The forest held its breath.

High above the ground, two figures faced each other on a narrow branch.

Eryx tightened his grip on his sword. The masked attacker stood a few steps away, green eyes staring through the cloth that covered his face.

For a moment, nothing moved.

Then—

Eryx pushed his foot against the branch and charged forward.

The attacker raised his blade to block.

Steel met steel.

The impact shook the branch beneath them.

Both warriors lost their balance and slipped from the branch, crashing downward through the leaves.

Branches snapped.

Wind rushed past.

Then—

Both of them landed on a lower branch with a heavy thud.

The branch bent under their weight but held.

Eryx didn’t hesitate.

He swung his sword downward from the shoulder.

The attacker blocked it instantly.

Another strike followed.

Blocked again.

Their blades clashed again and again, sharp metallic echoes ringing through the forest.

—

Elsewhere among the trees, Liorin stayed hidden behind a thick trunk.

Her eyes scanned the forest carefully.

She bent down, picked up a small stone, and quietly tossed it far to the right.

The stone struck another tree.

Tick.

In the next instant—

CRACK!

An arrow shot from the shadows and shattered the stone in midair.

Liorin’s eyes sharpened.

She whispered softly,

“Here.”

In one smooth motion she stepped out from behind the tree and released an arrow toward the direction of the shot.

But the hidden attacker reacted instantly.

The arrow barely missed him as he disappeared deeper into the forest.

Liorin rolled quickly behind another tree.

“They’re fast,” she muttered.

“They keep hiding themselves.”

From another tree, Vihaan responded calmly,

“Let them hide.”

His eyes moved toward the branches where Eryx was fighting.

“Just dodge their arrows and focus on the one in front of us.”

In the next moment, Vihaan sprang out from behind the tree.

A small knife flashed in his hand.

He threw it toward the attacker fighting Eryx and immediately rolled behind another tree.

The masked attacker leaned backward just in time to dodge the blade.

But that brief movement created an opening.

Eryx took it.

His foot swept forward—

KICK.

The strike hit below the attacker’s knees.

The masked man lost balance and dropped from the branch.

Yet the attacker twisted in midair and landed safely on the forest ground.

Eryx jumped down after him.

The fight continued.

The attacker suddenly raised his sword and struck downward.

Eryx blocked the attack.

Steel pressed against steel.

The attacker pushed harder, forcing the blade closer toward Eryx.

Eryx struggled to keep the sword away from his face.

Then suddenly—

A powerful shove struck the attacker from the side.

The masked man stumbled backward and slammed into a tree.

Vihaan stood there.

Sword already drawn.

Eryx quickly got back to his feet beside him.

Now both of them faced the attacker together.

The masked man stood up slowly.

Even now—

He did not retreat.

He raised his sword again.

Ready to fight both of them.

Eryx attacked first.

His sword moved violently.

The attacker blocked.

Another strike came from Vihaan.

The attacker twisted his blade and blocked again.

He swung quickly toward Eryx.

Eryx blocked it.

The fight continued in a fast exchange of steel.

Suddenly—

From somewhere in the shadows—

An arrow was fired.

It shot straight toward Eryx.

But before it could reach him—

Another arrow cut across its path.

CLACK!

The two arrows collided midair and fell to the ground.

Liorin lowered her bow from the distance.

Her eyes were locked on the hidden archers in the forest.

The battle continued.

The masked attacker pushed Vihaan backward with a sudden strike.

Then Eryx moved.

His sword flashed across the attacker’s back making a deep cut, forcing him to turn.

At that moment Vihaan struck again from the side.

Slashes and cuts continued, Vihaan and Eryx works in a perfect rhythm. 

One creates opening and other uses it..

The pressure from both sides continued.

Meanwhile, Liorin kept intercepting arrows fired from the shadows.

Her arrows moved silently between the trees.

Then—

She prepares for a counter attack

One of her shots flew deeper into the forest.

Killing one of the attacker with perfect precision 

A moment later—

His body fell from the shadows.

At the same time, the masked attacker fighting Vihaan and Eryx finally staggered under the pressure of their attacks.

A final blow beheaded him.

The fight ended.

For a moment, silence returned to the forest.

But it did not last long.

Suddenly—

Three shadows dropped from the trees.

They landed on the ground around the trio.

New attackers.

Each of them drew their swords and moved toward one member of Team 111.

But before they could take even one step—

Something happened.

Three sharp sounds cut through the air.

THK.

THK.

THK.

The attackers froze.

Then their bodies collapsed one by one onto the forest floor.

Arrows.

Sharp.

Precise.

Fast like lightning.

Soundless.

Before the trio could react—

Another shadow dropped from above.

A tall figure landed calmly on the ground.

Master Valen.

Eryx looked at the fallen attackers, then at Valen.

“The fight has just begun…”

Vihaan stared at him.

“Master Valen… how are you here?”

Liorin narrowed her eyes.

“You never went back.”

Valen looked at the three of them.

His voice was calm.

“Team 111… this is your lesson for today.”

He stepped closer.

“During missions, your eyes must be sharper than your swords.”

His gaze moved across the forest.

“Even the smallest movement should never escape your attention.”

He paused.

“These attackers have been following us since we entered the forest.”

A moment later he added,

“Congratulations, Team 111. Your first mission is completed successfully.”

Vihaan frowned slightly.

“But we haven’t even reached the destination yet.”

Valen gestured toward the large chest still sitting in the cart.

“Neither do we need to.”

He opened the chest.

Inside—

There were only stones.

Eryx stared in disbelief.

“What?!”

His voice burst out loudly.

“I risked my life… for a box of rocks?!”

Valen replied calmly,

“No. You risked your life for your mission.”

“And your mission is completed.”

Liorin looked at the chest thoughtfully.

“So this was a trap… to catch thieves.”

Before Eryx could even respond—

Something sticky suddenly struck his back.

“—WHAT?!”

The force dragged him violently backward across the ground.

“Eryx!” Vihaan shouted.

Their eyes snapped toward the direction he was being pulled.

Between the trees stood a massive spider.

Nearly two meters tall.

A thick strand of web stretched from its jaws—

Wrapped tightly around Eryx.

The creature began dragging him toward its mouth.

“Okay—! This was NOT part of the mission!” Eryx yelled while struggling against the web.

The spider pulled him closer.

Closer.

In that exact moment—

Vihaan moved.

His hand flashed to his belt.

A knife spun into his fingers.

He threw it.

The blade flew straight through the air.

Just as Eryx reached the creature’s jaws—

THK!

The knife struck directly into the spider’s eye.

The creature screeched in pain.

Its grip loosened.

The web snapped free.

Eryx dropped to the ground and rolled away, quickly jumping to his feet.

He looked back at the monster, breathing heavily.

“…I officially hate forests.”

Behind him, Liorin had already raised her bow.

And Valen stood watching calmly.

But something in his eyes had changed.

Because the spider was not alone.

If one spider could appear from nowhere…

How many more were hiding in the forest shadows?