33 Shuttle Service

Sorath ventured into the forest, searching for something - perhaps a puzzle mechanism like one in Velniz Temple - to bring his teammates to the mainland.

Being alone, however, made him not dare to enter the deeper part of the forest. So, after he arrived at what was seemingly the border between the forest outskirts and the core, easily noticed by how tall and thick the trees were, Sorath stopped exploring and returned to the shore.

Didn't find anything in the forest, Sorath walked along the shore, hoping to stumble upon a boat or plank - log, too - scrapes so he could craft a raft.

However, since he didn't bring any tools, he hoped it was a boat that he would find.

After searching a few hundred meters to the east of his initial position, where he landed earlier, he finally found an abandoned but usable boat. But it didn't have a paddle.

Looking in the direction of where he came from, Sorath found the driftwood he discovered earlier.

'I can use that.'

Picking up a long, sturdy, light piece of driftwood, Sorath boarded a boat and pushed it into the water.

With how calm the water was, he could cross between the islands even without a guide from a paddle. But, just in case things went awry, and not to mention the dangers lurking underwater, he would be able to handle it... hopefully so.

A couple minutes later, Sorath arrived on the small island, where his teammates stared at him with a smile, except for Enri.

"Uhh... is it safe to cross the water with that?" Enri said.

Looking at her, Sorath raised his eyebrow.

"If it was not, I wouldn't be here right now."

Enri shrugged after observing the boat, which could carry three people at most.

"You two can go first. I'll wait."

Atri asked her twin why, but Enri only said she didn't want to risk herself to board with three people at the same, where the risk was far more eminent than sailing with two people.

Sorath, full of thought, squinted his eyes at her as if he were trying to read her mind. A moment later, he closed his eyes after a sigh.

Boarding a boat, the three of them crossed the water in no time, thanks to Atri's chosen Trace.

Arriving on the mainland, Atri and Fred got off the boat. Meanwhile, Sorath had to turn back and pick up the last remaining members of his group.

"Do you need the wind?"

Sorath nodded, and without turning back, he said:

"Yeah."

Getting pushed by the wind, the boat reached the other side in 40 seconds, which was a little later than before because Atri couldn't keep the boost when Sorath left her Trace 20 meters radius.

At least, it was faster than not using the boost, which would take two to three minutes.

Sorath gestured for Enri to get on the boat.

With a smile, she hopped on the boat delightfully. Before she settled, there was a hidden glint in her eyes as she looked at Sorath.

That, of course, didn't escape Sorath's eyes. He caught the glint but ignored it for now.

A few meters after rowing the boat from the small island, suddenly, Enri spoke:

"Do you even have any feelings for Atri?"

Sorath glanced at her.

"What do you mean?"

Enri went silent, grinding her teeth quietly. A second later, he said again:

"If you don't have it, then it's better for you to just break off your engagement..." she sighed. "I don't want Atri to live a miserable life with someone who doesn't love her back, or at the very least, like her."

After hearing that, Sorath had his full attention on her.

"Before that, let me ask you something. If you were forced into a dire circumstance that made you shift from a spear to a sword. Could you use and master it to the same level as Grandmaster Yuiko?"

She shook her head.

"Mastering a sword technique? No, I can't. Even if I was given immortality, catching up to Grandmaster Yuiko's swordsmanship was impossible if I didn't have the proper Trace backing me up."

Sorath nodded.

"That seems right. It was like trying to reach for heaven to be on the same level as Grandmaster Yuiko, not to mention that she achieved that level with pure talent and raw strength without depending on her Trace."

Pausing for a while, he asked her again.

"Then, next question. You and your twin were on the verge of dying after consuming a lethal poison, and there was only one antidote. Will you save yourself or your twin?"

Without hesitation, she answered almost immediately.

"Atri, of course!"

When she was about to explain why she would choose her twin over herself, Sorath stopped her. Then, before she could get Sorath's answer to her earlier question, the boat had already reached the mainland's shore.

"We've arrived."

Sorath stood and got off the boat.

Enri, trying to call him for the answer, gave up her intention. Sighing, she walked off the boat and regrouped.

"Let's hurry before the monsters get stronger like that outsider said."

Staring at Sorath, Enri sneered.

"After you tried to humiliate him, now you trust his words?"

Sorath nodded casually.

"I hate an outsider. But I can't ignore such a claim even though it would turn out to be false," he faked a cough. "Prevention is better than cure."

Dropping the topic, they explored the forest, entering the deeper part filled with tall, thick, at least a hundred-year-old trees.

Hours later, they found an open, empty area within the forest, which was strange. 

The area was a full circle, without a single tree growing on that ground covered with green, fresh grass. At the center, a beautiful sunflower was showered by the sunlight coming from the unprotected roof above.

Within a glance, the group knew it was a trap. Like... wasn't that too obvious?!

Sorath raised a hand.

"Stop."

The group stopped outside a grassy area, realizing it might trigger something if they stepped on such a suspicious spot.

Standing at the front, Sorath ordered his teammates to look around and reminded them not to step on the grassy ground. After the group dispersed, he checked the objective of this trial again.

[Sorath Shedever, you have completed four trials. You are currently taking the fifth trial.]

[The requirement to clear the fifth trial is to defeat an "Earth Tortoise."]