Moonlight After Sunset's
Lotus Forest

"Holy soul will bring blessings but if that purity has been tainted then there is only falsehood and also doom that will befall everything."

*****************######***************

The first time Dusk set foot, he already felt that something big was waiting for him in the forest. This expedition is not only about the journey but also about his first experience of true combat.

Although his level had already reached level five early but his martial skills and real fighting had not been felt at all, for that his presence in the lotus forest will judge how capable and powerful he is in controlling his power.

"This is the beginning of a long journey, if you can overcome it then you will get what you have dreamed of" Prof Edward said as he stepped forward into the lotus forest.

"I'll just take you here, the rest is yours" he continued.

Dusk was shocked to hear Prof Edward's words could only ring - a head bracelet.

" What is Prof? I didn't listen wrong?" tanya Dusk.

" ... "

Prof Edward just stared silently at Dusk.

"I'm not kidding, after all what I've been training you all this time if you can't handle it at all" Prof Edward replied and went to a Pine tree on his left side.

"But Prof, without you how can I handle it?" ask Dusk once more while following Prof Edward's footsteps.

"Then remember what you've learned, you can handle it, that way" explained Prof Edward, handing him a whistle made of yellow bamboo in silver.

"Blow this up if your life is in danger then I will come and save you soon but you must remember that this is only for the precarious circumstances" Prof Edward continued before he sat under a tree.

There was no reply from Dusk, he just stared at the whistle while twisting it carefully.

"One more thing, don't lose the whistle and keep it well" cried Prof Edward.

"I'm going to meditate here as long as you're in the woods" continued Prof Edward and he began to close his eyes and meditate.

" ... "

Dusk just looked at Prof Edward with an annoyed face then took the bag containing his equipment and immediately entered the forest.

"Basic shit. How could I do it alone, if I knew the end was like this then from the beginning I would bring other saint beasts besides Ristia who was always clinging to my wrist," the twilight grunt in his heart.

"I deliberately left them because I thought I was going on an expedition with Prof, in fact I was alone," continued Dusk as he walked steadily towards the middle of the forest.

"Lagian Kun will definitely be happy if he can hunt for food in this place," grumbled at Dusk unhappy while remembering Kun who just ate and slept every day.

Dusk was even more upset when he remembered that Kun only woke up for a moment to stretch his body and turn around - turn on the pillow and go back to sleep.

"Take care to shout," said Dusk with a mouth raised.

It had been almost half an hour of Dusk walking through the forest and now he felt so tired and needed a short break. Dusk then look for the right place to be able to make a tent. Finally the choice of Dusk fell on a large Pine tree with the branches of the tree crossing each other.

"I will make a tent on top of the tree branch and set some traps around it" murmured Dusk as he dropped his bag and climbed up into the tree.

Dusk then made a mini tent on the tree with the help of magic that he had learned in class with Miss Jina. It did not take long to make it so that Dusk could rest quickly.

Before resting Dusk had told Ristia to make a shield around the tree to protect it from wild animals. Evening arrived, Dusk who had been sleeping began to feel hungry and thirsty he decided to get down from the tree and go to the river which was not far from the location of his tent.

"Ristia can you feel the aura of the sacred animals around this place?" tanya Dusk while taking out the magic wand and then turning on the light from the end of his wand.

"Miss, I only felt the aura of a ferret ahead there," pointed at Ristia while wiggling her tail.

"Be careful Miss, in this river there is a snake," continued Ristia while installing a shield to protect Dusk from the snake's surprise attack.

"Alright," cried Dusk then took out a bottle and took enough river water.

"I'm hungry, is there nothing to eat?" continued Dusk while fetching water with both hands.

"No Miss, here there is only weeds and poisonous fruit," Ristia replied as she glanced around.

The twilight just remained silent while stroking his stomach slowly which began to sound.

"Basic fucking worms. Shut up a little why, this is also again attempted," grumbled at Dusk as his stomach began to wriggle - a jolt.

Dusk then went to the south of the river and started down the area.

"How's it?" tanya Dusk while pointing her magic wand to and fro to see the situation around.

"Miss seems like behind the bush is a rabbit, not big enough but able to eliminate your hunger," pointed Ristia as she lightly swirled around on the index finger of Dusk.

Dusk just silent while staring at the thickets in front of him slowly but surely Dusk began to move his legs.

When he got to the bush, Dusk opened it and found a black rabbit eating a lizard twice the size of his body.

"Oh my gosh," cried Dusk in panic as the rabbit began to stare at him while revealing sharp fangs.

"That rabbit what a monster?" tanya Dusk hesitated while stepping back from her position.

"Miss calm down, there I am here" exclaimed Ristia as she put up a shield to protect her miss.

"His strength is not comparable to ours so Miss does not have to worry," continued Ristia while locking the rabbit into a crystal prison she made with her mana.

"Miss can burn it now" Ristia said as the rabbit began to rebel.

Dusk who felt nauseous with the rabbit who had just eaten the lizard could only cover his mouth so as not to vomit.

"Is there no other food?" ask Dusk while turning his face.

"If Miss wants to eat meat then there are only species like this in the forest," replied Ristia innocently trying to give an explanation.

"Then I don't want to eat it," cried Dusk as he walked away.

"But if the lady doesn't eat it then the lady can starve," exclaimed Ristia in panic as her lady reluctantly ate the rabbit.

"Is there nothing to eat in this place other than such an animal?" tanya Dusk while pointing towards the rabbit who was in prison.

"If Miss wants to be a vegetarian it doesn't matter" exclaimed Ristia indifferently.

"Vege..., vege what do you mean?" tanya Dusk did not understand what Ristia was talking about.

"Vegetarian Miss. Ve. Ge's. Ta. Ri. An," explained Ristia who was starting to look annoyed.

"God, is there only fruit in this place?" ask Dusk once again trying to be sure.

" ... "

Ristia was irritated to the end of her head, her face started to redden and slightly let out flames from her tail.

"Ugh." The twilight groan that felt pain in the wrist was due to the small flames coming out from Ristia's tail.

"Huh, now I know the reason why Lily is so upset with you," Ristia grumbled as she extinguished the fire on her tail.

" ... "

Dusk just remained silent while stroking slowly the burn scar that was on his wrist.

"No fruit or flesh Miss there is only a medicinal plant," continued Ristia while treating the burns that began to wet.

"plants? Oh my!" Just thinking about it had made Dusk sick let alone having to eat it for four days.

"How's it?" tanya Ristia assured Dusk.

" ... "

Dusk glanced back at the rabbit whose mouth was full of blood from eating the lizard.

"Hugh, disgusting,"

"I think it's better than having to eat the rabbit" said Dusk as he walked away from the place.

In the morning Dusk felt a little dizzy when he saw the sunlight that began to shine on his beautiful face. Slowly Dusk raised his right hand to block the light from entering his sense of sight.

"Miss, it's time," said Ristia as she wiggled her little tail.

"Ugh," grumbled at Dusk while trying to stand up from his sleep.

"I will finish this quickly," exclaimed Dusk as he picked up the magic wand that was beside him.

"I'm going down east and west today" he continued, drinking a bottle of water he filled last night.

"I can still feel it," Dusk recalled the incident last night where he only ate medicinal herbs that taste bitter like weed.

"This time I have to eat well" said Dusk and then jumped down from the top of the tree.

***

"Ristia are you blunt?" tanya Dusk began to look annoyed.

" ... "

Ristia just remained silent and bit into Dusk's wrist with her upset face.

"Geez Miss it's not my fault if they're not here" the great-granddaughter of Ristia whose face was turning red held in anger.

" ... "

The twilight just remained silent and then tried to go towards the hill where he could see the area around him.

"Miss, lookout!" ristia shouted that quickly made a shield to protect Dusk from the claws of beasts.

Dusk shocked by the sudden attack could only fall sitting on the ground.

"What's that?" ask Dusk with his pale face.

"That's a hyena but it looks like she's going through a very strange change in her body" Ristia explained as she stared intently at the hyena.

The hyena's body looks pale with hair that starts to fall out and the face is like enduring intense pain. The hyena then shouted loudly as if she was fighting something in her body.

"She's gone mad" Ristia exclaimed in panic.

"What do you mean, can you explain?" ask Dusk while stepping back from his position.

"It looks like he was bitten by something that eventually made himself lose control and turn like that" Ristia explained.

"He will undergo a transformation and if it is not stopped then he will be very dangerous for us." continued Ristia while strengthening his shield.

"You mean he's mutating like that, but how can a saint beast mutate?" tanya Dusk curious.

"I don't know Miss either but it seems like someone did it on purpose" Ristia said as she told Dusk to take her wand and began to paralyze the hyena.

"He is too strong," murmured Dusk with a body that began to tremble violently resisting the pressure.

"Miss, you certainly can, remember what you have learned so far," said Ristia encouraging Dusk.

" ... "

Dusk began to remember one by one the material taught by prof Edward during his training.

The material entered like a classic movie that was playing, Dusk began to close his eyes and tried to feel the energy that was flowing in his body. Dusk then set his breathing to relax his body.

slowly Dusk opened his eyes and stared intently at the hyena. Dusk's body began to calm down and his eye color now turned dark green punctuated by a glowing blue color like a diamond.

Dusk felt a great mana flowing in his blood. He began to concentrate the energy and direct it to the body of the hyena.

Slowly Dusk lifted his magic wand and began to foresee the spell. The hyenas that started to transform looked so fierce and started clawing at the surrounding area.

Thanks to the shield made by Ristia, they managed to withstand the rampage from the Hyena. But the shield is now starting to disintegrate due to the hard impact of the Hyena claw.

"Miss hurry," exclaimed Ristia frantically while trying to strengthen her shield.

Dusk who had gained concentration began to aim at the hyena, he then threw an arrow out of the end of his magic wand. The arrow was blue with a tip that lit up like fire. It only takes one arrow to be able to paralyze the Hyena's body.

When the arrows started hitting Hyena's body, the arrows entered her body and exploded there. The blow does not destroy the Hyena's outer body but only destroys its internal parts.

"Miss look at that," exclaimed Ristia as the hyena's body took out a black pearl with a blood-red jasmine flower engraving.

"What's that?" ask Dusk and touch the pearl.

"It looks like this pearl is what made Hyena's body lose control and transform," explained Ristia who sensed the dark mana within the pearl ball.

"Who did this? And what's the motive?" ask Dusk while staring towards the dead Hyena.

"What does Miss intend to find out?"

Ristia tried to see the intent of her nona.

"If I manage to catch the culprit then I will get great results anyway," exclaimed Dusk as he stepped away towards the direction Hyena was coming from.

" ... "

Ristia just stay still while turning - turn around on the wrist of Dusk.

"Miss, we need Kun's help with this, but if we're looking for evidence maybe we can both," Ristia explained, and then made a shield layered all over the body of Dusk.

Dusk saw the footprints of the horse and then examined them. The footprints were warm, the sign that someone was in the forest besides him.

"Maybe they are the cause," said Dusk as he followed the horse's footprints.

"We must be careful from now on" continued Dusk as he looked around.

The foot of the horse headed towards the slopes of the hills filled with shady and dense pine trees.

"Miss, I feel the energy of the beasts around us," Ristia said as she looked to the left of the body of Dusk.

"I'll take care of the animal" said Dusk and then walked away.

"Miss wait a moment," exclaimed Ristia stopping her twilight footsteps.

"I also feel the human energy that is at level 4," continued Ristia who made Dusk a little was.

"I can handle it anyway I'm already at level 5 early, although it's a little difficult," explained Dusk trying to convince himself.

Dusk slowly approached the place by using body lightening magic so that its existence was unknown to the enemy. From behind the lush tree Dusk can see two men of great stature burning something.

"Hmm, fragrant," the twilight squeak as he lightly stroked his stomach.

"I've told you not if today we're going to eat good." Smile expanded when he recalled his words this morning.

Ristia could only shake her head to see the behavior of her lady.

"Protect me during their hunt" exclaimed Dusk as he raised his wand.

He then pointed his wand at the group of men who were cleaning their weapons.

"Wait a minute Miss," the great-grandson of Ristia was startled when she felt the great energy that had just arrived.

"What's wrong?" ask Dusk a little annoyed.

"Miss, don't be too rash to throw your arrow attacks, because there are some of them who are level 5 and 6. If we are reckless in attacking then we will be unlucky," explained Ristia trying to understand the situation.

"Then how should we?" tanya Dusk impatiently.

"We messed up first they then take the opportunity after her," proposed Ristia while pointing at the North area of the forest.

Dusk tried to understand what Ristia had just said.

"You mean we have to run away like that, then what about the chicken?" tanya Dusk with saliva that began to wet her lips.

"Miss, you can still think of food in situations like this," grumbled Ristia was not out of thought with the behavior of the lady.

"I just don't want to eat any more weed" the twilight great-grandson recalled last night's incident.

Ristia must relentlessly follow the wishes of her lady. "You know how else,"

Dusk then tried to reassemble his mana but for now the frequency is greater than before. Dusk began to concentrate and focus his attention on the group of men, Dusk felt a considerable amount of mana flowing from within his body.

When he was about to throw an arrow, Dusk was attacked by a giant silver wolf with its claws. It was fortunate that the shield that Ristia made was able to withstand the attack.

But unfortunately it resulted in an arrow that missed and fell between the rocks causing an explosion that resulted in a group of men were aware of the presence of Dusk.

"Miss, we have to run away. One of them had already realized our position through the wolf earlier," Ristia exclaimed as she pushed the shield in front of Dusk so as to make the wolf fly and fall to the ground not far from them.

"I guess this time the dinner didn't change" twilight great-granddaughter as she stepped away from the place.

"Wait a minute, if I can't enjoy it then they're the same, too" exclaimed Dusk and released his arrow once again. And this time the mana released by Dusk was unstable so that the arrow became uncontrollable and even exploded right between the group of men.

As a result, those who have a level below five in all die while for the sacred animals they have only get burns and some immediately disappear even those who are in levels 5 and 6 should feel burns all over their bodies.

The twilight that did not expect its arrows to be able to do such a thing started to smile cynically by staring intently at them. One of those who had seen Dusk run agilely shot towards Dusk, but of course the shot was successfully blocked by a shield made by Ristia.

"We will check it tomorrow morning but before that we have to leave this place first" exclaimed Dusk then stepped away from the area.

"Tomorrow we shall know who they are" said Dusk, looking up at the star-filled sky.

"Whoever they are, I will definitely carry them out completely."