Chapter 140: A deadly clash

As Strax cautiously advanced, his senses heightened as he approached the obstruction on the road. The trees seemed to close in around him, their dense foliage creating a nearly tunnel-like effect. He could feel the eyes of the forest upon him, an unsettling sensation that sent a shiver down his spine.

"Damn..." he muttered as he neared the source of the disturbance—a massive fallen tree blocking the path. But it wasn't an ordinary tree; it was enormous, its trunk as wide as a small house, with twisted, knotted roots as if it had been ripped from the ground by some immense force. "This isn't a natural tree," he murmured. "Magic? No... there's something wrong..." he thought as he activated his eyes.

[<Dragon Eyes resonate with the Environment.]]

Strax read the message from the System, confused. His eyes automatically activated as he sensed something behind the trunk. The entire trunk was glowing a different color, as if camouflaging something behind it. "Caution... better talk to them first..."

"Attack the trunk, Master." It was Tiamat speaking, already aware that something was behind the trunk. Strax responded, "Calm down," and walked back to the carriage. Was it an ambush? Probably.

Calmly, he signaled back to Carlos, pointing out the fallen tree. "It's a tree, but something about it seems off. Stay alert, it's probably an ambush."

Carlos nodded, his grip on the reins tightening. "We might need to find a way around it." He said, but Strax shook his head. "There's no expanding mana. I presume the surroundings are already controlled by whoever is behind this. Just move forward; I'll cut the tree in half." Strax commented as he dismounted Apocalipse. "Stay behind, girl." He said.

As he dismounted, a strange sound caught his attention. He turned immediately, his eyes picking up mana movements in the bushes. From the forest's shadows, several figures emerged, their movements stealthy and deliberate. They were cloaked in dark robes, their faces hidden under hoods.

"Ambush!" Strax shouted, drawing his swords. The figures quickly moved, surrounding him and the carriage.

The girls inside the carriage heard Strax's warning and prepared for battle. Monica drew her dagger, Beatrice readied her sword, and Samira took a defensive stance, opening the carriage door and drawing her longsword.

"Carlos, watch the rear!" Strax ordered, blocking another blow.

Carlos, armed with a light sword, turned just in time to strike down a sneaky attacker. "I'm watching! They're more than we expected!"

"This should hold them for a while!" Strax said, creating an ice barrier while his swords began to glow. "Get ready, I'm going to finish this shit!" Strax shouted to them as the two swords started to catch fire...

[]

The message appeared, but he ignored it again. The flaming swords began to blaze, and once more, he looked at the enemies, who had been silent until now. But soon... "Kill that guy!" one of them shouted, drawing the attention of the others.

Monica delivered a kick to the abdomen of an enemy distracted by the shout of his comrade, sending him staggering backward. "Strax, three more to your right!" she shouted, seeing more of them entering the ice barrier Strax had created.

Strax spun, delivering swift, deadly strikes, killing the three immediately. "Got it! Form up!!" he shouted, and everyone moved closer to him, creating a perfect circle, protecting each other's backs.

Around them, numerous men began to encircle them, all similar in appearance but varying in height.

"Kill them!" one of the men shouted, pointing his sword, as at least twenty men rushed toward them.

And so... a great mortal fight began, Strax and Samira had their weapons bathed in flames and began to burn their opponents, while Beatrice, Monica and Carlos were cutting everything that came in front of them.