After Theia recovered a bit of her stamina, they set out once again.
Only a short distance remained until they completely crossed the Withered Rift.
Based on their current speed, Elvia estimated that they would reach the exit on the other side in two hours at most.
Inside the rift, the information she knew about the Golden Route was basically useless.
As long as they continued straight along the main body of the rift, they would eventually reach their next destination: Eagle Fortress.
Thanks to the breakthrough improvement of the Shroud of the Gloomy Night, Lin Gui’s method of advancement became even more reckless.
He directly controlled the wooden raft to fly in a straight line above the bottomless abyss of the rift.
The demons clinging to the cliffs on both sides, radiating powerful auras, became the background of their flight.
Beside him, Elvia had also become accustomed to this.
During the time Theia was recovering, she had personally witnessed the vast variety and formidable strength of the demons in the rift.
Among them were heart-stopping Legendary Rank existences.
There were Netherworld Predators with flickering forms and claws that could tear souls apart.
There were Shadow Spider Kings lurking within shadow networks, their breath carrying corrosive poison.
There were also many demon lords whose names she didn’t know, but who similarly radiated a terrifying pressure.
As for Lin Gui, he simply took her through them heading straight forward without changing his expression.
They passed through the territories of one Legendary Rank demon after another.
Only the demon lord radiating Epic Rank pressure at the deepest part of the center of the rift could make him detour.
It seemed that what this fellow had said back in the tomb was not a lie.
He really could travel through forbidden zones where thousands of Legendary Rank demons gathered.
As for being discovered beneath the tomb earlier, that was purely their bad luck for bringing along Rona, who had been riddled with soul steel needles by Gorn.
Otherwise, relying solely on that Legendary Rank archer, it would have been impossible to see through the concealment of the Shroud of the Gloomy Night.
Mentioning Gorn, Elvia’s eyes darted around.
She gave a cough and leaned in close to Lin Gui.
"Um... as your loyal guard, I blocked a fatal blow for you underground," she said in a voice so tender it could practically drip water.
"For such a great contribution, shouldn't you show some appreciation?"
Lin Gui didn't even turn his head, replying flatly.
"I was the one who stuffed that inner armor onto you."
"To be precise, you could say I was the one who saved your life."
"Ahem!" Elvia choked on her words.
Actually, she had been cautious enough when setting the traps.
Not only had she put on that dull Stellar-tier Armor, but she had also worn a magic amulet.
But Lin Gui had felt it wasn't enough.
He had insisted on stuffing her with the inner armor, which was also dull, that he had found in the crystal coffin.
As it turned out, that thing really had saved her life at the critical moment.
Elvia felt frantic.
Refusing to give up, she pressed even closer, deciding to launch a beauty offensive.
She brushed aside her golden hair and blew air into Lin Gui’s ear.
"Don't be so stingy~~"
"As a leader, you should give more rewards to those under you, so that they will work harder!"
Under normal circumstances, Theia would definitely have been the first to pull away this person who was sticking to him.
But at this moment, the silver-haired elf had a mind full of worries and had no time to deal with her.
"Fine, here; this is your reward."
Lin Gui also seemed to be getting a bit annoyed by her persistent pestering.
After rummaging at the bottom of his backpack for a while, he pulled out something he had almost forgotten and handed it over.
Elvia took a look.
It was a dark red flower that looked a bit wilted.
She was immediately speechless.
"I say... are you really trying to brush me off with a broken flower?"
"That's the flower from the top of Moragus's head," Lin Gui added.
Instantly, Elvia’s words caught in her throat, and her eyes filled with surprise.
"What's the use of this flower?" Lin Gui asked curiously.
Elvia didn't answer immediately.
She stared at the flower for a long time with a complex gaze.
In the end, she carefully put the flower away, tucking it into a pocket close to her waist.
Then, she silently walked to the back of the raft.
Like Theia, she sat down with her knees hugged to her chest, staring into the distance in a daze and no longer speaking.
"???"
Lin Gui looked at the two of them, who had suddenly gone quiet, and a few question marks popped up in his mind.
Two hours later, at the end of the Withered Rift, the scenery suddenly opened up.
In its place was a dense forest and a series of rolling, high hills.
Lin Gui controlled the raft to lower its altitude and cast his gaze into the distance.
Between two steep mountain peaks, the outline of a massive and dilapidated fortress gradually became clear.
Right then, a shrill, sharp banshee scream that seemed capable of piercing the soul abruptly rang out from the direction of the fortress, echoing through the mountains.
"Once we pass through that fortress, we'll be able to see the Carter Royal Capital."
Elvia sat on a wooden crate, swinging her fair legs as she pointed at the fortress and spoke in a flat tone.
There wasn't a trace of the excitement one would expect from someone about to return to their homeland on her face.
Instead, there was a sense of complexity that was hard to describe.
Lin Gui frowned and asked, "Do we have to pass through it? Can't we go around?"
"You can go around," Elvia shrugged.
"It's just that it might take an extra day or two."
"Or you could fly over the mountain ranges on either side."
She paused and then added.
"Don't say I didn't warn you; those are unknown areas, and the map is a total blank."
Lin Gui nodded and didn't insist.
After controlling the wooden raft to find a relatively hidden outpost at the junction of the forest and the rift, he landed and decided to set up camp to rest.
After lighting a campfire, Lin Gui asked about the situation of that fortress again.
Elvia poked at the fire, still using that same flat tone to explain.
"That is the first line of defense for the Carter Royal Capital, Eagle Fortress."
"Back then, the branch of the Dark Tide that surged from the Giant's Canyon was finally held back and dissipated here."
"A very large number of the Defense Force died at the time..."
Her voice grew a bit lower.
"The only Epic Rank of the Carter Royal Capital, Duke Louis, also fell in battle here."
Lin Gui caught the key information: "Is there an Epic Rank demon inside?"
Elvia nodded.
"There is an Epic Rank Dread-Faced Banshee Queen."
But immediately afterward, she changed the subject.
"But it isn't dangerous."
Seeing Lin Gui's doubtful gaze, Elvia didn't seem to know how to explain it either.
In the end, she just waved her hand somewhat vaguely.
"Oh, you'll know when you get there! Actually... it's quite easy to talk to."
"???"
Lin Gui looked at the vague Elvia.
It was as if several invisible question marks had popped up over his head.
An Epic Rank demon... easy to talk to?
Are you kidding me?
Rate on N.U.
