Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] Chapter 174: Book 3: Chapter 28: Forest Biome

Read chapter 174 of Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

Book 3: Chapter 28: Forest Biome Chapter 28: Forest Biome The dungeon forest felt too animated . Every step crackled with noise, and underfoot they dealt with roots twisting, ferns swaying, sucking moss damp with false dew and moisture. It was like walking into a painting that hadn’t decided if it wanted to be beautiful or nightmarish, and certainly wasn't fucking dry yet. The air itself pulsed faintly with the rhythm Alex had sensed outside, the same cycle of aether that made Alex begin to think it was the dungeon itself. Some sort of awareness that was threaded into the world around them. It probably is. He thought. The raid party moved through the biome slowly and carefully. The squad was spread wide in a loose formation, covering ground but never losing line of sight with the others. Alex led his squad’s sweep at the front, his eyes glowing faintly as his [Aether Sight] burned across the undergrowth, watching the unnatural flows of dungeon energy writhe through soil, air, and tree-trunk. The forest was massive. He hadn’t even glimpsed its exact edge from the cavern’s mouth, only the treeline stretching out until it abruptly stopped on either side to give way to newer biomes instead. But he had seen enough to make some conclusions. “Three things,” Alex said quietly to not alert any threat, but loud enough for those next to him to hear, and for the linked squad formations around him to relay his words. “One, the city’s our end goal. No way around that. Makes sense for the System to always put the main prize at the center.” “That much was obvious,” Allie stated from his flank, though she kept her eyes scanning. “Two,” Alex continued, ignoring her condescending tone, “these biomes aren’t just for show. Forest, tundra, desert, lake, all circling the city like points on a compass. I’d bet money each one’s got a hidden objective or trial tied to it.” “You’re saying… what? That clearing all of them is what we should focus on? Will it make things easier for the final objective?” Devon asked in a half-whisper. “Not easier exactly,” Alex said. “Rewarded is probably the best word. Think back to the Dark Den, its hidden objective there gave me dungeon points and breathing room.” He remained vague, once more The System restricting what exactly he could say given that Ghrukk and his team hadn’t completed the Dark Den dungeon themselves. “Same deal here, I’d wager. Each biome’s a gamble. If we want maximum payout, we clear them all.” Garret snorted. “Optional side quests in a murder-mountain. Love it.” “Exactly,” Alex said before returning to refocus everyone’s attention to the objective. “We conserve our big hits. Don’t burn cooldowns, and don’t overextend. If the city is just the first floor , then blowing everything early means we’re walking in crippled to the big boss at the end. Which means, less dungeon points, less experience, and lots of blood, pain and death.” Death... that silenced even Allie’s sass. Grim nods passed through the line, agreement forged more out of necessity than optimism of their chances. So they swept the forest, performing two hours of tight switchbacks and systematic clearing. Boots pressing faint trails into soft earth, eyes sharp for the glowing “tell” of a hidden dungeon objective. The deeper they went, the quieter the lush life of woods became. Birds hushed. Insects stopped singing. Like the forest was tensing up, waiting. Then came the first scream. It wasn’t human, but also sounded like no animal Alex had ever heard. The cry was high and sharp, then cut off too suddenly. “Left flank,” Rynel hissed, he arrow nocked instantly. Alex’s gaze snapped over, [Aether Sight] focusing, he saw it before the others. A ripple of ambient energy shuddered like a stone striking water. Then the thing came lumbering out of the trees. A bear—no that wasn’t right, it looked almost like the mossling creature’s Alex had encoutnered near the Elven city. Yet where before the mossling was entirely made of some plant material of v