The map leading to the Spider Cave was left by Erinka's grandfather, a seasoned explorer with a talent for cartography. Even in the Doktor family's backup archives, his meticulous craftsmanship was evident, filling the parchment with intricate details.
Now deep in the Luxuriant Forest, Punk stood in its very heart—a place no ordinary person dared to tread. This was a forbidden zone, teeming with monstrous entities far beyond mere wild beasts, where even the weakest predators were formidable threats. Yet, most of these creatures were only at the apprentice level. With just a flicker of his formal-level aura, Punk ensured that no beast dared approach.
He stopped, rubbing the parchment map between his fingers. At his side, Golem One, draped in a gray robe, stood vigilant. Following Punk's strict orders—and due to its low intelligence—Golem One attacked indiscriminately, shredding anything that moved, even something as harmless as a fallen leaf. With such a tireless guardian, Punk could safely focus on analyzing the map left by Erinka's grandfather.
The parchment was adorned with delicate, inked lines—so precise and detailed that it was hard to believe they were hand-drawn. Injecting magic into the core embedded within the parchment, Punk activated the map. A faint blue glow spread across its surface as the inked lines lifted from the paper, weaving together midair into a three-dimensional projection.
The floating map displayed nearly half of the Luxuriant Forest in vivid, intricate detail. Cliffs, rivers, even the smallest streams—each landmark was meticulously rendered in a manner rivaling master cartographers. Some areas were annotated with elegant, stylized script, resembling a rough 3D model brought to life.
With a flick of his hand, Punk manipulated the map's magnification. A few prophetic spells later, he pinpointed his exact location.
From the map's perspective, the Spider Cave was close—almost within reach.
And yet…
Punk slowly put the map away, frowning as he surveyed his surroundings. Towering trees stretched endlessly in every direction, their vines swaying with the breeze. Birds called from unseen perches, and the ground was blanketed in layers of moss, undisturbed for years. Stones lay buried beneath the creeping green, untouched by human presence.
But the Spider Cave… was nowhere to be found.
Punk wasn't mistaken—his predictive spells confirmed he was in the right place. Yet no matter where he looked, there was no sign of an entrance.
"An illusion… or perhaps a pocket dimension?" he mused coldly.
He quickly dismissed the idea of a pocket dimension. Typically, only master-level casters could open such realms, and if the cave's owner were a master, they wouldn't need to hide in the Luxuriant Forest like some lurking fugitive.
That left only one conclusion—
An illusion.
Now that he had identified the root of the problem, the next step was solving it. Disrupting the deception became Punk's immediate priority.
To break an illusion, he first needed to determine its nature. If it was a mental illusion, a defensive spell would suffice. If it was a purely magical construct, then True Sight would be required.
To be thorough, Punk cast Spiritual Barrier on himself first.
A surge of magic condensed into his spiritual energy, forming an invisible shield around his soul. But when he opened his eyes, nothing had changed—his barrier remained untouched by external forces.
That meant—
"A conjured illusion…"
Expressionless, Punk drew his staff from his back. The emerald crystal at its tip pulsed in sync with his mind, glowing with a deep green radiance.
Though his outward demeanor remained calm, inwardly he was on high alert. The enemy could already be lurking within the illusion, preparing a surprise attack under its concealment.
"If you refuse to reveal yourself," he whispered, his voice like frost,
"then I'll drag you out."
Only the wind answered, rustling through the leaves. Silence pressed in from all sides. Yet an unspoken tension thickened the air.
Punk disliked this kind of hidden confrontation—being at a disadvantage when the enemy remained unseen. However, he had dealt with such foes before. If they relied on secrecy, it meant their direct combat ability was lacking. Forcing them into the open would instantly shift the situation in his favor.
He motioned for Golem One to remain vigilant, then retrieved a handful of glazerock powder, whispering a chant under his breath.
Formal-Level Conjuration Spell — Cursed Fire
As the incantation took form, the glazerock powder ignited into brilliant green sparks, swirling into a small cluster of emerald flames in his palm.
Most enemies would seize this moment to strike—casting unfamiliar spells required concentration, leaving a caster vulnerable for a second or two. A skilled enemy could break his focus, forcing a misfire that would backfire disastrously.
But Punk was ready.
His seemingly unstable control was deliberate, baiting any hidden opponent into revealing themselves. The instant they made a move, he would unleash a pre-prepared kinetic burst, striking with merciless precision.
But…
Nothing happened.
The enemy did not attack.
"Fine," Punk said coldly. "If you won't show yourself, then you won't have a place to hide."
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. If the illusion's creator was a person, they would be forced out. If it was a magic construct, then its function would soon collapse.
Either way—
Punk would reveal the truth.
The Cursed Fire spell consumed nearly a third of his mana, but it would be worth it.
The green flames expanded, forming a massive ring that engulfed Punk and Golem One. Then, with a violent pulse, they surged outward like a fiery tide. The emerald inferno swept across the forest, licking at the trees and setting them ablaze.
Within moments, towering trunks became dark green torches, crackling as burning resin dripped from their bark, evaporating before it could reach the ground.
Cursed Fire: a widespread conflagration covering 400 square meters, lasting 15 seconds.
Though its raw temperature was not exceptionally high—barely exceeding 700 degrees—its true danger lay in its persistence.
This was no ordinary fire.
It clung to everything it touched, devouring all with relentless hunger. Even water could not extinguish its cursed embers. Anyone caught within its grasp would burn until reduced to ash.
If the illusion was maintained by a hidden foe, the flames would force them out.
If the trick was crafted through a magical construct, the fire would unravel its composition.
Either way—
The truth would be revealed.
Yet…
The Spider Cave still did not appear.
Punk's pupils contracted as he scrutinized his surroundings. The cursed fire raged, but the illusion remained intact.
"If it's not on the ground… and it can't be underground—Golem One would have sensed that—then that only leaves…"
The sky.
At that moment, a shadow loomed over him.
A sharp, icy sensation prickled at his awareness, setting his instincts ablaze.
But rather than panic, Punk felt a surge of satisfaction.
The enemy's concealment had been impressive. If they had remained patient, he would have had no choice but to take greater risks in his search.
Yet in the end…
They couldn't resist.
They had chosen to strike.