An Immediate Lead

"A chat in the middle of the night in a dead forest? I suppose if you wanted to attack me, you would've already done so. Well? What is it then?" Darcel dryly said without a hint of fear in his voice.

Watching the group of five approach him, he had to note their eyes lit up a bit in hearing his bold tone. Like it was a flash of respect.

Although Darcel could swear, from the girl at the center, her eyes for a brief second gained this realization glint.

This group had all come out from behind one of the large black trees, clearly watching Darcel for some time. Furthermore, this group was dressed similarly.

Their attire consisted of a more tribal look. They all wore a mix of black and brown leather armor that wasn't too long, showcasing off some of their bodies. Still, the armor did perfectly fit them.

In the night glow, Darcel was able to clearly see their faces and bodies.

Two females and three males, all youths who looked around his age, and the most eye-catching of the group was the girl at the center leading them.

Her face held a natural wild cute attractiveness, that gracefully combined with her hazel brown eyes. She had shoulder-length brown hair and a charming curvaceous body to boot.

Plus, the light armor she wore also highlighted her beautiful brown skin and lean fit figure.

And the most significant feature about this girl was her enigmatic aura. An aura that kicked in Darcel's instinct to tell him that he couldn't beat this chick no matter what.

When walking up to Darcel, the leading cute girl gained a slight smirk towards Darcel dry remarked. "Quite smart but also with a hint of an attitude, eh? Let me guess, no spatial ring, uniform clothing, or even a mere bag. A lone wandering adventurer, right?"

The girl held this complete confident tone as she and her group had a good first impression of the boy. Not even when outnumber or outmatched in power did he ever change his calm expression.

Even if he was faking, this acting is too perfect then! All of their eyes trailed all over Darcel taking particular notice of his bearings.

Despite having a good looking face, at first glance, one can tell he hails from shabby origins. From his dirty black clothes that now, on his shirt, has a rip opening to his stomach.

And he didn't even have a Mortal Weapon! Only a crazed or lone person would dare to venture out so far into these woods without one.

Though this all was just an inferred guess, this group of youths gathered, purely going off from his appearance.

Still, the nagging feeling the leader girl felt about this boy only gotten stronger while they were talking. Although she didn't let any major reaction show on her face.

Darcel also didn't have any significant reactions. Though Darcel could count himself lucky for making human contact so quickly and he would rather not venture out aimlessly.

Who knows what other powerful Spirit Monster lurks here? And if he encounters one that's simply too powerful to resist? Then everything would be for naught.

With just a shrug of his shoulder, Darcel answered back with, "Maybe I am. Are you perhaps trying to recruit me?"

Towards Darcel's question, the cute girl held a broader smile, and in unison, she and the other youths' eyes matched with each other.

It was like some sort of signal to Darcel, and suddenly he felt a small but dangerous feeling seed into his mind.

This feeling was because of the presence of powerful aura leakage! A subtle yet forceful persuasion tactic? They're quite the daunting ones…

Yet, Darcel remained tranquil. He faced terrifying auras far more powerful than theirs after all.

Once again, this mysterious group of five eyes sparked up. Darcel's calm prestige under power far stronger than him made them all see even more value in the boy.

"Heh, for the second week in a row, my luck strikes again. People like you are very much welcome in our Wrathful Clan. And bluntly speaking, you can come with us to become a servant there."

The leading girl straight up told Darcel and gauge his reaction. For someone their age to effortlessly kill two Spirit Monsters on the same level as he was no ordinary feat at all.

Primarily since he only used his speed and fists! Moreover, he was going at speeds that some of the weaker ones in their groups had trouble following.

In addition, there's also this calm yet standoffish presence he has. Not even when bluntly telling Darcel that'll he only be a servant at their Clan caused a reaction.

Hell, it also seemed like he didn't even know or care about their Clan influence!

Although what Darcel was honestly thinking was about this girl line about striking lucky again.

Since this Clan lives in the forest, he could already guess they just regularly take or force people to become servants for them.

However, he couldn't help but think about that troublesome girl again.

It was only during their last moment together did they get stripped apart. And it wouldn't be a surprise to Darcel if that mutilated woman somehow manipulated just where they would teleport to.

Her undivided interest and attention in them spoke volumes about her.

"A servant, huh? Do you just pick out any random shabby-looking person under your night watches." Darcel prod a bit in his words wanting to subtly get more information.

"Obviously, you can tell we don't. With so many random weak people here, it would be all too simple to pick trash. We only choose those with decent enough power and skills..."

The girl said as her face wrinkled more as if she finally recalled something.

With a small eyebrow raised, Darcel began to say, "Well, well, looks like I was just able to make the cu-"

"Wait. Before we continue there's just one thing that's bugging me…"

Since she first witnessed Darcel's clothing, this feeling of Deja Vu was continually eating at her mind. Everything about this situation was far too similar to just be a coincidence.

"Are you related to this noisy white hair girl in the same style of black clothing like you?" The girl asked, expecting to now see a reaction.

And like she wanted, Darcel did freeze when hearing her description. In some stroke of luck, his guesses was actually right! But the question for him was, how the hell did Aniela get here before him?

Nevertheless, Darcel still smoothly answered, saying, "Is she that stroke of luck you had when finding a servant?"

Given how calming Darcel's tone was when asking, the lead girl and her group knew he wouldn't be troublesome. Smiling, the lead girl said, "Indeed, and if you're wondering, she's doing quite well in the clan."

Unknowingly Darcel felt some tension leave his mind and body. Even with his superb abilities to show calmness, he still worried about Aniela. At least now, he can make up his mind temporarily about this Clan.

Whether she was lying or not, Darcel had to see for himself. "I guess you can say we're friends. Alright, no need for forceful ways, I'll peacefully come with you."

Words and actions can vary a lot, despite this seemingly calm and peaceful conversation. Darcel could tell it could get ugly fast if he does something that they dislike.

Such was the defining rule of worlds with extraordinary powers.

And while the Wrathful Clan group was a bit surprised over Darcel agreeing so quickly, they aren't going to make things unnecessarily complicated now.

"The name's Anne, the group leader here. Yours?" Anne asked, causing Darcel to shrug his shoulders.

Practically as an unknown existence, there was no harm in telling them his name.

"It's Darcel." Was all he simply said.

"Not much for words, hm? No matter, let's get on back to the Clan." Anne orders and swiftly turns around, already walking back in a specific direction.

The other three youths took one last look to Darcel before promptly following behind Anne. And as for the last one, an average looking, skinny boy. He said to Darcel,

"As long as you keep showing usefulness in combat, you'll survive." With his piece of advice said, the boy followed behind the group as well.

Staying at the back of them, Darcel followed while thinking to himself, 'Hopefully, by the time I come, Aniela should have a lot of things we need.'

His eyes flashed a devising glint. In Darcel's mind, this was just another twist in life that he'll eventually overcome…

….

"Sheesh, your right, Mary. I haven't heard a squeak out of him this whole time, just like he is some sort of mute. It's like night and day if he really knows that white hair girl."

The second male of the group who had a more burly rouge look remarked to the others.

"Opposites do attract, or at least that's what most people tell themselves. Maybe he's just secretly timid." Mary, the other girl in the group, stated. She was a cute one with an athletic body type and pretty long black hair.

"I'd more say he's one of those cultivation nuts who only talk more when it's about Qi and stuff like that." The third male in the group, a lean looking boy, suggested to them.

The three of them were quietly talking among themselves about Darcel since he showed rather odd characteristics.

Like for example, his eyes just randomly closing at times, yet his feet still followed them. Or how he basically never even tried once to gain more information on where they were going.

Either he was just always calm, or was too focused on that white hair girl.

However, Darcel was simply making various plans on what to do when he met up with Aniela. His eyes took mental notes of the surrounding woods and its unique habitat.

By the route they walked, the group of six avoided any Spirit Monster coming to attack them.

And Darcel had to remark that these woods just seemed endless and far too broad. They had come across ominous pitch black caves, or even blaring bright blue ponds scattered throughout the ground.

The oddest thing for Darcel though was in distances, he could see vast black wood structures building. But for most buildings he gazed upon, he had a feeling that no one could possibly live there.

In fact, he wonders how a whole ecosystem of a clan can live here at all!

Then again, he was also kidnapped to an unknown independent realm and was also magically teleported to this place. So really anything is possible with special powers granted by cultivation.

"We'll just see more of him because look alive! We're already at the Clan." Anne suddenly spoke up, gaining the whole group's attention.

And gazing at this Clan for the first time, Darcel had to admit it was quite impressive.

Expanding for as far he could see, this Clan was incomparably enormous. At the Clan's entrance was a long black wood gate that seemed to stretch on for miles. And at the center of the gate were two black wooden doors.

Darcel could also see colossal tall black woods buildings that reach up into the sky. Every building had this wild exotic look towards them, much like the natural atmosphere the Clan exuded.

Moreover, despite everything being made out of black wood, the material itself had this unique glossy design to it. At a single glance, you would be able to tell this isn't any ordinary wood.

"I hope you're ready, Darel," Anne spoke to him without even looking back. The group went up to the doors, and with Anne at the lead, she put her palm on it.

Instantly her palm ignited in flames, with hers being this unique black color!

At the back, from the brief flash of her power, Darcel now confirmed it was a good idea to not raise a ruckus with them. Her strength was enough to kill him without even knowing how he died.

With a loud rumble, the large black wood doors promptly opened. Looking inside the Clan, it was similarly another pretty sight to gaze upon.

This Clan was incredibly spacious and expansive, allowing for thousands of people to walk around with free space.

There were several decorative black wood trees planted here and unique design ornaments hanging around the place.

At first glance, Darcel could easily tell the people here were lively and bustling.

Groups of people were gathered together, either talking, doing manual labor, or engaging in whatever fun activity they could come up with.

And like this first group, everyone dressed in light revealing clothes that showcased their gorgeous brown skins.

Walking through the Clan's doors, immediately a middle-aged looking man walked up to Anne just from the right side of the doors.

'Bang!'

The doors had promptly closed, causing a massive impact that no one really took notice of.

And while the doors closed, the middle-aged man asked Anne,

"So? Any luck tonight?"

Nodding at the man, Anne gained a slight smirk as she pointed behind herself to Darcel, saying,

"Just one pretty special boy that I'm sure will do fine here."