Their reaction had given him information more than any answer could.
This silence was not just the result of a simple superstition, and it made Lian think deeply and think more about the danger level of this Special Area.
He was powerful right now, he was stronger than any awakened one below level 20, even awakened ones and monsters up to level 25 could not match him.
If he used all his power, he could defeat normal monsters up to level 30 and maybe even 32.
In the entire history of awakened ones, there has been no known awakened one who, like him, had such a level of power at level 16.
But even now, he did not feel safe here at all.
Even a creature at the Fallen Level 50 did not dare to move freely in the Forest of Giants.
And based on that, the matter was even worse for him.
And there was something in this forest that the massive monsters kept their territories for, not just to control hunting grounds, but perhaps to stay away from it.
Lian did not know what that creature was, but for now, he preferred it to stay that way, not every truth needed to be discovered on the very first day.
"How far is your tribe from here?" He changed the subject after a few seconds.
Ravian thought for a moment.
"From where we went to find food to the tribe, it was about a day’s journey. But this bird brought us much further. We don’t know exactly where we are in its territory." He gave a brief look at the sun’s position and the wind’s direction.
"If we somehow get back to the ground and find the right path, at our normal speed, it might take us three days to reach the tribe."
"Is it definitely safe there?" Lian asked.
"Compared to here, yes. The tribe was built outside this Giant Sky Bird’s territory, and the walls are enough to handle smaller monsters." Ravian answered this time without hesitation and with a slight hint of pride.
"The large giants usually don’t come close to that area. Not because of us, but because the tribe is located on the border of several territories. The smell and mana of several large hunters interfere with each other in that area, and none of them are willing to stay there for long." Sera added.
"So you used a point that no monster fully owns." Lian said with admiration, this was a clever move.
Even though they were weak compared to the forest’s monsters, they had still managed to preserve their civilization with the intelligence and wisdom they had.
This was admirable ingenuity.
"Our elders say the tribe’s first Chief found that place after years of running. The area is not good for hunting, its soil is also not the best forest soil, but it is safe enough for people to survive." Sera nodded.
"And if one of the giants decides to enter it?"
"The guards will sound the root bells, and the people will enter the underground shelters. We cannot fight the real giants. The only thing we can do is hide and pray until they pass." Ravian answered.
Three days of travel, a relatively safe area, and hundreds of families who knew this world.
Maps of the rivers and surrounding territories, for now, their tribe was the best possible destination for Lian.
If the members of his group had appeared in this same forest, access to local information and the tribe’s maps could multiply his chances of finding them.
Of course, he doubted that everyone was as unlucky as him to appear in the most dangerous point from the start, and if they really were that unlucky, he doubted any of his group members could survive.
Maybe Rindo and Seraphina could have such a chance, but with his knowledge of the others, it seemed unlikely.
Even if they had landed in the Emberroot Forest or the Glassthorn Forest, the tribe’s people might know a way to communicate with the other species or cross the forest borders.
But one fundamental problem remained.
They were still thousands of meters above the ground, trapped in the nest of a Fallen Level 50.
And the egg that had cracked only a few minutes ago could hatch at any moment.
Lian wanted to ask another question about possible ways down, the smaller flying creatures, and the tribe’s tools, when suddenly a faint sound was heard from inside the egg.
This time it was not the sound of cracking.
It was a sound like a nail or a small beak scratching on the inner surface of the shell.
Khish... khish...
All four of them immediately fell silent, something from inside the egg struck the shell a few times.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The visible crack trembled slightly, but still did not spread further, at that same moment, the Giant Sky Bird moved in its sleep.
Its massive head rose a few meters from the nest’s surface, all four of them almost simultaneously threw themselves flat on the branch’s surface.
Lian lowered his presence as much as possible, and Ravian pressed Nemi to the nest’s surface with both hands to keep her from moving out of fear.
One of the bird’s golden eyes opened, only to a narrow slit, a faint golden light shone from between its eyelids.
Its gaze slowly moved over the eggs, for a few seconds, that same eye remained fixed on the egg that had cracked.
Then its gaze passed across the nest’s surroundings, Lian remained completely still, he did not take a deep breath, did not blink, and did not allow the slightest wave of mana to leave his body.
Those three others were so terrified that they did not even dare to breathe, as if the gaze of death could fall on them at any moment and take their lives.
The bird’s golden eye remained open for a moment longer, then its eyelid lowered again.
Its head slowly rested on the edge of the nest, and its heavy breathing returned to normal after a few seconds.
But none of the four moved immediately, Lian waited for almost a full minute, and when he was sure the bird had fallen back asleep, he fixed his gaze on the crack on the egg.
The scratching sound from inside was still continuing softly.
Not much time remained.
After making sure the bird had fallen back asleep, they finally put aside their caution and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I’m scared... I want to go home." Nemi said, tears of fear streaming from her eyes, as she buried her head in her brother’s arms.
Ravian could only sigh, he couldn’t do anything and felt helpless...
"Before this egg hatches, I have to find a way to leave this nest." Lian thought without moving.
And this time, it was not just about his own survival.
Three guides were beside him who could lead him to the first civilization of this world.
If he wanted to find the answers to his questions, find his group members, and find the best opportunities for progress in this small world, he had to get all three of these natives out alive.
He had a feeling that the path to his first evolution was hidden in this world...