Yuuya's expression hardened the playful smile from moments ago had completely disappeared.
Whoever had launched that attack…
Was far stronger than the assassins the clearing descended into chaos.
Massive vines continued bursting from the earth, twisting around towering stone spikes that erupted without warning.
CRASH!
The ground split apart the unconscious assassins, still lying where after Yuuya had knocked them out, were caught before anyone could react.
The vines pierced straight through them, blood sprayed across the clearing. The remaining assassins' faces turned pale.
"W-What is this?!"
"Run!"
Even they abandoned all discipline, scattering in every direction to avoid the indiscriminate attack.
Yuuya tightened his hold on Lexia.
"Hold on."
Before she could respond—
Several thick vines shot toward them from behind without setting Lexia down, Yuuya twisted his body. One vine missed his shoulder by inches, another swept toward his legs.
He leaped over it a third lunged for Lexia Yuuya rotated midair, shielding her with his own body as the vine narrowly missed.
Carrying someone made every movement more difficult yet not once did he loosen his grip, Lexia looked up at him, stunned.
Despite the danger…
He never once put her at risk.
"...This is getting troublesome."
Yuuya frowned that his [Limiter] was still active he could feel it. The restraint on his body suddenly seemed much heavier than before.
At the same time—
A crushing pressure began spreading through the forest unlike anything he had felt before. The air itself became heavy even the surviving assassins struggled to breathe.
"...So that's where you were."
Yuuya's eyes shifted toward the trees and the vines suddenly stopped moving.
Silence returned.
Then—
A figure stepped out from the darkness of the forest.
A woman.
Tall, elegant and beautiful enough to seem almost unreal, long, brilliant purple hair flowed behind her with each step.
Her hollow violet eyes showed no warmth, only cold indifference.
The vines around the clearing slowly retreated toward her feet…
As though welcoming their master the entire forest seemed to grow still and Yuuya instinctively knew.
The real battle…
Had only just begun, the mysterious woman took another slow step into the clearing. A soft, beautiful voice drifted from her lips.
"...Hello."
For the first time, the indifference in her hollow violet eyes faded.
Instead—
A flicker of curiosity appeared, her gaze settled entirely on Yuuya, a faint smile curved her lips.
"...How interesting I didn't expect someone as... delicious as you to appear in this part of the forest."
Yuuya's grip around Lexia tightened.
"...Delicious?"
The woman's smile only widened.
Before either of them could say another word—
A surviving assassin stumbled backward through the brush. The sound of snapping branches echoed across the clearing. The woman's expression immediately soured.
"...How noisy."
Without even looking at them—
She raised a single finger.
SHHK!
Dozens of black vines erupted from beneath the remaining assassins; there were only brief screams.
Then silence.
The vines withdrew just as quickly, leaving the clearing eerily still Yuuya's eyes narrowed.
"...She killed them without even turning around..."
The overwhelming pressure filling the forest intensified beside him, Lexia trembled. Her breathing became uneven.
"...Mmm..."
Then her body suddenly went limp, Yuuya caught her before she could slip from his arms.
"...She fainted."
Whether from fear or the crushing magical pressure, he couldn't tell. Slowly, Yuuya looked back toward the mysterious woman.
"...Let's see what you are."
He activated [Appraisal] a familiar blue window appeared.
[Dark Dryad]
Level: 4
Magic: 25,000
Attack: 20,000
Defense: 15,000
Agility: 16,000
Intelligence: 12,000
Luck: 15,000
Yuuya's eyes widened.
"...Level... four?"
His gaze remained fixed on the screen; the numbers made no sense. Its level was absurdly low yet every single stat dwarfed anything he had encountered in the forest.
Even the Bloody Ogre…
Even the Goblin General…
They weren't even close Yuuya unconsciously gritted his teeth.
"...What kind of monster are you?"
Normally, he would have welcomed a stronger opponent but not today. Not while carrying an unconscious girl who is also injured.
Not while trying to keep her alive.
For the first time since entering this forest—
Yuuya realized he couldn't focus solely on winning he had someone else to protect.
The Dark Dryad watched Yuuya in silence.
Then, slowly—
She ran her tongue across her lips and a delighted smile returned to her face.
"...No."
"It has been a very long time since I've met someone as interesting as you."
Her hollow violet eyes never left him.
"...Tell me your name."
Yuuya shifted Lexia slightly in his arms, making sure she was secure he met the woman's gaze and smiled faintly.
"My name?"
He chuckled.
"I'm the man with a very good sense of self-preservation."
He turned slightly, clearly intending to leave the Dryad's smile frozen.
Then…
It twisted her expression became almost crazed, her eyes widening with unsettling excitement.
"...Leave?"
"You think I'll let you leave?"
She slowly raised one hand and the forest answered the earth rumbled violently.
Towering stone spikes burst upward while countless black vines surged across the clearing, weaving together into an enormous cage around Yuuya from every direction.
There wasn't a single obvious escape.
"...Then I'll just have to keep you here."
Yuuya sighed.
"I was hoping to avoid this."
With a thought—
[Limiter] deactivated.
The restraint weighing on his body vanished instantly, power flooded back through every muscle. Without hesitation, he thrust his free hand into [Item Box].
A familiar weight met his grip and the Absolute Spear appeared in his hand Yuuya planted one foot firmly.
"...Sorry."
He drew his arm back.
Then—
He threw the spear became a streak of dark silver light.
BOOM!!
Everything in its path was blown apart and the stone became shattered and vines were torn away. A straight corridor opened through the encirclement.
Yuuya looked back over his shoulder and Dryad stood perfectly still, watching him. He gave her a small wink.
"...Maybe next time."
Before she could react—
[Flash Step].
His figure disappeared.
An instant later—
He was already racing through the sky using [Air Walk], Yuuya bounded across invisible footholds high above the forest canopy, carrying the unconscious Lexia safely in his arms.
Below, the endless sea of trees rapidly shrank into the distance his presence faded.
Until—
Even the Dark Dryad could no longer sense him.
For the first time in centuries…
The smile on her face returned.
"...How fascinating."
She softly laughed to herself.
"...I'll definitely find you again."
End of Chapter 14