Lem’s simulated self was startled by the question. Lem’s focus became trained on the martial elder.

What did his intuition tell him?

How should he answer?

He knew that Master Brightflame was under the impression that his intuition warned him of both opportunities and dangers.

Would it be strange if he said that a day had gone past without him feeling anything?

There should at least have been a danger present somewhere…

Master Brightflame turned his shadowed face to stare at Lem’s simulated self.

Lem remembered the circumstances they had met under, the explosion behind him, the movement at impossible speeds. He had a sudden feeling that the martial elder was not human.

There was a difference in realm between them.

There was a difference in life level.

With all the time they had spent together, it was easy to forget, but the moment he felt a threat coming from Master Brightflame, an enormous gap opened up. It was a chasm that could not be bridged.

He felt that he was an ant looking up at a giant.

Lem’s simulated self scrambled to respond with something, anything that could serve as a lifeline.

“I-earlier in the day, there was a vague threat in the water. Something massive lurked underneath the water, but it did not feel as though it was going to attack. I am not even sure if it saw us.”

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Lem knew that his simulated self was referring to the giant death-skull crab. Clearly, he was reluctant to fabricate an answer out of whole cloth. All good lies had a grain of truth within them.

Master Brightflame did not appear satisfied with the answer. His shadowy features remained fixed on Lem’s simulated self and his voice turned cold.

“I told you to inform me if your intuition warned of anything…”

Lem’s simulated self shrank into the brush in fear.

“These vague threats are always passing by. They do not mean anything! It is only when I feel a huge crisis, as though I am about to die that it feels important and I would think to tell you. I did not want to convey the wrong information or mislead you in any way!”

The martial elder’s voice remained unchanged.

“Do you feel a crisis now?”

It felt like Master Brightflame was an immense, looming figure in Lem’s perception.

Lem’s simulated self was frozen in place, without the ability to even twitch a finger. His arms and legs would not respond.

The feeling was just as it had been earlier in the day!

Lem’s simulated self did not know how he was supposed to answer the question.

Lem understood the impossible situation he was in.

If he said yes, and Master Brightflame had not intended to kill him, would it be a contradiction?

But then if Master Brightflame did kill him because of his answer, there would be no contradiction.

Or if he said no and Master Brightflame thought that his intuition was useless…

Luckily, his jaw was frozen along with the rest of his body, and he was unable to answer, even if he wanted to.

Every muscle in his body was immobile!

Had the suspicions finally come to a head? Was it the end of the simulation?

It felt as though he was about to be struck!

Master Brightflame’s hand would go up. The forest would be illuminated by flame.

The hand would come down, and the simulation would end!