Return of the Lost One

Encounter

Days passed by ever since Dugo Zugath had started his journey in search of the Portia flower. Although he encountered many beasts along the way, with his capability, he managed to shake them all away. Not even a single beast could give him any trouble at all. Thanks to his tracking and anti-tracking ability, he could tell where the dangers would be and avoid all the wild beasts.

Of course, Dugo could only do that because beasts in that place were mostly E-rank. There might be some D-rank but they weren't enough to give Dugo a threat at all.

However, Dugo knew as well that if he encountered any above D-rank beasts, then with his current strength, the possibility of death was extremely high. And that was something Dugo prayed not to happen. At least, that seemingly non-existent God wouldn't go too far to also bring him such misfortunes, right?

To his relief, Dugo really hadn't encountered any above D-rank beasts in the past few days. That was indeed a good thing.

In any case, along his journey, there was not a day when he wouldn't think of his big brother Gulang who sacrificed himself just for him to escape. And every time he thought about it, he couldn't help but feel a heartache. He already said this many times, but at that moment, he couldn't help saying in an icy tone again, “I will definitely come back and save you, big brother.”

If not for the other party, then worms might have already feasting his corpse right now. This story might have ended a long time ago if he really had died at that time. There wouldn't be any Dugo Zugath who would show off in the future.

And that was something that the author wouldn't let happen. Even if the plot armor went too thick, he definitely wouldn't let Dugo Zugath die and let his story end just like that.

Right now, Dugo Zugath was standing at the edge of a certain cliff. Cold wind grazed past his body as his black hair and tattered clothes fluttered continuously. The wind accompanied the coldness he felt in his heart.

“So this is the Purple Mist Forest. I think this is the right place...” Dugo Zugath mumbled. His voice was cold as always, his eyes were emanating a faint luster.

Down below, he could see a wide and strange forest that was covered in a purple mist. Looking at it now, Dugo couldn't help but take a deep breath. He could tell the dangers in that place would surely increase significantly. And with the rumors being intact in his mind, he could only tell himself, again and again, to not be careless even in the slightest.

But those rumors didn't scare him at all to the point that he would think of backing down. Dugo had faith in his ability as he naturally wouldn't let the rumors stop him.

Having set his mind, Dugo shifted his attention at the cliff that was too steep. His gaze landed fixedly at the long vines that crawled from the side of the cliff down to the land below. Rumors said that for the low-level awakeners, it was the only way to reach the bottom of the cliff and go into the Purple Mist Forest.

Tak! Takatak! Takatak!

Suddenly, while Dugo Zugath was still intending to go down, he heard flurried steps coming in his direction. He could even feel the little vibrations from the ground coming from a couple of individuals. With those steps, Dugo could tell that it came from a horse-type beast.

Dugo Zugath who was about to take the vines and go down the cliff didn't dare dally as he rushed towards a certain bush and hid under it. If one didn't put all of their attention, then they wouldn't be able to notice Dugo at all. It was as if the bush was the only thing that was in there, and no Dugo was hiding inside of it.

In any case, just as Dugo Zugath had expected, five horses arrived a few moments after he hid. On the back of the horses were humans who were clad in luxurious clothing and knight's armor. It even appeared that this group of people was much sumptuous compared to his master, Diego Salaman.

Dugo Zugath narrowed his eyes. From the looks of it, these people were one of the top families in a certain city or nobles of a certain kingdom. And he knew well that this kind of people would only bring more harm than good. With his identity as a slave, they might even kill him just only because they were disgusted.

Tsk! Dugo couldn't help clicking his tongue. But of course, him clicking his tongue was suppressed to the point that other than the wind and the bush, no one noticed it at all. But it was the fact that he disdained this kind of people before him.

Those people treated someone like him as disgusting. They would even kill the likes of him just because they feel like it.

Dugo Zugath would surely not agree with that. And contrary to it, he believed that this kind of rich person was the disgusting one.

Dugo was just thankful that he had sharp senses. Otherwise, he might have bumped with them and then would suffer later on as a result.

“Heh, interesting,”

Suddenly, one of the people riding on the back of the horse spoke in amusement. He was clad in a silver knight's armor and was riding a black horse that looked like the sturdiest among the five horses in there.

But although his gaze was fixed at the Purple Mist Forest below, if one had better senses, they could tell that his attention wasn't in there at all. And Dugo Zugath who heard him was taken aback as his wariness increased greatly. He didn't dare breathe loudly or move a little as he was afraid that he might have been found out.

“Right, this misty forest is quite interesting.” One of the five people replied. Although he made it appeared that he wasn't moved at all, Dugo could immediately tell the astonishment and awe in his tone of voice. And as if he had just seen the world for the first time, Dugo could even see his eyes gleaming in wonder.

It was a 13 years old boy clad in luxurious clothing. He had a bearing of a young prince as Dugo could immediately tell that he lived a lavish life ever since he was inside the belly of his mother.

Although Dugo Zugath didn't have any good impression of this kid, he could immediately tell that he was an awakener and was stronger than him.

“Fool,” Suddenly, a pleasing voice sounded. Although what she said was obviously a mockery, her voice was just too good to hear that it could be music to the ears. Not long after she made her remark, she added while wearing the bearing of a wise man, “Uncle Jason had already gone here even before you were born. Did you really think that he was interested in this kind of shabby place?”

The one who had just spoken was another kid. She was a young girl in her 13. Although she wore extravagant clothing, there was no hint of arrogance emitting from her. And contrary to that, it even seemed like she disdained wearing such heavy clothing.

The young girl was naturally gorgeous. Her skin was too soft that insects might be too afraid to touch her. Her silver hair was flowing down to her back and her golden eyes were resembling the mighty sun. One could see that she wasn't an ordinary child at all.

But although she was beautiful, Dugo Zugath didn't feel any fascination at all when he saw her. And as if what he only noticed was what the girl had said, his heart hastened a beat as he felt a bad premonition taking place.