God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.
Chapter 962 - 962: To See the Queen (2).

Cain clapped his two gloved hands together.

He let out a sigh, creating a white cloud that drifted away from his lips.

"Still... Isn't this weather too terrible?"

Steve spoke as he trembled lightly where he stood.

"W-what do you expect? It is always cold in this forest. Most other creatures have evolved to handle it. We on the other hand have not been so fortunate."

Steve rubbed his hands together and breathed into his palms,

"Fortunately for us, gear made from {Blue-Horned Ape} hide is rather resistant against the elements." He muttered.

Cain couldn't help but nod,

"It is made quite well too."

He and Steve had changed from their regular attire into special clothing most of those that hunted within the forest used.

It was made using a combination of leather and light magic steel. The leather was gotten from creatures called {Blue-Horned Apes}. Vicious primates that possessed the raw physical might to crush boulders in their palms.

Hunting one down was rather dangerous work.

The make of the armor was rather exquisite. Despite it being made from rough hide, Cain didn't feel uncomfortable at all.

He could also tell that the leather had been treated properly.

In other words, it was quality work.

Steve chuckled,

"Indeed it is."

"You two..."

Steve raised a brow and turned around.

Standing behind them was Blaze with a rather annoyed look on his face,

"What is it, Blaze?"

Blaze's expression was rather ugly, and if looks could kill, the two people he was currently staring at would be dead ten times over.

"Why do you have to bother me? Go on your own!"

Cain turned around as well, giving his armor one final adjustment,

"No can do. I believe this journey is a three-man adventure. Plus, it will be more fun this way, right?"

Blaze still wore a grimace. Help us out by reading on NovelFire.

He most definitely was not convinced.

Seeing this, Cain chuckled and placed a hand on his shoulder,

"Not to worry. You will be rewarded for your efforts."

Blaze raised a brow. Then he turned to Steve, his expression darker than before,

"You. You are a bad influence."

"Me?!" Steve wore a look of pain and hurt on his face.

Blaze sighed. Then his expression turned serious.

"If that's how it is, then we best be on our way. Night will fall soon."

Indeed, unlike City Z, it had become easier to distinguish night and day here on Redscale Island.

For one, the sky noticably became darker. While the grey skies made sure the world was always enveloped with a dark aura of doom and gloom, it was much different than when night came.

In the past, it had been a bit different to tell the difference. However, with their enhanced senses, it had become much easier.

There was also another way to tell.

At night, the entirety of the {Blackskull Rotswarm} would go into a brief period of sleep and would not awaken until morning had come.

The night crawlers were vastly more different than those that moved through the day.

They were also much more twisted and frightening.

Steve clicked his tongue as he glanced up,

"Ah. You are right."

He turned to Cain,

"Certainly, it will be much easier to make use of teleportation spells, no?"

Cain paused for a moment then shook his head,

"Let's enjoy the journey. It's been a while since I got any action."

Blaze sighed,

"Alright then. But I will be leading the way. Neither of you know this forest like I do, so please, leave it to me."

Steve chuckled and stepped to the side,

"Please, lead the way."

Blaze glared at him then snorted. With heavy steps, he began walking towards the dense foliage.

Cain and Steve exchanged a glance.

Cain paused for a moment,

"This should be fun, right?"

Steve chuckled darkly,

"Goodness. You sure have a rather twisted outlook, Cain."

Cain raised a brow and chuckled,

"Do I..."

***

Forests were supposed to be damp, humid, dirty and brimming with life.

This forest was all those things, and then some.

It exuded a profound aura of both life and death.

The flora and fauna had mutated and evolved to all sorts of beautiful monstrosities.

The trees were like gnarly, twisted pillars that shot into the sky.

Some of them possessed vines that dragged and strangled prey before using its roots to absorb them.

Some were plants that lured smaller critters and insects closer with deceptive fragrances before consuming them whole.

All in all, tit was a land brimming with both life and death in equal measure.

A rather interesting biome.

As they walked through the cold forest, their boots makes squelching noises with the half frozen mud, Cain couldn't help but think of how things had come to this.

Once upon a time, this so-called 'Island had merely been a small portion of a school hanging at the very edge of the much larger city.

Now, the entire 'Island' was now bigger than what City Z has been.

A lot of changes had happened as time went by.

Cain couldn't help but recall his first battles. They had happened right on this island.

Each one had been deadly.

He had fought Devils and Mutant Creatures alike, some more terrifying than others.

He had also fought off hordes and even slain a giant too.

However compared to now, those times seemed like a dream. The stakes had become much higher.

He had also become— no. He had also evolved. And his problems had evolved right beside him.

With such memories flowing into his mind, he couldn't stop memories of those that had passed away enter his mind.

He had not really cared much for most of the people that had died here. He had believed, and for the most part, still believed that those that had died here had done so because of their own ignorance and negligence.

However, some had truly tried to survive. Unfortunately, fate was not kind to everyone. In the end, the lucky ones were those that had died painlessly.

There weren't a lot of lucky ones.

Cain let out a quiet sigh as they moved forward.