Chapter 133: Mystical Spirit Forest

"Thanks for helping me, brothers and sisters," Elliot said, feeling good to have so many people helping him.

"If it's fated, we shall meet again." He said his goodbyes and was ready to turn off the communication pathway, but something happened that made him stop.

Just as he was about to chant the words to close the communication pathways, a familiar voice sounded in his ears.

"Honorable Lord, can you tell me when are you going to visit the artifact gallery?" Lady Florence Love said.

"I'm in a world of sword and magic, light years away from planet Xavier, so it will take a month or so for me to do what I am here to do and return. But once I do, I will make sure to notify you, Lady Florence Love." Elliot said in a voice far gentler than before.

"Umm, do I know you?" Lady Florence asked as she looked at him with eyes that showed that she was a bit taken aback.

'Of course, she doesn't know that I am Elliot and not Mr. Joker.'

Everyone saw Mr. Joker's lips thinning into a smile, and they wondered if he has some kind of relationship with her.

While they were assuming things on their own, Elliot said, "You don't know me, but I heard about you from my dear student. He said a lot of good things about you, and after meeting you here, I believe that you are truly kind."

Lady Florence's eyes brightened as she finally understood why he had been acting friendly towards her. It's all because she acted righteously and helped his student, which led to him putting good words for her in Mr. Joker's ears. That's what she thought. She didn't know that the person she helped was Mr. Joker and also Elliot.

He couldn't clarify it, either.

He knew that if he did that without using a magic contract or without having enough strength to fend off extremely powerful magicians, then he might lose his freedom and get locked in a dungeon where appraising items would be the only thing he could do.

"Honorable Lord, praise me too much. I just did what any other person who can't unjustice would do." Lady Florence humbly replied.

In front of someone like Mr. Joker, who was famous for being the uprising and heaven-defying appraiser of this century, even she needed to lower her head.

Elliot thought that she thinks too little of herself but didn't say it outright. He stayed silent for a couple of seconds before saying, "I think we will see each other soon."

Right after saying those words, he raised his hands and brought them closer to each other. Muttering some words that were barely audible while pressing the forefingers of both hands against each other, he executed the way of closing magic contracts, which resulted in the closing of all the communication pathways.

After effectively ending the chat, he stood up, brushed off the numbness in his legs from a few press here and a few there, and then walked up to the copper statue.

His loyal bodyguards followed after him.

"I'm ready to go to the next trial. Open the portal for me." Elliot said while looking at it.

"The next trial area duplicates some low-level disastrous zones of the Spirit World. You can visit any one of them.

"1: Outskirts of the Mystical Spirit Forest.

"2: A random dune of Sun and Moon.

"3: First step of the Emerald Sky Palace

"4: Center of the Desolate Land.

"Which place would you like to visit?"

Four options opened up in front of him, and after recalling the undead creatures, he raised his hand and pressed his finger on the first option.

[Generating a portal leading to the Outskirts of the Mystical Spirit Forest. Please wait patiently.]

In the very next instant, a great disturbance in space happened. A small crack appeared in the air a few steps away from Elliot, and he saw it becoming longer and wider. Soon, it was large enough to fit him. He charged headfirst into it and felt darkness encompassing his senses as well as his world turning upside down, but in the very next instant, these feelings vanished as fast soon as they came.

Then, he felt himself landing on top of something squishable. His darkened vision gradually cleared up, and after a few moments, he managed to clearly take in his surroundings.

As far as his eyes could see, there were trees with golden trunks and red leaves, each of them a sight to behold. With redness seeping out of the leaves and permeating the surroundings, the natural color of the air was the total opposite of Xavier and Earth. It was red, a color of blood, but one he liked the most as it reminded him of a certain someone.

"Is this place truly a disastrous zone? It's too beautiful to be one." Nothing he had ever seen could compare to this magnificent place, and it truly looked like Heaven on Earth.

As he took in the air, he felt something sweet and pleasant entering his mouth. Even the air of this place was clearer than planet Xavier and tasted like candy!

Suddenly, a large gust of wind raised below his feet, causing his clothes to flutter violently. Yet, he didn't move because it didn't feel threatening.

By the time the wind went away, the leaves below his feet were arranged to make out letters. He managed to make out the words and understand them because they were written in his home language.

[Task 1: Survive and search for clues about the second trial.]

He knew that the only ones that could leave him this message were either the manager of this place or the spirit of the barrier. That's what he speculated.

Though what did he need to survive?

He didn't know!

For now, the only hope he could do was to search for clues.

He started walking forward at random as he didn't have the destination in his mind. He was unfamiliar with this place and didn't even know where in the world he was.

Unknowingly, he was heading deeper into the forest!

He was heading straight towards danger!