Duke's figure darted through the forest like a phantom.
He did not relax his vigilance. Although moving closer to the village could reduce the chances of encountering powerful demons, there was also the possibility of encountering the local defense forces of the Toulouse Territory.
As expected, Duke, moving swiftly through the forest, spotted several fast-moving figures.
They wore matching leather armor, wielding spears or bows, moving with well-trained coordination, spreading out in a fan shape toward Duke's direction.
Judging by their speed, they were clearly not ordinary people; they must be Awakened, among them two particularly powerful first-level Awakened.
"How did they find me?" Duke wondered.
He had been low-key all the way, never emitting a strong energy fluctuation, dealing with those demons with minimal disruption using sand.
But judging from their movements, they had clearly discovered him and were encircling him.
