Chapter 120 Growing Pressure

Nathan entered the icy stronghold's gate and quickly strode towards a group of people who had congregated in one spot. As he neared, they immediately moved apart and created a path, leading him into an enormous igloo. Inside, Nathan noticed Muramoto sleeping on a block of ice, with Meriel, Robert, and Gydarra standing nearby.

"What's going on here?" Nathan asked.

Nathan stepped closer and noticed that Muramoto was squeezing his eyes shut as if trying to bear the pain. Robert was sending energy to Muramoto in the form of ice, causing his stomach to freeze slightly, while Meriel appeared to be channeling energy directly into Muramoto's stomach using her hands.

"Nathan." Robert quietly called Nathan's name with a pale face as he approached.

"What's going on?" Nathan asked, his eyes drawn to Muramoto's injury, which looked severe. "What happened?"

"We discovered Muramoto in a terrible state," Robert explained. "It appears that someone had assaulted him while he was taking a rest."

Nathan then looked at Meriel with concern, wanting to know more. "How serious is his wound?"

Merial's face was filled with worry and fear. Her eyes were filled with tears, and it seemed as if she was about to cry. "I'm afraid that if we don't get him help soon..." She couldn't finish her sentence.

Nathan anxiously asked, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I'm not sure," Meriel replied, her voice trembling, "there is a very powerful poison in Muramoto's body. It's immensely potent and I'm not sure if there is a way to neutralize it, using what we have here, in this pocket dimension."

He then turned to Robert. "Can't anyone heal him, Robert? Surely there must be plenty of healers present in this place, right?"

Robert thought for a moment before replying, "I'm not sure if the healer here will be able to help, Nathan. Muramoto should be able to get out of this place, but it looks like he used the feature to get away while in battle."

Nathan glanced back at Muramoto, his face etched with anger. Clenching his fists, Nathan felt his fingernails digging into his palms. "We must do whatever it takes to help him," he said, his breathing echoing in the room. "There must be a way," he added.

"Master," Gydara said, "if only we were in Yunatea, I'm sure Meriel would be able to do a lot more to help us." He spoke with hopefulness in his voice.

Nathan murmured in response, "Yunatea?" He then shifted his gaze to Gydarra.

"In this world," Gydarra explained, "the level of Nature's Breath is far too low for Meriel to access her tier 3 skills. If we were in Yunatea, it would be much easier for her to do so. We need to find a way to get out of here right away and hurry to Yunatea." He said.

Nathan paused for a moment, pondering the words Meriel had said to him. "Tier 3 skills, eh?" he murmured. If what Meriel needed was a place with even higher concentrations of Nature's Breath, he knew just the spot: the Crescent Moon Dimension.

Nathan turned to Meriel and said confidently, "I believe I have the solution for this."

Meriel nodded slowly in response. Nathan's expression conveys a mix of hope and anger.

Nathan then shifted his gaze to Robert, "Olivia, Lily and two other people are in the pocket dimension. They will soon arrive here to help you finish this challenge. I don't think you need my help anymore."

Robert looked at Nathan in confusion, his eyebrows furrowing together. "Wait, Olivia Aveline and Lily Gardner?" he asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

Nathan nodded, his expression solemn. "Yes," he answered briefly.

He then moved to Muramoto, trying to hoist him up. "Meriel," he said, his voice soft. "Come with me." He carefully lifted the injured Muramoto off the ground.

"Wait, Master," Gydarra said, holding Nathan back for a moment. Nathan looked at him, and Gydarra continued, "I might have an idea of who is behind this. Meriel saw the bloodstains of Muramoto on the hands of the Elite Hunters."

Nathan paused, his expression full of anger, before slowly responding, "I'm going to a place you might not be able to reach, Gydarra. I leave the rest to you." He continued, "You're not really my slave. You have freedom. Do whatever you think is right. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I'm glad to hear your answer, Master," Gydarra said. "Remember, you can trust a Dark Elf to always keep their word; we will not break our oath until the contract is fulfilled. Until then, I shall remain at your service while we are in this pocket dimension."

Nathan nodded and quickly departed from the igloo.

Yudan and Linda waited right outside, their faces both displaying the same worried expression.

"Linda, Yudan, come with me," Nathan said quietly, then immediately began to run away.

Robert followed slowly behind him but stopped abruptly as the four of them quickly hastened away, leaving the stronghold behind.

Gydarra and Robert stood together, watching as Nathan walked away. Gydarra spoke in a quiet voice, "Robert, I hope you won't stand in my way with what I am going to do now."

Robert paused before responding, "I'm sorry, Gydarra. I will still endeavor to fulfill my role as leader of the alliance, and I will remain just in my decisions."

"Then, I think our collaboration ends here, Robert," Gydarra said affirmatively.

Robert looked at Gydarra, who was livid with rage. "Gydarra," he said softly. "I can help you find the perpetrator. But, it would be unwise to take matters into our own hands and mete out justice here, especially if you intend to kill anyone you suspect of being guilty. That would only make matters worse, and the consequences could be dire. So, I urge you to consider the gravity of the situation before taking any rash action. Do you understand?"

Gydarra was breathing heavily, his gaze fixed on Robert. His voice was full of anger as he said, "Muramoto has sacrificed himself to help heal others, even though he is not in the best of health. He doesn't deserve this kind of treatment."

Robert paused, then continued. "We can't be too rash in our decisions. We need to find out the truth before we can act."

However, Gydarra no longer paid attention to Robert's words. He turned and began walking towards the direction in which a large crowd of people was making their way towards him.

Gaem and the other dark elves approached Gydarra and quickly followed behind him.

"Gydarra?" Gaem said in a low voice.

"Do you have any concern, Gaem?" Gydarra asked firmly. "Dark elves never back down when they are confronted with a challenge."

"No, I will follow you this time," Gaem replied resolutely, her hands curling into fists.

"This is complete bullcrap," Gydarra fumed angrily. "This alliance is nothing but a sham. Apparently, trusting someone doesn't come easy." He shook his head in frustration. "Blood pays for blood," he added matter-of-factly.

***

Nathan ran quickly but was careful at the same time, his arms cradling Muramoto.

Linda, Yudan, and Meriel followed behind without uttering a word, the tension on Nathan's face enough to silence them all.

Once they were outside the stronghold and in the forest, Nathan gently laid Muramoto's body on the ground and turned to the others.

"I will take you to a place far from this pocket dimension," he said. "Please, everyone, hold on to me."

The other three nodded and immediately grabbed Nathan without asking further questions.

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Nathan glanced around to make sure that there were no hidden cameras that could record his actions. Satisfied with his findings, he uttered a quiet incantation, "Enter Crescent Moon Dimension." Immediately after he spoke, the five people vanished from the spot.

***

Gydarra slowly advanced as he faced the crowd of hundreds of people who had just witnessed the events that had taken place.

He raised his sword and shouted fiercely, "I won't say it again!"

He paused, then continued sternly, "One of you has wronged one of my friends and I won't tolerate it!" He said it with conviction.

Mason, one of the Elite Hunters party, stepped forward and asked, "So, what do you intend to do? Are you so full of rage that you think you can take on all of us? Is that your plan?"

Robert slowly approached Gydarra but seemed unable to speak as if he was carefully considering his actions.

Mason then turned to Robert and asked, "So, Robert, are you going to let these dark elves who have gone too far do as they please?"

"Mason!" someone in the crowd called out. Nina stepped forward and walked towards them. "Let's try and resolve this matter without escalating the existing tension," she said to Mason.

"I don't need any of your bullshit!" Gydarra bellowed, causing a few people to shrink away in fear. In a flash, he grabbed Nina from behind and held her tightly. With remarkable ease, he hauled her back to where her companions, the dark elves, were standing. He then placed the blade of his sword up against her neck, pressing it hard enough for a trickle of blood to start running down her motionless skin.

"Gydarra!" Robert exclaimed, keeping a safe distance away. "Stop it! We don't need to resort to such violence."

The members of the Elite Hunters party had their weapons drawn and pointed at Gydarra, ready to act if the situation escalated.

Gydarra's voice was cold and menacing as he spoke. "I will give you twenty seconds. Whoever is responsible for the attack on Muramoto, I suggest you surrender now. Don't test my patience. If you do, I will not hesitate to behead this girl. Try me if you dare." The dark elves behind him stepped forward, ready to fight.

Several people raised their weapons and surrounded Gydarra and his group.

"Please, everyone," Robert raised his voice loudly, "let's not take up arms and try to find a better way to resolve this." He then turned to Gydarra, his expression earnest. "Gydarra, I beg you, think carefully before you make your decision. Nina may not be the one at fault here; I'm willing to help you figure out who is really responsible." He asked pleadingly.

Gydarra screamed, "Twenty!" He tightly held Nina, pressing the sword to her neck until she was completely unable to move.

"Nineteen!" he continued.