Apple Tree Path

"Hey... that's going too far!"

Han Dong really wanted to end the game just like that.

However...

The battle with Gulli (planning the route and setting traps), plus the subsequent injury that required the fairy to take him to recover, consumed a lot of time.

During this time, Abel also fulfilled a fairy's request and came to the depths of the garden.

Thanks to his keen senses and the fairy's gift, Abel quickly located Han Dong was not far away, and rushed over to help.

"This intensity!?"

Abel's strength is top-notch. He defeated a knight in the semi-finals and directly crushed the Crusader students, who were also among the top ten, in the first game of the finals.

However, the headless fairy who was tackled by Abel was not killed for a long time.

"Super Fast Regeneration"

Partial crystallization

"No weaknesses"

No matter how Abel cuts off a limb, a brand new arm covered with crystals will grow back in a short time.

Ignoring skeletal limitations, it can deliver various twisting attacks.

The fairy's fingers also became like those of a wasp—the middle joints were swollen, and the tips of the nails were like needles, a full fifteen centimeters long... leaving a deep scratch on Abel's dragon-scaled skin.

Just then.

Strands of centipede-shaped black sand crawled into the fairy's body through the opening in her neck.

A sense of death spread through him.

Similarly... the rate of death and decay is very slow, and even fairies rely on Super Fast Regeneration to resist death.

It took a full half hour to completely kill him.

Abel was also covered in sweat... This level of strength definitely belongs to the category of Elite Knight.

You should know that there are hundreds or even thousands of fairies like this deep in the garden.

"Nicholas... how did you get so badly injured?"

Ignoring the rule against cooperation in the competition, Abel immediately jumped to Han Dong's side and, through his nose, sensed the seriousness of the situation by smelling the strange odor emanating from Han Dong's body.

"That Gulli is really tough to deal with; we almost both had to leave the stage."

By the way, cooperation is strictly prohibited in the finals, Abel, you should go first.

Han Dong's only goal now is to get Abel out of the way so he can find a way to withdraw from the competition.

Just then.

Referee Alonso's voice echoed in their ears.

"The restrictions in the depths of the garden have been relaxed, allowing two-person cooperation in 'Picking Golden Apple,' but the evaluation will be less than that for solo players."

Furthermore, during the cooperation period, it is forbidden to attack other individual participants.

In an instant, Han Dong's mindset went haywire.

Why did everything go smoothly in the early stages, but then problems kept arising when they wanted to withdraw from the competition?

coincide?

A flash of inspiration.

Is this not a coincidence, but rather a deliberate attempt to target me?

The fairy's rescue.

It was no simple coincidence that Abel was in a relatively close position to me when he stepped into the depths of the garden.

Since the 'trial' was created by the parliament, these members of parliament should also have special means of control.

I underestimated the situation. If these lawmakers really did devise a 'method' specifically targeting me, there's virtually no chance I'd have to withdraw from the competition.

After all, these guys were standing at the highest point of the Holy City.

Even if I deliberately lost my match against Gulli, they might still charge Gulli with intentional assault and force me to continue fighting.

Thinking about this, Han Dong's mindset slowly returned to normal... Indeed, if it were really that simple, the "Yellow Seal" wouldn't have been able to generate any response.

"Abel, can I have half an hour to rest?"

Han Dong has abandoned the idea of finding an opportunity to lose the game and his mindset has returned to normal.

Since these congressmen wanted to target him, Han Dong had no choice but to confront them head-on.

"OK..."

Abel stood guard around them in the form of an owl.

It's just normal recuperation; it doesn't affect their conversation.

"Nicholas, the ultimate goal of the trial should be to compete with the 'fairies' for the ripe Golden Apple that have fallen from the tree, right?"

"It's possible... but not entirely certain."

"What's the meaning?"

"Perhaps the real ' Golden Apple ' is something else entirely... Abel, what was the token you received from the outer fairy?"

"This."

A complete "ear" without any gaps was held in Abel's hand.

"As expected... they are all part of the facial structure."

Han Dong took out the "eyes" and explained:

"Gulli received teeth from the fairy, which is equivalent to a 'mouth'... If I'm not mistaken, Demps and that Hell Kid should have received tokens such as noses, tongues, or hair."

Since we are allowed to carry these tokens with us at all times, their purpose is definitely not just to assist in exploring the way.

The real Golden Apple must be connected to these tokens in some way.

"Indeed."

"Abel, promise me one thing... If we find only one true Golden Apple, you shall pick it up."

You are recognized as the number one student in the Knight Academy, possess talent surpassing that of Commander Kaimon, and embody the Chivalric spirit praised by the Holy City. You are also a completely human being without any problems.

You won first place, better than all of us.

"Um..."

Once Han Dong had absorbed the remaining medication and recovered to about 80% of his original strength, they continued their journey.

"I can use your ears."

Han Dong modified the G-Virus, connecting an eye to the back of his right hand and then an ear.

Buzz...

For a moment, I felt a wonderful sense of stepping into a new world.

The vision provided by the eyes allows one to vaguely glimpse an undercurrent flowing among the different Apple Tree deep within the dark and eerie garden, heading towards the deepest part of the garden.

Hearing has also been elevated to a higher level.

Aside from the noises of the fairies biting their nails, grinding their teeth, and patting their bellies, you can also hear a strange sound coming from the deepest part of the garden, similar to the 'intertwining sound' of succulent growth and plant growth.

When both hearing and sight point to the deepest depths, one can be certain that the real Golden Apple is inside.

The current difficulty is...

There is only one path leading to the deepest part of the valley: the "Apple Tree Path".

A winding road formed by rows of Apple Tree acting as roadblocks... Under each tree are about ten fairies.

Even Though with perfect concealment, there is still a possibility of being detected.

Once discovered, it will attract hundreds of fairies, bringing the finals to a close.

Abel stared at the dense cluster of strange fairies, their white hairs standing on end and sweat pouring out... Abel wasn't very confident in his own 'stealth' abilities.

Beast Knight are known for their wildness, and in their daily training, Abel also places less importance on the 'Cheetah Training', which emphasizes stealth and ambushes.

Just then.

Snap...

Han Dong grabbed Abel's hand and whispered:

"Abel ...I will lead you through the ' Apple Tree Path,' after which I will become weakened, and you will need to judge for yourself and obtain the real Golden Apple."

That's all.

Han Dong took a step forward.

This step leads into the Death World.

Everything around him turned a deathly gray-white; the Apple Tree withered and decayed completely, and the fairies were nowhere to be seen... As Han Dong walked through the Death Domain, Han Dong would also bear immense pressure.

Every second, patches of skin peel off the skin.