Evolution: A Warlock's Rise To Power

Chapter 88: Nether Forest

When Lucan and his party entered tent city, a lot of faces turned to see if they recognized the newcomers.

Only a few did, but those people were also known as the staples of the forward base. The man who set up a repair shop in the beginning and a chef who did the same, both came to greet him.

"Lucan. Good to see you."

"It's been awhile."

"Seem like things have gotten pretty crowded here." Lucan said as he eye over a hundred people who were currently in the camp.

"Mealtime is always crowded, in an hour, only a fraction of the people will be left once everyone heads back out."

Lucan motioned for the Willow players to do there own thing. They also knew it would take him a bit of time to update the formation.

"I can help with that." Lucan said. "We are passing through so I thought I would come by and rebuild the formation and try out a few of the new things I have learned."

"Ahh, that's great." Said the chef. "Let me know when you are done, and I will set your party up with a good meal before you head out."

"Do you need anything repaired before you go."

"Ha, ha, not yet, we are just starting out." Lucan said to the smith.

The warlock began to prepare the materials he would need and got to work.

An hour later the formation's spells and area had been greatly enhanced. A mage acolyte nearby had lent a hand under Lucan's instruction and had built a few basic stone buildings for those who offered permanent services here.

The most eye-catching addition came from the staff core Lucan used to create a guardian for the area.

A hell hound now rested in the center of the camp in doghouse that was built for it. Lucan used enough mana crystals to give the massive black dog life for several months and the others promised to toss it low grade mana crystals from time to time and promised to spread the word to any other visitors.

After a tasty meal that gave numerous buffs, the party of five left tent city and headed west.

"I managed to ask around and a few people have headed this way before." Furry said. "Up ahead we will find an area called the nether forest. It's a forest that is perpetually shroud in darkness and contains many undead creatures ranging from level 90 to level 115. As long as we are careful, we should have a chance to flee if we meet something beyond our means. So far nobody has found any dungeons, but it is believed that each area in the battleground contains at least one dungeon, usually in the center of the area. The exception is the transition land surround each city."

"Good work." Lucan said.

"I love fighting undead." Resilient added.

"Psh, of course. Holy damage does extra to undead. What we need is to find a fire based undead area, then I will be happy too." Said Frosty.

After fighting there way out of the goblin plains Lucan could see a dark forest in the distance. Several trees looked half dead and were bare, giving the forest an ominous feeling.

Once they entered the forest the group caught sight of a few lone wandering zombies. But with the groups teamwork the zombies didn't last even a minute.

They continued to travel deeper and deeper into the forest as the battled for several hours.

Furry, who was in the form of a dire wolf suddenly perked up and his ears began to twitch.

"Something is coming." He said to the group. "A lot of somethings. Too many for us to fight."

"Quick up the tree." Frosty pointed at a large tree that stood much taller than the others. Its tallest branches reached at least two hundred feet above the ground.

"Do it." Lucan said, giving his approval.

Everyone hurried up as fast as they could. Resilient needed a bit of help but Furry had plenty of strength to drag him up as he transformed into a 5-foot-tall, long arm monkey.

The group climbed halfway up and waited. In the distance they could hear a soft rumble starting to grow louder and louder.

Through Adrestia's eyes Lucan could see what coming, in response he could only hold his breath and hope for the best. Everyone remained still as none dared to make a noise.

Through the dim light of the forest a herd of over a thousand zombies came trampling through the area. Inside the horde were over a hundred elite zombies. If their tiny group of five dared to fight such a large group, they would be swarmed and overwhelmed in moments.

Thankfully the mindless herd didn't even slow as they continued past. The group waited for several minutes before they began to move.

"Furry, give me a hand. My foot is stuck." Said frosty as she tried to tug her leg.

Suddenly the tree shuddered and it's branches swayed and bent like arms while slapping towards the druid.

"Crap, it's a hangman's tree." Resilient said. "Everyone free yourselves and jump, I will catch."

Lucan only now noticed that a branch had intertwined around his legs. He flickered his shadow form and started to fall, Silent did the same. Frosty turned into a cloud of icy mist before taking human form and falling. Furry transformed into a bird and flew down. With a pulse of holy magic Resilient was free and descending. As they neared the ground the cleric cast feather fall slowing them down right before they hit the ground.

With a loud creaking groan the trunk of the large tree started to twist and stretch its roots.

A wall of wooden spear shot from the ground 100 feet away from it in all direction, trying to stop the group from fleeing. They turned to see the tree now had a health bar and was listed as a level 110 Elite. While it shook, several bodies fell from the top of the tree. With a thud the bodies hit the ground before rising up. Corpses were attached to the tree. Rope like vines were plunged into the back of their necks allowing the tree to control their bodies. The vines rose all the way to the top of the tree where they connected to the tallest branches.

8 undead charged the party that had reformed into their battle positions.

Lucan held his sword and wand and started slashing at the nearest undead while firing shadow bolts from his wand. It was still wearing the armor it wore in life making it sturdier than the average zombie.

Furry had taken the form of a bear but could only control so many undead at once. A few slipped past and charged the group.

Ignoring all pain, they didn't falter in the slightest as Silent's arrows tore through their flesh.

With a swipe of his wand Lucan sent a telekinetic slam to topple over the three newcomers.

"Ignore the undead if you can." Resilient said. "They are being controlled by the tree. Kill it and everything dies."

Before the toppled zombies could get up, Frosty sent out a spray of sleet that harden into ice. Trapping the fallen zombies on the ground.

Silent started firing arrows into the tree. Each one that hit caused an explosion of foul-smelling black sap to fly into the air. Melee attacks would not be possible against the tree unless you wanted to get covered in the mystery substance.

Furry dealt with the unfrozen undead while Lucan launched and assault of shadow bolts and telekinetic slashes at the tree. Resilient raised a mace glowing with holy power and brought it down onto the head of an undead allowing it gain eternal rest.

A hollow in the trunk began to open wide to reveal jagged teeth inside the tree. A glob of black sap was spat out at the group. A telekinetic wall intercepted it and a full power arrow went flying into the hollow.

The tree let out a menacing groan as its trunk bent forward. Several branches smashed into the ground where Silent was standing a moment before, creating a large divot in the soil. There were two Silent Nights circling around the tree. She had activated here daily shadow double as she retreated to safety. With how hard those branches hit, she wasn't sure if she could take a direct hit and live to tell the tale. The double charged in and she handed control over to Lucan so he could time it's dagger strikes with telekinetic slashes.

Frosty raised her staff as frost started to cover the tree and sink deep into it bark, slowing its movements while acidic snow started to fall on top of it, eating away at its wooden flesh.

Silent stopped in front of the cleric as he began to chant. Furry wasn't doing much damage but he was keeping all the undead occupied and was stopping them from decimating the group.

Resilient finished his chant causing all of Silent's arrows to be baptized in a golden light, imbuing them with holy power.

With the frost on the tree wearing off and its speed returning, Frosty began to unleash a cascade of icicles that pounded into the trunk.

With the tree low on health, Lucan took his sword and dagger and charged forward, taking the attention of the branches. With a combination of shadow form and ethereal step he avoid the attacks and black sap while building up the corruption counter until finally a golden arrow flew into the tree's hollow and it let out a last groan before it shattered into falling wood.

The party of five quietly cheered in the dark forest after there hard fought battle. Lucan was happy with the loot too. He received several pieces of resentful wood. It was precious wood that wasn't easy to come by.

They quickly left the area and found a clearing where the warlock set up a small formation for the night.

"Good work today. Take a good rest, we will get back to it after a meal and some sleep."

Once Silent finished setting up her tent Lucan laid his bed roll in front of it. He was reminded of all the nights they camped out in the forest of the lost. Before heading to bed, he summoned Little Brown in his new cat form. Now him and Adrestia both had night vision and could keep watch while they slept.

When he was about to shut his eyes to sleep, hundreds of blue butterflies flew out of the tent and spread out in the surrounding area.