Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 964 - 81: Target, Lost Forest

Chapter 964: Chapter 81: Target, Lost Forest

As the largest forest on the Yarran Continent, the Forest of Death covers over eight million square kilometers, which is larger than the combined area of the other two major forests. Within these eight million square kilometers, there reside more than 2.5 million species, making it the most diverse region in the Yarran World.

The Forest of Death is located at the northernmost part of the continent, in the hottest and most precipitation-dense area of the Yarran World. Here, the climate remains hot and humid throughout the year. Even during the dry season, the forest consistently experiences at least twenty hours of rainfall per month, and during the rainy season, the total monthly rainfall can exceed one-third of the time, meaning there is roughly seven hours of rain daily.

The eight million square kilometers of forest are naturally divided by a mountain range named Okain into two parts. The environment on the southern side of the Okain Range is better, with about one million square kilometers not only having less powerful magical beasts but also containing many small grasslands and plains within the woods, making it relatively suitable for intelligent beings to inhabit. Conversely, the north side of the Okain Range is vastly different—the magical beasts are terrifyingly powerful, and the environmental dangers are horrifying. Any creature, no matter how strong, makes a slight misstep, they would perish without a trace. Thus, even the Elves, who are born with innate Silver Rank powers and blessed by the forest gods, cannot reside there.

Based on the characteristics of the two forest areas, people specifically refer to the vast northern forests as the Forest of Death. As for the smaller southern forests spanning over one million square kilometers, they are known as the Lost Forest. From the name, one can tell that the most significant feature of the Lost Forest is its complicated terrain, making it extremely easy to get lost. One cannot fully comprehend without experiencing it firsthand—if a person unfamiliar with the terrain enters the Lost Forest and strays more than thirty meters from their original location, there is over a ninety percent chance they won’t be able to find their way back on their own. Even someone considerably familiar with the Lost Forest, like Pannis, would likely only be able to extend this limit to about one hundred meters without relying on special techniques. Only the Elves, favored children of the forest gods, can freely recognize paths in the forest and never lose their direction, no matter where they are in the woods.

Generations of other intelligent races have been eager to discover how the Elves manage this, and while the Elves are not stingy with their secrets, their answers only disappoint the curious, as this is a racial talent impossible to replicate. The Elves say they can hear voices from the forest and plants, which automatically guide them to their desired destinations without needing to do anything—they will never get lost in the forest. No one knows what these so-called voices from the forest and plants actually are; people can only attribute them to the grace bestowed by the forest gods upon their children.

To venture deep into the Forest of Death, one would either have to scale the Winged People Mountain Range, impassable to even birds or delve into the Perpetual Icefield. There, they would risk the severe cold behind and various magical beasts in front as they descended over two thousand meters in altitude. Otherwise, leaving from Neville City, they would have to head north into the Beastmen Prairie. After traversing the entire prairie, they would cross the Lost Forest, a domain of the Elves, before they could enter. This was a lengthy expedition covering thousands of kilometers, crossing various complex terrains. Normally, even if relying on big horned deer or magic-powered motorbikes without regard for consumption, this part of the journey alone might take seven to eight days. Previously, an Elven diplomatic mission from the Elven Royal Court took thirteen days at top speed to reach the City of Knowledge.

However, this was no ordinary adventure but a crucial mission that could affect the entire Yarran World. Lately, races from all around the world had gathered to cooperate closely on this vital task. Naturally, all resource allocations were leaning in favor of the adventure team.

The first resource mobilized was the Skyboat controlled by the Business Federation. By the time the adventure team set out, the Skyboat had already arrived in Neville City. As the most important capital of a country, Neville City naturally had no air harbor built for Skyboat docking, but under the power of gold, no obstacle remained an obstacle. In just two days, an air harbor capable of hosting the Skyboat had been established. Although it was not large and the facilities fully met the standards of the air harbor in the Holy City, it was more than sufficient for temporary docking.

According to the plan, the adventure team would ride this modified, higher-speed Skyboat straight north. They would keep a straight line without any stops, crossing the Beastmen Prairie in four days, then descend in altitude at the junction of the Lost Forest and the prairie for airdropping. For the adventure team, this was the most energy-efficient method. They could also rest on the Skyboat. If possible, Pannis would prefer the Skyboat to carry them all the way to the Elven Royal Court. However, that obviously was impossible. Although the Lost Forest was theoretically safer than the Forest of Death, in reality, the vast forest housed billions of magical beasts, including numerous Upper Rank flying magical beasts and not a few Demigod Rank ones. In such conditions, venturing deep into the forest by Skyboat was basically tantamount to a death sentence. So, although regrettable, the most comfortable part of the journey would have to end at the outer reaches of the forest.

Indeed, it was the most comfortable journey because the Skyboat was not just hosting the six members of the adventure team and two small Undead. Currently, the Skyboat held what could be considered the most luxurious assembly on the Yarran Continent at this stage. First, the Elves sent directly sixty Horned Eagle Beasts, or more precisely, sixty Horned Eagle Beasts riders. These Gold Rank elven archers, having undergone years of special aerial combat training, could exert tremendously powerful forces when coordinated in the air. They were divided into two groups and would use the Skyboat as a mid-point and resting spot to continuously patrol the skies around the Skyboat day and night. The Horned Eagle Beasts, being among the fastest of the magical beasts in the Lost Forest, performed admirably in both long pursuits and short sprints. Under their protection, any intruder trying to approach the Skyboat would likely be subject to a concentrated attack by all Horned Eagle Beasts riders within sight. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it and send in your monthly tickets at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)