The Central Continent was home to dense and lush forests that were mostly inaccessible to human beings. In other words, the winding paths within could only be traversed by monsters and beasts. However, one would be able to enter these forests through the Pallan Empire.

Trudge…

A black knight slowly moved forward with the support of the surrounding huge trees. At a single glance, one could tell that his situation was not that good. His sword-wielding hand had become useless, broken in half and crushed. Even his armor, which looked as if it had once been sturdy and tough, was broken in several places and revealed his hideous injuries.

Trudge… trudge…

Creak, creak, creak!!!

The silent knight stopped in his tracks upon spotting a small forest monster, a common goblin, that blocked his path.

A single goblin was not much of a threat, but they were vicious and hard to deal with when in a group. Realizing that the knight had fatal injuries, the goblin began measuring the distance between them. It was planning to attack.

The knight just stopped walking. He stared silently at the goblin.

—Kiiiiiiik!

Not long after, the goblin saw a gap that it could take advantage of. It immediately charged forward in a fierce attack.

The black knight raised his good arm toward the monster. His movement was so slow that it appeared almost impossible for him to reach the goblin in time.

Crack!!!

Suddenly accelerating his movement, the knight snatched the goblin’s head in an instant. Then, without any mercy, he slammed the monster into the giant tree next to him.

The goblin’s head exploded.

“Hoo… hoo…” the knight breathed roughly from underneath his helmet.

Grabbing his abdomen, he slowly collapsed to the forest floor. He was suffering from extremely grave injuries.

The knight gasped silently on the ground as he took off his helmet, revealing black hair that spilled out. He threw up a mouthful of blood. “Ur...