Rise Of The Dual Bound Sovereign

CHP 11: Injured Mercenary

Azrith slithered off in search of prey, while Azrael headed in the opposite direction, hoping to find a way out of the forest.

Time passed quietly.

Azrael moved cautiously through the forest, carefully concealing his presence and avoiding every beast he encountered. Whenever he sensed a powerful aura nearby, he would immediately change direction, unwilling to take unnecessary risks.

Even so, after wandering for what felt like hours, he still hadn't found a way out. The Ten Thousand Beast Forest was simply too vast.

He was beginning to think he might need his twin soul's help after all. Just as he was about to reach out through their soul connection—

Snap!

The faint sound of a branch breaking echoed through the forest.

Azrael's eyes narrowed.

He immediately turned toward the source of the sound. However, all he saw were towering trees and dense undergrowth.

There was no one there.

Azrael carefully made his way toward the direction from which the sound had come.

As he drew closer, he deliberately slowed his pace and kept his body hidden behind the surrounding trees.

Reaching a large tree, he stopped several meters away. After a brief hesitation, he quietly circled to the side and carefully peeked past the trunk, making sure to keep enough distance to retreat at a moment's notice.

The moment he looked ahead, he spotted a man leaning against a tree.

The man also noticed him and his expression Instantly changed. His body tensed as he looked at Azrael with clear vigilance. Such a reaction was only natural in a world where trust was scarce and danger lurked around every corner.

Azrael quietly studied him.

There were no visible injuries on the man's body, and at first glance he appeared unharmed. However, his face was deathly pale, and beads of sweat continuously rolled down his forehead. His breathing was uneven, and he seemed to be enduring considerable pain.

Azrael noticed that the man was tightly clutching his left leg. Looking closer, he saw what appeared to be a snake bite near the ankle, with the surrounding flesh already beginning to darken.

The surrounding flesh had already turned a dark shade of purple, and the discoloration was slowly spreading upward.

It didn't take much thought for Azrael to figure out that the man had most likely been poisoned by a serpent.

"What do you want?" the man asked, his eyes fixed on Azrael.

Despite the pain he was enduring, one of his hands slowly moved toward the dagger hanging at his waist, ready to draw it at a moment's notice.

Azrael simply kept his distance and said nothing.

He was still weighing his options, unsure if he should get involved or simply walk away. After all, he didn’t know what kind of person he was dealing with.

Just as he was considering whether to leave, his gaze fell upon the insignia embroidered on the man's cloak.

A hint of surprise flashed across his eyes.

"A mercenary..." Azrael muttered under his breath. His gaze lingered on the emblem for a moment before he made his decision.

In the end, he decided not to walk away.

The Ten Thousand Beast Forest was far too dangerous for him to wander through blindly. The sooner he left, the better.

Moreover, if he could help the man survive this ordeal, he would likely earn a favor in return. At the very least, the mercenary could guide him safely out of the forest and save him a great deal of trouble.

Seeing the man's wary gaze as his hand remained near the dagger at his waist, Azrael slowly raised his hands.

"I don't have any ill intentions," he said calmly. "I was trying to find my way out of this place when I heard something behind this tree and decided to check it out."

The man relaxed slightly, but he didn't lower his guard completely.

Azrael's gaze shifted toward his injured leg.

"You seem to have been poisoned..." he said. "Have you taken anything to stop it, or at least slow the spread of the poison?"

The man remained silent for a moment before slowly shaking his head.

"You don't have an antidote?"

"If I had one, don't you think I would have used it already?" the man replied bitterly.

Azrael fell silent for a moment before asking, "How far is the exit of this forest from here?"

The man glanced at him before answering.

"We're currently in the inner region of the forest. It will take roughly three days to get out, and that's considering the beasts we'll encounter along the way.”

Azrael's gaze shifted toward the man's injured leg. "I don't think you can fight in your current condition."

"Yeah..." The man gave a bitter smile. "Hopefully they come looking for me before nightfall."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"I came here with my fellow mercenaries to complete a mission. We split up while searching for something, and that's when I was attacked and bitten by that serpent."

"Do you know where they might be?" Azrael asked after hearing that.

"They should already be back at the camp waiting for me..." The man paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Why are you asking?"

Azrael looked at him calmly. "What if I take you there?"

The man's vigilance immediately returned.

"Why would you help me? You don't even know me. What exactly is your motive?"

Seeing the suspicion in his eyes, Azrael explained, "I can't leave this forest on my own. I don't know the way out, and even if I did, moving through this place alone would be dangerous."

He glanced at the man's injured leg.

"I'll help you reach your camp. In return, you'll guide me out of this forest safely.”

The man stared at Azrael for a long moment before finally nodding. "Alright... I'll lead you to our camp."

Hearing this, Azrael felt a sense of relief. At the very least, he now had a way out of the forest.

He started walking toward the man but stopped halfway.

The man's hand was still firmly clutching the dagger at his waist. Noticing Azrael's gaze, the man lowered his eyes and quickly realized the issue. After a brief hesitation, he released the dagger and let his hand fall to his side.

Only then did Azrael continue forward. Reaching him, he helped the man to his feet. The moment the man put weight on his injured leg, his face twisted in pain and his body swayed slightly.

Azrael stepped closer, draping one of the man's arms over his shoulder to support him.

"Which way?" he asked.

The man pointed at a particular direction and without wasting any more time, the two set off in that direction.