Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe C.498: Unfamiliar

Snow fell gently through the air, blanketing the forest floor in a silent and ominous white. Each flake seemed to whisper the forest's dark past as they drifted to the ground.

The dim light of Selene and Luna barely spread out through the cloudy night sky, making the already ghostly trees appear even more spectral.

The snow coated the trees' twisted limbs, and the faces that were etched into the trunk seemed to weep tears of ice as they wailed out loud every time the wind blew.

Gore slowly walked forward with heavy steps, gradually making his way into the depths of the Weeping Woods.

He had heard rumors about this place, but experiencing it in person was something else entirely. He stopped by one of the trees and touched the contorted face carved on its trunk.

"How strange..." he muttered under his breath.

This forest got its name because of the trees that strangely resembled humanoid shapes. Though the trees themselves were seemingly harmless, they produced terrifying sounds that imitated people crying in pain and agony.

Gore curiously looked around and noticed that all the trees here shared the same characteristic.

The only difference was that the faces on their trunks showed slightly different expressions. Regardless, all of them seemed to be in despair.

I wonder how these trees came to be, the burly Magus thought to himself.

If this is a product of nature, then it is truly fascinating!

Gore continued to move forward, his breath visible in the chilly air. His dark cloak was now dusted with snow, however, it failed to affect him.

Each step he took left deep imprints on the snow. He looked around once again and saw that there were no wolves in the vicinity.

Are they all gathered at the center of the forest? He wondered.

After Mayor Hobbs had explained to him everything that was happening, he decided to immediately check out the Weeping Woods, the source of the town's troubles.

Before he conducted a proper inspection of this place, he wouldn't dare to get involved. Moreover, he also didn't quite believe the mayor's claims about there being vast treasures in the forest.

His eyes narrowed and a murderous glint flashed in them. If the old fool is lying, I'll slaughter him and everyone else in this town.

Gore had decided to journey to Stratford because the mayor had mentioned in the letter the treasures left behind by a possible Rank 3 Magus in the heart of the Weeping Woods.

For Magi like him, beast cores and materials harvested from magical beasts didn't hold as much allure as the treasures left behind by a deceased powerful Magus could.

If he was lucky and there were indeed treasures left behind by a Rank 3 Magus, then it was likely that he could also find mana extraction methods that would allow him to advance a rank.

I was lucky that I could get my hands on the letter before those other bastards could get a chance to read it...

Thinking back to how Gore had casually retrieved the mayor's letter before his other colleagues could, he couldn't help but praise his fortune.

I hope there are treasures inside there, or at least, hints about it...

As he approached the heart of the forest, the winds picked up, carrying with it a faint sense of decay and blood. The howling winds combined with the sounds of the wailing trees caused Gore to tense up involuntarily.

The horror of these dark woods slowly crept into his mind. His heart pounded inside his chest as he stopped in his steps.

He looked around with unease, thinking to himself, There is something definitely wrong with this forest... For some reason, it seems to be alive...

Then, he looked ahead of him, his eyes flashing with hope. Could there really be something hidden in the depths?

After traversing these ominous woods for a few hours, the abandoned Howlett Estate finally came into view. Its dark silhouette was barely visible in the snowfall.

The once proud structure that guarded the grand seal for several centuries now stood as a crumbling building of forgotten times. Its roof was falling apart under the weight of the accumulated snow.

So this is the place! Gore's eyes lit up as he stood on the branch of a tree, gazing at the building in the clearing.

He noticed the windows of the building were shattered and lifeless. Vines and tendrils of wild ivy clung to the walls, hinting at decay.

Gore's eyebrows furrowed when he saw the wolves surrounding the house, pacing restlessly. Their red eyes glowed unnaturally, displaying immense bloodlust.

Such a large number of wolves... and they are protecting the abandoned manor!

He thought to himself as unease enveloped him. Now, he knew for certain that there was something hidden inside the house. Or else these wild beasts wouldn't have behaved in such a manner.

A deep sense of dread began to creep into his mind as he contemplated, It will be very difficult to get rid of all these wolves just by myself. I need to get inside the house stealthily—

His thoughts, however, came to an abrupt halt when he saw four shadowy figures step out of the house. Gore's eyes narrowed when he witnessed this scene.

Werewolves!

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The mayor had already divulged to him the history of this town and how the patriarch of the Howlett Family had fallen to the dark side and was able to summon werewolves from the seal before dying.

Four werewolves having the strength of Mana Foundation Magi... This is going to be difficult, he thought to himself.

Creatures such as vampires and werewolves, or any other Magi who had transfused the blood of magical beasts into them were generally stronger than other Magi of the same rank.

The werewolves suddenly turned their heads in the direction of Gore!

As expected... they've found my scent, he thought to himself as a chill crawled up his spine.

Moreover, Gore could feel an even greater danger from the depths of the Howlett Manor. The cold touch of fear sunk deep into his bones.

He knew that although this place held great secrets, it was very likely that he would die in the process of acquiring it.

Slowly, fear crept into his heart and gnawed at his resolve. Doubt began to cloud his thoughts.

What if I never reach the abandoned manor?

What if I never get past the wolves?

What if I die under the attack of those werewolves?

His fists clenched and unclenched several times before he finally decided to leave this place.

The risks vastly outweighed the rewards.

It's not worth it, he said to himself.

But suddenly, another thought that seemed familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time appeared

inside his mind.

But what if it is?