Chapter 129

Taewoon and Biryeong stood before the vast lake once again, scanning their surroundings with subtle, cautious gazes.

There were few floating debris, but the water was slightly murky, its depth unfathomable, and various creatures with glinting eyes lurked within.

It was undoubtedly the same lake they had seen with their own eyes just moments ago; from Taewoon’s perspective, he could find nothing different or special about it.

“What happened? How is this possible?”

“I am not sure. For now, I believe it would be better to try retracing our steps.”

And so, Taewoon and Biryeong turned back to follow the path they had come, but it wasn’t long before they realized something was seriously wrong.

“The path has changed.”

“This… could it be…?”

The forested area that existed at the entrance of the island—for some unknown reason, the moment the two reached the edge of the lake region, they had been returned to their starting point.

“I have encountered numerous formations in the past, but this is something new.”

“…….”

The ominous premonition became reality.

The Sanctuary existed in the region beyond the lake, but it seemed that it could not be reached through ordinary means.

They were even forced back to the starting point, placed in a position where they had to break through the lake region once again.

For Taewoon, this was a truly painful situation.

‘…Damn it, you’re telling me to spend several more days crossing this place?’

A sense of unfairness naturally welled up, but since there was no other way, he had no choice.

As Taewoon sighed at the frustrating reality, he suddenly began to sense the presence of multiple people from across the forest.

Biryeong, having noticed it as well, suppressed her presence and fell silent. Hiding in an unseen spot for a moment, the two discovered several members of the Exploration Team running toward them as if being chased by something from the other side of the forest.

‘…Are they being targeted by a Predator?’

Many powerful creatures that had even flustered Taewoon inhabited the depths of the forest, but honestly, he didn’t think members who had survived until this point would be unable to handle them.

Then, sensing the presence of other individuals who had appeared a moment ago, Taewoon finally recalled an important fact he had forgotten while focusing on breaking through the lake region.

‘Come to think of it… according to the journal’s records, the Exploration Team suffered damage close to total annihilation around the 14th day after landing.’

And it had already been over ten days since Taewoon arrived on this island.

In essence, it meant the moment for this Exploration Team to meet its destined end was drawing near.

“Huff, huff!”

“Damn it, they’re still chasing us!”

“Those crazy bastards… we should never have come to a suspicious place like this in the first place!”

A trio consisting of two men and one woman.

Exhaustion was evident on their faces, and their bodies were covered in wounds of various sizes.

And chasing after them were several sturdy men equipped with clothing and Equipment he had never seen before.

‘What is this? I don’t remember these guys…’

However, that in itself was evidence that proved their identity.

It was clear that the Imperial forces Rembrando had mentioned had landed on the island.

“What will you do?”

“For now… it’s better to watch.”

Though he didn’t know why the Imperial figures were chasing them, Taewoon needed to obtain more definitive information.

Utilizing Stealth Art to follow them, Taewoon and Biryeong soon witnessed the two groups reach the entrance of the lake region and enter a standoff.

‘Did they think there was no future even if they fled beyond this point?’

He had occasionally seen records in the journal of members who attempted to explore the lake region, but naturally, their numbers were not many.

Taewoon had been fortunate to be skilled in covert operations and evasion; otherwise, surviving here would not have been easy.

“We followed your demands faithfully! Yet, instead of giving us the reward, what is the meaning of this?”

“…That is none of your concern.”

“Damn it! Not a single one of you makes any sense!”

After listening to the conversation for a while longer, Taewoon was finally able to grasp the general flow of the situation.

The surviving Exploration Team members had requested the Imperial forces who arrived on the island to cease the exploration and return, demanding the promised reward. However, the Empire had changed its attitude and intended to kill them all to silence them.

‘Considering Rembrando’s words, similar things probably happened on this island in every Cycle.’

The owner of the journal simply didn’t know because they died while exploring until the end, but the conclusion back then likely wasn’t much different.

It was just that this time, it was happening a bit sooner.

“Ha! The Monsters here have a habit of attacking individuals who are exhausted or injured due to combat. Surely you don’t wish for mutual destruction?”

“…….”

The man’s words were certainly logical, but the Imperial soldier remained unfazed, maintaining a relaxed demeanor.

Indeed, if they had carried out similar acts on this island repeatedly, they would have a more detailed understanding of the ecosystem here than the Exploration Team members.

A moment later, the Imperial soldier, manifesting Magical Power in the air, held up a strange crystal ball and began to chant a Spell.

The Exploration Team members hesitated at the unknown act, unable to rush in recklessly. Soon, the soldier gave a smirk, raised the crystal ball high, and issued an order to someone.

“Kill them all.”

A sudden vibration occurred, and something of a massive form rose from the depths of the lake, staring at the Exploration Team members with characteristic bloodshot eyes.

Shortly after, strange patterns appeared above their heads, and the Exploration Team members became greatly panicked.

“Wha—what is this?!”

“Kugh! Damn, my body is…”

“H-help me! I’ll follow your orders, please…!”

The woman pleaded, sensing the situation turning dire, but soon the pattern above her head turned black, and her upper body vanished as if bitten off by a giant set of teeth.

Seeing this, the remaining Exploration Team members were plunged into terror, and one by one, they met their end at the hands of the Monster without even being able to put up a proper fight.

‘Damn, what on earth is that thing…’

At a glance, it was a Monster belonging to the Predator Tier of this lake region, and surprisingly, the Imperial soldiers clearly showed the ability to control it.

Taewoon felt as though he had grasped a part of the purpose of the Imperial forces that had seized this island.

The Monster, creating another splash of water, sank back into the deep lake, and the Imperial soldiers, believing the situation had ended, left the area.

Only then did Taewoon reveal his presence, looking on with an absurd expression as he re-confirmed what had just happened.

“It seems… the Empire possesses some kind of means to control the creatures of this island.”

“It appears so. If they can command several anomalies of that level, their power must be indescribably great.”

Although he had been returned here by an unknown phenomenon, he had gained quite a bit of information thanks to it.

The situation wasn’t great, but it wasn’t that bad either.

Taewoon pondered deeply, taking time to re-confirm the objective of this 1st Cycle.

‘There are probably… no survivors left on this island other than the Imperial forces.’

There might be Exploration Team members like Taewoon who left the camp and continued to survive on their own, but the probability was incredibly low.

Especially if they were being pursued by the Empire.

‘If there is a sole possibility, is it the Sanctuary?’

If the Sanctuary was the kind of space the rumors suggested, the possibility that survivors from previous Exploration Teams existed there could not be denied.

Since Taewoon himself intended to hold out there until the next Exploration Team arrived on the island, would it be strange if someone else had the same thought?

Particularly judging by the contents of the journal, the level of the Exploration Team Taewoon belonged to seemed to be below average; if there was a highly skilled person like the journal’s owner, there was no reason they couldn’t have reached that place.

‘As expected, no matter what happens, I must uncover the truth about the Sanctuary in this Cycle.’

An Exploration Team whose numbers have dwindled and conditions have worsened through repeated explorations can never escape the grip of the Empire.

But what if Taewoon reached the Sanctuary, waited for the right moment, and persuaded the newly arrived Exploration Team to secure allies to fight together?

It wouldn’t be impossible to eventually clash with the Imperial forces in earnest.

“In short, you’re saying you’ll start a rebellion.”

“That’s not necessarily the only answer… but regardless, wouldn’t it be a good idea to keep such a method in consideration?”

The Empire was a massive power, and they were covertly doing something dangerous on this island.

Taewoon, being a mere individual, was bound to be powerless before the strength of an organization.

Especially in a place as isolated and helpless as this, he had no choice but to actively utilize limited resources, such as the Exploration Team.

“…We have a long way to go. Let us move.”

Now, to reach the area beyond the lake region, he had to solve the mystery standing before him.

There were several methods to try, but he couldn’t simply return to the edge of the forest and break through the lake over and over again.

If possible, it was right to find a definitive Clue and end it in one go.

‘Rembrando said that the Sanctuary exists somewhere in the altered ecosystem beyond the lake called the Abyss.’

That meant at least someone had reached beyond the lake region, and it meant the Empire was also aware of the information up to that point.

‘But… that doesn’t necessarily mean that place is under the Empire’s control.’

The first person to collect such information was likely one of the Exploration Team members who had come to this island previously.

And there was a high probability that they had already passed away, and the possibility that the information was lost at that point could not be denied.

Especially if they had embarked on a full-scale investigation, various traces would inevitably remain, yet Taewoon had found no human traces at the edge of the lake region he had reached before.

So for now, he would simply move forward, relying on a faint possibility.

No matter what the conclusion might be.