Chapter 303

Words : 2711 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

Chapter 303 All rainforest Danger Zones were known for their suffocating heat and humidity, acting as basically natural saunas. And the S-class Danger Zone, the Idigna Rainforest, defined the extremes. “It’s as hot as a volcanic zone here.... What kind of hell is this place?” “It’s the plants. They’re absorbing heat and amplifying it. Be careful; the trees are even hotter.” The plants of the Idigna Rainforest, the culprits of the heat, absorbed the searing sunlight and, after multiplying its intensity by dozens of times, radiated it back out. It was so hot that the rainforest genuinely rivaled that of volcanic regions. Even high-ranking heroes, known for their natural resistance to environmental factors, couldn’t help but sweat due to the oppressive heat—and that was just the beginning. Bubble, bubble- Black rivers snaked through the entire rainforest, their surfaces shimmering ominously. Accumulated demonic aura filled them to the brim, its vapors dissipating into the air and suffocating anyone nearby. And whenever anything that possessed some amount of mana approached, the dissipated aura would condensed into black fog and surged toward the source, like a predator rushing its prey. Sizzle! Anything the mist latched its fangs onto would corrode like due to acid. In the Idigna Rainforest, all equipment that was ranked below the Hero tier would malfunction within moments of exposure. “Ugh... This won’t do. Try expanding the barrier’s range.” “This place is just brutal.... Even the outskirts of the Pilgrim’s Path weren’t this bad.” “That’s because you didn’t venture far enough. Go near the Antarctic zones, and it’s worse than this.” As expected of an S-class Danger Zone, the Idigna Rainforest was every bit as harsh. It was a place where only officially authorized high-ranking heroes, equipped with superior gear and extensive experience, could adapt and survive. Anyone else, like those who trespassed illegally through the holy barriers, found themselves in dire straits. “Aaaaahhhh!” “I don’t even side with humans, you cursed—!” One criminal, ensnared by heat-raiding vines while trying to smuggle something, was reduced to a charred husk; while another trespasser, a rogue mage, fell into the black river and was dissolved into mist. Those who sought quick fortune and glory all met swift and gruesome ends, their screams muffled by the rainforest’s oppressive atmosphere. The Idigna Rainforest, unlike its deceptive teeming and verdant appearance, was death incarnate. Meanwhile, as the scramble over the Verdant Lotus Spear escalated within its depths, one figure was calmly walking along its fringes. “Hmm...” Se-Hoon strolled through the outer perimeter, skimming the edge of the holy barrier. Sizzle! The rainforest’s plants and mana mist disintegrated upon contact with the intensely concentrated divine mana emanating from the holy barrier, none spared. If only they had intelligence, then they would have recognized the futility of their struggle. But with only their unyielding life force, they persistently tried to expand, only to fail in vain. I should have seen it by now... He had been following the perimeter of the barrier for over an hour, inspecting the long-standing remnants of this unending clash, yet the object he sought remained elusive. Furrowing his brow, he began wondering if he had miscalculated. And at the moment he had that thought, footsteps approached from behind him, stopping by his side. “What are you looking for so intently?” Aria’s bright smile greeted him, accompanied by her usual cheeriness. But unfazed by it, Se-Hoon nonchalantly replied, “Just checking if they’ve set anything up on their end.” “You mean traps?” “Something like that.” “Hmm...” Her interest piqued, Aria scanned their surroundings as well. Seeing her like that, Se-Hoon just assumed she would eventually lose interest and fall back, so he refocused on his search. Yet she never did, continuing to keep pace beside him. “Why are you walking next to me?” “Why? Is there a reason I’m not allowed to?” “It makes it harder for me to concentrate on my surroundings.” In truth, her presence just annoyed him, but he couldn’t exactly say that outright. Sighing inwardly, he was about to ignore her when Aria gave him a bright smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll watch your blind spots for you.” “There’s no ne—” Wham! Before he could finish, a golden streak blazed past him—Aria’s blade, Glare. It sliced through the air with terrifying speed, brushing past his temple. Clang! The sound of a deflected bullet echoed in the air, the thrown projectile sent flying back. Rustle! Revealed by the nearby bushes, the attacker fled, and Aria, reacting faster than Se-Hoon could process, vanished into the forest with a powerful leap in pursuit. Boom! Silence fell, and moments later, Aria reemerged, as calm and composed as ever, with no sign of exhaustion. And like her, her blade was as pristine as before, lacking even a single drop of blood. “Was it a demon?” Se-Hoon asked. “It was a human. One of those sneaky trespassers. They were trying to hunt easy prey among the others.” Whoosh- Catching what Aria tossed him, what looked like the trespasser’s void pocket, Se-Hoon inspected the contents. If there’s even small fry here, the numbers of criminals must be substantial. The attacker was a scavenger, one of those who were too weak to go for the Verdant Lotus Spear and instead targeted the injured or other weaker participants. Such opportunists were commonplace, especially during large-scale gatherings like the current one. “Still think you don’t need me?” Aria sheathed her sword with a flourish, smirking as though expecting praise. However, that made Se-Hoon glare at her. She stops me from dodging the bullet and then acts like she saved the day... But while he was annoyed, Se-Hoon knew it was better to tolerate her than waste energy arguing. Regardless of whatever her motives for sticking close to him were, Se-Hoon was well-aware she wouldn’t back off quietly. However, right as he was about to respond, another voice interrupted their conversation. “There’s no need for that.” Stepping forward, Eun-Ha, who had been trailing behind, looked at Aria coldly. “With Lee Se-Hoon’s current skill level, you staying close to him would only get in his way. Maintain your distance and protect him properly, Aria Myers.” Her voice was calm, but it carried an unmistakable sting. Yet Aria returned it with a smile, locking eyes with Eun-Ha. “That depends on who’s doing the protecting, doesn’t it?” “At the very least, someone who blocks the escape route of the one they’re ‘protecting’ with their sword wouldn’t qualify.” “...” “...” The two’s gazes clashed in tense silence, the sight bringing a faint smirk to Se-Hoon’s face. They’re still at it, huh? Though their rivalry wasn’t well-known, the tension between Eun-Ha and Aria was infamous in certain circles. The two had clashed over auctioned weapons, each stealing away items the other coveted, fueling their ongoing competition. Of course, it wouldn’t have been an issue if it ended there, but their personalities were like oil and water. They never did get along. Aria, free-spirited and impulsive, constantly clashed with Eun-Ha, methodical and rule-abiding. Because of their personalities, arguments often escalated into scenes like the one before him. Still, this is better than before. Before the regression, their animosity had grown so severe that the Human Alliance deliberately avoided deploying them together. And during the rare cases when they had no choice but to do so, Se-Hoon had been assigned as well to mediate. That was really hellish back then... From mediating complaints to getting caught gossiping about both sides, Se-Hoon had endured it all. The memories of that time brought a wry smile to his face, along with a sense of relief that things weren’t as awful the second time around. But as always, the fond memories ended where their conflict had ultimately led. Shank! Wearing a crown of light, Aria—now the Destroyer of Light—pierced Eun-Ha’s heart with a grotesque blade. It was a scene that was burned into Se-Hoon's mind, making it just as vivid as if it had happened yesterday. Remembering that scene, his expression darken, and at that moment, he felt a gaze directed his way. “...” Aria’s eyes were locked on his expression, having shifted away from Eun-Ha. And after holding it for a moment, she let out a sigh and nodded lightly. “Well, if that’s what the Dean says, I suppose I have no choice. Fine, I’ll step back.” With those words, she turned and began walking ahead of them without hesitation, leaving Se-Hoon blinking in surprise at how easy it was. That’s odd. Given her newly S-rank designation, he thought she’d push harder against Eun-Ha, yet she backed off without resistance. As Se-Hoon puzzled over her behavior, Eun-Ha, who had been watching, provided the answer. “She seems very interested in you, Lee Se-Hoon.” “Does she?” “If not, she wouldn’t have retreated the moment you expressed your displeasure.” At that, Se-Hoon finally understood the meaning behind Aria’s gaze. Did my expression somehow give it away? He usually made an effort to conceal his emotions, but the sight of them seemed to have uncontrollably stirred something within him. And Aria, being sensitive to the subtlest cues, had undoubtedly picked up on the discomfort he was wearing on his face. Which means she backed off because of my mood... Considering it was Aria, such behavior was difficult to believe. But then again, it wasn’t entirely implausible. After all, unlike before his regression, their bond had risen to level two—a change that had established a Relationship between them. She really is different from before. Even if their core traits remained, people could turn out differently based on the relationships and circumstances they experience. It was a truth he understood logically but found difficult to accept in his heart. Trying to accept it, though, Se-Hoon suddenly felt another pair of eyes on him. “...” Like Aria moments earlier, Eun-Ha was staring at him. But her gaze seemed to be full of disapproval, causing Se-Hoon to tilt his head in confusion. “Is something wrong?” “Nothing. Let’s keep moving.” With that curt reply in a frosty tone, Eun-Ha briskly headed off diagonally to the left, toward an area unprotected by the barrier, leaving Se-Hoon behind with a faintly sour expression on his face. I guess things ended the same as before. Whether it was before the regression or now, getting caught between those two always ended in trouble for him. Sighing, Se-Hoon resumed walking, maintaining a steady pace as the two women kept their distance, scanning their surroundings. *** Boom! Roughly an hour later, a faint explosion echoed in the distance, followed by the faint cries of people. “Looks like S-ranks are clashing. Shouldn’t we be heading in?” The battle could attract a swarm of monsters that would block their way, and given the intensity of the fight that could be felt from so far away, something critical must have occurred. Hesitant over whether to agree to Aria’s suggestion, Se-Hoon shook his head after a moment. “We’ll continue to stay back for now.” He knew that the real battle wouldn’t begin until Apostate or Watchers revealed themselves. Increasing his pace, Se-Hoon continued surveying the outer zones, ignoring the sounds of combat from deep within that were growing louder and more intense. Soon, the ground began trembling. Increasing his pace further, Se-Hoon then abruptly stopped, his eyes fixed on a patch of ground. “...!” He punched downward without hesitation. BOOM! The force of his blow sent a shockwave rippling through the ground, tearing apart the soil and revealing a tangled network of roots. Twitch- And within that writhing mass of roots, a faint green tendril was moving. Recognizing it immediately, Se-Hoon grabbed it with swift precision. “Got you.” Snap! With a smirk, he unfurled Shadow Thread from the tips of his fingers. *** Deep beneath the Idigna Rainforest, in a massive underground cavern, a woman with vibrant green hair, Dryas, sat with a sly smile. The tremors from above reached even her hidden domain. “They’re struggling with just my puppets, huh...” Dryas specialized in life magic, the art of converting mana into vitality to grow and control plants. Using it, she had crafted the puppets fighting aboveground by weaving plants together. However, even at their best, they would normally barely reach B-rank in terms of strength, being no match for high-ranking heroes. BOOM! But thanks to the Verdant Lotus Spear rooted deep in the cavern, the puppets could now hold their own. Woong- Drawing power from its roots, which stretched across the Idigna Rainforest, the Spear funneled it into the puppets above. It was that power that allowed her creations to exert strength that rivaled her own. “If only I could use this power outside...” Dryas gazed wistfully at the Verdant Lotus Spear. Her synergy with the weapon allowed her life magic to reach unparalleled heights, but such feats were only possible in the Idigna Rainforest, where vitality overflowed. Even the lushest forests elsewhere wouldn’t have half the life force of this place. Everything was entirely due to the Idigna Rainforest’s unique environment, which also came with its costs. Sizzle- As the spear absorbed life force from the forest, small amounts of demonic aura also seeped in, leaving dark blemishes across its surface. While the spear was a Legendary-tier weapon, it wasn’t invincible to the creeping corruption slowly eating away at it. Dryas glanced upward. “When are they going to show up...?” Her role was to lure Se-Hoon and Eun-Ha to a specific location using the puppets aboveground. Once they arrived, her task was then to abandon the Verdant Lotus Spear and retreat, leaving the rest to Offering, Exuviation, and Apostate. It was a simple mission, but one that left her dissatisfied. “I could make much better use of the spear...” While the Watchers were pouring resources into strengthening Immortal, why was she left playing the bait? Annoyed, Dryas muttered curses about her superiors as she looked longingly at the spear. Woong- Out of the blue, the spear emitted a strange pulse. And immediately after, the flow of life force to her puppets noticeably decreased. Dryas furrowed her brows. What’s happening? Had something gone wrong with the roots she’d spread across the rainforest? Sensing that it might be a serious issue, she placed her hand on the spear and connected with its network of roots. And what she then saw made her freeze. Fwoosh! Like a lit fuse, flames were racing along the roots, spreading at an alarming rate. “What the...?” The fire wasn’t isolated. It traveled furiously through the root system, threatening to engulf everything. The sight of it made Dryas’s face twist in disbelief. How? She had set up wards to sever the roots if anything went wrong. Yet the fire was spreading unchecked? Determined to find the cause, she focused further and identified a spell that had piggybacked on the life force flowing through the roots, embedding itself in the spear. What kind of lunatic would... could it be? Had Se-Hoon somehow discovered the roots and tampered with them? But she quickly shook her head. Impossible. There’s no way. Executing such a complex spell from a distance, through absorbed life force at that, and anchoring it to the spear should be an impossible feat for a mere first-year student. No, I don’t have time for this... Realizing that if the life force supply was suddenly cut off, her puppets wouldn’t hold out for long, Dryas determinedly poured her mana into the spear to purge the spell. However, at that moment, a voice, dripping with quiet amusement, echoed in her mind. “Found you.” “?!” The chilling sensation made Dryas recoil instinctively, leaping back from the spear. Her eyes widened in shock. “I’ve been... discovered?” Though it seemed impossible, it was undeniable. Panic seized her as her mind raced, debating whether to flee or hold her ground. “Ah, ah-” But before she could decide, she heard the voice of a woman, carried through the puppets aboveground. Dryas instinctively looked up. “Incoming meteor.” A crimson comet, Eun-Ha, descended from the sky like death itself.

Chapter 303

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