After the chaos at the Arena settled, I could almost feel the heavy grudge that fat nobleman now bore toward me.
Well... I couldn't really blame him. Even I was a little disgusted with myself after that stunt.
Still, the mess was behind me now—or so I hoped. Irish had to head off on some unknown business, and for the first time in a while, I found myself alone with Clara.
"H-Hey, Clara... could you help me?" I asked, my voice laced with a rare vulnerability. I sounded more like a beggar pleading for coins than a cultivator seeking assistance.
She turned toward me, golden hair cascading down her shoulders like sunlight spilling over silk. Her calm eyes met mine, and without hesitation, she nodded.
"Could you help me break through to Foundation Establishment?" I continued, trying to keep my voice steady. "I should be at least ready now..."
After all, with the disasters looming and the Seven Sins stirring from their ancient slumber, time was no longer on my side.
Clara blinked, slightly surprised by the sudden request, but she nodded again. Her voice softened, warm and sincere for once. "What can your Mentor do to help?"
I took a deep breath. "Let's go to the Dark Forest."
The words sounded absurd even to my own ears. Like a lunatic asking to be thrown into a den of monsters.
Her eyes twitched, brows arching in a mixture of amusement and disbelief. "You do know that's home to 4-Star to 7-Star monsters, right?" she asked dryly. "You sure you're not asking for a swift death?"
I scratched the back of my head, offering a sheepish grin. "There's a pond deep within the forest… it's not in the usual maps. If I can reach it, I'll be able to break through. My cultivation has… let's say, unique conditions."
She exhaled sharply and ran a hand through her hair, clearly weighing the risks. "Fine," she said at last, narrowing her eyes. "But if I help you, you'll owe me three favors. You'll agree to them—no matter when or what I ask. Deal?"
I had a bad feeling about that… but what choice did I have?
I nodded solemnly. "Deal."
If I succeeded in becoming a perfect Foundation Establishment cultivator, I'd possess the power to rival Peak 3-Star warriors, even if I was technically still Early 2-Star. That kind of leap would make me a target. If the academy—or worse, the world—found out, they'd treat me as more than a prodigy. I'd be labeled a hero… like Gab.
And that would only complicate my mission to protect the Empress.
Clara seemed pleased with my compliance but didn't press her advantage. She smiled slightly and asked, "So, when are we going?"
"Tomorrow," I replied firmly. "I can't afford to wait."
She raised a brow, surprised. "We're skipping class?"
I nodded again, showing no remorse.
She sighed but didn't argue. After all, her real task was to monitor me. Babysitting my impulsive escapades was part of the deal.
We parted ways for the evening, and for once, I felt some peace. The Empress's gaze was absent tonight—or perhaps she simply had other matters to attend to. I allowed myself a rare smile, drifting into a peaceful sleep.
---
Morning arrived in a blink, accompanied by an impatient knock on my door.
When I opened it, Clara stood there in full knight attire—sharp, proud, and unmistakably beautiful.
I blinked. "I haven't even taken a bath yet…"
She sighed and muttered something under her breath. Then, with a quick gesture, she cast a spell—cleansing me instantly from head to toe.
"Well... that's helpful," I murmured.
Without a word, she grabbed me by the collar and hoisted me into the air.
Moments later, we were flying over the vast expanse of forest, and it took a moment for me to fully comprehend what was happening. I was still groggy from sleep.
Then—SLAP.
Her palm connected with my cheek.
"What the hell was that for!?"
She glared at me, not mocking, but genuinely concerned. "You're still half-asleep. You think you'll survive the Dark Forest in that state?"
I rubbed my cheek, wincing, then gave myself a second slap. The fog in my head cleared. "Okay. I'm awake now."
I summoned a map from my storage ring, one I'd sketched from the fragments described in the original novel—the one where the protagonist found the breakthrough pond around Sequence 3 or 4. Of course, I had no intention of waiting that long.
I was going to steal that opportunity for myself.
Once we arrived, Clara dropped us near the forest's edge. We landed with quiet precision, and immediately the atmosphere shifted.
The trees towered above us, ancient and gnarled, their leaves so dense they blocked out most of the sunlight. The air was thick with moisture and something else—something ominous.
We didn't waste time. Clara was tense, focused, and alert. We both knew what was at stake.
The first creature we encountered was a massive 5-Star beast—a grotesque zombie-like creature, easily thirty feet tall, with muscles bulging beneath rotted skin and veins pumping glowing green liquid.
Clara's expression darkened. She didn't want to engage. A fight would draw more attention.
We held our breath behind a massive tree, remaining still for over forty minutes until the monster finally lumbered off into the mist.
But our luck didn't last.
Soon after, we stumbled upon a 4-Star monster—its mouth grotesquely large compared to its tiny, sinewy body. It opened wide, revealing a forest of jagged teeth and an unnaturally long, barbed tongue.
Clara didn't hesitate. She moved like lightning, her blade a blur, and eliminated the creature in seconds.
We pressed forward, deeper into the forest's heart. As we walked, I began to notice something was wrong.
The landscape wasn't changing.
Despite walking for hours, we weren't getting closer to the pond. I had marked trees along the way, etched subtle runes into their bark—but the marks were repeating.
We were trapped.
Clara hadn't noticed yet. She remained focused on leading us safely forward. But I'd already pieced it together.
An illusion.
The Dark Forest was infamous for its deceptive terrain, filled with spatial warps and illusory mazes. But I hadn't expected to encounter one this early.
I slowed my pace, glancing around, heart beginning to pound. The shadows were playing tricks. The sky above was dark, but visibility remained eerily clear—unnaturally so.
I whispered, "Clara… we're not moving forward."
She stopped, frowning. "What do you mean?"
I pointed at the tree beside us. "I marked this an hour ago."
Her eyes narrowed as she examined the rune. "So we're in a loop."
I nodded grimly.
She cursed under her breath and drew her weapon again. "Then we break the illusion."
I could only hope the illusion was the only thing watching us.