.

Elias readied his bow.

"I was not planning to go anywhere," Elias replied.

Darius planted his feet firmly.

"Whatever comes out of there, we handle it together," Darius said.

Mira stood beside them and nodded.

"Together," Mira repeated.

The forest fell silent once again, but the branches ahead began to move.

The Wilderness Survival Examination had truly begun.