EMPEROR'S RECKONING

1118 One Monkey King's Wine, Please...

Amid the ancient and towering trees of the Third Hell realm, a male dark elf raced desperately through the labyrinthine woods. His rapid breaths formed faint, frosty clouds in the chilled air, a testament to his growing unease. The dense forest closed in around him, its twisted branches and thick undergrowth conspiring to make each step a struggle.

His wide, panicked eyes darted from shadow to shadow, searching for any sign of salvation. The forest seemed to shift and change around him, the landscape offering no familiar landmarks. His footfalls cracked twigs and crunched fallen leaves, disrupting the eerie silence that clung to the woods.

In his fear, his voice trembled as he cried out for help, his words swallowed by the oppressive atmosphere. The very trees appeared to lean in closer, their ancient, gnarled branches forming an entangled maze that hemmed him in.

"Someone, please... is anyone out there?" he called, his voice barely louder than a murmur. The ominous silence persisted, broken only by the occasional rustling of unseen creatures.

His heart pounded relentlessly, and a barrage of self-critique raced through his mind, whispering words of regret. "Alone... I should never have ventured here alone," he muttered between gasps.

The temperature dropped even further, a biting chill that gnawed at his exposed skin. The sensation of unseen eyes upon him intensified, making his nerves quiver. He was painfully aware that every step deeper into the forest could lead to something far more sinister than the oppressive woods themselves.

The dark elf's labored breaths echoed in the stillness of the forest as he reached the limits of his stamina. His agility and grace, so celebrated among his kind, could only sustain him for so long. His entire body ached from the relentless pursuit of an escape that seemed impossible.

Desperation welled up within him, and with a mixture of frustration and resignation, he made a calculated leap, landing lightly on a sturdy tree branch high above the forest floor. There, he perched precariously, seeking a brief respite.

Sweat dripped from his forehead, his heart racing, and he couldn't help but unleash his frustration. With a surge of anger, he slammed his open hand against the tree trunk, the impact echoing through the ancient woods.

He leaned his forehead against the tree, a mix of emotions swirling within him. His own racing thoughts competed with the eerie silence of the forest, as he muttered to himself, "This place... it's a cursed maze. The legends, they were all lies." His voice held a bitter edge, frustration boiling over into his words.

His hopes of finding treasures or hidden secrets in this labyrinthine forest had been shattered. All that remained was the oppressive and unyielding wilderness, with its shadows that concealed unknown horrors.

"Another who seeks treasures, another who seeks fame... must all of you never learn? How much blood must be shed to satisfy greed?" The voice echoed through the tangled branches, words laden with centuries of sorrow and rebuke. It felt as though the forest had a memory of every intruder who had come seeking its secrets.

The dark elf was caught off guard as a resonant voice enveloped him, filling his ears with its ancient wisdom, and it seemed as if the very forest itself spoke to him. The voice carried a weight of age and knowledge, transcending the limits of his understanding.

Fear and confusion seized the elf as he demanded, "Who are you?!" His heart raced as he looked 23:41

around, his panic mounting. He felt cornered, trapped within the dense maze of trees.

As he desperately dashed in a single direction, the voice responded with a cryptic chuckle, its laughter echoing through the woods like a haunting melody. "Who am I? Hahahaha..." The laughter held a mysterious and eerie quality, lingering in the air like a ghostly presence, refusing to provide a direct answer.

The dark elf's frantic escape led him deeper into the heart of the ancient forest. As his stamina waned, his foot caught a hidden stone, sending him tumbling to the ground. In a desperate final act of survival, he managed to push himself up and leap skyward, hoping to break free from the dense canopy.

But as he soared above the tree line, his eyes widened in sheer horror. Instead of an open sky, he was greeted by an unending sea of trees, an impenetrable forest that stretched endlessly in every direction. His voice cracked with despair as he muttered, "No..."

With a sinking feeling, he began his descent back into the depths of the uncharted wilderness, realizing that escape was futile, and he was but another lost soul in the heart of the Third Hell forest.

---

The rain outside poured relentlessly, causing a monotonous drumming on the tavern's roof. The atmosphere inside the establishment was far from lively, as weary cultivators from various races huddled together. They whispered tales of misfortune and cautionary stories.

"Have you heard," began one cultivator, his voice carrying a hint of foreboding, "the forest claimed yet another soul? Tamarik, the dark elf, was last seen seven days ago when he boasted that he would be the first to snatch the treasure behind the legend." 𝙗𝒆𝒅𝙣𝙤𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝙢

His words hung in the air, a reminder of the forest's perilous depths and the foolhardy souls who ventured there in pursuit of the elusive treasures, only to meet their grim fates. The other patrons nodded solemnly, some murmuring words of sympathy for the ill-fated Tamarik.

"Such a waste," one cultivator remarked, shaking his head. "He should have known better than to tempt fate like that."

Another chimed in, "It's a lesson for all of us. The ancient forest is no place for treasure hunters. The legends are nothing more than tales to keep us away."

The tavern patrons shared knowing looks, the story of Tamarik serving as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking beyond the safety of civilization. In their somber conversations, they silently acknowledged the unforgiving nature of the ancient forest.

The bartender set down the glass he was cleaning and leaned in closer to the patrons, his voice filled with intrigue. "You want to hear something interesting? I heard there's quite a commotion over in the Second Hell realm. They say the Zodiac Emperor has made a return!"

The patrons exchanged surprised glances. "The Zodiac Emperor?" one of them asked. "I thought that was just a legend, a bedtime story for kids."

The bartender nodded. "That's what most people thought, but apparently, it's the real deal. The news has been spreading like wildfire. He's said to be back and causing quite a stir."

Another patron leaned in, curiosity piqued. "But how can they be sure it's really him? What's he doing?"

The bartender shrugged. "I don't have all the details, but it's got the whole realm buzzing. They say he's proven his identity somehow and that he's taken action against a clan called Wrymheart. Seems like he's making waves."

The patron who had some knowledge about the matter chimed in, slamming his glass down for attention. "I've heard a bit more about this Zodiac Emperor business. He didn't just show up out of the blue. No, he went and did something that no one else could. He singlehandedly took down an entire clan, Wrymheart, right from the top. First, their progenitor, then their patriarch, and even their elites – all gone."

The other patrons leaned in, their eyes wide with astonishment. "You're kidding," one of them said, incredulous. "That's insane."

The informed patron shook his head. "It's no joke. The Wrymheart clan has been a force to be reckoned with for ages, and this Zodiac Emperor came back and made them bite the dust."

The bartender, now fully engrossed in the story, added, "And that's how he's proving his identity, huh? By taking down a whole clan? He must be a formidable force."

The old patron leaned in, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "Formidable? Are you kidding me? According to the legends, this Zodiac Emperor is the one who liberated the Golem City! He effectively brought down the reign of the Eternal Golem!"

The other patrons gasped and exchanged shocked glances. "The Golem City? That place is known for its impenetrable defenses," one of them muttered.

The old patron nodded with a wise look. "Indeed, the Golem City was considered an unassailable fortress, ruled by the Eternal Golem, an entity that had kept it under its iron grasp for centuries. The young Zodiac Emperor's might and victory over it is nothing short of miraculous."

Suddenly, the tavern's door swung open, and a brilliant flash of lightning followed by a deafening clap of thunder drew the attention of everyone inside. A group of cloaked individuals entered the dimly lit establishment, their presence shrouded in mystery. The one who appeared to be their leader confidently strode up to the bar counter, his hood concealing most of his face. With a smirk, he leaned in and ordered, "One Monkey King's wine, please."

Enjoy!