Chapter 495: The Hunter and the Mage

The moment the six companions passed through the second gate, the scorching battlefield disappeared behind them, replaced by a vast underground wilderness that seemed impossible to exist beneath the earth.

Enormous trees stretched toward a ceiling concealed by thick green mist, their twisted roots spreading across uneven ground covered in moss and fallen leaves.

Strange flowers glowed between the trunks, while the distant cries of unseen creatures echoed through the forest. Despite the absence of sunlight, the entire environment possessed an eerie twilight glow.

"Well, this is certainly an improvement," Sage remarked, examining the towering trees. "At least whoever designed these trials understands the importance of scenery. Fighting monsters in the same miserable stone chamber five times would have been terribly disappointing."

Rowan crouched beside a cluster of broken branches, examining the soil beneath them.

His expression gradually became serious as he noticed several overlapping footprints. "Guildmaster, something’s wrong with these tracks. They appear fresh, but the surrounding vegetation hasn’t been disturbed. Someone deliberately arranged them to mislead anyone passing through."

Leon rested his sword against his shoulder. "Then this trial isn’t simply about defeating monsters."

"Exactly," Rowan replied, rising to his feet. "We’re being encouraged to follow the wrong paths. If we aren’t careful, we’ll walk straight into whatever traps are waiting."

Sage glanced toward the surrounding wilderness before nodding. "Then you’re in charge of navigation, Rowan. Consider the rest of us your extremely expensive escort."

Mina looked toward the forest with growing excitement. "Does that mean there are powerful monsters hiding somewhere?"

"Almost certainly," Sage answered. "And before you ask, no, you cannot run off to introduce yourself."

Mina puffed out her cheeks but remained beside Lucan.

Rowan led them deeper into the forest, carefully examining broken branches, disturbed soil, and scratches along the tree trunks. Several times, he deliberately avoided obvious trails, choosing instead to follow narrow passages concealed beneath hanging vines.

Their caution soon proved justified.

As Lucan approached a clearing, Rowan suddenly raised his hand. "Stop! Nobody step beyond that root."

Everyone halted.

Rowan picked up a fallen branch and tossed it into the clearing.

Whoosh!

Dozens of sharpened wooden stakes erupted from beneath the ground, impaling the branch before disappearing again.

Lucan stared at the clearing with a grim expression. "That would’ve been unpleasant."

"Rather inconsiderate of the forest," Sage remarked. "Rowan, please continue preventing our untimely deaths."

They continued through the wilderness, encountering several similar traps before Rowan discovered enormous claw marks carved into a tree.

He examined them carefully, then moved toward another trunk bearing identical markings.

"These aren’t random scratches," Rowan explained. "They’re territorial markings. Whatever made them has been circling us since we entered."

Iris glanced toward the surrounding mist. "I can sense mana moving between the trees, but it keeps disappearing whenever I try to locate it."

"Because it’s using the forest to conceal itself," Rowan replied. "And I believe it’s waiting for us to separate."

Almost immediately, a low growl emerged from the darkness.

A massive feline creature appeared atop a fallen tree, its black fur covered in faint green markings. Two enormous fangs protruded from its upper jaw, while its muscular tail swayed slowly behind it.

The creature’s mana and physical characteristics placed it within the Elite-Class classification established by the Adventurer Guild.

Mina immediately reached for her sword, but Rowan raised his hand.

"Wait," he warned. "That’s exactly what it wants."

The creature suddenly vanished into the mist.

A moment later, it appeared behind them, lunging toward Iris.

Swish!

Leon casually swung his sword, but the creature twisted away before the blade reached it, disappearing between the trees.

Leon narrowed his eyes. "Interesting. It isn’t strong enough to threaten me directly, but it knows how to avoid unfavorable exchanges."

Rowan studied the direction of its retreat. "It’s leading us toward another trap. Look at the ground beneath those trees."

Sage followed his gaze and noticed several concealed depressions.

"Then how do you suggest we deal with our troublesome friend?" Sage asked.

Rowan considered the surrounding terrain before pointing toward a rocky clearing nearby. "We lure it there. The ground is solid, there are fewer places to hide, and its movements will be easier to predict."

Sage smiled. "Excellent. Everyone follow Rowan’s instructions."

The group deliberately moved toward the clearing while Rowan watched the creature’s movements. When they reached the center, Iris created a shallow stream of water around the surrounding rocks, making the creature’s approach easier to detect.

Several moments passed.

Then the monster attacked.

Roar!

It emerged from the mist and lunged toward Mina, apparently believing her to be the easiest target.

"Now!" Rowan shouted.

Iris immediately raised a wall of earth behind the creature, cutting off its retreat. Lucan moved toward its exposed flank, while Mina reinforced her sword with golden mana and struck its foreleg.

The creature staggered, attempting to leap over the obstruction.

Unfortunately for it, Leon was already waiting.

Slash!

A single effortless swing severed the monster’s head.

Its enormous body crashed onto the rocky ground.

Leon lowered his sword and glanced toward Rowan. "Well done. You identified its hunting pattern and forced it into a position where its advantages became useless."

Rowan smiled modestly. "I only understood the environment. Everyone else made the plan work."

Sage nodded approvingly. "Which is precisely why I brought you. If I wanted someone who could only swing a sword, I’d simply ask Captain Leon to do everything."

A golden light suddenly spread across the clearing.

[Ding!]

[Second Trial Completed!]

[Trials Completed: 2/5]

An ancient stone gate emerged between the trees, its surface covered in glowing runes.

Sage examined the opening with satisfaction. "Two completed, three remaining. At this rate, we might even return before Tobias starts calculating how much money I’m losing by being absent."

The companions passed through the gate, leaving the forest behind.

Their surroundings changed immediately.

The third trial consisted of an enormous labyrinth constructed from pale stone walls that stretched toward a ceiling illuminated by countless floating crystals. Magical formations covered the floors and walls, while streams of blue mana flowed through intricate channels connecting the passages.

Iris stopped almost immediately.

"Guildmaster, this place is completely different," she murmured, studying the nearest formation. "The entire labyrinth is being maintained by magic."

Rowan examined the intersecting corridors. "Can you determine which direction we should take?"

"Not yet," Iris replied. "The mana currents are constantly changing, and several passages are protected by barriers."

Sage folded his arms. "Then I suppose it’s your turn to lead, Iris. Rowan has already saved us from becoming decorations in a forest. Let’s see whether you can prevent us from spending the rest of our lives wandering through corridors."

Iris smiled before approaching the nearest wall. "I’ll do my best, Guildmaster."

She placed her palm against the stone and released a small amount of Water Mana.

The nearby runes immediately responded, illuminating several lines across the floor.

"Interesting," Iris murmured. "The formations react differently depending on the mana introduced. Water reveals certain channels, while Earth Mana should affect the supporting structures."

She tested her theory by sending Earth Mana into another symbol.

Rumble!

A section of the wall shifted, revealing a previously concealed passage.

Mina stared at the opening in amazement. "You opened it!"

Iris nodded, although her expression remained cautious. "Yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe."

Her warning proved correct.

Several armored creatures emerged from the newly revealed passage, their bodies resembling humanoid constructs covered in pale stone plates. Blue mana flickered through the gaps in their armor.

"Elite-Class," Lucan observed, recognizing their approximate strength from the Guild’s classification standards.

Leon stepped forward without hesitation.

Swish! Swish!

Two casual sword strikes reduced the nearest creatures to pieces before they could approach.

The remaining monsters attempted to retreat, but Mina intercepted one while Lucan engaged another. Within moments, the passage was clear.

Sage glanced toward the fallen creatures. "At least these ones had the courtesy to announce themselves. I was beginning to dislike surprises."

They continued deeper into the labyrinth, following Iris as she examined the formations controlling each intersection. Several corridors ended in magical barriers, while others contained dangerous traps triggered by careless movement.

At one junction, Iris discovered three enormous runic circles carved into the floor.

"These formations are connected," she explained. "Activating them in the wrong order could redirect the mana into the surrounding passages."

Sage examined the inscriptions before pointing toward the smallest circle. "Notice how the outer lines converge here. Wouldn’t it make sense to stabilize that formation first?"

Iris studied the arrangement, then nodded. "You’re right, Guildmaster. The smaller circle controls the flow between the other two."

She carefully introduced Water Mana into the first formation, followed by Earth Mana into the second.

The runes illuminated.

However, when she attempted to activate the third circle, the entire chamber began trembling.

Boom!

A powerful surge of mana erupted from the floor, forcing everyone backward.

Leon immediately positioned himself before the others, while Sage raised an earthen barrier to shield them from the scattered debris.

Iris quickly withdrew her mana.

"The sequence was incomplete," she realized, studying the fading symbols. "There’s another formation beneath the central circle!"

She knelt and examined the hidden markings, discovering that the final mechanism required the surrounding mana currents to be redirected before activation.

This time, Iris proceeded carefully.

Water Mana flowed through the outer channels, while Earth Mana stabilized the central formation.

The three circles illuminated simultaneously.

Click!

A massive section of the labyrinth wall slowly withdrew, revealing an enormous doorway.

[Ding!]

[Third Trial Completed!]

[Trials Completed: 3/5]

Sage smiled as the notification disappeared.

"Excellent work, Iris. Remind me never to enter an ancient magical labyrinth without you."

Iris returned his smile. "I’m glad I could help, Guildmaster."

Beyond the doorway stood another enormous gate, its surface bearing the image of a warrior holding a raised sword.

However, unlike the previous trials, an oppressive wave of mana radiated from the darkness beyond it.

Even Mina stopped smiling.

Leon studied the entrance, his expression becoming noticeably more serious.

"Everyone should recover before we continue," he advised. "Whatever awaits us beyond that gate is considerably stronger than the enemies we’ve encountered so far."

Sage looked toward the fourth trial.

Three challenges had been completed.

Only two remained.

But judging by the overwhelming mana pressure coming from beyond the gate, the next trial would not be nearly as forgiving.