The Last Incubus with The Vice and Valor System

Leon silently followed the group of cultivators as they made their way through the dense forest.

The thick canopy of leaves overhead cast dappled shadows on the ground, and the air was filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant bird calls.

Despite the natural beauty surrounding them, there was an underlying tension in the group. Every step forward brought them closer to the Verdant Maze dungeon, and the cultivators knew that danger lurked in every corner of this ancient forest.

Rynar led the way, his imposing figure at the head of the group.

His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, ever vigilant for any threats.

Fredrick had unexpectedly left, had it been he had joined the dungeon raid also, Leon wouldn't hesitate to kill him if the chance showed itself.

Leon, staying near the back of the group, kept his senses sharp. He knew better than to underestimate the dangers ahead, especially with the presence of his enemies so close.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew heavier. The once faint hum of Qi in the air became stronger, an indication that they were nearing the dungeon portal. But before anyone could catch sight of it, something unexpected happened. Your journey continues at мѵʟ

The trees around them began to shift.

At first, it was subtle—just a slight rustling of leaves and a low creaking sound, as if the wind was moving through the forest sending a shiver down the spine of the dungeon raiders.

But then, without warning, the thick-barked trees around them began to move. Massive branches swung down like clubs, and the ground trembled as roots burst from the earth, aiming to entangle the cultivators.

"Treants!" someone shouted in panic.

The forest exploded into chaos as the living trees attacked.

These weren't ordinary trees—they were Barkhide Treants, the beasts which were said to be currently breaking out of the dungeon, their thick bark-like skin making them nearly impervious to normal attacks. Their gnarled faces, carved into the wood, twisted with malice as they swung their massive limbs at the intruders.

One of the cultivators, caught off guard, barely had time to raise his weapon before a tree branch slammed into him, sending him flying through the air. Another group of cultivators scrambled to avoid the roots that snaked out from beneath the ground, trying to pull them under.

Leon's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden attack. These treants were nothing like the dungeon beasts he had faced before. They were larger, stronger, and more vicious. Their movements were unnaturally fast for their size, and their thick bark provided them with an almost impenetrable defense.

Rynar, however, remained calm in the face of the onslaught. "Form up!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. "Don't let them separate us! Focus on their weak points—aim for the joints where the bark is thinner!"

His commands brought order to the chaos. The experienced cultivators quickly fell into formation, creating a defensive line to protect the weaker members of the group.

The more seasoned fighters began coordinating their attacks, targeting the vulnerable spots in the treants' bark as Rynar had instructed.

Leon watched as the cultivators around him worked in unison to fend off the treants. Blades flashed in the air, cutting through thick branches, while others unleashed bursts of Qi-powered attacks to shatter the wooden bodies of the treants.

The treants retaliated with brutal swings of their limbs, but the cultivators were quick, dodging and countering with precision.

A massive treant, its bark darker and more gnarled than the others, charged toward Rynar, its massive limbs crashing down like a hammer.

Rynar sidestepped the attack with practiced ease, his spear glowing with a fierce light as he channeled his Qi into it. With a single thrust, he pierced through the treant's bark, striking its core. The treant let out a groaning wail as its body began to splinter and crack, eventually crumbling to the ground.

Leon didn't stand idle either. A treant came barreling toward him, its massive branch-like arms raised to strike.

Leon's katana appeared in his hand in a flash, and with a swift, precise movement, he slashed at the treant's arm, severing it at the joint.

The treant recoiled in pain, it was a living beast, not just a dumb old tree, so of courde it could feel pain like anyother beast when injured, but Leon didn't stop there.

He lunged forward with wild abandon, slashing at its legs and bringing it down with a powerful strike to its core.

Despite the initial chaos, the cultivators quickly gained the upper hand. The treants, though powerful, were not invincible.

With coordinated attacks and focused strikes, the cultivators began to cut them down one by one. Slowly but surely, the forest grew quieter as the treants fell, reverting back to their lifeless, three like wooden forms...all cut up to their core, they bore resemblance to normal felled tree.

After what felt like an eternity, the last of the treants was defeated. The ground was littered with broken branches and shattered bark, and the air was thick with the scent of sap and wood. The cultivators stood in the aftermath, catching their breath and assessing their injuries.

Injuries where few, and only those who dared not to be alert where injured, if most of the team where injured then what qualifications do they have to raid the dungeon when they had been injured before they could enter and even start raiding the dungeon.

Rynar, who had been at the forefront of the battle, wiped the sweat from his brow and surveyed the scene. His sharp eyes took in the damage and the fallen treants. With his experience, he recognized these beasts almost immediately.

"Barkhide Treants," he said aloud, his voice carrying over the exhausted cultivators. "These creatures are native to the Verdant Maze. Their appearance outside the dungeon is a clear sign that the dungeon is ripe. Had we delayed any longer, the entire dungeon's beast horde would have broken out, and Silverveil Village would have been razed to the ground."

His words sent a chill through the gathered cultivators.

Some of the cultivators inñthe group where inhabitants of the village, while they had known about this and the consequences of letting the dungeon be, it was only now did they realize how good, the merchants interest in this dungeon is to them...

Though they've been told multiple times by the village head how dangerous this dungeon is, if the merchants hadn't taken interest and hired a mercenary group for the job, they would have tried coming here to raid the dungeon themselves.

But after this first encounter, The reality of the situation dawned on them, and they realized just how close they had come to disaster. Just this first encounter that was cleared ver so easily like this, was enough to completely decimate all of the Silverveil village's man power.

Meanwhile, Leon watched as Rynar glanced at him momentarily before shifting his gaze to a point in the distance.

There, standing amidst the trees, was a massive portal—far larger than the one Leon had encountered in the goblin dungeon. It radiated a powerful aura, the intense Qi emanating from it causing the air to hum with energy.

Rynar's expression turned solemn as he gazed upon the portal. "This dungeon..." he began, his voice low and serious. "This dungeon is on the verge of becoming a realm. Clearing it will not be easy. The beasts within will be far stronger than anything we've faced so far. Our chances of success are low, and the risk is great.

Everyone, brace yourselves and be prepared for anything."

The cultivators exchanged uneasy glances, but there was no turning back now. They had come this far, and the treasures within the dungeon were too valuable to abandon. They steeled themselves for what was to come, knowing that their next steps would lead them into the heart of danger.

Leon remained calm on the outside, but inside, he knew that things were about to get even more dangerous. He had survived countless battles before, but this dungeon would test him in ways he hadn't yet imagined. As he looked at the massive portal before them, he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and dread.

With a final glance at the group, Rynar led them forward, toward the portal and the unknown challenges that awaited within.

The Spirit Lotus would definitely be his, it doesn't matter if he has to kill everyone here to get it.