Against The Eternity Chapter 111: [110] Chapter - 65: Didn’t think of that (Part - 2/2)

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[110] Chapter - 65: Didn’t think of that (Part - 2/2) Eklavya glanced toward Zeliang and, after a brief pause, said in a dry tone, “Well… that would require you to have a brain for it.” A faint smile followed—subtle, but very much intentional. Zeliang raised a brow, clearly amused rather than offended, and looked at him sideways. “Oh? So now you’re saying I don’t have one?” Eklavya didn’t even hesitate. “You can consider that,” he replied, the hint of a smile still lingering as if he had already decided the outcome of the exchange. Chandra let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head as he glanced at Zeliang. His expression carried unmistakable amusement. Zeliang opened his mouth as if to respond—but stopped midway. He looked between the two of them, then exhaled through his nose, choosing silence instead. The answer was obvious. If he said even one more word, the two of them would turn it into something far worse. And for once… retreat felt like the smarter decision. The faint stillness of dawn lingered only for a moment before movement returned to the clearing. One by one, they stretched their stiff bodies, loosening muscles that still carried the weight of yesterday’s battles. The damp air clung to their skin, and though the storm had passed, the forest felt no less oppressive. It was quiet—but not peaceful. Never peaceful. Eklavya rolled his shoulders slowly, his gaze already sharpening as his thoughts shifted back to their objective. Turning slightly toward Zeliang, he spoke in a calm, measured tone, “Do you know anything more about the herb? Not just that it exists… but where. A region, perhaps.” Before Zeliang could respond, Chandra stepped in, nodding once as if he had been expecting the question. “Yeah, we do.” He brushed the remaining moisture from his sleeve and continued, his voice steady but carrying a subtle weight. “We were told it lies deeper in… the middle region of the Pranahara forest.” For a brief moment, no one spoke. Eklavya gave a small nod, absorbing Chandra’s words without interruption, his expression calm yet focused. The Pranahara Forest was not a single, uniform wilderness—it was divided into three distinct regions: the outer, the middle, and the interior. The outer region, though dangerous, was manageable, inhabited mostly by lower-tier beasts with only a few fifth-tier ones scattered across its expanse. But the middle region was an entirely different domain. There, the number of fifth-tier beasts multiplied. Their territories overlap; their presence was constant rather than rare. It was a place where even seasoned warriors moved with caution—and where even Spirit Warriors avoided venturing too deep unless absolutely necessary. Eklavya’s gaze lingered toward the darker stretch of the forest ahead before he spoke, his tone calm but precise. “So… how deep into the middle region are we going? The outer layer… or further in?” Chandra let out a faint breath and gave a small, reassuring smile, shaking his head. “Not that deep. Just the outer layer of the middle region.” Eklavya’s eyes shifted again, measuring the distance as if he could already see through the dense layers of trees. “That explains it…” he murmured. “Why only Master and Grandmaster warriors were sent here… and not Spirit Warriors.” A brief pause followed before he turned back slightly. “So we move deeper now?” Zeliang didn’t hesitate. He straightened, rolling his wrist once before stepping forward, his expression settling into focus. “Yeah. We don’t have a choice.” He then turned toward the rest of the group, his voice rising just enough to carry across the clearing. “Everyone—prepare yourselves. We’re heading into the middle region.” There was no panic or hesitation, only understanding. One by one, they adjusted their weapons, tightened their grips, and steadied their breathing. By the time Zeliang’s words faded, all ten were already ready. They were standing not as scattered individuals, but as a unit about to step into something far more