Chapter 1939: Trial of the Fae III
Adrian has already entered the forest for three hours, but he did not know how to get to the end. The entire forest was difficult to navigate as everything looks the same. He tried just going in a straight line thinking that he would reach the end by doing that, but he sensed a disturbance in space. He instinctively knew that he was getting sent back to a designated place.
"This is really Faekin magic at work due to the fact that even my sense of direction is getting interfered with. Paradox, can you increase our output of energy to check the surroundings?" Adrian stated as Paradox flew around him and released waves of mana.
The waves of mana spread around the area, but the rebound did not happen. The mana that Adrian sent out is just like that of a radar that bounces back if it hits something. The mana that he sent out was absorbed by the trees which is not something that should happen normally. Living beings like trees do not absorb mana that is not their own as it could kill them.
"Master, it seems that the entire forest eats up mana in order to survive. Releasing anything that is just pure mana will not work. Do you wish for me to use mana infused with aether energy to check?" Paradox stated.
"If that is the only choice then we have no choice. I do not think that I would need to think about the well being of this forest." Adrian replied as his own special energies tend to have effects on the surroundings.
Nether energy tends to be destructive in nature and would kill any living being by devouring the mana. Aether energy is different as it can infuse things with great vitality but not all can handle that type of abundant energy. Even if aether energy is used to spread in the surroundings, the beings with life could experience to much abundance and die as a result.
"Affirmative. Now applying aether energy infused mana to scan the area." Paradox stated as it released mana waves that have the color of aether energy which usually takes the form of shining small crystals.
The entire forest that was already beautiful has suddenly upgraded its beauty to a great degree. The sparkle that aether energy gave the surroundings made it even more magical than it already is. Adrian thought that he just made the forest even more beautiful, but he can finally see the surroundings. What he did not expect is the feedback that came rushing in as soon as he did so.
"Ouch!" Adrian exclaimed as he held his head because a rush of information that he has never gotten before happened.
Adrian would usually just get some information such as coordinates where trees or any obstacles are. This time the feedback was incredibly different to the point that he got every nook and cranny crammed in his head. The incredibly detailed map of the Forest of No Return is pushed into his brain.
"Apologies, master. I was not able to block and assimilate the data in time." Paradox stated.
What Adrian got is the raw file if it is in terms of volume and size. Paradox usually filters the data in order for his master to get only the needed information. Paradox was unable to do so because it was suddenly incapacitated for a brief period of time when it got the feedback. An energy of unknown power tried to give Adrian a warning and Paradox tried to protect him from it.
"No worries as I only got a bit of a headache. I am already getting used to this information when I am in my mirror demon form. Why did you suddenly fail in filtering the needed data?" Adrian stated.
"An unknown attack is sent to our mana signature. I was able to block the attack, but the information transfer proceeded without my doing. I have deduced that the attack was spiritual in nature which means we might be dealing with a fallen divine being or a spiritual entity of a divine." Paradox stated as it gave Adrian the direction where that attack came from.
"Since even the map tells us that we cannot just proceed anywhere, we should head towards the being that dared to attack us spiritually. After all, I am the Shepherd of Lost Souls that reaps spiritual beings." Adrian stated as he smiled widely because he was already bored wandering around a forest without even monsters to kill.
Adrian head towards the direction that Paradox has marked and finally noticed changes in the forest. He no longer feels that he is getting sent to the same area that he was in before. Slight changes in forest scenery could be seen which mean that they were also heading towards the end.
Adrian walked for what seemed to be five hours which is a lot because he did not think that this forest was that large. He can now say that this forest is akin to a pocket dimension as well once you enter it. The forest was larger when one enters it than when seen from the outside.
Adrian finally arrived at the location that Paradox has marked after three more hours. The area was still inside of the forest with no sign of a garden in sight. What greeted Adrian is actually a semi-spiritual entity that barely looks like an elf. She is like a spirit that did not pass on due to bad memories because Adrian can feel her emotions that are regret and longing.
"Master, we seem to have found the being that attacked us. She was the one that sent that spiritual attack. I have already analyzed the energy from her body, and it seems to be the same as the energy that a dryad is giving off." Paradox stated.
"Dryad? She barely looks like an elf because of her current form. It seems that she has been in this forest for far too long." Adrian stated as the spirit could barely hold onto her form.