Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 465 (Part 1):

“Ugh!”

“Urgh!”

The intermittent background noises were drowned out by the sound of Elaga slicing through the air or landing heavily on the ground, making them barely audible.

[Don’t even think about using sacred magic on my back, I’m warning you.]

Levina had no choice but to lower her hand, which had been poised to channel holy power.

The seasoned warriors could handle it, but for High Priest Levina, it was pure torture. Yet, there was nothing to be done to help her.

In this group, the only one who could potentially assist her was Sian, but he wasn’t exactly overflowing with the kind of consideration needed to tend to her. After all, he was struggling to keep himself together.

It was fortunate that the wind spirit was at least cushioning some of the impact.

Helmut’s party, heading west, and Elaga’s party, heading north.

The two groups would likely only cross paths when they neared the boundary of their respective domains.

Unbeknownst to each other, the distance between them was steadily closing.

Then, abruptly, Elaga came to a halt.

In the distance, an unusual terrain came into view. It was a deep ravine—possible to pass through quickly but impossible to leap over.

The ground had been gradually sloping downward.

The ravine was flanked by cliffs so high that even Elaga appeared small in comparison.

At the center of the ravine, surrounded by sheer cliffs, a path stretched out.

A familiar type of grass carpeted the ground.

‘Poisonous herbs?’

Even if they were poisonous, they wouldn’t affect Elaga.

After tilting his head in brief consideration, Elaga decided to traverse the ravine.

The dense demonic energy clouding his senses gave off an eerie feeling, as though something might leap out at any moment. But what did he have to fear? He was Elaga, after all!

Elaga immediately broke into a run. Unlike before, when he bounded with great leaps, this time he simply sprinted.

*Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!*

Thanks to this, the humans on his back, whose insides had nearly been ruptured, managed to regain their composure.

The jolts were still jarring, but running was far preferable to leaping.

Elaga was, without a doubt, the worst mount imaginable.

Elaga fully entered the ravine.

[This is a strange place.]

It was odd for trees and grass to grow on cliffs, yet the upper reaches were unnaturally lush with vines and foliage.

The entire area felt as though it were draped in a curtain of demonic energy, thick enough to obscure any presence unless it made itself known—even Elaga might not sense it.

But this was Elaga passing through.

No matter how tempting the humans on his back might seem, what reckless creature would dare attack *him*?

This might not be his domain, but this massive white leopard was more than enough to stir the instincts of any demonic beast.

The instinct to recognize a stronger predator!

Even without openly radiating demonic energy, his sheer size was threat enough.

Though not absolute, demonic energy often scaled with physical size.

Any creature lying in wait to ambush would, upon seeing Elaga, lower its head and hope to pass unnoticed.

Unimpeded, Elaga reached the deepest part of the ravine.

The path was gradually narrowing. If he could squeeze through, the end would be in sight.

A faint breeze could be felt from afar. As he quickened his pace toward the ravine’s end—

*Crack!*

A sound like something snapping came from above.

Elaga’s gaze shot upward. Everyone’s eyes followed in unison.

*Boom! Crash-crash-crash! Snap!*

With a deafening roar, the cliff began to collapse.

No, it was lunging toward them. Like a living creature, like a serpent coiling to strike!

Yes, this cliff was a massive carnivorous plant.

It wasn’t a demonic beast with overwhelming demonic energy, but in its own territory, it wielded formidable power.

It brought down the cliff entwined with its body, crushing its prey with sheer weight.

Elaga had practically walked right into its gaping maw.

It would crush and devour them in an instant! There was nowhere to escape.

At that moment, demonic energy surged from Elaga’s body.

Reacting to the explosive demonic energy, Levina forgot the warning and instinctively erected a barrier with sacred magic.

Sian also infused the wind spirit with his mana. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t survive.

*Rooaaarrr!*

A gust of wind erupted with the roar.

A destructive whirlwind swirled around Elaga’s body, as though he were the eye of a typhoon.

The ferocious vortex of demonic energy shot out like a beam, shattering the collapsing cliff into pieces.

*Boom-boom-boom!*

The vines entwined with the boulders crumbled into dust.

Even the immense weight couldn’t overpower the demonic energy radiating from Elaga.

Pulverizing the cliff, Elaga leaped forward without hesitation.

The debris crashing down from above shattered and scattered, crushed beneath his feet.

He smashed through with his forepaws, trampling the wreckage in a destructive charge upward.

And then, Elaga stood triumphantly atop the ruined ravine.

At his feet, writhing plant fragments and rock shards lay scattered in disarray.

It was as if he had blasted through the cliff in a straight line.

In mere minutes, the landscape had transformed, as though struck by a massive earthquake.

Elaga emerged from the crisis without so much as a scratch.

Yet, even after the ordeal was over, the demonic energy surging from his body showed no signs of subsiding.

Otaku_Tensei

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