The scent of decay and darkness was so thick it was suffocating, desperately squeezing the remaining warmth and light inside the protective barrier.
Muxuan flicked his hand again.
The glow at the tip of his crosier blazed, and a steady stream of Lightforce surged from his body, pouring into the barrier.
However, the massive consumption was like an invisible giant maw, devouring his power at an alarming rate.
Fine beads of sweat broke out on his smooth forehead, and his breathing grew a fraction heavier than usual.
Maintaining a defense of this intensity in a place filled with hostility and suppressed by Rule was no easy task.
Instead of holding back, he gathered a vast amount of Lightforce, shaping it into a thick beam of light that instantly pierced through the tree wall formed by countless intertwining branches ahead.
Without needing a reminder from Qiansitelin, Theodore immediately sprinted toward the passage opened by the Lightforce.
Muxuan and Qiansitelin followed closely behind.
The light barrier collided and scraped against the branches, creating a constant sizzling sound.
The passage carved through the tree wall began to close rapidly under the branches that were growing frantically behind them, with darkness swallowing the briefly illuminated path.
Every time the branches tore through the barrier, Muxuan felt a malice so potent it could have obliterated him in an instant.
The further they went, the greater the pressure became.
Though she felt somewhat uncomfortable, Qiansitelin did not remain idle.
The moment a crack appeared, she swung “Lyrasel.”
A silver blade of light flew toward the fissure, merging with the protective barrier and pushing away all the black mist that had snuck in, pinning it firmly outside.
By carefully sensing that malice, Muxuan had already roughly grasped the power level of this forest.
The Mohu level could be considered the top-tier combat strength for almost all races.
Coupled with the natural suppression caused by The Strange, the growth trend of this forest was simply unstoppable.
Watching the various creatures that had died such miserable deaths, Muxuan could glimpse a fraction of the horror through the distorted tree trunks in just these few steps.
He just hadn’t expected that goblins would be the creatures that died here most frequently.
Hearing Muxuan’s soft sigh, Theodore’s expression became increasingly solemn.
As someone also at the Mohu level, Theodore had learned at the stronghold about Muxuan’s suppression of The Strange power.
Theodore was certain that she could never do the same.
She looked at Muxuan with some concern, seeing his arm still holding steady as he hoisted the crosier high.
A sense of security inexplicably surged in Theodore’s heart, and at the same time, she felt endless admiration for him.
But she understood the horror of this forest.
“We’re close!”
After a quiet shout, Theodore bypassed several tree roots that had been burned into inactivity by the Lightforce and quickened her pace once more.
‘The Pope has helped me so much already; I cannot let him exert himself any further!’
Hearing Theodore’s words, the frowning Qiansitelin couldn’t help but exhale in relief, though her face showed clear signs of fatigue.
She pressed her temples, swaying as she followed behind Theodore.
Muxuan looked at Qiansitelin’s back, pondered for a moment, but ultimately said nothing.
He quickly caught up, simultaneously expanding the light barrier outward to deflect most of the attacking branches.
“Pope, it’s just up ahead!”
In mere moments, Theodore led Muxuan and Qiansitelin a fair distance further.
However, the moment her voice fell, she was snatched up by Qiansitelin, who retreated rapidly.
The next second, several giant trees blocking the path ahead collapsed with a roar, slamming heavily against the light barrier.
Accompanied by a crisp crack, Muxuan did not hesitate to stop providing Lightforce to the barrier.
“Holy Word: Judgment!”
The moment Qiansitelin retreated behind him, a massive sword of light appeared out of thin air and slashed fiercely toward the fallen trees.
“Woooo—!”
A shrill, ear-piercing sound rang out instantly as the twisted faces on the giant trees struggled frantically, writhing along the thick trunks.
After the giant trees were severed, Muxuan did not pause in the slightest.
The crosier in his hand swung again, and the gold in his eyes grew increasingly intense.
“Holy Chant: Ensemble!”
As countless points of light materialized, countless incoming branches rushed toward them.
The sizzling sound rang out again.
The points of light poured down like a rainstorm, each imbued with pure, scorching light.
They moved as if equipped with a precision targeting system, and the shrill sound of burning blended into a continuous, mournful wail as they accurately struck the incoming branches.
The hit branches instantly turned charred black, twisting and breaking, turning into floating ashes that carried sparks.
The air was filled with a thick, burnt smell and the strange odor of purified decay, which forcefully and briefly suppressed the sickening malice of the forest.
“Go!”
Qiansitelin commanded in a low voice, her tone carrying a trace of imperceptible urgency.
She had noticed that the light from her little Highness’s crosier had dimmed slightly for a moment; though he had forced it to stabilize, the cracks were starting to show.
Muxuan rubbed his brow and re-erected a golden light barrier that was smaller but far more solid, enveloping the three of them within it.
Theodore was set down, her face deathly pale.
The fallen giant trees and the wailing faces on them still made her shudder.
But she did not hesitate, her eyes locked firmly on the chaotic gap Muxuan had cleared in front of them.
“This way! Hurry! The passage is behind that pile of fallen rocks!”
Theodore’s voice trembled but remained exceptionally firm as her small figure burst into amazing speed, charging toward that area first.
The trio stumbled toward the position Theodore indicated.
Muxuan signaled for Qiansitelin to go first, while once again summoning a large burst of light dots to cover their advance.
The pile of huge rocks, clearly stacked by human hands, was now slightly askew from being pushed by gnarled tree roots, revealing a dark hole behind them that was only big enough for one person to squeeze through.
One could see rough chiseling marks and scattered reinforced wooden stakes at the edge of the hole, making it clear they were the handiwork of dwarf craftsmen.
HUM—
However, before Theodore could enter, a massive will—far heavier and filled with more endless hatred than any previous attack—erupted from the deepest part of the forest like an invisible tsunami!
The entire Kanoqies forest let out a bone-chilling roar; the ground shook violently, and countless thick, pitch-black roots burst from the soil.
This time, they did not attack the light barrier.
Instead, they directly coiled around, squeezed, and slammed against the pile of rocks that served as the entrance.
BOOM!
CRACK!
The rocks groaned under the terrifying power, and fragments flew everywhere.
The reinforced wooden stakes snapped one after another like fragile matchsticks.
The entrance was being squeezed, deformed, and buried at a speed visible to the naked eye.
“Heh, so I’ve actually made you lose your cool.”
Muxuan’s brows knitted together as he let out a cold laugh.
Immediately following, vast Lightforce surged out, almost breaking through the disguise on his skin.
A massive beam of light soared into the sky with Muxuan at its center.
A graceful, majestic angel manifested behind him, opening its eyes in unison with his.
A holy and ethereal voice slowly rang out:
“YOU WISH TO LOSE YOUR COOL? HAS THIS MATTER BEEN APPROVED BY ME?”