Saiyan in Cultivation world

The wind howled through the trees as Yuto and Kaito made their way toward the outskirts of the Golden Dragon Sect. Their journey had begun at dawn, and already the air felt heavy with anticipation. They had no time to waste. The longer they stayed within the sect's boundaries, the more likely it was that someone would discover their intentions. If they were to reach the Forbidden Forest undetected, they needed to move quickly and carefully.

The Forbidden Forest was a place of legend. Whispers about its dangers filled the air in every corner of the cultivation world, from the oldest of scholars to the youngest of disciples. The forest was said to be alive, a place where the very land seemed to have a consciousness of its own, twisted by the dark forces that had taken root over millennia. To enter it was to walk a fine line between life and death, and no one ever emerged unchanged.

Yet, there was no other choice. If they were to stop the Golden Dragon Sect's plans, they had to reach the heart of the forest and find the resistance that Zhen had spoken of. The stakes were higher than ever, and there was no turning back.

"We're almost there," Kaito muttered, his eyes scanning the surroundings with caution. "But we need to stay on our guard. The further we get from the sect, the more dangerous it becomes."

Yuto nodded, his mind focused. "We'll make it. We don't have any other options."

They had spent the last few hours following the narrow path that led out of the sect's territory, avoiding the main roads to keep their movements undetected. The deeper they went into the wilderness, the more the dense forest seemed to close in around them. The once-familiar landscape of the sect's lush gardens and cultivated fields had given way to a more untamed and unforgiving environment. The air grew thicker, charged with an energy that seemed almost sentient, as if the forest itself were watching them.

After a long stretch of silence, Kaito broke the stillness. "So, what do you think we'll find out there? Zhen didn't give us much to go on."

Yuto sighed, a mix of uncertainty and determination flooding his thoughts. "I don't know. But I trust that he wouldn't send us into danger without a reason. If there's a group of cultivators resisting the sect's control, we need to find them. They may be our only hope."

Kaito's brow furrowed. "You really believe that? I'm not sure what to think of Zhen. He's too calm, too calculating. We've seen what he's capable of, but can we trust him? I still don't know what his endgame is."

Yuto paused for a moment, considering Kaito's words. "I don't fully trust him either. But we don't have the luxury of time to question every move. We need answers, and he's the only one who seems to know more than we do. If we wait too long, the sect's plans will come to fruition, and we'll never have a chance to stop them."

Kaito seemed to accept this for the moment, though his unease was still palpable. They continued on in silence, each lost in their own thoughts as the trees around them grew denser, their branches twisting like gnarled fingers reaching toward the sky. The forest felt ancient, its energy old and foreign. It was as if the world itself had forgotten the place, leaving it to fester in the darkness.

Hours passed, and the further they ventured into the forest, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The air grew thick with an unnatural fog, the sunlight barely penetrating the dense canopy above. Strange sounds echoed through the trees—distant rustling, the flapping of wings, and the low growl of some unseen creature. Yuto's senses were on high alert, his body tense with the awareness that danger could strike at any moment.

Kaito suddenly stopped, his hand raised to signal caution. Yuto halted beside him, his eyes scanning the surroundings. They were no longer on a path; the dense trees had closed in around them, and the underbrush was thick with tangled roots and vines. Something was off.

"Do you feel that?" Kaito whispered, his voice barely audible. "The air... it's changing."

Yuto nodded. The sensation was unmistakable. It was as if the forest itself had taken notice of their presence, its energy shifting in subtle yet dangerous ways. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise as a cold chill crept down his spine. Something was watching them.

Then, without warning, a low growl echoed through the forest. Yuto's heart skipped a beat as the ground trembled beneath them. The sound was deep and primal, unlike anything he had ever heard before. It was the kind of sound that sent a clear message: intruders were not welcome.

"We're not alone," Yuto said, his voice tight with tension. "Get ready."

Before Kaito could respond, the shadows around them seemed to come alive. Figures moved between the trees—fast, almost too fast to track. Dark silhouettes darted through the fog, their forms indistinct but clearly humanoid. Yuto's eyes narrowed as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing.

"Stay alert!" Yuto shouted as the figures closed in. "We don't know who they are!"

In a flash, the first of the figures lunged, its movement a blur of speed and aggression. Yuto barely had time to react, his instincts kicking in as he leaped to the side. The figure crashed into the ground where he had been standing, sending a shower of dirt into the air. It was humanoid, but its features were twisted, as though the forest itself had shaped it into something unnatural. Its eyes were glowing a sickly yellow, and its claws were razor-sharp.

Kaito didn't hesitate. He unsheathed his sword and charged forward, his blade flashing through the air. The creature parried with one of its claws, but Kaito's strike was precise, cutting deeply into its side. The creature shrieked in pain and staggered back, its body flickering in and out of focus as if it were being torn apart by the force of the blow.

Yuto gritted his teeth. "We need to get out of here! These things aren't normal!"

But as he turned to retreat, more figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding them on all sides. They were no longer just creatures of the forest; they were hunters, predators with eyes glowing like embers in the dark. Their movements were synchronized, fluid, as if they were one with the forest itself.

Yuto's mind raced as he assessed their situation. These weren't mere beasts. They were something far more dangerous—guardians of the forest, perhaps, or even agents of the sect sent to intercept them. The thought made his blood run cold.

"We have to push through!" Yuto shouted, his voice grim. "There's no turning back now!"

With a fierce battle cry, Yuto drew on every ounce of his energy, focusing the power within him as he prepared for the fight of his life.