In the very jungle that Akon went to hunt, Rugen also went in there hunting for a few creatures, including the very Damp Serpent Akon was hunting for. He was a proper 3-star Berserker with battle prowess almost comparable to a 4-star warrior, for a short while at least.
And unlike Akon, only another simple local unaffiliated 1st circle mage was accompanying him, as a guide, since the forest was quite large. As such, a knowledgeable guide was needed to get him to the right spots; otherwise, he would get lost, and even a powerful and talented warrior like him could lose his life for going too deep, where he wasn't supposed to.
It was one of the major disadvantages of the warriors against mages, which is in their utility and the use of various artifacts and specific abilities. So, the need for a guide for various reasons.
