Savage Forest - Chapter 130.1

Before Tarhan even opened his eyes, he could already feel her absence.

How long had it been since he lost consciousness? The wolf was circling the area, guarding it as if it were its territory.

“D*mn…”

His eyelids fluttered, and a curse slipped from his lips like blood. As he rubbed his eyes, the weight in his chest immediately tightened. Despair hit him, and with a swift movement, he pushed himself to his feet.

He moved his pupils, desperately searching for any trace of her.

It took a long time for his surroundings to become clear. Tarhan found the body and clenched his lips. She had clearly been with him. She must have been a comrade.

“You stay here and protect it.”

He commanded the wolf. The one with its tail raised high circled him before letting out a loud, defiant bark.

Ignoring it, he moved outside the cave. Just like when he entered, he had to crouch low and dig his way out of the entrance.

The cursed raindrops were still falling steadily.

Tarhan clenched his fist. His teeth ground together.

She had surely gone to find the skull spider.

She had promised to make him happy, yet once again, she had left him. Overwhelmed by feelings of resentment, he found himself unable to shake the worry that crept in despite everything. He couldn’t help but feel pathetic.

He stood there for a long time, unable to make a decision.

Finally, his clenched fist struck the nearby tree. A growl, almost like a beast’s roar, slipped from his lips.

She was everything to him.

In every moment, his anger turned into empathy, empathy into pity, and that pity into love.

She was the girl who had carried the burden of his sins during his most painful moments. The one who had stood by him through life’s struggles. His first friend, his first love, the mother of his child, and the only family he had ever truly created.

She was everything he had.

Once, he had thought that to protect her, he could never die.

He had to live. However, in that moment, Tarhan couldn’t help but realize the most foolish misconception of his life.

‘I’m such an idiot.’

All this time, it was she who had been protecting him.

Tarhan lifted his face to the sky, as the rain continued to pour down.

The rain washed the dirt from his face.

Slowly, he stood up and began to move.

* * *

“We’ll break down that dam.”

At Jahan’s mutter, the people of Nervana exchanged surprised looks and gasped.

“Wait! What about Yaru, who’s also trapped down there? Won’t she be swept away with the Perugia forces from the wide rock?”

Inaken shouted. Behind him, Yaru’s daughter peered out, looking at Kiyan.

Kiyan’s jaw stiffened for a moment.

“Silence!”

Her sharp command immediately silenced the surrounding group.

When Kiyan spoke again, deep furrows appeared in her forehead. Her expression twisted in pain as she opened her mouth and declared:

“Right now, the survival of Nervana is the most important issue.”

Lehijin’s head dropped in defeat.

Fiarca gasped for breath, then clenched her jaw, biting back her words. Seeing Fiarca turn away, Piache realized that she had given up on the captured ones as well.

‘If Perugia discovers this group and starts the massacre right now, Nervana will disappear from history.’

Silanda silently glared at Kiyan.

“Please help us.”

Kiyan, as though admitting defeat, pointed to the weapons and pleaded to Silanda.

“Show us how to use them. We’re ready.”

Kiyan’s decision was soon acknowledged as the will of Nervana.

Although Inaken could be heard muttering curses and tugging at his hair, Kiyan’s expression remained unchanged. Instead of the hesitant Jahan, it was Silanda who moved first toward the cart. She firmly placed the first weapon on the wet ground.

Kiyan helped Silanda aim.

As Silanda started to move, Jahan hurriedly began setting the weapons in order on the ground. By then, the people of Nervana were still, waiting for Kiyan to make a move.

Then, Kiyan shouted in a sharp tone.

“What are you waiting for? This is something even an old mother can do! Help, everyone—mothers, children, all of you!”

At her command, the people of Nervana began to move one by one despite the drizzle. First, it was the mothers. Then other women and elderly people slowly rose to their feet, helping Jahan and Silanda. One by one, the Nervana people began to set the weapons on the ground, preparing them for action.

“Don’t rush!”

“Stay calm! Line up in order!”

Thunder rumbled, and once again a bolt of lightning struck nearby. Silanda shouted instructions until her neck was tense with effort.

“Make sure they don’t get wet! Especially the parts with the ammo—protect them at all costs!”

Following her commands, the people of Nervana used cloths, leaves, and other materials to shield the weapons from the pouring rain.

“Jahan! Stop crying and get to work!”

“I, I am working!”

Jahan shouted back, wiping away tears.

In the meantime, Kiyan had formed a group with Inaken, Fiarca, and other relatively younger members of Nervana.

“The moment the dam falls, you will be deployed.”

Kiyan’s eyes gleamed fiercely.

“Yaru, Nihitan, and the young members of Nervana are still trapped at the wide rock. The man named Rigata is in the same situation. He is the one who has helped us the most. Let’s try to save as many as we can.”

Inaken and Fiarca nodded and immediately began to act.

Under Kiyan’s leadership, the Nervana tribe moved swiftly and efficiently.

Kiyan, at the front, encouraged them.

“Even without the daughter of the forest, Nervana will not fall! We are the immortal clan!”

In the rain, Lehiijin also moved his frail legs, joining the elderly to lift the heavy weapons and set them in place on the ground.

Ihita, tears in her eyes, supported Piache.

“Grandmother, stop crying and help with this!”

Though Piache seemed on the verge of losing her mind, she too began to move at Ihita’s urging.

“Enya… Tarhan…”

Piache murmured softly, clenching her eyes shut as she forced her old body to stand once more. Whether it was tears or rain streaming down her cheeks, her thick, weathered hands remained steady as she helped those around her. Nearby, the pharmacy staff wiped their own tears but continued to work diligently.

The drizzle began to ease, and, like a miracle, the clouds parted, allowing sunlight to filter through.

“It’s a miracle. The sun is showing.”

Lehiijin muttered, squinting and shielding his eyes with his palm.