Chapter 261: Daily Life With Akari [3]

He carefully adjusted his path to pass between two of them. The instant he entered their range.

Rustle!

Every flower suddenly moved. The petals unfolded completely. Rows upon rows of jagged teeth emerged from within the blossoms.

The entire flower twisted toward Noah. Their enormous mouths opened wide.

SKREEEE!!

An ear-piercing shriek echoed through the forest.

’They noticed me!’

Without hesitation, Noah accelerated.

Boom!

One gigantic flower lunged toward him. Although rooted to the ground, its flexible stalk bent with terrifying speed.

Its massive head shot forward like a striking snake.

Noah instinctively threw himself sideways. The monstrous flower slammed into the ground where he had been a fraction of a second earlier.

BOOM!

Soil exploded into the air. Wood splinters flew everywhere.

Noah rolled across the ground before immediately regaining his footing.

’Fast! Much faster than yesterday!’

Before he could recover.

Whip!

Thick vines burst from the bushes to his right. They lashed toward his legs like living whips.

Noah jumped. The vines narrowly missed his ankles.

The moment he landed another flower attacked from the opposite side. Its enormous mouth snapped shut with a deafening crunch.

CRACK!!

A tree trunk nearly half a meter thick shattered between its jaws. Cold sweat ran down Noah’s back.

’If that was my body... Damn! I need to run like I am running for my life.’

He didn’t dare finish the thought. Remembering Akari’s instructions, he resisted every urge to summon ice.

’No magic. No attacks. I just have to run.’

He clenched his teeth. Mana surged through his legs again.

Whoosh!

His speed exploded. He zigzagged through the forest with sharp changes of direction, using trees as cover whenever possible.

Another vine shot toward his chest. He twisted his torso at the last possible moment.

Swish!

The thorn-covered vine grazed his shoulder.

Rip!

His shirt tore open. A red line appeared across his skin.

Blood slowly trickled down his arm.

"Tch... Just a scratch."

He didn’t slow down. Instead, he pushed even harder.

Behind him the flowers continued shrieking. Dozens of vines whipped wildly through the forest. Some pierced tree trunks. Others shattered rocks. The entire forest seemed alive.

Noah’s breathing gradually became heavier. His body darted between countless attacks.

He leaped. Then slide, then duck and roll.

Every movement came purely from instinct. Twice more, thorny vines managed to scrape his arms. One sharp thorn grazed his thigh, leaving another shallow cut.

The injuries weren’t serious. But they steadily accumulated.

More importantly his concentration couldn’t slip even once.

One mistake one moment of hesitation... And those monstrous flowers would swallow him whole.

Far behind him standing atop a thick tree branch...

Akari silently watched everything.

She made no attempt to interfere. Her sapphire eyes calmly followed every movement Noah made through the forest.

A faint smile slowly appeared on her lips.

"Good..."

She murmured softly.

"Don’t think. Move. Trust your instincts. That’s the first lesson."

Below her Noah continued sprinting through the sea of monstrous flowers, desperately weaving between countless snapping jaws and razor-sharp vines while refusing to draw his sword or cast a single spell.

His real training had only just begun.

For next few months all he have to do was training.

---

While Noah was busy training in an unknown land...

The outside world had descended into chaos.

---

In a magnificent hall, a beautiful woman sat silently upon an elegant throne.

She wore a flowing white robe embroidered with delicate golden patterns.

Her long snow-white hair faded into brilliant crimson flame at the ends, resembling dancing flames. Her striking eyes carried the same fiery hue, giving her an almost divine presence.

It was Sefira.

She rested one elbow against the armrest, her chin supported by her hand.

Her gaze was distant.

She was completely lost in thought. The recent monster outbreaks across the Empire refused to leave her mind.

BEEP!

A soft notification echoed through the silent hall.

Sefira blinked before reaching into her robe and pulling out a small communication device.

It was a circular metallic artifact with a crystal screen embedded in its center.

She tapped the surface lightly.

The screen flickered to life. A familiar face appeared.

"Have you learned anything, Victor?" she asked immediately.

"What exactly is happening?"

"I’ve already dealt with as many monsters as I could in the nearby towns and villages."

"They’re appearing far too frequently."

Victor nodded from the other side.

"Yes, my lady. I’ve gathered some important information. It came from Instructor Morgana. After receiving her report, the Principal immediately called a meeting with the senior instructors. I was present."

Sefira straightened in her seat.

"Tell me everything."

Victor didn’t waste any time.

He carefully explained everything Morgana had reported.

By the time Victor finished. The calm expression on Sefira’s face had completely disappeared.

"So..."

She spoke slowly.

"You’re telling me that Noah and Damien’s expedition into the labyrinth is connected to everything happening across the Empire?"

"Yes."

Victor nodded gravely. "That’s our current conclusion."

Sefira’s brows knitted together.

"And Noah he’s still missing?"

Victor lowered his gaze.

"Yes. Morgana believes there’s a strong possibility he was pulled into another pocket dimension connected to the labyrinth."

Silence filled the room.

Sefira slowly closed her eyes.

Her fingers tightened around the communication device.

"I understand."

She opened her eyes once more.Their fiery glow had become much sharper.

"You’ve done well, Victor. Continue gathering information. I’ll personally investigate this matter from here."

Victor bowed respectfully.

"Yes, my lady."

The connection ended.

The crystal screen dimmed.

Sefira remained standing in silence for several moments.

A worried sigh escaped her lips.

"Noah. Where have you gone this time?"

She clenched her fist.

"Dammit!"

She was already feeling sad and guilty for fooling Noah. Showing death of his friend Mary.

Now he was missing.

"Hope he is fine. I still have to apologize to him in future."

The memories she share with Noah came.

Without another word, she turned and walked toward the massive doors of the hall.

Her destination had already been decided.

Everhold City.

She intended to investigate the labyrinth herself.

If Noah had truly disappeared into another dimension. Then she would try her best to find him.