Chapter 136: Beyond the Patrol Roads

Joe spent another three days examining the remaining portions of his Innate Transformation. His progress had slowed considerably since reaching 78.34%, and the anatomical records spread across his desk offered few answers he had not already considered. He could still transform smaller structures whose functions and supporting connections he understood. The difficulty appeared whenever he approached the more delicate regions. Changes to certain nerves affected tissues far beyond their immediate surroundings, while the marrow and several other structures presented problems that his existing cultivation records barely addressed. His improved method of preparing connected systems had resolved much of the earlier resistance, but it could not compensate for knowledge he lacked. The specimens collected during his recent investigations had already served their purpose. Preserved bones revealed how unusual growth affected surrounding structures, and the surviving tissues occasionally provided additional evidence. However, their condition made it difficult to determine how the abnormalities had developed or whether the animals had remained healthy while those changes occurred.

Joe examined the records concerning the greyhorn stag and several other mutated beasts. He had measured abnormalities that ordinary hunters would have overlooked, but most reports described the creatures only after they had been killed. He wanted to observe how living organisms maintained their altered bodies, particularly those possessing unusual resistance, recovery, or medicinal properties. The forest beyond Blackwood offered an opportunity to investigate those questions. Several dangerous territories remained largely unexplored, and the records Halven had shown him suggested that unusual beasts appeared more frequently beyond the regular patrol routes.

Joe initially considered making daily excursions. After examining the distances, however, he decided against it. Traveling between Blackwood and the more remote areas would consume hours that he could spend examining specimens or cultivating. Bringing fresh material back to town would present another inconvenience, especially when an observation required several days. He had approximately six months before Ashbourne's state selection and another year after that before the national Decennial. A few weeks devoted to resolving his current bottleneck would be time well spent, provided he established suitable conditions for the work.

That evening, Joe discussed his plans with the family. Mike and Lily had returned from Vale Provisions, while Simon had finished reviewing the workshop's daily accounts. Joseph and Pam joined them after dinner, giving Joe an opportunity to explain the arrangement without gathering everyone separately. "I intend to spend several weeks in the western forest," Joe told them. "My research requires living specimens, and the more promising areas lie beyond the regular patrol routes. I'll establish a camp where I can keep my equipment and work without returning to Blackwood every evening."

Lily stopped arranging the cups on the table. "The western forest? You were injured during your years with the guard, and Simon nearly lost his life there. I know you've become much stronger, but I would rather you didn't stay somewhere dangerous without anyone nearby."

Joe understood her concern. She remembered the forest as a place where even experienced guards sometimes struggled against powerful beasts. His present circumstances were considerably different, but there was little reason to explain his cultivation again.

"The animals around Blackwood can no longer threaten me under ordinary circumstances," he assured her. "I won't be sleeping in the open. There's an old forestry station near the patrol boundary, and I intend to have it repaired before moving there. I'll return if I encounter anything that requires more preparation."

Mike was more concerned with the arrangements. He asked whether the camp had a reliable water source and how Joe intended to transport food and research equipment. Simon offered to supervise the supplies, since his workshop already employed people familiar with the western roads.

"I can arrange deliveries every seven days," Simon said. "The workshop has carts traveling through that district, though I'll need to check how far they can go. If the station is accessible, we can send provisions without hiring a separate crew for every trip."

Joe accepted the offer and explained that he would arrange the construction through the magistrate's office. He also asked Simon to obtain the forest maps held by the Black and Francis families, whose hunting parties had explored areas that never appeared in ordinary patrol records. Lily wanted him to visit occasionally rather than remain away for the entire expedition. Joe agreed that he could return whenever his research allowed. His grandparents' treatment had remained stable, and Lily already understood the schedule, although he intended to examine them again before leaving. The discussion ended with Mike asking Simon to make certain the workers received proper wages and sufficient supplies. Joe assured him that he would pay the expenses himself. His family had already become occupied with their own businesses, and he did not want his research creating additional obligations for them.

The following morning, Joe visited the magistrate. The official received him in the smaller office they had used during his previous visit. Joe explained that he wanted permission to occupy and repair an abandoned forestry station beyond the western patrol boundary, together with assistance recruiting workers familiar with construction in remote areas. The magistrate examined the location on a survey map before answering. "That station has been unused for several years. The land remains under town administration, so a temporary research camp should present no difficulty. The approach road is still maintained occasionally, although the buildings will require inspection."

"I'll pay for the repairs and the workers," Joe replied. "I need a proper shelter, secure storage, and enough space to examine specimens. The existing buildings may be sufficient once they're reinforced."

The magistrate agreed to authorize the work and proposed sending Halven to inspect the station with Joe. He could also arrange a crew of carpenters and laborers through the town's contractors. Since Joe intended to explore territories avoided by ordinary hunters, the magistrate asked that he report any serious threats discovered near the roads or inhabited settlements.

Joe accepted the request. Clearing aggressive beasts from the surrounding area would make the supply route safer, and he had no reason to conceal information relevant to the guards' responsibilities. Halven accompanied him to the station that afternoon. The building stood in a clearing beside an older patrol road, with a stream running through the lower ground to the south. The main shelter had a sound timber frame, but portions of its roof had deteriorated, and the smaller storage building required extensive repairs. Vegetation had spread across the former yard, while fallen branches obstructed part of the approach.

Halven inspected the ground before explaining which sections became muddy during heavy rain. The station had once supported forestry workers and hunters traveling toward the western ridges, but declining use and the presence of several dangerous beasts had eventually led the administration to abandon it.

"The road remains passable for carts during dry weather," Halven said. "We'll need to clear the drainage channel before the next heavy rain. The stream is reliable, but I wouldn't place the new storage building too close to it."

Joe agreed and walked around the surrounding forest. He found signs of several large animals near the clearing, including tracks belonging to a territorial beast that had begun using the abandoned station as part of its range. Joe located the creature farther along the stream and dealt with it before returning. Halven examined the disturbed ground and the absence of further movement nearby. He had seen Joe's strength during earlier encounters, but the ease with which he had cleared an animal that ordinarily required an armed patrol still gave him reason to reconsider the expedition.

"I'll tell the contractor that the immediate area has been cleared," Halven said. "They should still keep the workers together until the construction is finished. Smaller animals may return once they begin storing food."

Joe agreed and marked the sections of the clearing that required attention. The location provided sufficient privacy without placing the camp so far from Blackwood that routine deliveries became difficult.

Construction began two days later. The magistrate's office arranged thirty-six workers, including experienced carpenters, roofers, and laborers familiar with the western roads. Simon organized the timber, nails, roofing materials, and other supplies before the crew departed. Since the station already possessed usable buildings, the work concentrated on strengthening the existing structures rather than constructing an entirely new compound.

This copy came from the NovelPhoenix chapter without the author's consent, though the author publishes it there.

The first day went toward clearing vegetation, repairing the approach, and examining the old foundations. Joe remained nearby while the workers established their arrangements, although the foreman handled the construction itself. He had brought enough men to divide the tasks efficiently, and the repaired road allowed additional materials to arrive without interrupting their progress.

Over the following days, the carpenters reinforced the main building, replaced its damaged roof, and divided the interior into sleeping and working areas. The smaller structure became a secure storeroom, while a covered section beside it provided space for preparing meals and handling supplies. Workers repaired the drainage channels and erected a sturdy fence around the immediate compound to discourage ordinary animals from entering.

The camp was ready for occupation on the fourth evening, although the foreman retained several men the following morning to inspect the roof and complete minor adjustments. Joe examined the finished work and paid the agreed wages before the crew departed. He moved his research equipment into the larger room, arranging the instruments and preserved specimens he had brought from the Vale residence. His portable measuring tools, medical instruments, and preservation materials were sufficient for preliminary investigations. The more sophisticated equipment remained in Ashbourne, where Serena had agreed to prepare it for his eventual return.

Joe also established a supply schedule with Simon. Provisions would arrive at the station once a week, with additional deliveries arranged only when necessary. The cart drivers would use the maintained road and return to Blackwood rather than remain at the camp.

By the time Joe settled into the station, Simon had obtained the requested maps. The Black family provided records through Renford, including several hunting routes and reports concerning dangerous beasts encountered by its martial artists. Francis responded through its business administrator, who arranged copies of older exploration maps and hunting records maintained by the family's senior branches. Neither household attempted to delay the request. The documents concerned areas they had already explored, and Joe had asked for information rather than exclusive hunting rights or commercial privileges.

Simon brought the maps to the camp with the next supply delivery. He spread them across the worktable while Joe compared their markings against the patrol records obtained from Halven. The maps did not agree everywhere. Several trails recorded by Francis had disappeared from the more recent Black family surveys, while certain hunting grounds appeared under different names. A few dangerous territories had remained unvisited long enough that neither family possessed reliable information about their present condition.

"The Black family stopped using this northern route after several hunters encountered a powerful beast," Simon explained, indicating a marked section near the western ridges. "Francis recorded a similar incident farther south, but their report is older. I couldn't determine whether they were describing the same animal."

Joe examined the locations and decided to investigate them separately. The inconsistencies would make navigation more difficult for an ordinary hunting party, but he could move quickly enough to compare the terrain himself.

Simon also brought a list of provisions and confirmed that the following delivery had already been arranged. Joe thanked him for handling the preparations, and they spent the remainder of his visit discussing several family affairs before Simon returned to Blackwood.

Joe began exploring the next morning. He followed the old patrol road until it narrowed beneath the trees, then continued toward the northern hunting grounds marked on the Black family map. The forest became denser beyond the maintained routes, with fallen timber and thick undergrowth obstructing the paths once used by hunters.

Joe moved through the terrain without difficulty. His movement inheritance allowed him to cross uneven ground rapidly, and his Acquired Energy helped him examine the surrounding environment while remaining alert to nearby creatures.

The first unusual beast appeared near a shallow ravine. It resembled a large boar, although its shoulders had developed far beyond the proportions of an ordinary animal. Heavy muscle surrounded the upper forelimbs, while the hindquarters appeared comparatively narrow. The creature had damaged several trees around a feeding area, and its tracks suggested that it regularly moved through the ravine.

Joe observed it from a distance before approaching. When the animal charged, he ended the encounter with a controlled strike and examined the body afterward. The enlarged shoulder muscles had developed alongside unusually broad attachment points, but the bones of the hindquarters had not undergone comparable changes. Joe recorded the proportions and examined how the creature's weight had been distributed. Its abnormal development had increased its strength in certain movements while leaving other parts of its body poorly suited to supporting that additional mass.

He collected several relevant specimens and continued exploring.

The following area contained a different kind of abnormality. Several small predators possessed enlarged sensory structures, allowing them to detect movement through dense undergrowth. Joe observed them hunting before examining the remains of one killed by a larger beast. Their bodies appeared less heavily developed than the boar's, but their unusual growth had occurred in regions associated with perception rather than physical strength.

These observations gave Joe information that preserved specimens could not provide. He could compare abnormal structures with the animals' actual movements and behavior, identifying which changes appeared beneficial and which imposed limitations.

He returned to camp that evening and organized his findings.

The following days established a routine. Joe explored a different region each morning, returned with specimens and observations, and spent the evenings comparing the results against his anatomical records. Where the new information resolved an existing uncertainty, he resumed Innate Transformation and completed the relevant structures. His progress remained slower than during the previous breakthrough, but the living observations helped him address several smaller dependencies that had resisted earlier methods. By the end of the fifth day of exploration, his panel showed:

Innate Transformation — 79.86%

Joe recorded the completed sequences in his private notes without mentioning the percentage. The increase had required substantial work, but more importantly, his observations were beginning to reveal how unusual organisms maintained their functions despite changes that would normally interfere with their development. He continued investigating the territories marked on the hunting maps.

Several regions contained ordinary beasts that had merely grown larger than expected. Others showed evidence of genuine mutation, particularly where unusual vegetation or concentrations of spiritual energy affected the surrounding environment.

Joe collected plant specimens as carefully as animal remains, comparing their growth patterns and examining the properties that distinguished them from common forest plants. His medical knowledge allowed him to recognize several unfamiliar combinations of medicinal and harmful characteristics, although he lacked enough evidence to determine why those combinations had developed.

On the seventh morning, he entered a region marked as dangerous on both the Black and Francis maps. The route descended toward a narrow valley where the surrounding trees grew close together. Several older hunting markers remained beside the trail, but the ground beyond them showed little evidence of recent human activity.

Joe noticed a gradual change in the vegetation as he approached the valley floor. Common grasses became sparse, replaced by several unfamiliar varieties growing in dense patches beneath the trees. Some possessed unusually dark leaves, while others displayed pale markings along their stems. Their distribution was irregular, with healthy growth concentrated in certain areas and almost none in others.

Joe examined the nearest patch through his Acquired Energy. The grass contained traces of spiritual properties unlike those he had encountered in ordinary medicinal herbs. Some appeared capable of supporting unusual growth, while others carried strongly harmful characteristics. The plants remained healthy despite their own concentrated properties, which immediately drew Joe's attention. He moved farther into the valley and compared several patches. The properties varied considerably, even among plants that appeared closely related. Certain grasses contained more concentrated spiritual energy, while neighboring varieties possessed stronger toxic characteristics. The surrounding soil offered no obvious explanation. Joe examined the terrain and the distribution of other vegetation, noting that several ordinary plants had failed to establish themselves near the densest patches. He also found evidence of a large serpent inhabiting the area. A shed section of skin remained caught between two roots, and the surrounding ground carried traces of repeated movement toward a sheltered hollow farther along the valley.

Joe examined the skin and found that its structure differed from specimens he had previously studied. The scales were unusually dense, and traces of the creature's spiritual characteristics remained detectable even after shedding. He did not immediately pursue the animal. The vegetation alone presented enough questions to occupy him for several days, particularly because its harmful properties appeared closely connected to the unusual conditions under which it had developed.

Joe recorded the location and examined several additional plants before returning toward the camp.

That evening, he arranged the collected specimens across his worktable and compared them with the notes from his earlier pharmaceutical research. He could identify several properties associated with toxicity and recovery, but their coexistence within the same plants remained difficult to explain.

The serpent's altered skin suggested that the creature might possess related adaptations. Whether those characteristics had developed because of the vegetation or through some other influence remained uncertain.

Joe closed his notes after completing the preliminary examination. He had entered the forest to study living abnormalities and find a way beyond his cultivation bottleneck. The unusual grasses had provided a new direction, although he would need to investigate their development and the creatures inhabiting the valley before drawing conclusions. He marked the poisonous territory on his map and prepared to return the following morning.