The Author's Viewpoint-Chapter 108 - Giant Among Trees

Traveling with a team of ten, and without everyone having stealth capabilities, was a logistical nightmare.

Some of them wore armor so heavy that every step hit the earth with a dull, resounding thud. Eventually, Tave had no choice but to ask Darian and Finn to remove their heavier gear, just enough to keep their footsteps from announcing their location across the forest.

Not everyone in the team had builds suited for speed or stamina either. Lina and Elowen, for instance, leaned heavily toward magic. Their steps were slower, their endurance more limited. They weren’t made for this kind of pace.

Others, like Velion, were more balanced, and versatile. He could move ahead and lead the way, or hang back to make sure no one fell behind. He was the glue that kept their movement coherent.

Still...

The one doing the most work?

Tave let out a quiet sigh.

It was clearly him.

He was responsible for monitoring everything ahead, clearing their path, predicting movement, making sure they didn’t stumble into another nest of death.

Thankfully, Panpan took the rear, keeping watch over their backline, making sure nothing crept up behind. And Fang... Fang had already shot forward, scouting ahead through the dark underbrush like a streak of living shadow, scanning for monsters, setting the rhythm of their movement.

Then, from the front, Velion raised his hand.

The group came to a halt.

Velion turned, made another small gesture to take a rest.

The team immediately began settling into the most suitable resting spots they could find. Root arches, thick exposed tree roots, or moss-covered boulders tucked into the forest terrain.

They only took breaks for a few minutes every few hours. Just enough to let everyone recover their stamina to full. Because if they were suddenly ambushed, if something unexpected showed up, they’d need every ounce of strength to survive it.

Tave was quietly chewing on a strip of roasted meat when he noticed it. Panpan, who had been stationed far behind as their rear scout, suddenly sprinting toward them.

The moment the others saw her, the camp snapped to life. People stood, hands drifting toward weapons. Tave and Velion rose immediately as the girl came into view.

"Velion, Tave," she called out as she reached them. "A large monster is approaching."

"What kind?" Tave asked at once.

"It’s huge. Really huge. At least five times our height, like a tree," she said, breath catching. "It looked like... an undead creature. I’m not sure, but it had a humanoid shape. It walked slowly, without a sound, but it’s coming toward us. And it’s already close."

Tave’s mind raced, parsing every word. He’d heard this description before. Seen it. Fang had spotted something like this a few days ago during a patrol. freewebnσvel.cѳm

A towering figure, undead, silent, and slow-moving.

"How many of them, Pan?" Velion asked calmly, eyes narrowing.

"Just one," she answered without hesitation.

The entire team turned to Tave.

"Should we kill it, Tave?" Velion asked, and it wasn’t just a question. It was a call to arms. The others were already tensed, and ready to fight.

"Or should we push forward quickly and avoid it?"

Tave’s answer came immediately. "No."

Everyone froze.

"Rushing forward is too risky," he continued. "I haven’t scouted the next stretch of terrain yet. It could be worse up ahead. So..."

He paused. Their eyes were on him. Waiting.

"We hide," he said finally. "Let it pass."

Some of them gave him looks, expressions that practically screamed What the hell kind of idea is that, Tave?

But none of them argued.

Not anymore.

They’d come too far. Seen too much. And the hard truth was, no one else had Tave’s depth of knowledge about the monsters in this Rift. Not even close.

And this one could be avoided. If they just stayed hidden.

They moved quickly, packing up their gear in silence. No wasted movement, no noise. Each of them knew the stakes.

They spread out, slipping into the thickest brush they could find, tucking themselves behind massive roots, beneath overgrown vines, or pressing close to wide tree trunks. Those with stealth skills, like Tave, Panpan, and Velion, became the vanguard of silence, helping guide the others into positions where they could vanish from view.

Because even if it was only one monster, that didn’t mean it was an easy fight.

If they couldn’t bring it down quickly, it could turn into a disaster. One mistake, and the entire forest could come alive with worse threats.

So yes, hiding was the smart move.

And then it came.

At first, it was just the faint shifting of branches. Leaves falling where there was no wind. Thick limbs gently parting like something immense was gliding through.

And then, they saw it.

The creature emerged slowly through the gaps in the canopy, and Panpan’s earlier words suddenly made perfect sense.

It was humanoid in shape. But massive, at least five times their size, just as she’d said.

Its body looked like a fusion of boulder and bark. Hardened stone skin cracked with deep lines, softened only slightly by the moss growing over it. Thick vines wrapped around its arms and shoulders, and patches of foliage clung to its back like a cloak.

No wonder Panpan had mistaken it for an undead.

Its eyes, cold, hollow, and glowing faintly green, carried no awareness. Just a blank stare, devoid of emotion. It didn’t shuffle like a zombie, but it walked with the slow, unbothered confidence of something that feared nothing.

This was no undead. This was a Forest Golem.

Their presence was rare, but not unknown to the Rift. And despite their massive size, their steps were nearly silent, aided by their deep connection to the forest. Only when they fought did their power truly shake the earth.

And this one... was dangerously close.

The Forest Golem moved with slow, deliberate strides. Each step covering enormous ground with a quiet, unsettling grace.

And then it stopped.

Right in front of where the team was hiding. Its massive foot hovered for a moment, then settled. The golem tilted its head, gazing down toward the thicket where several of them were concealed.

Tave held his breath.

Please. No one move. No one panic. Don’t do anything stupid.

Seconds passed in agonizing silence.

Then, without a sound, the golem turned its head forward again. It resumed walking, pushing aside low-hanging branches and vines with effortless strength, each motion strangely calm. Step by step, it vanished back into the deeper woods, its towering frame slowly swallowed by the green shadows.

Only after its presence fully disappeared did the others begin to emerge from their hiding places. One by one, expressions tight and cautious.

"So... what was that thing?" one of them asked.

"That was a Forest Golem," Tave answered.

"A golem? So... not a living creature?" another voice responded, confused. "I mean, they’re artificial, right?"

"Yes, they’re artificial," Tave confirmed, "but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to defeat. That one in particular..." He paused before continuing. "It was likely Elite-grade. Tier 5."

The words hung in the air like a stone.

Elite-grade.

Even the sound of it drained the air from their lungs. They’d nearly died multiple times just facing normal-grade Tier 5 monsters.

What would happen if they went up against that?

No one spoke for a long moment.

And finally, their journey resumed.

Cautious, grueling, and just as exhausting as the day before. They pressed on through dense forest, tangled roots, and uncertain terrain, step by careful step.

By nightfall, they had found it, a spot nestled between thick trees and sloped rock formations. A place quiet enough, shielded enough, to serve as their shelter for the night.

Tave had already scouted the area thoroughly. It was safe enough to rest.

They didn’t bother with tents or complex setups. Just sleeping bags, laid out on moss and dry leaves. If they needed to move quickly, they had to be ready. Simplicity meant survival.

And just as everyone was starting to settle down, finding their corners, stretching sore limbs, adjusting for sleep, Tave stood and spoke up.

"There’s a place nearby I want to check out," he said calmly. "It won’t take long."

"You sure about going alone, Tave?" Velion replied.

Before Tave could respond, Panpan had already risen to her feet. She turned to him, quiet but steady.

"Can I?" She asked.

"Yes. Of course," he answered without a second thought.