The survivors were now traveling, while they neared their furthest point away from the plane. To the group it was a huge achievement.
To them it showed their resolve and courage, the only problem was they had not yet reached the volcanoes side.
Instead they were still a couple hours away. As they got closer the mood change was obvious, as the group got more and more excited.
The group started walking past the thick forest trees. As only a few abominations approached them.
Except any creature from outside the group was immediately slain. The monsters were slain brutally but quickly.
While only a few monsters could challenge the group of survivors. With the group not encountering one of those few monsters that day.
Then it had finally happened after relatively slow travel for a day and a half. They had finally reached the unknown.
As before Alex and his group when moving quickly were able to reach were there group was now. Yet they were now crossing that boundary, into the unknown territory of the continent.
It was a huge achievement for the group, as it showed their resolve. They now knew there was no turning back.
Alex decided to stop for a bit, as he went over to a tree and summoned his katana where he scraped the tree.
He made this mark so they would know how to get back to the plane. Yet Alex knew deep in himself that they would not be going back.
There was no more reason to, unless the continents core was back at the plane. Yet this was too preposterous to happen.
Their goodbyes would be permanent, and this mark was in a way, a goodbye. Alex had now made his final goodbye.
He then quickly hurried back to the group, catching up with them quickly. As he heard murmurs and whispers about their whereabouts.
Everyone else knew that this was the furthest they had ever been. This caused rumors and fear to spread among the group.
Yet it also spread excitement around. As they had now reached where no one else was, they were now adventurers.
The group started conversations about their achievement.
"Did you know this is the furthest anyone's been from the plane?"
A man spoke to another man with a bit of excitement plastered on his face.
"Of course I know, everyone knows. Aren't you at all worried, there could be new stronger monsters all around us!"
The man had spoken jittery, with his fear causing stutters. He did not like traveling in the unknown like many others in their group.
"So what if it's unexplored, now we get to explore it. This is going to be so fun!"
The other ma was not at all worried by the thought of the unknown. Instead he thought it to be fun rather than horrifying.
While most of the other conversations went out like their. Or it was two afraid group members venting their fear.
Yet even those who worried knew they'd be fine, as their leader was exceptionally strong. Even though he was limping at the moment, they all trusted that he'd guide and protect them.
Alex truly was the groups guardian angel. Yet there was another guardian angel among the group.
This guardian angel was Xavier, and while most didn't know it yet it was becoming more and more obvious.
As the more monsters started coming into the camp Xavier dealt with them easily. It was a brilliant show put on by Xavier.
The purpose was not just to show off his skills and purpose to the group, but instead to promote its purpose.
Xavier wanted to show the greatness that came with protecting the group. He did this in hopes that when he announced his group people would flood to him trying to join.
The group continued walking through the forest, as the sun started to rise straight above them. It was about noon.
The group was ready for a lunch break, and so Alex gave them one. As he stopped the group from marching on.
Now the group was mid feast, enjoying the lunch they had prepared.
The group sat under the shade of the trees, avoiding the scorching heat of the sun. While they munched away at their packed food.
Once the group had finished they got up and started traveling again. Walking through the same unchanging forest.
Then Alex noticed something, a mark on the trees. He immediately walked over to the tree to check it out.
It had a long gash pointing downwards, while about the length of Alex's arm. This was a pretty terrifying strike left on the tree.
Yet Alex did not know what had left it there. There were many things he still did not know about the strange continent, and its stranger inhabitants.
What Alex did know was that he didn't always like battle. As he'd rather avoid it if it wasn't necessary to fight.
So Alex ran back towards the group, joint back with them. While the group continued walking forward unfazed by Alex's leaving and arrival.
Alex wondered what had left it. As his mark that he left earlier was horizontal while this one was vertical.
So he knew they weren't traveling in a circle for the most part. Yet it still felt strange that after he had left a mark another mark appeared.
Alex quickly thought of something else distracting his mind. As it was most likely just a coincidence and had no meaning to it.
Alex and the group continued marching forward. Heading just the left of the volcano, while the stray monsters they faced from time to time began to dwindle.
Then they saw another marked tree. Except this time Alex wasn't the only one who had noticed it.
As the whole group walked over to the tree to get a closer look. While it was the exact same as the last one, vertical and as long as Alex's arm.
This worked the group, as they thought it was a horrifying monster. While Alex had already seen a mark similar to this, he to was afraid.
Everyone was starting to panic, although it was rather slow. The mote their minds raced with horrifying ideas the worst their frantically became.
Except before the group could get fully out of control Lyra stepped forward to analyze the tree. Then she sighed a sigh of relief.
"Everyone calm down it's just a bear marking its territory."
The group immediately calmed down as it made perfect sense. While Alex was dumbfounded as he too should have realized that detail.
Then in the distance a fallen tree could be made out. As the group got closer and closer to the tree, eventually fully noticing it.
It was ripped out of the ground and thrown back down. This had created a small crater around the tree.
Although this was strange, the survivors had just thought it to be the cause of a bear. As previously a bear had used a tree to battle the survivors.
All the evidence pointed towards this being the reason. As the group of survivors then started to stop paying attention to the tree.
As they continued forward into a clearing, where there was no tree. Except the was not the case, as scattered around the clearing were hundreds of fallen trees.
This was something even a bear king could not achieve. As the insurmountable amount of trees lying on the ground seemed impossible.
This spread fear among the group, as they realized what must've caused the deforestation was something much worse than the huge bear.
As Alex also was afraid of what could've caused this amount of deforestation. While he also wondered why the trees had impact craters around them.
Then Alex walked into the clearing as a wave of fear washed over him. As once he had looked to his right Alex wondered how they would escape the continent.
As to his right was a massive path of fallen trees heading straight for the volcano. The group would not be able to fully avoid whatever had cause the path of fallen trees, without taking a break for a whole day.
Yet they couldn't take a break for so long, as it would leave them vulnerable for to long. While this wasn't a risk Alex was unwilling to take.
While the path could've very well been created a while ago. With the creature that had made it being long gone.
Yet it could also be near them, close enough to sense them. Alex was willing to take the gamble, believing he and his group had the better odds.
So Alex followed crossed the path, and then followed it from the other side of the forest. Knowing that less monsters would follow the path, so he followed alongside it.
Although the group to was extremely afraid they trusted Alex and followed him. As the group continued walking along side the huge path.
Then in the distance they saw a blob of sorts, as they continued to get closer. While the thing was moving forward it wasn't to quick, as the group gained on it.
Then the blob slowly started to take shape the closer they got, as the noticed spikes and bones protruding from its body. Except that wasn't it, it was more like the bones were the body of the creature.
As they got closer and closer they saw its horrifying figure.
As it towered above all the trees, while crawling forward and crushing any trees in its path. While its body was purely made of bones.
As they all formed a massive blob like centipede. Except it also emanated out an aura of pain and agony.
This aura cause some of the survivors to immediately become sick from the intense pressure put onto them.
Luckily no one had fainted, yet they did know that they could not beat that thing. It was far too strong, and far too strange.
So Alex then came to a logical conclusion of avoiding the mountain of corpses. Yet they would avoid it in a manner that led them towards their destination.
While the group had no such thoughts of even getting close to the creature. As everything in their body yelled for them to run away from the horror.
Yet even if they wanted to gent couldn't move out of fear. All paralyzed from the aura emanating off the mountain of skeletons.
The aura emanating from the creature was not caused by the creatures looks, or behavior. Instead something more mystical and dangerous.
As the aura was made the survivors feel a fraction of the agony the creature itself was feeling. With the closer they approached the stronger the agony they would feel.
So Alex would need to create a plan that convinced the group into following nearby the creature. Keep everyone safe and away from it aura. While also making sure no one catches the attention of the horro.
This was going to be a difficult task, not only for Alex but also the group. As fighting could be easy, while avoiding was a whole other challenge.
"Every one, we are going to try and avoid the creature, yet we will still follow close behind it. So no one make any loud sounds."
The group was fine with avoiding the creature, yet they did not understand why they would have to follow near the creature.
As for the first time they doubted Alex's decision, even though they knew he probably knew something more then them, there fear outweighed their logic.
Although the group still decided to follow Alex out of will. All being absolutely terrified of the horror in front of them.
Yet they would have to travel alongside it, without a say in the matter. As they were also afraid of what would happen if they didn't listen to Alex.
As he had saved their lives many times, and would probably do it again. So the group understood that they were probably wrong to judge Alex for what they couldn't understand.
Except Alex just wanted to follow the monster because it was heading in the same direction as their group. Having to definitive reason for his decision.
Yet the survivors didn't know this as they followed close behind Alex. Trying not to make any noise at all.
The survivors snuck by the side of the horror besides them. As they tried to be as silent as possible.
As they stepped lightly on the ground, in case of any twigs and leaves. As they did not know anything about the creature. So they decided to play it safe.
As they continued walking beside the creature. Then it suddenly turned towards the survivors. Everyone froze without making a sound, terrified of what was about to happen.
Yet to the survivors luck the creature turned back around. Ignoring the survivors, this relieved everyone in the group.
The monster crawled forward with the bones protruding from its body, as the bones would move back and forth in a mesmerizing pattern.
While a group of humans tipped toed their way beside the creature, as they tried to alert the creature of their whereabouts.
Then the path of the group and the monster slowly diverted. As the monster was heading directly towards the volcano. While the group of survivors was heading just north of it.
The group still didn't risk making any noises as the horrifying creature was still close to them. So the survivors waited for the moment that the creature was far enough away from them.
Although it did take a while, eventually the two paths had totally diverged. As the two parties were now completely separated.
To the relief of all the survivors they had not been noticed by the abomination. While they had still made list of progress on their journey.
They were now almost to the side of the volcano. With the sun getting close to the mountains Alex decided it'd be a good time to finally stop.