Chapter 22: Stonehenge

"The two clumsy heavy-armored knights were tricked into being someone else's laborers... They've already joined another team and entered the Deer Island Secret Realm..."
"Deer Island Secret Realm..."
"That key has appeared too. Although it's not a brand-new secret realm, it's only shown up a handful of times..."
"What about Aman? Where is she?"
"She... cough, cough... Elia, can't you be gentler? I feel like I'm about to die!" The Frost Archer complained as he struggled to escape her ministrations.
"You're not dead yet, are you? You can gripe all you want after you die, that's plenty of time!" Elia replied coldly, tending to his wounds without a hint of emotion.
"Is that how you talk to someone?!" The Frost Archer exploded, and if he had the strength to stand, he would've confronted her right then.
Even so, his face was dark—hard to say if it was from the poison or from anger.
"Go away, even if I die, I don't need your help!"
"Hmph, you say that so easily. I've already finished treating you and now you say you didn't need it? Maybe I should..." Elia glanced at her handiwork on him, let out a cold laugh, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "Just a little of this, like so, and then... you can die just as you wish..."
"..."
The Frost Archer's eyes widened, silent now, his expression fierce and his face tinged green.
Royong was baffled—could this cursed witch really save people?
And more importantly...
Never mind. He decided it best not to meddle in others' affairs, especially with Elia, who clearly harbored ill intentions toward him. Better to keep his distance.
"Elia, stop scaring him. Let's focus on Aman!" Wendy sighed, sounding anxious.
"Aman..." The Frost Archer repeated, then let out another sigh, as if recalling something. He murmured, "Aman, she..."
"What happened to her? Hurry and tell us!"
His halting speech was deeply frustrating.
"She left with another team. That guy claimed he had a way to get the secret realm key!"
"They're just con artists, tricking Aman into joining them so they could take advantage..."
"I couldn't stop it. Got beaten up by two level 10s..."
"Where are they now? Where did they go?" Wendy asked.
"They've been gone for quite a while."
"Aman, did she just watch you get beaten?" Elia wondered, surprised. They were teammates and had completed many quests together.
Besides, the Frost Archer had always claimed to be a gallant protector—though no one was sure which flower he was meant to guard.
Still, she shouldn't have just stood by as he was attacked!
"She was led away by an eleven-level guy, out of sight for ages, and only after she was gone did the two level 10s attack..." The Frost Archer said bitterly.
"You didn't fight back? Aren't you usually quite formidable? Afraid of two level 10s?" The Storm Sorcerer asked.
"They weren't playing fair! While I was persuading Aman, one grabbed me from each side, pinned me down, and I couldn't break free. Once Aman left, they held me to the ground... cough, cough..."
At this point, the Frost Archer's emotions slipped beyond control, aggravating his wounds and making him cough.
"So tragic..."
The Wild Hunter clicked his tongue and suggested, "Should I take you somewhere safe... cough, or let Royong open a portal and send you back to camp?"
"Royong..."
Only then did the Frost Archer's gaze settle on Royong, as if suddenly remembering something. His sickly face flushed with excitement as he asked, "The chest—did you open it? Was it a success? The secret realm key..."
"Yes."
Royong merely nodded, meeting his gaze with reassurance.
At that moment, the Frost Archer's face lit up with joy. He couldn't speak, but he gripped a nearby boulder and extended his hand as if to say, "Help me up, I can still fight."
Meanwhile, Royong had already activated a teleportation scroll. A portal of light opened, revealing the familiar camp on the other side.
"You should go back and rest, heal your wounds. When the opportunity comes, we'll explore the secret realm together again."
"This..." The Frost Archer hesitated, clearly reluctant, wanting to say more. But with all the female team members urging him, he couldn't refuse.
Besides, they were about to explore a brand-new secret realm; who could afford to care for a seriously wounded teammate? That would only hold everyone back.
"Ah!"
With that thought, the Frost Archer walked slowly toward the portal, disappointed and heavy-hearted.
"Aren't you going to bring Aman back first?"
Just before leaving, he turned to look at them, also noticing the chubby outsider in the group, puzzled as to why such a weak one was among them.
But in the eyes of higher-levels, even these level 8 heroes were considered weaklings.
They themselves wouldn't see it that way, of course.
In matters of level, a single rank higher made you a boss; a single rank lower, a weakling.
The old pecking order...
"How can we find her? She left on her own, and it's been ages. Who knows, maybe things have already escalated between them!"
Elia remarked with cruel indifference.
"You... how can you say that? She's not that kind of person!" The Frost Archer felt stabbed in the chest, enraged.
"Enough, Elia, stop joking." Wendy intervened, guiding the Frost Archer into the portal and softly assuring him, "We all know what kind of person Aman is. She won't do anything foolish. Go back and heal; when we're stronger, we'll settle the score with those people!"
Her words, though quiet, carried weight. As the team leader, Wendy possessed many admirable qualities—
Not least, she would never let her teammates suffer needlessly.
"Got it. You all be careful... Oh!" Just as one foot entered the portal, the Frost Archer turned suddenly to Royong, his eyes burning with anticipation. "That... key, could you let me see it?"
"Sure."
Royong replied, extending his hand and opening his palm.
A faint glow appeared.
A small tree slowly materialized.
"This, this, this..."
The Frost Archer's anticipation was mixed with confusion and delight, hesitating before asking, "Is that really the secret realm key?"
Could this guy be a con artist too, trying to trick the female teammates while he was away?
That scoundrel!
A surge of righteous anger straightened his battered body, and he was about to roar.
Just then, a surprised voice echoed from within the stone circle:
"Hm?!"
There was no malice in the voice, but the shock it brought was immense.
None of those present had sensed the newcomer.
Without knowing when, another person had appeared silently within the stone formation!
When did he show up?!
"Howl!"
At that moment, the Wild Hunter's giant wolf rushed over, barking at the stone circle.
Light footsteps followed, and a figure emerged from the flickering shadows.
A humanoid creature.
And—
As he stepped out, everyone was struck dumb with amazement.
He stood a head taller than any of them, broad-shouldered, even the Wild Hunter's giant wolf seemed small beside him.
Most astonishing was his half-golden, half-red hair and pointed ears, like an elf.
Yet his body also bore the legendary marks of a demon—
A fierce visage with spiked skin...
"Young man, may I see the key in your hand?"
The creature's voice was old, as if he had lived countless years.
Aside from the initial cry, the rest of his words were weak, almost frail—more so than the wounded Frost Archer.
"Key?"
The Frost Archer was puzzled—was that truly the key?
And apparently, one that had never been seen before?
At that thought, his breath quickened.
"Eh?"
Before he could say more, Wendy, who was supporting him, noticed the portal flickering, its magic waning and stability faltering.
She gave him a gentle shove, pushing him through.
With the current uncertainty, they simply couldn't spare the effort to care for another wounded companion.
"It's already bound."
Royong looked at the newcomer, sensing no malice. Besides, if the stranger harbored ill intent, escape would be impossible.
Better to be forthright.
He extended his hand, making the small tree even clearer.
"Ah, it really is... a mid-tier secret realm, and the Forest Secret has never appeared before!"
The giant being spoke with longing in his eyes, then turned to Royong, saying, "Lucky young man, the Forest Goddess will bless you..."
After speaking, his gaze swept over the others, nodding slowly.
His form faded, merging back into the stone circle.
"So it was a spirit of the formation?"
Royong muttered, finally relaxing as the tension ebbed away.