Even Helena beside him failed to notice the mung-bean-sized droplet floating before Cypher's eyes.
On the way back, the two remained silent, with only the rustle and crunch of their feet on dead branches and fallen leaves.
Through the gaps between the trees, they could already see the shimmering Black Lake.
Just as they were about to step out of the Forbidden Forest,
Cypher suddenly shoved Helena's head down without hesitation.
Helena let out a startled cry.
A thin, flat axe whirled through the air above their backs with a howl.
Driven by tremendous force, the axe skipped across the Black Lake several times before sinking unwillingly to the bottom.
"What?"
Helena was somewhat dazed, whether from Cypher's overly rough movement or the shock of a brush with death.
"Just as expected..."
They had been on guard all the way. Once they left the woods, they would naturally relax.
Cypher had not warned Helena beforehand, partly because he feared her acting would give them away, and more importantly because they had no means of communicating in secret.
When he turned around, Cypher had not even gotten a clear look before another axe flew straight at him.
"Shield Charm!" An Auror-level Shield Charm appeared before Cypher with his incantation.
Yet a stream of black air clung to the incoming axe.
The Shield Charm, capable of withstanding tank shells, was like butter cut by a hot knife and did not hinder the flying axe in the slightest.
Fortunately, Cypher had kept his guard up and had not placed complete faith in the Shield Charm.
Holding Helena, he rolled away and crashed into a pile of dead leaves by the roadside.
"Was it that corpse?!"
Helena struggled to get up as she cried out to Cypher.
Cypher nodded with an ugly expression. He