Chapter 358: Return Gate [ 2 ]

A supersonic boom tore through the wilderness as Sage shot forward, carrying Lyana in his arms while the vines dragged everyone behind him in a single connected formation.

The group became a white streak cutting across the ancient forest, blasting through loose leaves, dust, mist, and broken branches as the ground beneath them vanished into a blur.

Several adventurers screamed in shock, Boren louder than all of them, his voice stretching into something almost musical as his fat body was pulled through the air by the vine around his waist.

Gregor gritted his teeth and locked his body straight to reduce the drag, while Brutus grabbed the vine with one hand and used the other to shield the injured adventurer beside him from the violent wind pressure.

Caelis lowered his head and endured, his eyes narrowed against the rushing air. Vanthrice, still at the rear, twisted her body with surprising control, using her bronze spear like a stabilizing rod whenever the formation threatened to sway too far to one side.

The world became speed. Trees became green and brown smears. Rocks became gray streaks. The storm clouds above stretched into dark ribbons as Sage forced them toward the white pillar with everything he had.

His mana burned through the wind circles beneath his boots, and his eyes locked onto the distant light ahead as if looking anywhere else would make the spell collapse. Lyana stayed quiet in his arms, though her face was tense with effort as she maintained the vines binding everyone together.

Every few seconds she adjusted their thickness, their grip, their length, and their flexibility so the force of Sage’s acceleration did not tear anyone apart. Her vines groaned under the pressure, but they held.

Behind them, Valeria watchedthe entire group shoot forward like a white comet, and for a brief moment, the corner of her lips lifted into the faintest smile.

It was small, almost impossible to notice, but it was there. Sage had made the correct choice. Running separately would have killed them. Binding everyone together and turning himself into the spearhead of the escape was reckless, painful, and dangerous, but it gave them a chance.

Red arcs of mana began dancing around her body, crawling over her armor and wrapping around her crimson broadsword like living lightning.

The serpent’s massive head descended behind her, its jaws opening wider as itprepared to release the storm energy building in its throat, but Valeria did not retreat immediately.

She bent her knees slightly, crimson light gathering beneath her boots, and the next instant she shot forward as a red bolt across the sky, catching up to Sage’s white streak with terrifying speed.

The serpent roared in fury when it saw them pull away. Its gigantic body twisted through the clouds, and with a violent snap, it lunged after them.

The sky itself seemed to fall as its head plunged downward, jaws wide enough to swallow an entire mansion whole. The suction created by its movement tore trees from the ground and pulled broken stones into the air.

The storm around its body condensedinto spiraling blades of wind that carved through the wilderness, leaving long scars across the land wherever they passed. Valeria appeared behind Sage’s group and swung her sword backward without slowing, cutting apart the nearest storm blade before it reached them.

Another came from the side, and Vanthrice reacted from within the vine formation, thrusting her bronze spear outward with perfect timing.

The spear did not stop the storm blade completely, but it disturbed the angle enough for Valeria’s crimson slash to finish it. Vanthrice’s arms shook from the impact, but she held her spear tightly and kept her eyes open.

"Still with us?" Gregor shouted throughthe wind.

Vanthrice’s answer came calmly despite the chaos. "Worry about yourself."

Boren screamed from somewhere in the middle of the vine formation. "I am worrying about everyone, especially myself!"

The white pillar grew larger ahead, its glow filling more and more of their vision. What had once looked distant now towered before them like a road made of light, piercing the sky and earth with clean radiance.

Sage’s breathing had turned rough, and blood slowly trickled from the corner of his mouth as the strain of maintaining such speed began tearing at his body, but he did not slow down.

Mina saw the blood and her eyes widened.

"Petty uncle Sage..."

"Don’t talk," Sage said through clenched teeth. "Hold on."

The serpent closed the distance again. Its jaws descended behind them, so close now that the shadow of its mouth swallowed the entire group.

Its breath washed over them like a cold storm, carrying the smell of lightning, old blood, and ancient mana. Several adventurers cried out as the pressure slammed into their backs.

Lyana’s vines stretched violently, nearly snapping from the pull, and Sagefelt the entire formation jerk backward for one terrifying moment.

Valeria appeared directly between them and the serpent’s jaws, crimson mana erupting around her as she slashed upward with both hands.

Her attack struck the edge of the serpent’s descending pressure, not the beast itself, but the collision still produced a massive explosion that pushed the jaws back by a fraction of a second.

That fraction was enough.The white pillar filled their entire vision.

Sage no longer saw trees, mountains, storm clouds, or serpent scales. Therewas only light ahead and death behind. He poured the last burst of wind mana into the circles beneath his boots, and the white streak accelerated one final time.

Valeria transformed into crimson lightning beside them, her sword lowered at her side as she matched their speed. Vanthrice tightened her grip around her bronze spear. Gregor clenched his jaw.

Brutus held the injured adventurer close. Caelis closed his eyes for half a breath. Lyana buried her focus into the vines. Mina squeezed Sage’s robe with all her strength. Boren screamed something about never touching treasure again, though nobody believed him.

The serpent roared, its gigantic jaws almost closing around the trailing vines as the group crossed the final distance.

Everyone closed their eyes.

BOOM!

They crashed into the white pillar.