Sophia immediately stopped her hand mid-air as soon as she heard Adam’s warning. She turned to look at him, her curiosity evident in her wide eyes.

Sensing her silent question, Adam explained, “That red flower—its petals are lined with tiny, almost invisible thorns. They contain a toxin that can put you to sleep within seconds if you touch them.”

Sophia’s gaze shifted back to the flower. It looked so delicate, so mesmerizing, yet it hid such a dangerous secret. 'How many people must have been deceived by its beauty?' she wondered. The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Nature, she realized, could be as deadly as it was beautiful.

Shaking off her thoughts, she stepped away and quietly followed Adam, who had already started walking down the natural path.

On both sides of the trail, towering trees loomed over them, their dense foliage creating a tunnel of shadows and flickering light.

The forest was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant bird calls, but Sophia couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air.

As they moved forward, Adam suddenly stopped and spoke. “I think we should rest here for a while.”

Sophia turned to him, about to protest. They had just started walking again—was it really necessary to stop already? But before she could voice her thoughts, Adam crouched down and placed his hand on the ground.

Sophia watched in confusion, but within moments, she realized what Adam was doing.

A soft, white glow emanated from his hand, spreading outwards like ripples in water. The light expanded beneath their feet and then stretched around them, forming an invisible dome of protection.

Adam’s voice was low but firm as he whispered, “Protective Barrier.”

The moment he spoke the words, the magic fully activated. Though the barrier was invisible to the naked eye, Sophia could sense its presence—a faint shimmer in the air, a subtle shift in the energy around them.

It felt like a warm, comforting embrace, shielding them from whatever dangers might lurk in the forest.

Adam had set up this barrier as a precaution. If anything—be it a sudden ambush or a wild beast lurking in the shadows—were to attack them, this shield would serve as their first line of defense.

Sophia felt a wave of gratitude toward Adam. His quick thinking and resourcefulness were a constant reminder of why she trusted him so much.

Satisfied with his work, Adam lowered himself onto the dirt path. Small patches of grass surrounded them, their green blades soft against the rough ground. Choosing a comfortable spot, Adam settled down on the grass.

Seeing this, Sophia hesitated for a moment before walking over. She found a patch of grass nearby, a few feet away from Adam, and sat down, folding her legs beneath her. The ground was cool and slightly damp, but it was a welcome relief after the long walk.

As soon as they were seated, Adam glanced at Sophia and asked, “Did you bring any food?”

Sophia blinked in surprise before realization struck her. Back in the village, Adam had stored her belongings in another dimension. She hadn’t thought much about it then, but now she recalled that she had packed some food before they left.

As she pondered this, another thought crossed her mind—If Adam hadn’t stored my things in his inventory, carrying them all this way would have been nearly impossible for me.

The thought made her appreciate Adam’s foresight even more. He had always been one step ahead, anticipating problems before they even arose.

Shaking off the thought, she nodded in response to his question.

Adam acknowledged her with a slight nod of his own. Then, raising his hand slightly, he spoke a single word.

“Inventory.”

The moment he said it, a glowing English letter “I” appeared on his wrist, shining in white with a black core.

Almost instantly, the same bag that Sophia had packed back in the village materialized before them.

Sophia’s eyes widened in astonishment. She had seen Adam use his powers before, but it never ceased to amaze her. The way he could summon objects from another dimension with just a word was nothing short of magical.

For a while, they sat in silence, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds. The forest around them felt peaceful, almost serene, but Sophia knew better than to let her guard down completely.

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The red flower had been a stark reminder that danger could be lurking anywhere.

After they finished eating, Adam leaned back against a tree, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Sophia watched him, her mind racing with questions. She had so much she wanted to ask him—about their journey, about his powers, about what lay ahead. But she hesitated, unsure of where to begin.

Finally, she broke the silence. “Adam, how do you know so much about this forest? About the plants, the dangers… everything?”

Adam turned to her, his expression thoughtful. “I’ve trained through forests like this before,” he said. “And I’ve learned to pay attention to the details. Every plant, every sound, every shadow—they all tell a story. You just have to know how to listen.”

Sophia nodded, absorbing his words. She had always admired Adam’s ability to stay calm and composed, no matter the situation. It was one of the many things that made him such a strong leader.

“Do you think we’ll face more dangers like that flower?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Adam’s gaze softened. “Probably,” he admitted. “But that’s why we have to stay alert. And why I set up the barrier. As long as we’re careful, we’ll be fine.”

Sophia felt a sense of reassurance wash over her. Adam’s confidence was contagious, and she found herself feeling more at ease. She leaned back against the grass, staring up at the canopy of trees above. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground.

For a moment, everything felt peaceful. But Sophia knew that this was just the beginning of their journey. There would be more challenges ahead, more dangers to face. And yet, with Adam by her side, she felt ready to take on whatever came their way.

Sophia reached into her bag, her fingers searching through the contents as she checked a few items. The fabric of her bag felt slightly rough against her skin, a reminder of the journey they had taken so far.

Adam was momentarily lost in a memory.

It was just like when they were children.

Back then, Sophia would always bring food for him whenever they played together.

He would often forget to eat while getting caught up in exploring or training, and Sophia, ever the thoughtful one, would quietly set food beside him.

She never scolded him for his carelessness—she simply made sure he ate.

Sophia, too, was thinking the same thing. A small, nostalgic smile crossed her lips as she placed the cloth bundle on the ground and carefully unwrapped it. The scent of freshly baked bread and dried fruits mixed with the earthy aroma of the forest.

Adam didn’t hesitate. He picked up a piece of food and took a bite, chewing slowly. “You should eat too,” he said, gesturing toward the food.

At first, Sophia hesitated, feeling a little shy. 'It’s just food, so why do I feel this way?' But after a brief pause, she nodded and joined him.

The two of them sat there, quietly eating together, sharing a rare moment of peace in the vast wilderness.

The chirping of distant birds and the rustling of leaves filled the silence between them. The tension from earlier, the fear of the giant mantis, seemed distant now.

Sophia glanced at Adam, who was calmly eating. His expression was unreadable, but his presence alone made her feel secure.

After they had rested for a while, Adam turned to her and asked, “Are you ready to continue?”

Sophia gave a slight nod in response.

Seeing this, Adam reached out and placed his hand on her bag once more.

“Inventory store,” he said in English.

In an instant, the bag vanished, seamlessly absorbed into Adam’s wrist.

Sophia watched, still amazed by the ability. No matter how many times she saw it, the way Adam could store and retrieve objects so effortlessly fascinated her.

With that, the two of them resumed their journey.

This time, however, the path ahead was much easier to traverse. Unlike before, when they had to navigate through dense forest and uneven terrain, they were now walking along a naturally formed trail.

Though the path was made of dirt and slightly rugged, it was still far better than the thick wilderness they had previously struggled through. They no longer had to worry about obstacles like tangled roots or sudden slopes.

Sophia took a deep breath, appreciating the change. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and wildflowers. She found herself feeling a little more at ease.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The only sounds were the crunch of their footsteps and the occasional chirping of insects hidden in the grass.

As they continued moving forward, Adam suddenly lifted his hand to the side, signaling Sophia to stop.

Sophia immediately halted, her body tensing as she instinctively glanced around.

Adam’s gaze, however, was fixed on the left side of the forest. He stared into the dense foliage, his expression sharpening. His entire posture shifted, like a predator that had sensed danger.

Then, raising his voice slightly, he called out, “I think it’s time for you to come out.”

A few seconds of silence followed.

Then, from the branches of a tree on the left side of the path, a figure emerged.

A man, dressed entirely in black, leaped down onto the ground, landing smoothly in front of Adam.

Sophia’s eyes widened at the sight.

The man was clad in dark robes, his face obscured by a mask. A sword hung at his waist, secured tightly to his belt. His stance was steady, his movements precise—it was clear he was no ordinary traveler.

Adam’s gaze hardened.

He had seen this outfit before.

It was the same attire worn by the samurai he had encountered in the past.

Sophia took a step back, instinctively shifting into a defensive stance. Her heart pounded as she positioned herself behind Adam, who remained calm and composed.

One of Adam’s hands subtly moved toward the hilt of his sword, which was still secured at his waist. His grip tightened in anticipation.

The masked man studied them for a brief moment before slowly drawing his own blade.

The metallic sound of steel sliding against its sheath echoed through the air.

Pointing his sword toward them, he spoke in a cold, steady voice.

“You are surrounded.”

Sophia’s breath caught in her throat.

Her eyes darted toward the side of the trail where the samurai had appeared. Had he been hiding there this whole time?

She hadn’t even sensed his presence.

But as she quickly scanned the area, her confusion deepened. The trail was bordered by dense forest on both sides, but no other enemies were visible.

She frowned, her mind racing.

If we’re surrounded… then where are the others?

Slowly, she turned her gaze back to the samurai.

And at that moment, the chapter came to an abrupt, chilling end.