Chapter 70: Assassin in the Danger Zone

"Philips was my caretaker, personal retainer, and Guide. He had taken care of me since I was a baby."

Zachary’s voice was unusually quiet. The playful smile that usually lingered on his lips had disappeared.

"Zachary..."

"We couldn’t even give him a proper burial." His fingers tightened around the reins. "When I almost lost myself due to my Resonance Stress, Philips sacrificed himself to stop it."

Zachary’s Resonance as an SSS-Rank Sentinel was truly off the charts.

Lydia remembered the terrifying dark spheres Zachary had unleashed in the brothel when he was a step away from becoming a Mindless.

The chairs and sofas disappeared as soon as the spheres touched them. Nothing was left behind, not even a speck of dust—and most likely, that was what happened to Philips.

She hesitated before speaking again.

"Do you know that he smiled and asked me to take care of you, Zachary?"

Her words made Zachary turn his face away.

Zachary needs some space. I should give him some time to himself.

She gently reached for his hand and held it between hers. Although Zachary didn’t turn back toward her, he didn’t pull away either.

"Philips asked me to take care of his young master for him." Lydia offered him a small smile. "He sure loved you. I am sure of it."

For a while, Zachary remained silent. His black panther ears had drooped slightly, and his tail hung motionless behind him.

"You’re always so foolish, Philips." His voice grew hoarse. "So... foolish."

"Zachary...."

Although Lydia wanted to comfort Zachary, she knew no words could ease the pain of losing someone so important.

For now, all she could do was stay by his side and give him time to grieve.

"Zachary, I’ll go ahead for a bit. Take your time, okay?"

Zachary didn’t answer immediately. Eventually, he gave a small nod without looking at her.

After a little while, Lydia loosened her grip on his hand and rode her horse farther into the Danger Zone.

Unlike the lush forest of the Safe Zone, the deeper part of the Danger Zone was barren. Most of the trees in this place were skeletal and had no leaves.

Countless craters spread all across the area. Some were shallow, while others were deep enough to swallow a horse.

Faint traces of miasma lingered around their edges, making the air feel suffocating even from a distance.

Lydia slowed her horse as she took in the surroundings.

Judging from the craters and the desolate landscape, this area must have suffered numerous Dimensional Rift incidents.

The Rifts had drained the mana from the land itself.

In my previous life, this sector was still doing much better. But it has gotten much worse now.

If the Dimensional Rifts kept appearing at an increasing rate, how many more places would end up like this?

"I should head back to check on Zachary now. This place made me feel uneasy. Especially with how thick the miasma fog is."

WHIZZZZ!!

"!!!"

An arrow suddenly whizzed past her head.

"I’m not a monster! Don’t shoot at me!"

Before she could even process what had happened, another volley of arrows came flying toward her.

"What the hell?!"

She yanked the reins, forcing her horse to turn away from the incoming arrows.

One arrow struck the ground near its hooves, while another flew past her shoulder.

Lydia’s eyes swept across the barren surroundings, searching for the source of the attack

"I’m not a Rift monster!"

Another arrow struck the ground ahead of her.

Oh, no. That wasn’t a mistake. Someone was doing this on purpose. They were targeting her.

After scanning her surroundings, Lydia spotted some movement behind a dead tree a short distance away.

A man with a black mask was hiding behind the willow tree. His bow was raised high as he prepared to fire another arrow.

"Are you seriously attacking a Guide?!"

The man didn’t answer. Instead, he released another arrow.

Lydia urged her horse forward and pulled its reins to send it zigzagging between the dead trees.

"Damn! I don’t want to die here!"

More arrows continued to fly past her. Lydia couldn’t afford to ride in a straight line for her own safety.

I have to go back to Zachary.

Unfortunately, Lydia’s horse had other ideas.

With every arrow that landed nearby, the animal grew more restless. Its ears flattened, and it breathed harder as it galloped in panic through the trees.

Lydia pulled on the reins, trying to steer it away from the attacker, but the frightened horse barely responded.

"Easy! Calm down!"

The horse ignored her.

Lydia tightened her grip on the reins and tried again, but the horse continued bolting deeper into the forest.

"Damn it! Stop!"

The familiar hunting grounds disappeared behind the dead trees as the horse raced deeper into the forest.

"NEEEEIGHHH!"

A flaming arrow struck the horse’s flank. It screamed and reared, throwing Lydia off balance. She clutched the reins, but the horse jerked violently and threw her backward.

She crashed to the ground, landing hard on her shoulder. Before the horse could fall on top of her, Lydia managed to roll away across the dirt.

Pain shot through her arm but she did her best to not scream.

"Ow! My shoulder..."

After a moment, Lydia slowly sat up and tested her arm. It hurt, but she could still move it. At least nothing seemed to be broken.

Blood stained the horse’s silvery-white coat as it lay on its side with ragged breath.

Lydia wanted to help the poor animal, but the approaching footsteps made her freeze.

She gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand. Lydia had to escape before the attacker caught up with her.

"Damn... I don’t even know where I am now. Why now, out of all times? Who is he?"

I can’t die now. Not when things were starting to get much better than my previous life. What to do now... Think, Lydia. Think!!

Her hand reached for the sapphire brooch Brother Vincent had given her.

Will my Sentinels come if I activate it now?

Lydia barely touched the brooch when someone rushed toward her.

The masked man was charging straight at her with a curved scimitar gleaming in his hand. Before she could activate the brooch, he swung his weapon at her chest.

Lydia flinched away, but the blade struck the sapphire brooch and knocked it away from her grasp.

"No!"

The man stepped between her and the brooch, preventing her from reaching it. He raised his scimitar at Lydia, his expression unreadable behind the intricate black mask.

"Got no personal grudge againssst ya, misssssy," he hissed. "But you were the only hint to catch the missing prince in Belfort University."