<h4>Chapter 223 Her Choice</h4>


    As Luke stepped into the clearing, his eyes immediately fell upon Ferritt, causing a surge of shock and anger to course through him. Before he could react, Evelyne, standing by his side, urgently called out, "Luke, look!"


    Turning his gaze, Luke''s attention was drawn to Fray, who stood nearby. The sight of both his enemies in one ce sent a wave of mixed emotions through him.


    But as soon as the name "An" escaped his lips, he disregarded the presence of Ferritt and Fray, his focus shifting entirely to the woman he cared deeply for.


    "An, are you okay?" Luke asked, his voice filled with concern.


    "Luke..." An''s voice trembled with shock and hesitation as she nced back at Fray before responding in a low voice, "Yes, I''m fine."


    Fray, observing this scene, clenched his fists tightly, struggling to control his anger. He was facing a difficult time trying to rein in his emotions, but he knew he had to trust Nahl.


    He had ignored Nahl''s advice before, only to discover that everything he had warned about was true. Now, he had decided to ce his trust in Nahl until he could regain his lost memories.


    "You seem a little off. What''s wrong?" Luke inquired, sensing something amiss.


    Lisa and An exchanged puzzled nces, unsure of how to respond. But before they could answer, their conversation was interrupted by amanding voice.


    Standing before the group was the tall, muscr woman, the innkeeper, an old bearded man, and a woman with striking green hair. Stepping forward, the old man spoke up, "The second phase of the Challenge will begin soon."


    As the old man''s words hung in the air, Luke and the others fell into a contemtive silence. Fray, wearing a calm expression, slowly turned his gaze towards the old man, while Ferritt gradually opened his eyes, fully alert now.


    The old man ceased speaking, and the green-haired woman took over, her voice filled with a hint of anger. "We have carefully chosen you to participate in this challenge, and you have proven your abilities by sessfully passing the first phase," she said, casting a disapproving nce at the old man. "Although it seems that not everyone has made it."


    "Ahem, well, most of you did," the old man interjected, feeling the weight of the green-haired woman''s gaze.


    Then, the tall woman with a deep voice began to speak, her words resonating with authority. "For over a hundred thousand years, this forest has concealed a great inheritance. Our mission throughout this period has been to protect this inheritance. ording to a prophecy, when the dungeons begin to appear, we must find a worthy heir to im this inheritance. And now, that time hase, and you are the candidates chosen to undertake this challenge."


    "The treasure hidden within this forest can grant unimaginable power and help you achieve the goals that brought you here in the first ce. However, you must prove yourselves deserving of it," the innkeeper added, his voice filled with a sense of gravity. "The second phase is simple: you must navigate your way through the forest to the north from here until you find it."


    "What do you mean? What exactly are we supposed to find?" Evelyne inquired, her curiosity piqued.


    "You will know it when you see it," the green-haired woman replied cryptically.


    "And how are we supposed to find it? Is there a map or any guidance to assist us?" Lisa asked, seeking rification.


    "Just head north. You don''t need a map to find it. It''s hard to miss," the tall woman responded with a hint of assurance in her deep voice.


    "As I''m sure you already know, the journey ahead will not be easy," the innkeeper spoke with a solemn tone. "You will encounter numerous obstacles and challenges along the way. And, in addition to that, you are not alone in this forest. There are individuals whom even we have failed to remove from thesends."


    The group listened to the innkeeper''s words, their expressions filled with a mixture of shock and apprehension. However, they quickly regained theirposure, steeling themselves for whaty ahead.


    The tall woman concluded with her final words, "The second phase has now begun. You maymence your journey whenever you feel ready. But be warned, the path ahead will be arduous. I strongly rmend that you travel in groups."


    With those words, the innkeeper, the tall woman, the old man, and the green-haired woman vanished in a brilliant surge of light, leaving the group standing alone in the clearing.


    Ferritt, who had been lying on the ground, suddenly rose to his feet. His gaze locked onto Fray, disregarding everyone else around him. With determination in his eyes, he dered, "I will go first. Let''s meet on the other side."


    Luke, tried to interject, "Wait, you can''t..." But before he could finish his sentence, a surge of dark energy enveloped Ferritt, just in a blink of an eye, he disappeared from his spot.


    Fray''s gaze shifted from Luke to An, who stood beside each other. Without uttering a word, Fray turned away and began making his way toward the rows of dark trees.


    Just as he started to distance himself, a voice called out to him, "F-Fray..." He turned to see An standing there, her expression a mix of confusion, hesitation, and sadness.


    An, her mind clouded with conflicting emotions, mustered the courage to ask Fray where he was going. However, before Fray could respond, Luke intervened, his voice filled with concern. "An, why are you stopping him?"


    An nced at both Fray and Luke, as she suddenly remembered her promise with Fray.


    Luke pressed further, questioning her loyalty. " An, What do you want to do ?"


    Caught in the midst of herplicated emotions, An found herself unable to articte a response. She looked down, tears welling up in her eyes, feeling lost and confused. She knew deep down that what Mina and L had told her was true – there was no longer a connection between her and Fray.


    Lisa observed the scene with aplex expression, her own eyes beginning to moisten as she witnessed the emotional turmoil unfolding before her.


    Fray looking at An''s state spoke up for the first time. "I''m notfortable going with him either. I''m sure you already know which one of us you want to go with, am I wrong?"


    As An heard his words, tears streamed down her face. She slowly raised her gaze, her confusion evident. She was lost, but she knew deep down that the bond between her and Fray had been severed.


    Fray, sensing An''s unspoken answer, without disying any further emotion or uttering another word, turned away and continued his solitary journey.


    Luke, perplexed by the turn of events, ced aforting hand on An''s trembling shoulder. He spoke her name softly, his voice filled with a mix of confusion and concern.


    .....


    The group of mercenaries stood atop a rocky outcrop, their eyes fixed on the horrifying scene unfolding below. In the heart of the dense forest, a massacre was taking ce.


    Monstrous creatures, their twisted forms a testament to their malevolence, were attacking and ughtering several captives held captive in cages. The air was thick with the stench of blood and despair.


    The Captain, a seasoned warrior with a scarred face and a hardened gaze, surveyed the chaos below. He knew the odds were stacked against them. The monsters were formidable adversaries, their strength and ferocity unmatched.


    The group had been sent on a mission to rescue these captives, but now it seemed like an impossible task.


    The captain turned to hisrades, his voice indifferent. "We can''t save them," he said, "These creatures are too powerful, and our chances of sess are slim. We must return and inform our employers of what we''ve witnessed."