LRAB Chapter 92 - 87:The Southern Path
Chapter 92 - 87:The Southern Path
Morning in **Greenwood Village** came with an unusual sense of anticipation.
The battle with the **Stoneback Beasts** the previous day had left clear marks across the training clearing. Cracked earth and shattered rock still littered the ground, though the elves had already begun repairing the damaged sections.
Despite the work, there was excitement in the air.
Today, something important was happening.
Today, the **Southern Expedition** would begin.
At the center of the village clearing, John stretched his enormous wings, the movement stirring a gust of wind that rustled the surrounding leaves.
The massive black dragon looked toward the southern horizon.
Somewhere beyond the endless forest...
Something waited.
And the system wanted him to find it.
Nearby, Lythriel tightened the straps of her leather armor while resting her spear against a wooden post.
"You’re staring again," she said.
John glanced down at her.
"I do that."
"You do it a lot."
Sylvara approached carrying several small crystal vials filled with glowing green liquid.
"Let him think," she said calmly. "Dragons probably need time to brood."
John tilted his head.
"Brood?"
"It means thinking dramatically."
Lythriel smirked.
"That’s exactly what he does."
John huffed.
"I’m right here."
Sylvara handed Lythriel one of the vials.
"Take this."
"What is it?"
"A regeneration draught."
Lythriel raised an eyebrow.
"You expect trouble?"
Sylvara’s calm expression didn’t change.
"We’re leaving the territory we understand."
"That’s a yes."
Commander Aerion soon joined them, fully armored and carrying his long silver sword.
Behind him stood five elven rangers—elite scouts chosen to accompany the expedition.
Each carried bows crafted from ancient Greenwood trees.
Aerion stopped in front of John.
"Everything is prepared."
John nodded.
"Good."
Lythriel stretched her arms.
"So what’s the plan, dragon?"
John lowered his head slightly.
"We travel south."
"That’s it?"
"For now."
Sylvara smiled faintly.
"Simple plans are sometimes the best."
Aerion looked toward the forest.
"We will encounter unknown territory within three hours."
John’s golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Perfect."
---
## Entering the Southern Forest
By midday, the expedition had left the familiar territory of Greenwood.
The forest slowly began to change.
The trees grew taller.
Thicker.
The ground became uneven, covered with ancient roots that twisted across the soil like frozen serpents.
Even the air felt different.
Heavier.
More primal.
Lythriel walked beside John’s enormous foreleg, scanning the surroundings carefully.
"I don’t like this place."
John glanced down.
"You say that about every place."
"Because most places are dangerous."
"That’s fair."
One of the rangers suddenly raised his hand.
"Tracks."
The group stopped.
Sylvara knelt beside the marks in the dirt.
Her fingers brushed the ground gently.
"These are fresh."
Aerion stepped closer.
"What made them?"
Sylvara hesitated.
"...I’m not sure."
The tracks were large.
Too large to belong to a normal animal.
Three deep claw marks pressed into the soil with each step.
John leaned down to examine them.
The system immediately responded.
**[System Analysis]**
```
Species: Unknown
Estimated Tier: 7
Threat Level: Moderate
Recommendation: Proceed with caution
```
John’s eyes narrowed.
Tier 7.
Stronger than the monsters they fought yesterday.
Lythriel noticed his expression.
"What is it?"
"Something big."
"Well that narrows it down."
The ranger suddenly whispered.
"...It’s coming."
---
## The First Southern Beast
A low growl echoed through the forest.
The ground trembled slightly.
Then the creature emerged.
It burst through the trees like a living avalanche.
A massive beast covered in dark green scales, nearly fifteen meters long, with powerful limbs and a wide armored head.
Its eyes glowed with predatory intelligence.
Sylvara whispered.
"...Forest Tyrant."
The monster roared.
The sound shook leaves from the trees.
John grinned.
"Finally."
---
## Opening Clash
The Forest Tyrant charged.
Its massive body smashed through a fallen tree like it was nothing.
Aerion shouted.
"Spread out!"
The rangers scattered instantly.
Arrows flew.
THUNK! THUNK! THUNK!
Several arrows struck the monster’s hide but barely penetrated its thick scales.
Lythriel sprinted forward.
Her movements were incredibly fast.
She leaped onto a boulder and launched herself toward the beast.
"Spear Dance!"
Her weapon flashed like lightning.
CLANG!
The spear struck the creature’s shoulder.
Sparks flew.
The monster roared and swung its massive tail.
WHOOSH!
The tail smashed into the ground where Lythriel had been standing moments earlier.
The impact shattered stone and sent dirt flying.
"Okay!" Lythriel shouted. "That thing hits hard!"
John stepped forward.
"My turn."
---
## Dragon vs Forest Tyrant
John inhaled deeply.
Dark energy gathered in his chest.
"Abyssal Breath!"
The beam of black energy exploded forward.
BOOOOOOM!
The blast slammed into the monster’s chest.
The Forest Tyrant was pushed backward several meters, its scales smoking from the impact.
But it didn’t fall.
Instead, it roared even louder.
The beast lunged forward again.
Its jaws snapped toward John’s neck.
CRASH!
John slammed his foreleg down, stopping the creature’s charge.
The ground cracked beneath the force of the impact.
The two massive creatures faced each other.
Power against power.
The Forest Tyrant swiped its claws.
SLASH!
John twisted his body.
The claws scraped across his scales, leaving faint scratches.
Lythriel whistled.
"That thing can actually hurt you."
John smirked.
"Barely."
---
## Coordinated Assault
Aerion dashed forward.
His sword flashed.
"Now!"
Sylvara raised her staff.
"Binding Vines!"
The ground erupted.
Thick vines wrapped around the monster’s hind legs.
The Forest Tyrant roared and struggled.
John seized the opportunity.
He lunged forward.
"Abyssal Claw!"
Dark energy covered his talons.
SLASH!
His claws tore through the creature’s side.
Blood sprayed across the clearing.
The monster howled in pain.
Lythriel followed instantly.
She leaped high into the air.
"Piercing Fang!"
Her spear plunged directly into the creature’s exposed wound.
THUD!
The Forest Tyrant staggered.
Aerion moved like silver lightning.
His blade flashed one final time.
SLASH!
The monster’s throat opened.
The massive beast collapsed with a thunderous crash.
The forest went silent.
---
## System Reward
The system appeared instantly.
**[Battle Completed]**
```
Forest Tyrant Defeated
EXP Gained: 12,500
Progress Toward Tier 10: 64%
```
John blinked.
"That was a big jump."
Lythriel wiped blood from her spear.
"Big monster."
Sylvara smiled.
"That was excellent teamwork."
Aerion looked thoughtful.
"But something still bothers me."
John tilted his head.
"What?"
"These creatures normally live much deeper in the southern wilderness."
Lythriel frowned.
"So why is it here?"
No one answered.
The forest wind rustled the leaves.
Somewhere deeper in the southern forest...
Something was moving.
Something stronger.
---
## Evening Camp
By sunset, the expedition had traveled several more kilometers.
The forest had grown darker and denser.
Ancient trees blocked much of the sunlight.
Aerion finally raised his hand.
"We camp here."
The group quickly set up a temporary camp near a rocky ridge.
A small fire crackled in the center.
Lythriel sat beside it sharpening her spear again.
"You know," she said, glancing at John, "this expedition is already more interesting than most patrols."
John chuckled.
"We just started."
Sylvara handed everyone small wooden bowls filled with stew.
Even John received a massive portion of roasted meat.
The dragon sniffed it.
"...Not bad."
Lythriel laughed.
"You’re becoming spoiled."
"Maybe."
Aerion sat quietly, studying a rough map drawn on parchment.
Finally he spoke.
"Tomorrow we reach the **southern valley**."
Sylvara looked surprised.
"That far already?"
"Yes."
John’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"That’s where the records said the long-eared people might live."
Lythriel grinned.
"Elves meeting elves?"
"Maybe."
Sylvara looked thoughtful.
"Or something else entirely."
John stared into the fire.
His instincts told him something important was approaching.
The system spoke quietly.
**[System Notification]**
```
Quest Update
Southern Investigation Progress: 35%
Warning:
Host approaching high-level territory.
Recommendation:
Continue training and skill development.
```
John smiled slightly.
Good.
That meant stronger enemies.
And stronger enemies meant faster progress.
Toward **Tier 10**.
Above them, the stars slowly appeared through the gaps in the forest canopy.
Far to the south...
Something watched the forest silently.
The expedition was getting closer.
And whatever lived in the deep southern wilderness...
Had already noticed them.