Chapter 133: Into The Forest

Chapter 133: Into The Forest

Meanwhile, although the professors at the academy had collectively assumed her to be dead, Donna was very much still alive.

Of course, the woman had no idea which one of the pillars won the fight, though she certainly hoped that it had been Mantis. But even though she hoped for such an outcome, Donna wasn't stupid enough to go back to check, because her fate would be disastrous if it turned out otherwise.

If Mantis had won, then neither Aurora nor her student would have survived, and Donna's vengeance against them for what they had done to her husband would be fulfilled.

But if Mantis had lost, then Aurora should already be looking for her, and her best bet would only be to go deeper into the wonderland to hide, or escape altogether.

In either case, going back to the academy made no sense.

The black haired woman couldn't help but sigh. "I wonder if it's foolish of me to be looking for Dane in the forest maybe he already escaped"

But whenever she thought about the fact that her husband had lost all of his artifacts while being cast out of the thunder array, she couldn't help but grit her teeth in rage.

Without any artifacts at all, was he supposed to wrestle with the beasts using his fists and legs? It would be a miracle if he could even survive against a slightly lower-level beast, and certain death if he ever had to face one of a similar level to his own.

How could she just leave him be?

"I-I'll just go around the central area once, and then check the outskirts. If I still don't find him, that means he must have already left Yeah"

Donna had no idea that Craig and Dane had already been captured by Lord Mantis, and the artifact containing their bodies in a stasis had flown through a rift straight into the very depths of the wonderland's core region.

However, they had only escaped the lion's maw only to end up in a tiger's jaw. Because before they had even managed to awaken from the restraints of the mysterious veil used by Lord Mantis, they had already been picked up by a 'Tree Demon'.

Although it was called a 'tree', it was actually a beast that often disguised itself as flora in order to fool and ambush unsuspecting prey.

Its branch-like tentacles boasted a poison that was able to fully paralyze people even ten or twenty levels above its own.

Suffice to say, as a beast capable of surviving in the core region of the wonderland of doom, it was definitely capable of immobilizing even a senior professor like Dane.

Right now, the red haired man found himself dangling upside down helplessly as the poisonous branches of the tree demon continuously leeched off his spirit power.

Evelyn shook her head. "No Although Aurora will be mad, I have to take care of this. I can't let them go!"

At first, Evelyn had only intended to take Bree and Ruru with her, as she could easily protect them and hide using her advanced spatial manipulation when needed.

However, this time, her friends weren't quite as easy to convince.

Cecilia had her arms crossed in front of her chest as she stood blocking the door. "Little Eve you can either take me with you, or stay here like a good girl."

Amara also nodded. "Although I understand why you feel the urgency, don't forget that Aurora won't be with you this time around. Plus"

The pink haired girl waved her hand with a sigh. "Okay, Cecilia, you can come along. Actually, Amara and you too, Vivian. Everyone can come along, however, I have certain conditions!"

She wasn't making such a decision hastily, of course. Evelyn had long since been debating about it after watching the other students entering the wonderland to gain experience.

Granted, yesterday's expedition was a bad example considering that everyone was probably dead, but it still meant that the students who wanted to grow almost always took the risk to venture out into the forest.

With Vivian and Amara having already learned their respective cultivation techniques, it would only be conducive to their growth if she allowed them to follow her into the wonderland of doom, provided that they didn't die.

Of course, with her ability to use the 'Eternal Ripple' to scout ahead, ensuring that they avoided the most lethal threats should still be possible.

Moreover, Cecilia wasn't exactly a newbie, and could also hold her own against many beasts.

Evelyn wasn't being overconfident in her friends, though. She knew very well that they would all be wiped out the moment they came across a level eighty or higher beast.

But that was a risk they had to be willing to take, if they were going to choose to follow her.

If they couldn't grow stronger at a faster pace, then they would forever lag so far behind her that they would always find themselves helpless against the threats she attracted.

Protecting them by keeping them contained would only hurt them in the long run.

The two Gilmore sisters had only wanted to prevent her from leaving, and never expected Evelyn to actually allow them to follow her into the wonderland. Vivian clapped, looking delighted, while Amara nodded gravely.

Evelyn gently rubbed Ruru's fur while giving her friends a serious nod. "If you choose to follow me, understand that I can, and will, venture out by myself to explore at certain points, and you're only allowed to move when I tell you to. Of course, you should escape if your life is endangered, but no exploration without my lead, understand?"