23 CHAPTER 23: THE SANCTUARY

{You can't log out when you are in a battle situation. Please end the battle.}

A screen popped before Taylor.

----------

Before 1 hour.

'I have been running and fighting without rest for three days. I need to rest. I need to get to a safer place than the treehouse I'm staying in now.'

While thinking that Taylor took out bread and some meat barbecue he made with the level 5 Bull beast before and started munching on them.

It was not well cooked.

'I need to learn some survival skills.'

At that time he heard a huge roar coming from the forest region behind him. Hearing that Taylor choked on his bread.

"Damn, they don't give me rest"

Saying that Taylor drank the water in the canteen. He got this water from a river on his way back. He found that river when they hunted the wolfs around the wolf cave before.

Taylor stood up and jumped down from the treehouse. Upon landing in the ground Taylor took several deep breaths.

"Even after such a big noise by the beast in the forest, there are no movements inside the wolves cave."

"It should be safe, maybe the beast that killed the wolf cub must have left or there should be another way out of the cave that I don't know of."

Saying that aloud to motivate himself, Taylor walked towards the wolves cave.

Taylor looked at the long tunnel after he entered the cave, where the bloody bath took place.

'It was a hard fight, but a good lesson to learn from'

Taylor thought about the 'dead' he experienced. His original avatar died, now it's his clone avatar Joker.

'Still, all perished under my spear.'

Taylor felt accomplished.

Then he checked for the traces of the beast's steps in the long tunnel but there were no changes there. It was the same barren dark tunnel. There still exists some dried blood of the wolves that died in battle.

Taylor started to gain confidence as he found no beasts have come in after he left. He walked the narrow tunnel and to the inner area of the cave which is considered to be the wolves lair.

When Taylor entered the wolves lair a flower fragrance assaulted his nose. He took a deep breath as he saw the unbelievable scene before him. It made him relax, smelling those fragrances.

The fragrance he inhaled was coming from a silver-coloured flower inside the cave. It can't be said as a simple cave because this inner place looks like a big palace hall.

'It's so big, it could even contain about 50 big wolves like the coast wolf.'

Taylor was marvelled to see such a big space inside. The whole place lay like a greenfield blessed by nature, everywhere he could see was the green and silver colour that was pleasant to see. And someone who is from a modern world with less time to live with nature. He was comfortable.

'This inside den looks like a palace garden, everyplace here is filled with plants, but the flowers that bloom on these plants a silver in colour.'

Taylor bent down and plucked a sliver flower and smelled it, it gives a drunken fragrance. He felt like getting addicted to this aroma.

He walked further deeper into the garden and saw there are several big rocks and even a natural fountain is at the centre of the garden.

Taylor took an empty canteen and filled it with fresh water. But he didn't drink it because he was still a little bit wary of his surroundings.

Even though it looked like Taylor is just strolling around the garden, the truth is that he is surveying the area for potential danger. However, Taylor felt that his heart is relaxing in itself. He felt 'this is a safe place'.

Regardless he strolled to the other corner of the den. There he saw two separate tunnels on the left and right side of him.

'It's like a labyrinth, don't tell me this cave is interconnected to many other caves around this forest.'

Taylor stood there and looked at both the cave. Both the mouth of the tunnel looked like a snakehead. The tunnel height looked to be about seventeen feet.

'It's like a big snake opening its mouth'

Then Taylor stood there and thought about something,

'Since I'm in a safer place, how about I log out and replenish myself with some food and drinks. And I still have to see Edward. He would be worried that I didn't die with him. And he would be begging Gods to send a Saint-level beast and kill me. Poor fatty. I can't wait to see his expression when I log out. I should picture and frame it.'

While thinking some devious plan to tease Edward, Taylor wished to log out.

But then appeared a message screen that came when he and Edward tried to log out as they were chased by the Dark Wolf.

{You can't log out when you are in a battle situation. Please end the battle.}

Seeing this Taylor's heartbeat climb faster, he could hear his heartbeat like a doctor hearing with a stethoscope.

'Not again. please I need some time to rest. Damn. Why is my luck always bad.'

As his heartbeat rose, he felt a little pressure surge around him.

Taylor knew he is in grave danger.

'Damn. I'm gonna die again. This enemy is too powerful for me to handle.'

He thought that he will die any second soon. However, he didn't receive any attack.

But as he breathed in the air, Taylor felt like it has become more fragrant than before. Then Taylor saw one of the flowers near the left side tunnel entrance has a purple texture on it.

Seeing that Taylor didn't show any reaction on his face. Taylor realized that he has already entered the trap. He is facing a powerful existence.

'But why is it not attacking me straight away. Even if that beast is only level 10, it can easily kill me. Maybe it is just playing me.'

'No that's too cynical. There must be a reason. If I find the reason, maybe I can escape this peril.'

Taylor acted as if nothing has happened and segregated his thought as he casually did some stretch ups.

'From the second I entered here, there is a fragrance around me. This fragrance calms my mind and dissolved the uneasy feeling in my heart. Leading me to drop my guard.

Then this green vegetation here, even if it's a magical world, how are these plants growing without sunlight.

Then the water fountain, me and Edward killed lots of wolves around the river area that came to drink water. If there was a fountain here, why would those wolves come out to drink water?'

It's like an illusion

I should leave this place.

I should do it without alerting the beast.'

So Taylor turned around and casually said louder while walking toward the fountain,

''Probably the wolf cubs escaped through these tunnels. I will take a rest near the fountain since its a safe place.''

The moment he turned Taylor felt a heavy killing intent come toward him from both the tunnels, but when he said he is gonna rest near the fountain, it disappeared without a trace.

'It's the tunnel head. That damn snakehead is a snake.'