Ch.300300. Forbidden Mountain (3)

Hong Gil-dong and the members of the Hwalbindang realized in the blink of an eye that their surroundings had changed, noticing they had been forcibly transported somewhere as if by the space-folding technique.

Since they were quite familiar with the space-folding technique used by their leader Hong Gil-dong—a skill that allowed instant travel across vast distances by folding space—they easily recognized that the sudden change in their surroundings was due to spatial displacement.

“…Where is this?”

“The air feels… different…”

“…Even the forest trees are different.”

The place they had been transported to was clearly a forest that differed from the Eastern Continent forests these Hwalbindang bandits remembered.

An ordinary person might notice the difference but miss the specific details, but these professionals (bandits) who operated in forests could tell the distinctions.

Not only were the plant and tree species noticeably different from those growing in the Kore Kingdom of the Eastern Continent, but even the sensation of the soil beneath their feet and its subtle texture were fundamentally different.

What felt most alien to them was the air itself—which might sound strange, but in this world where mysterious energy called “magic” actually existed, they could definitely sense the difference.

If the air of the Eastern Continent, especially Mount Geumdan, generally felt sharp and intense, the air in this forest where Hong Gil-dong and Hwalbindang had been transported felt warm and comfortable.

Regardless, it was clear they had been moved to an unknown location, and while the other Hwalbindang members gathered together waiting for their leader Hong Gil-dong’s orders…

‘What… did I just see?’

The leader himself, Hong Gil-dong, was distracted by the impression that he had glimpsed a desolate wasteland during the transition of his vision.

He kept thinking that the current situation must somehow be connected to that wasteland he had briefly passed through, trusting the intuition that had kept him alive until now, but…

“—Chief!”

“Ah, I understand! Everyone, secure the perimeter!”

Unable to leisurely contemplate his surroundings in such an urgent situation, Hong Gil-dong hastily returned to his role as leader after being admonished by his deputy.

Of course, that didn’t change much about their predicament.

While they could sense that this forest they had been forcibly transported to was clearly different from the Eastern Continent’s environment, it was nearly impossible to determine exactly which forest this was or where it was located.

Moreover, Hong Gil-dong’s specialty, the space-folding technique, required knowing the coordinates of both departure and arrival points since it worked by “folding space” to travel.

In short, they were caught in a dilemma with no clear way forward or back. The Hwalbindang members could only quietly draw their weapons and guard their surroundings…

[Forest of Aleinos! Respond to the call of your rightful master and guardian!]

At that moment, a voice that was transmitted not as sound but in some other form reached their ears. The Hwalbindang members immediately assumed battle positions to prepare for an enemy attack, but…

Despair, as always, comes from unexpected places.

※ ※ ※

Objectively speaking, the Hwalbindang bandit group was a rather powerful organization composed of quite skilled individuals.

Most of the organization’s members were illegitimate children of wealthy families, and a significant number of these illegitimate children were trained to become low-ranking military officers (non-commissioned officers), meaning many had received at least basic military training.

Of course, the percentage who actually became low-ranking officers was extremely small, and most had only trained in basic magic manipulation or weapon skills to pass the tests, but…

Nevertheless, they were undeniably several times stronger than ordinary bandits, meaning the Hwalbindang’s military power couldn’t be dismissed as merely that of a common bandit group.

Additionally, befitting an organization that nominally advocated equality, Hwalbindang had a considerable proportion of lower-class members who had also received combat training with the help of these prospective low-ranking officers.

In other words, while other bandit groups were little more than thugs with deadly weapons, these were organized fighters who had received combat training—comparable to terrorists in modern terms.

They were armed not with ordinary weapons but with captured artillery, and even when they couldn’t use these due to gunpowder shortages, each member was equipped with excellent cold weapons.

Their armor made from poached magical beast hides provided decent durability, and their well-crafted spears, swords, and composite bows were fairly superior weapons.

Especially considering they were led by Hong Gil-dong, a genius but fallen Taoist master, there was good reason why this bandit group had survived despite being just outlaws with connections.

However, even the Hwalbindang never predicted the unprecedented situation where the forest itself would turn hostile against them.

-RUMBLE!!!

It began with the ground splitting open, creating fissures that swallowed about 20 Hwalbindang members whole.

“Wh-what’s happening!”

“Brothers! This is…!!”

The horrific end of those who disappeared without even having time to scream was enough to provoke rage among the Hwalbindang members, but the environment attacking them was too terrifying to allow for any response.

Blade-like winds appeared from nowhere, slicing Hwalbindang members to pieces, while wooden stakes sprouting from between grass roots pierced through bodies, leaving gaping holes.

In an instant, about half of the approximately 300 Hwalbindang members became horrific corpses, and some disappeared without leaving any remains at all.

At this point, the Hwalbindang members who realized the forest itself was attacking them hurriedly gathered around their leader Hong Gil-dong, who desperately spread his magical power to somehow block the manipulation of the surrounding terrain.

After all, no one wanted to fall through splitting ground and be buried alive.

“AAAAARGH!!!”

-CRACK!

But even as they recovered from the sudden ambush and prepared themselves, vines extending from beneath their feet grabbed a Hwalbindang member, dragged him away, and tore him in half…

“What, what is this…”

Unable to comprehend the situation, Hong Gil-dong suddenly found himself wondering if these attacks were somehow anticipating their future actions.

‘Wait a moment.’

While normally he would have dismissed such thoughts as not worth considering, given the circumstances, such speculation gained credibility.

Reflexively, Hong Gil-dong used his Taoist arts to form a quasi-barrier around them, creating a formation of blockage that would prevent anyone from easily reading their heavenly fate.

He threw talismans—eight of them in eight directions—to form a barrier, temporarily preventing them from suffering unpredictable attacks…

“…What?!!”

At that moment, sensing an inhuman presence high in the sky, Hong Gil-dong looked up in shock to see an enormous concentration of magical power slowly descending toward the ground.

It was a massive sphere of energy composed of pure white light.

A manifestation of immense power condensed with unimaginable energy—his experience as a Taoist master told him it was a gigantic power manifestation composed of celestial energy.

“…Huh?”

“Eh? Eh? Eh?”

As they stared with bewildered expressions at the massive meteor of light falling toward the ground…

Suddenly, the meteor’s falling speed increased at least several dozen times.

Of course, it was impossible for them to block such a powerful destructive force when even their strongest member, Hong Gil-dong, was only of intermediate level.

The explosion that occurred when it touched the ground released its power. The beautiful celestial torrent that bloomed on the ground erased everything it touched.

And immediately after the explosion released its power, the shock wave that couldn’t be fully contained led to the collapse of the dimensional space.

-CRASH!

With a clear sound like breaking glass, the deployed dimensional space collapsed, and its contents spilled out.

Of course, the only objects that could emerge from the incinerated interior of that dimensional space were fragments of bodies caught in the power release.

Nothing remained but charred pieces of flesh scattered on the ground.