Garion and Dahlia had been walking for several days. The forest seemed endless, and the air never grew lighter.
Dahlia’s face was dark as she pushed a branch out of the way.
"Master, what the hell is with this path?"
Garion glanced back at her, still walking steadily.
"There are too many demon beasts!" she snapped, kicking at the rock, sending it skidding across the dirt. Fresh chapters posted on N0veI.Fiɾe.net
"Every time we turn, another one jumps out at us. Wolves with horns, a snake with two heads, and even... that thing..."
She quickly frowned, thinking back at the strange creatures they had fought a while back.
"A creature with many eyes and limbs... what was that disgusting thing even supposed to be?"
Dahlia’s brow twitched.
"Warm-up? You said we just had to be patient, and I believed you. But it’s been days, Master. Not hours... days."
She raised her arms in frustration.
"If we keep walking , we’ll cross the entire island before we find anything!"
Garion stopped and turned, scratching his jaw.
"And what’s the problem with that?"
Dahlia stared back at Garion, pointing her finger at him.
"The problem is that... I’m fucking tired. My legs are hurt and my arms are sore from killing things every ten steps."
Dahlia rubbed her dry skin, which was no longer as smooth as it had been.
"I’m just a small, beautiful girl, not a beast. You told me this was training, but even training has limits!"
Garoin chuckled, stretching his shoulders.
"Oh, so now you’re complaining after surviving all that? Don’t you feel stronger?"
She opened her mouth, then shut it, realizing she did feel stronger.
Her mana flow was smoother, and her muscles felt denser even though she was really exhausted.
Still, she refused to admit that Garion was right.
"That doesn’t mean you’re right. Just looked at my skin. It’s not smooth anymore."
"That’s a simple problem. You can fix it later."
Dahlia groaned and dropped onto a nearby rock. She pulled out her bottle and took a long drink of water.
"But still, seriously, Master, what’s your plan? Or are you just walking us in circles?"
Garion stepped closer and crouched in front of her, grinning.
"Look, Dahlia. This place is a test. The arie here crushes us, the mana burns us, and every beast wants us dead."
Garion put his hand on Dahlia’s shoulder, convincing her.
"But that’s what make it perfect. If we can survive walking through hell, then nothing outside will ever scare us."
Dahlia frowned, lowering her water bottle and narrowing her eyes.
"That sounds like something you just made up, Master. I’m not that dumb."
Garion suddenly flicked her forehead with his finger, surprising her.
"Maybe, but just think about it, back at the tournament, people thought you couldn’t last, but in the end..."
Garion smirked, thinking back to the glorious day of Dahlia.
"You end up crushing them all because you trained here way more than anyone else did. This is the same. No pain, no gain."
Dahlia frowned, rubbing her forehead.
"No pain, no gain... You say that too much."
Garion just laughed as he stood again, stretching his back.
"Because it was the truth. Now get up, we’re moving."
Dahlia muttered under her breath but psyched herself back up.
"Fine. But if another nasty freak jumps out, you’re the one fighting it, not me."
"Deal. I’ll suplex the one next one we see."
Dahlia rolled her eyes but followed.
They continued along the twisted path, pushing through thick brush and stepping over roots that looked like black claws.
The demonic mana pressed heavier with each step, making even breathing a challenge.
Dahlia panted, wiping sweat from her brow.
"Master, do you even know where we’re going?"
Garion raised his hand, pointing ahead where the arrow still glowed faintly.
"Trust me. I know where we’re going. We’re close."
She stared at Garion, rolling her eyes.
"Every time you say ’trust me,’ bad things happen."
"And every time, we survive those bad things."
Suddenly, a loud rustle came from the bushes.
Both of them stopped, and Dahlia narrowed her eyes.
Another demon beast crawled out. It looked like a wolf, but on its back sprouted thorn-covered tentacles.
It hissed at both of them, eyes glowing red.
Garion cracked his neck and grinned.
"Guess this one’s mine."
Dahlia exhaled and stepped aside, arms crossed.
"Good. Show it how the demonic beasts that face us end up."
Garion rushed forward, and as the beast lunged toward him, he caught all of its tentacles.
He then pulled them all, swung the wolf body overhead, and slammed it to the ground hard enough to shake the trees.
He wiped his hands, smiling at Dahlia.
She shook her head, but a small smile slipped onto her face.
"You’re just insane, Master."
Garion only laughed as he continued to walk again.
"Insane makes us stronger. Now, come on. We should be almost there."
Dahlia groaned but followed.
"If this path leads us into another fight, I swear I’m kicking you."
Garion only laughed at her words, but before he could answer, a glowing screen popped again.
[Guidance Update: Target within 100 meters]
Garion’s eyes widened.
He bolted forward without hesitation, leaving Dahlia.
Dahlia blinked, startled at her master’s sudden burst.
"Master! What the hell?!"
Garion shouted back, not slowing down.
"I can feel it, Dahlia! It’s close!"
"Damn it..." Dahlia cursed under her breath as she ran after him.
And exactly one hundred meters later, the arrow vanished, and the two of them stopped.
Dahlia’s breath came quick, her eyes darting around the place.
"What the hell is this place...?"
Before them stood a cluster of old stone ruins.
Half-buried under vines and moss, the walls were cracked, and a broken pillar leaned at odd angles.
Strange, faded carvings lined the stones, their meaning already lost.
Garion blinked, stunned.
"Well... I didn’t expect this."