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The Imperial System: Architect of an Empire

Chapter 169: Into the Forest · Nov 04, 2026

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Chapter List (352)

Page number / 8

151 Chapter 151: The First Steps 2026-11-04
152 Chapter 152: Something in the Forest 2026-11-04
153 Chapter 153: The Guardian of the Ruins 2026-11-04
154 Chapter 154: The Ancient Seal 2026-11-04
155 Chapter 155: Six Days 2026-11-04
156 Chapter 156: The Voice Beneath the Earth 2026-11-04
157 Chapter 157: The Secret of the Asterion Blood 2026-11-04
158 Chapter 158: The Road Back 2026-11-04
159 Chapter 159: The Promise to His Mother 2026-11-04
160 Chapter 160: The Empty Archives 2026-11-04
161 Chapter 161: The Emperor’s Questions 2026-11-04
162 Chapter 162: The Imperial Council 2026-11-04
163 Chapter 163: The First Steps Toward a Greater Blackwood 2026-11-04
164 Chapter 164: The First Stone 2026-11-04
165 Chapter 165: The Adventure Guild 2026-11-04
166 Chapter 166: The Guild Begins 2026-11-04
167 Chapter 167: A Market Worth Traveling For 2026-11-04
168 Chapter 168: The Guild’s First Quest 2026-11-04
169 Chapter 169: Into the Forest 2026-11-04
170 Chapter 170: Beneath the Den 2026-11-04
171 Chapter 171: The Source Below 2026-11-04
172 Chapter 172: The Broken Heart Beneath Blackwood 2026-11-04
173 Chapter 173: The People Blackwood Lacked 2026-11-04
174 Chapter 174: The First Bell 2026-11-04
175 Chapter 175: A Man Aurelia Threw Away 2026-11-04
176 Chapter 176: The Weight of Sir 2026-11-04
177 Chapter 177: What the Crystal Was Built to Hold 2026-11-04
178 Chapter 178: Lines Beneath the Soil 2026-11-04
179 Chapter 179: The Man Who Never Came Back 2026-11-04
180 Chapter 180: What Walked Back 2026-11-04
181 Chapter 181: The Name Beyond the Border 2026-11-04
182 Chapter 182: A Rescue, Not a Hunt 2026-11-04
183 Chapter 183: What Blackwood Chose to Protect 2026-11-04
184 Chapter 184: The Woman in White 2026-11-04
185 Chapter 185: The Oath Before the Title 2026-11-04
186 Chapter 186: The Men Who Chose the Banner 2026-11-04
187 Chapter 187: The Line That Still Lived 2026-11-04
188 Chapter 188: The Brother Who Stayed 2026-11-04
189 Chapter 189: What Hector Brought With Him 2026-11-04
190 Chapter 190: The Heart Beneath Blackwood 2026-11-04
191 Chapter 191: The Man Who Collected Doors 2026-11-04
192 Chapter 192: The Second Witness 2026-11-04
193 Chapter 193: What the Title Costs 2026-11-04
194 Chapter 194: The Candidates Who Remained 2026-11-04
195 Chapter 195: The Road to the Coliseum 2026-11-04
196 Chapter 196: The City That Watches 2026-11-04
197 Chapter 197: Four Shields Beneath One Roof 2026-11-04
198 Chapter 198: Before the Empire 2026-11-04
199 Chapter 199: The Weight of a Choice 2026-11-04
200 Chapter 200: The Ones Others Follow 2026-11-04

The forest swallowed sound.

Within minutes of leaving the abandoned village, even the open fields behind Galahad’s group had disappeared from sight.

Tall trees surrounded them.

Thick roots twisted across the ground.

Branches blocked much of the morning light, leaving the forest floor covered in shadows.

Galahad Charney crouched beside a set of tracks.

Grom Ironfang stood several steps behind him.

The six Black Dragon soldiers had spread into a defensive formation.

The three provisional adventurers remained near the center.

The injured archer had refused to remain behind.

Galahad had argued.

The archer had argued harder.

In the end, Galahad allowed him to continue under one condition.

He stayed away from the front.

Grom looked down at the tracks.

Well?

Galahad touched the soil.

At least twelve.

Grom frowned.

We saw nine.

Which means some never left the forest.

The Black Dragon soldiers tightened their grips around their weapons.

Galahad pointed toward several marks in the dirt.

Look here.

Grom crouched.

He saw it.

The tracks weren’t random.

They formed a trail.

The creatures had repeatedly traveled between the village and somewhere deeper in the forest.

Grom’s expression became serious.

A den.

Maybe.

Galahad stood.

But wolves don’t usually drag living people back to a den.

These aren’t wolves.

Exactly.

Galahad looked deeper into the forest.

Until we understand what they are, nobody separates.

Grom nodded.

The goblin turned toward the soldiers.

You heard him.

Pairs.

Watch the trees.

Watch above you too.

One soldier looked upward.

Above?

Grom tapped his spear against the ground.

If you only watch where you expect an enemy to come from, eventually something kills you from somewhere else.

Nobody questioned him after that.

They continued.

Several kilometers away, Kael sat on horseback near Blackwood’s western boundary.

Darius stood beside him.

Kael’s eyes were closed.

The Azure Scout Bird flew high above the forest.

Unfortunately, the thick canopy made following Galahad difficult.

Every few moments, Kael caught glimpses of them through gaps in the trees.

Then they disappeared again.

Kael frowned.

Darius noticed.

Can’t see them?

Not clearly.

Then stop trying.

Kael opened his eyes.

That’s helpful.

Darius remained expressionless.

You have people in that forest who know what they’re doing.

Kael looked toward the trees.

That doesn’t mean I stop paying attention.

No.

Darius shook his head.

But there’s a difference between paying attention and trying to control everything yourself.

Kael didn’t answer.

Darius had been saying variations of the same thing since Blackwood began expanding.

Kael knew he was right.

Knowing didn’t make it easier.

For years, Kael had survived by depending on himself.

Now he was building something that required him to depend on others.

Darius.

Grom.

Galahad.

Rowan.

Garrick.

Bram.

Edwin.

His soldiers.

His workers.

His villagers.

A territory couldn’t function if its ruler personally handled every problem.

Kael looked toward the forest again.

I’m learning.

Darius gave a small smile.

Slowly.

Kael ignored him.

Galahad raised his fist.

Everyone stopped.

Something hung from a tree ahead.

Cloth.

Galahad approached carefully.

He removed it from a broken branch.

A child’s shirt.

The shield bearer went pale.

Grom’s expression hardened.

Galahad examined the ground.

Tracks.

Human tracks.

Several.

Some small.

Some large.

Mixed with the creatures’ footprints.

They’re alive.

One adventurer looked at him.

How do you know?

Blood.

There isn’t enough.

Galahad pointed toward the ground.

If these creatures had killed a group here, we’d see more.

Instead, the human tracks continue.

Grom looked ahead.

Then we’re getting close.

A growl came from somewhere behind them.

Every weapon came up.

Nothing appeared.

Another growl came from the left.

Then the right.

Galahad slowly drew his sword.

They’re following us.

Grom smiled.

Let them.

Galahad looked at him.

We are not here to fight every creature in this forest.

Grom’s grin faded.

You really know how to ruin a good morning.

The shield bearer stared at him.

Do goblins always act like this?

Grom looked toward him.

No.

I’m charming.

Nobody responded.

Grom frowned.

Humans have terrible humor.

Despite the tension, one Black Dragon soldier laughed.

Then something moved.

Fast.

A creature burst from the undergrowth.

The shield bearer reacted immediately.

His shield came up.

Impact.

The creature slammed into him.

He stumbled backward but remained standing.

Galahad attacked.

His sword cut across the creature’s flank.

Black blood struck the ground.

The creature screamed.

Grom moved.

One step.

One thrust.

His spear pierced through its neck.

The creature collapsed.

Galahad immediately raised his hand.

Hold!

Two more shapes moved between the trees.

They didn’t attack.

They watched.

Then disappeared.

Galahad stared after them.

Grom pulled his spear free.

They’re testing us.

Galahad nodded.

That confirmed what he had feared.

These creatures weren’t mindless predators.

They were learning.

Kael’s vision shifted.

The Azure Scout Bird finally found an opening in the canopy.

For a moment, Kael saw the dead creature.

He focused.

The System reacted.

Unknown Creature Detected

Analysis Attempt

Species: Unconfirmed

Mana Signature: Abnormal

Physical Structure: Altered

Behavioral Pattern: Pack Intelligence

Additional Analysis Required

Kael’s expression changed.

Altered?

Darius looked toward him.

What?

The System doesn’t recognize them.

That’s unusual.

Very.

Kael had encountered monsters before.

The System could normally provide at least basic information.

This time it couldn’t.

Kael focused again.

The bird descended slightly.

He examined the creature’s corpse.

Its body resembled a wolf.

But the proportions were wrong.

Longer front limbs.

Thicker claws.

An oversized jaw.

Dark veins beneath its skin.

Kael frowned.

Something happened to them.

Darius looked toward the forest.

Magic?

Maybe.

Kael thought about Ironridge.

Ancient ruins.

Unknown energies.

The egg.

The old records.

Then he stopped himself.

Not everything strange was connected.

That was exactly how people made bad assumptions.

We need evidence.

Darius nodded approvingly.

Good.

Kael looked at him.

What?

Nothing.

You looked surprised.

I’m simply enjoying the moment.

Kael frowned.

Darius smiled.

The forest changed as Galahad’s group continued deeper.

The trees became thinner.

The ground began sloping downward.

Then they smelled it.

Rot.

The spearman covered his nose.

What is that?

Galahad didn’t answer.

They moved forward.

A clearing appeared.

Bones covered the ground.

Animals.

Mostly.

Galahad crouched.

Grom walked between them.

Deer.

Boar.

Livestock.

Then one Black Dragon soldier stopped.

Commander.

Grom turned.

The soldier pointed.

A human skull rested beneath a tree.

Silence.

Galahad approached it.

Old.

Months, maybe longer.

The attacks didn’t start with that village.

Grom looked toward him.

No.

Galahad stood.

These things have been hunting here for a while.

Then why weren’t there reports?

The answer came from the injured archer.

Because nobody was collecting them.

Everyone looked toward him.

He continued.

A hunter disappears in one territory.

A merchant loses livestock in another.

A farmer sees something strange.

None of them know it’s connected.

Galahad stared at him.

Then smiled faintly.

That’s exactly why the guild needs records.

The archer nodded.

Galahad looked toward the bones.

From now on, every unusual monster report gets documented.

Location.

Date.

Behavior.

Victims.

Everything.

One of the adventurers laughed nervously.

The guild doesn’t even have a roof yet.

Galahad looked at him.

Then we’ll start the records without one.

They continued.

Eventually, the tracks reached a rocky hillside.

Galahad stopped.

A cave entrance stood ahead.

The ground surrounding it was covered in footprints.

Human.

Monster.

Grom’s eyes narrowed.

Found them.

A faint sound came from inside.

Crying.

The Black Dragon soldiers immediately moved forward.

Galahad raised his hand.

Wait.

Grom looked toward him.

Children are inside.

Which is why we don’t charge in.

Galahad studied the entrance.

Only one visible opening.

That doesn’t mean there’s only one entrance.

Grom looked toward the hillside.

Agreed.

Galahad pointed toward two soldiers.

Circle around.

Find another exit.

Do not enter.

The soldiers nodded and disappeared into the trees.

Galahad looked at the adventurers.

We need the captives out before we start fighting.

The shield bearer frowned.

How?

Galahad looked toward Grom.

The goblin understood.

You want bait.

A distraction.

Grom smiled.

Finally.

No.

Galahad pointed at him.

You are not the bait.

Grom’s smile disappeared.

Why not?

Because you’re our strongest fighter.

That’s exactly why I should—

If something bigger is inside that cave, I need you available.

Grom considered it.

Then reluctantly nodded.

Fine.

Galahad looked toward the spearman.

You.

The man’s eyes widened.

Why me?

Because you can run.

That’s your reason?

Yes.

That’s a terrible reason.

Galahad smiled.

Run well.

Several minutes later, the spearman stood near the cave entrance.

He picked up a stone.

Galahad watched from behind a tree.

Grom waited on the opposite side.

Black Dragon soldiers prepared their weapons.

The spearman threw the stone.

It struck the cave wall.

Nothing.

He threw another.

Still nothing.

He looked toward Galahad.

Galahad motioned again.

The spearman sighed.

He stepped closer.

Come out!

The forest became silent.

He swallowed.

Ugly dogs!

Grom’s eyebrows rose.

Galahad covered his face with one hand.

The spearman continued.

Your mother was a goat!

A growl echoed from the cave.

The spearman froze.

Grom whispered.

Apparently that worked.

Eyes appeared in the darkness.

One pair.

Three.

Five.

Seven.

The spearman turned.

I regret everything.

The creatures charged.

Run!

Galahad shouted.

The spearman ran.

The pack exploded from the cave behind him.

Black shapes poured into the clearing.

Seven.

Ten.

Twelve.

Fourteen.

Galahad waited.

Not yet.

The spearman sprinted past their position.

The creatures followed.

Galahad raised his sword.

Now!

The Black Dragon attacked.

Arrows flew.

Two creatures fell.

Grom charged directly into the pack.

His spear became a blur.

One thrust pierced a creature’s chest.

He spun.

The shaft smashed another aside.

The shield bearer slammed his shield into a third.

Galahad cut through the leg of another.

The goal wasn’t extermination.

It was separation.

Pull the pack away.

Open the cave.

Rescue the captives.

Galahad pointed.

Go!

Two adventurers rushed toward the entrance.

Inside, darkness swallowed them.

The smell was worse.

Blood.

Waste.

Rotting meat.

One adventurer nearly vomited.

Then they heard voices.

Help.

Please.

Someone.

The adventurers followed the sound.

They found them behind a natural stone formation.

Eleven people.

Six adults.

Five children.

Some were injured.

All were terrified.

One woman looked toward them.

Who are you?

The adventurer crouched.

We’re from Blackwood.

The woman’s eyes widened.

Prince Kael sent soldiers?

The adventurer shook his head.

Not exactly.

He smiled.

We’re adventurers.

The woman stared at him.

Adventurers?

The man looked around the cave.

Then toward the entrance where the sound of fighting echoed.

He smiled again.

First official quest.

Outside, Grom drove his spear through another creature.

Seven remained.

Then every creature suddenly stopped.

Galahad noticed immediately.

Why did they—

A roar came from inside the cave.

Not a growl.

A roar.

The ground trembled.

The remaining creatures lowered their bodies.

Grom’s expression changed.

There it is.

Galahad looked toward the cave.

Something enormous moved inside.

The two adventurers emerged first.

Children followed.

Then adults.

Galahad shouted.

Get them away!

Black Dragon soldiers formed a protective corridor.

The survivors ran.

Then the cave entrance cracked.

A massive claw struck the stone.

Grom tightened his grip around his spear.

The creature stepped into the light.

It was nearly three times the size of the others.

Its black fur had fallen away in places, revealing hardened dark skin underneath.

Several bone-like growths protruded from its shoulders.

Its eyes glowed a sickly purple.

Galahad stared.

That isn’t natural.

The creature roared.

The smaller beasts immediately charged again.

Grom stepped forward.

Take the survivors.

Galahad looked at him.

Grom.

Go.

For the first time since Galahad had met him, the goblin wasn’t smiling.

I’ll hold it.

Galahad hesitated.

Then nodded.

Black Dragon!

Galahad shouted.

Protect the civilians!

The soldiers began withdrawing.

Grom remained.

Alone.

The giant creature lowered its head.

Grom spun his spear once.

Then smiled.

There you are.

Miles away, Kael’s Azure Scout Bird circled above the clearing.

The System suddenly filled his vision.

High-Threat Creature Detected

Analysis Updated

Classification

Mutated Dire Beast

Variant

Unknown

Threat Rank

Kael’s expression changed.

A-rank.

Darius immediately saw his reaction.

How bad?

Kael opened his eyes.

Bad enough.

The System continued.

Abnormal Mana Source Detected

Mutation Cause

External Mana Exposure

Source

Unknown

Then another notification appeared.

Warning

Additional Mana Signature Detected Beneath Target Location.

Kael froze.

Beneath?

Darius looked at him.

What is it?

Kael stared toward the distant forest.

The monster wasn’t the real problem.

Something beneath that cave had changed it.

Something powerful enough to alter an entire pack.

Kael mounted his horse.

This time Darius didn’t stop him.

Instead, Darius mounted beside him.

Kael looked toward his First Commander.

Darius drew his sword.

The guild completed its job.

They found the villagers.

Now there’s an A-rank threat.

Kael smiled.

Exactly.

Darius turned toward the waiting Black Dragon riders.

Black Dragon!

The soldiers mounted.

Kael looked west.

The guild had found the problem.

Grom was holding it back.

Now it was Blackwood’s responsibility to finish it.

Kael kicked his horse forward.

Behind him, Darius and the Black Dragon followed.

And beneath the distant forest...

Something pulsed.

Once.

Then again.

Purple mana spread through cracks beneath the cave.

The System reacted one final time.

Unknown Mana Source Awakening

Estimated Depth

Seventy-three meters.

Warning

This phenomenon does not match known natural dungeon formation.

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

Another mystery.

But unlike the Imperial Archives...

This one wasn’t waiting beneath locked shelves.

It was beneath Blackwood’s frontier.

And Kael was coming for it.

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