Carnage Forest

"You murderer bastard!"

"Die!!"

"We don't need the likes of you here in our Empire!!"

"I hope the monsters on Carnage Forest torture you to death!!"

"Die!!"

These were the commoned words of the people living in Maxim shouting and yelling at Reh when they started parading throughout Maxim. This parade is not like your typical parade where the people would welcome with open arms, smiles on their faces, and throw some flowers on the way.

This parade was to condemn and denounce Reh.

But of course, they didn't just verbally trash Reh. Also with were throwing at him different kinds of things, but mostly hard objects like stones the people were throwing.

"Argh!"

Reh could only do is to grit his teeth to endure the pain. Even though he was using both hands to shield his head, it was not enough. There were so many residents throwing at him.

He was now in the Ordinary District. This is the last destination of the parade before they go back to the castle's ground. Wherein the Wyvern Riders Squadron waiting for him. They are the ones who would transport Reh to the Carnage Forest.

"You are like the first two summoned Hero! Sided with the Demons! The three of you were the minions of Demons!"

Pok!

Then Reh was hit by the stone on the right eyebrow, which caused to have a large cut on it. The blood flow through it.

Reh gave up. He knows that this is his ending. The moment he came back to the castle, he could consider himself dead.

***

It took half-hour before he finally came back to the castle. Imperial Knights immediately pull him to go to the castle's ground.

From there, Reh saw the relative of the Mythical Dragon, the Wyvern.

There are ten Wyverns on the castle's ground.

Having a length of 15 feet and a wingspan of 20 feet, this mighty creature was standing on its two feet. Their color was different from dark brown to gray. They have a saddle on their backs, symbolizing that they were tamed, monsters.

The castle's ground is where the Imperial Knights gathered when there was an announcement and the place where they conducted their training. So it is a large place, having a Wyvern on the ground is not a problem.

The Riders saluted when they saw Venantius along with Nepotia, Reh's classmates, and the Nobles from yesterday. They were all here to witness the departure of the savior murderer.

"Is everything ready?" Venantius ask the Riders.

"HA! Everything is ready, Your Imperial Majesty. We were ready to depart as soon as you ordered." The Rider in the center replied.

Venantius just nodded his head and then looked at the haggard and wounded appearance of Reh.

"It's time for you to depart, murderer. I would say it again, I, Venantius Melodus Alexius Zagon, banishing you to Carnage Forest! I hope you don't have a comfortable death."

After Venantius said that, the Imperial Knight on Reh's back took a sack from his pocket, and the other Imperial Knight grabbed Reh to put him inside the sack.

Reh struggle as the Imperial Knights forcing to go inside the sack. But the Imperial Knights were all good trains, so struggling was no use.

"Gahh!!"

Reh yelled when his entire body was already inside the sack. But before the Imperial Knights sealed the sack, they were stopped by a gentle and angelic voice.

"Please wait!!" Plume shouted, which in turn surprised the people around her.

"P-Priestess of the Light... I-is any problem?" The Imperial Knight asks Plume.

"C-can I still talk to him for a minute? E-even if he does something unforgivable, he's still a friend of mine, and I wanted to pray for his soul..." Plume.

"B-but..." The Imperial Knight looks at Venantius to know his Emperor's decision.

Venantius only sighed before nodding his head. "Priestess of the Light, Plume were too lenient. Very well, you could talk to him but please, be quick as I don't want vile criminal staying loner in my Empire..."

Plume nodded her head before running towards Reh. The Imperial Knights give space for Plume but not that far in case Reh does something.

"P-Plume..."

Reh mumbled under his tired breath.

Even if it's small, Reh found a tiny glint of hope. He's hoping that Plume maybe could help him. But all of that was crumbled when Reh heard the voice of Plume. A voice that he wasn't even sure if it was Plume who spoke.

"What an idiot you are..." Plume speaks in a straight and chilling low-tone voice.

"Eh?" Reh was shocked.

"Who would think that you will commit a murder? You are a naïve and stupid person.

Gah! I'm still having goosebumps whenever I remember the way you look at me. Ha! Do you think you would get me? HAHAHAHAHA dream on--wait... You would not be going to have a dream because, after this, you were dead..."

"Haha, haha... W-what are talking about? Y-you're not the Plume I know... The Plume I is is kind, care, and--." Reh.

"Oh please...." Plume rolled his eyes.

"That's why I said you are too naïve. The Plume you knew is not true. She was just an act so that I could be popular with everyone, especially the guys.

I'm still shivering every time I remember that.

Well... Telling you the truth wouldn't going to matter anyway...

My family was once one of the wealthiest families in the world. All the things I want, I could get... All the foods I want to eat, I could eat... I could travel abroad anytime I wanted, but all of that changed when my foolish father, along with some of his friends, invested in treasure finding. They believe that there are some treasures hidden in Europe. That's why those foolish men poured a lot of money until they bankrupt and sunk into debt.

I learned all of that one week before I started attending Ravenwood.

That's why I planned my way out. I don't want to be my father's debt repayment, and to secure my future, I needed someone who could help me with that, and the best prospects in mind are the sons of the wealthiest among wealthiest individuals who are also attending Ravenwood.

And there's you! A naïve boy who believed all the shit I spoke! Hahahahaha! Thanks to you, I became popular and the vice-president of the student council, and now I am close to Dion...

That's all, enjoy your trip..." Plume said, then she backed away a little bit before faking a to cry.

Sob Sob

"Why did you do it? I-I..." Then she started to run to Dion's arms.

As for Reh?

Well, he's too shocked to even react. The goddess, the angel he looked up to and admired, turned out to be a fake...

***

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The loud wind blows up.

Currently, the Wyvern Rider Squadron is now on air, and they are getting near the Carnage Forest.

After Plume said her goodbye, the Squadron immediately took off to finish their task instantly.

The Carnage Forest is located in the far Southeast of the Empire of Zagon and far South of the Lalan Kingdom.

The Wyvern could travel up to 300-350 km/h, so although the distance is too far, it would only take a day or two before they reached their destination.

"Captain, how depth are we going to fly above the Carnage Forest?"

These guys have a Rider Class. So talking mid-air was not a problem for them.

"Hmm... It depends... As long as the Wyverns could not sense or feel a monster that was coming for us, we could go as depth as possible as per His Imperial Majesty's order." The Captain replied.

All the soldiers took a gulp when they heard their Captain's reply. The reputation of Carnage Forest as one of the most dangerous places on Deimos was no joke.

Their levels, on average, are 100 then their Captain's level was 150. So, when a Hard or Expert monster shows up, they can't stand a chance.

Yes, they could fly fast with the help of their Wyverns, but it doesn't guarantee that they would come back home safely.

Although terrified, the command of their Emperor was absolute.

"I-I think we should increase the pace... Right, Captain?"

Realizing his soldiers' feelings, the Captain nodded and hit the rein to increase the speed of his Wyvern.

***

A tall and thick trunk with lush black leaves is the tree native to Carnage Forest. These trees were called Block trees because of their lush black leaves, the sunlight could not penetrate through them. Making Carnage Forest too dark and creepy.

The area around the block tree was all withered and had no vegetation. It's entirely impossible to humans to live and survive here.

But Carnage Forest was not purely infested with block trees with the size of approximately 329,847 km² Carnage Forest is broad.

However, in the Southern part of the forest, there is vegetation, but it is only a tiny part.

At this moment, the Squadron was now in the airspace of Carnage Forest.

Except for the Captain, all the soldiers were too anxious as they kept looking at their surroundings, making sure that there were no monsters.

"C-Captain... I-I think this depth is okay... He could not even survive if we throw him on the outmost part of the forest, and what's more, if we throw him too deep into the forest, right?" One of the soldiers suggested, to which everyone agreed.

The Captain looked at his soldiers. Then he looked at the sack his Wyvern was carrying with one of its feet. It wasn't even moving on the entirety of this trip. He wasn't even sure was the situation of Reh inside.

"Sighed... Okay, let's drop this criminal here--."

The Captain couldn't even finish talking when a large boulder was thrown upon them and hit one of his soldier's Wyvern.

Kiiyaaaakkkkk!!

The Wyvern cried and stumbled on air because of the hit!

"Gaahhh!! I-I'm losing control, Captain!!! I'm losing control!!" The soldier shouted and panicked as he tried to maintain control over his Wyvern.

"C-calm down!! Don't panic!! Don't keep pulling the rein!! Remain--."

Again, the Captain was cut off because another object was thrown at them again. But this time, it is not a large boulder, but a long thick sharpened log!

Kiiyaaaakkkkk!!!!!

This time, the cry of the Wyvern was too loud because the log pierced through its stomach, and the blood gushed through it.

Kuackkk!!!

But it's not only the Wyvern who took the hit. It's Rider--the soldier was also hit. From his ass, the log pierces all the way through his mouth, causing his immediate death.

Having a mortal wound and no Rider to control the Wyvern, were instantly dropped dead to the ground.

The Captain, as well his other eight remaining soldiers, were shocked and dumbfounded at the sudden incident.

It took a minute before the Captain woke from his stupor and gave the command.

"Shatter!!!"

"E-eh?? H-Ha!!" It took a few seconds before the soldiers replied and obeyed the command.

When everyone shattered, the Captain looked at his surrounding to find the perpetrator of the attack.

But due to the lush leaves of Block trees, his sight was hindered. Not until his glazed fall upon the dead body of the Wyvern and soldier.

Due to the crash, it was clear some of the leaves and branches and the Captain were seeing what was happening on the ground.

From there, he saw 13 feet drooling brown creature with five eyes. A tusk, a thick brown skin.

"F-five-eyed cyclops!" The Captain mumbled under his breath.

These five-eyed cyclops were the perpetrator of the attack. This creature was considered a Hard rank monster due to its powerful throwing capabilities.

And due to that, the Captain and his soldiers were at in disadvantage here as this creature could easily shoot them down.

The five-eyed cyclops looked at the Captain.

A chill runs through the Captain's spine. Then he immediately gives a wise and reasonable command, "RETREAT!!!!" He shouted as he hit the rein hard.

Flap Flap

The Wyvern flapping its wings hard and faster. Even he could sense that there was a danger lurking in the surrounding.

"DROP THE SACK!!!"

The Captain said as they flew away to the hit area of the five-eyed cyclops.

Crack Rustle Crack Rustle

Branches and leaves resounded as the sack where Reh fell into the block trees.

"Argh..."

Reh grumbled as the fall finally stopped.

And the start of Reh's hellish life.