Zeke had the Alexandria follow the treeline, holding back from diving into the verdant depths of the vast forest.

  According to the information Irisen had provided, it was impossible to locate the sanctuary from the air. If that were not the case, the Wind Mages of the Ehrenlegion would have discovered it long ago. Even without that warning, Zeke would not have tried to search for it blindly.

  Gazing out over the endless sea of trees, he could see nothing out of the ordinary. The sight resembled an infinite green ocean, each tree's branches connected to the next so seamlessly that no light could reach the forest floor.

  More importantly, these trees were far from mundane. Zeke could sense the faintest traces of mana within them, a sign that the entire forest was made up of magical plants. Though none of them were especially valuable on their own, the sheer number of trees created a kind of suppressive blanket.

  As a result, it was nearly impossible to penetrate the canopy using magical detection. That held true even for Zeke's Sphere of Awareness.

  It was rather frustrating.

  Unlike more deliberate concealment techniques, the canopy was not completely impenetrable. Instead, the range of his detection just grew hazy after a short distance. To sense anything with certainty, he would have to be extremely close to his target.

  In this situation, it meant he was better off relying on his eyes and searching the old-fashioned way rather than attempting to sense anything through magic.

  Zeke found this method intriguing. By combining countless plants with only faint magical properties, the forest produced an effect far greater than the sum of its parts. Any target form of concealment would have marked the location of a hidden base. Here, however, the concealment was a natural byproduct spread across a vast area, making it remarkably effective.

  Truly, only nature with its boundless abundance could employ a strategy like this.

  "Trouble," David called out from beside him.

  Zeke followed his gaze, his eyes narrowing at the sight.

  Along the orderly line of trees, halfway to the horizon, he spotted a massive camp. The style of the tents and the many banners made its allegiance unmistakable.

  The Ehrenlegion.

  So they had reached the area first after all. No. That did not seem quite right. As the ship drew closer, Zeke noticed more details. The camp showed clear signs of long-term occupation. While the Legion could erect fortifications with frightening speed, this place did not look newly established.

  They had been encamped here for a considerable duration already.

  It was also far more than a single detachment. This was not one or two companies. If Zeke had to guess, there was likely more than one Archmage present within a camp of this size.

  At his command, the Alexandria came to a halt at a safe distance.

  Though his forces had grown stronger over the past few days, even gaining an Archmage, Zeke did not like his odds against such a concentration of power. Facing even two mages of Balduin's caliber at once was beyond what they could handle.

  Still, a savage part of him wondered what Irisen's parasitic attack could do to an encampment of this size. He quickly set the thought aside. There would be time to consider it later. After all, the element of surprise could only be used once.

  Zeke's gaze shifted to the forest bordering the Legion encampment. There, he noticed a trail of blackened trees cutting deeper into the woods. Even so, the forest's resilience surprised him.

  He had expected a wide stretch of land stripped bare of vegetation. Instead, the path was narrow, barely wide enough for a few dozen men to march abreast. Even here, the greenery already seemed to be reclaiming the ground. These magical plants were far more resilient than ordinary flora.

  The sight gave him a measure of hope.

  By all appearances, the half-elf sanctuary was a far tougher target than the Legion had anticipated.

  "How do you intend to proceed?" Irisen asked. She seemed far calmer now, likely having reached the same conclusion he had.

  Zeke turned the question over in his mind. How to proceed, indeed. Of all his predictions, this situation had not been one he had considered. Arriving before the Legion would have been ideal. Arriving after them would have been tragic, but at least it would have brought closure.

  But what was he meant to do now, faced with an enemy he could not contend with?

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  In an instant, dozens of plans surfaced, only to be discarded just as quickly.

  ...Should he launch hit-and-run attacks to weaken the enemy? No, that would not serve their goal.

  ...Should he attempt a full assault to inflict as much damage as possible before retreating? No. That would still not ensure the safety of those inside the sanctuary.

  ...Should he wait and hope to assist the defenders at a decisive moment? No. He knew too little about the forces within the sanctuary to risk such a gamble.

  ...Should he—

  As each option fell apart, Zeke let out a quiet sigh. He could not commit to a strategy like this. The information he had was simply insufficient. He did not know the full extent of the enemy's strength, nor the true power of his allies.

  Planning an effective strategy with so many unknowns was nearly impossible.

  Therefore, there was only one right choice.

  "We wait," he said decisively. "The sanctuary does not appear to be in immediate danger. That gives us time to learn more about the situation before choosing a course of action."

  Irisen considered his plan for a moment, then nodded. "A prudent strategy."

  David nodded as well, though it seemed he would have accepted any decision Zeke made. His trust in his young lord's judgment had deepened after their repeated victories.

  Zeke continued to observe the encampment in silence.

  Though they remained far from the enemy camp, the optical displays in the control room allowed them to study it as if they were hovering directly overhead. It was much like viewing the scene through a powerful telescope.

  On the large display, even individual figures were visible.

  Zeke quickly learned the layout of the camp. As was common, the largest tents, those housing the most influential figures, stood at the center.

  Three structures could barely be called tents at all. They appeared to have multiple floors and were reinforced with iron beams. Mobile palaces was a more fitting description than mere shelters.

  He saw no one entering or leaving them. Forming a ring around these were several large tents, which Zeke assumed belonged to the Legion's mages, Flamecallers, Flyers, and others.

  Beyond them lay a wide spread of medium and small tents, likely housing the regular Legion soldiers.

  Zeke soon noticed a discrepancy between the size of the camp and the number of people he could see. Either most of them were inside the tents, or...

  His thoughts were cut short by a deep rumble and a roar that shook the forest.

  Zeke turned toward the depths of the woods, following the gradually darkening trail as far as he could. The disturbance had come from within the forest, of that he was certain.

  Moments later, another heavy impact echoed through the trees. Then, slowly, the outlines of figures began to emerge. There were hundreds. Some flying through the air, some marching on the ground.

  However, they had one thing in common, all their backs were turned to him as they focused on something deeper withing the forest.

  It was a retreat.

  Pillars of flames, Windblades, and Earthen constructs were launched toward an unseen force within the forest.

  Zeke waited with bated breath. This was his first chance to glimpse this so-called guardian of the forest that had held such a large Legion force at bay. To say he was not excited would have been a lie.

  At last, he saw it.

  A wall of earth and stone, freshly raised from the ground, shattered and exploded outward. From the debris, a lumbering figure emerged.

  This...

  Zeke could think of no better description. It was a tree that had come to life. The height of fifty men, it had a thick, stick-like body of wood, and hundreds of tiny feet formed from its exposed roots.

  Zeke blinked at the sight. This was the guardian? Though imposing in stature, the creature was slow, and its offensive power seemed limited. His disappointment did not last long, though. A second, then a third of the hulking trees stepped into view.

  An army of treants.

  Even the Flamecallers, focusing their full offensive might on them, could barely slow them down. Stone would have melted under such flames, yet these creatures seemed even less combustible than water. If anything, Zeke had the impression they welcomed the fire, their leaves growing more lustrous with each passing moment.

  Contrary to expectations, it was the storm of wind blades and the constant barrage of rocks that caused them more trouble.

  "DIE!"

  The shout was so loud that Zeke heard it even from his considerable distance.

  Following the war cry, a wind blade several times larger than any before tore out of the darkness. It slammed into the foremost creature. True to its size, it did not merely gouge the creature's wooden body, but split it clean in two before carving deeper into the forest and vanishing from sight.

  Zeke immediately focused on the caster.

  Though it was impossible to make out details from this distance, especially with the forest's magical suppression, Zeke knew what it meant. An attack of that scale could only have come from an Archmage.

  The woman floating in midair wore a satisfied expression after felling one of the creatures with a single strike. She locked onto a second target, clearly intent on repeating the feat.

  However, before she could even begin to gather mana, she was hurled backward, nearly to the edge of the forest. Her face drained of color, even her lips turning pale.

  Zeke's eyes narrowed. It had happened in an instant, but he had seen it clearly. A massive club had struck the Archmage in midair. Had she not raised a shield at the last moment, it would have crushed her outright.

  "WHO!?" she screamed into the darkness of the forest. "Show yourself!"

  Zeke heard it before he saw it. Footfalls like drumbeats, each step making the forest tremble. Leaves shook loose under the constant vibration, turning the woods into a swirling spectacle.

  Then something emerged from the darkness. The treants, already the size of dozens of men, had seemed imposing. However, compared to this figure, they looked like children.

  The figure, clearly female, towered over them like a dependable older sister shielding her bullied younger siblings. Quietly, she stepped up behind the treants, a massive club fashioned from a mammoth tree resting lazily across her shoulders.

  Her face was that of a woman, though her size was nothing short of monstrous.

  "...And what if I do?" the newcomer asked, her booming voice shaking the ground itself. "What will you do now, tiny human?"

  Zeke's jaw nearly dropped. Not because of her sheer size, nor her bold words. It was not even the overwhelming display of power. No. His shock came from an entirely different source...

  He recognized the figure. It was none other than Rhea, the Titan wife of Cassius Leafless.

  After all this time, after searching far and wide, he had encountered this old acquaintance in this desolate place.