School Transmigration: I, Chosen as the Saint by Dragons at the Start-Chapter 232 --Ambushed

"I must leave; I have matters to attend to." Anna’s voice was soft as she asked, "Why does it have to be you?"

She kissed Owen again, but this time he gently pushed her away, saying, "No, there are things I must do myself."

"Why?"

"The secrets I carry must be unveiled by my own hands."

Silence followed, a long, profound silence, punctuated only by Rose’s sobbing, as if pleading, "Don’t go, don’t leave me."

It was only now that Owen understood Rose’s concerns from the day before.

Her fear wasn’t that he would fall for the witch but that he would return to his original world.

Suddenly, Anna pushed Owen down, pinning him beneath her.

Her perfect body was full of temptation, momentarily robbing Owen of his ability to resist.

Owen knew he was still under the influence of the magic tower.

This time, the tower hadn’t suppressed his strength but had thrown his mind into turmoil.

"Don’t...don’t do this," he could only offer verbal resistance.

Anna’s hand slipped inside Owen’s shirt, caressing his chest, then suddenly, she stopped.

She withdrew her slender hand, holding a small vial.

"This object has found its way back to you," Anna remarked, aware of the vial’s origin, "A gift from the champion king."

"How do you know about this?" Owen asked.

"I am different from them," Anna pointed towards Rose and said, "I am a replica formed based on the memories of others in this world, a unique existence. Thus, I know almost everything about your memories."

Owen didn’t know how to respond and remained silent.

Since your arrival in this world, my sole desire has been to keep you here.

Beyond you, I reign supreme in this realm.

I dispatched Rose in hopes she might anchor you to our world.

Yet, the world itself has led you to this exit, and even in assuming the role of the witch, I couldn’t issue the cease command to those people to prevent your arrival here.

"You’re not the original witch?"

"Correct. She, like the guardians of the preceding levels, was also a guardian. I facilitated her departure on your behalf."

"She is... the champion king?" Owen suddenly harbored such a thought, skeptical even in his own mind.

"Yes, in the outside world, she is indeed the woman you hold dearest." Anna revealed a somewhat lonely smile, adding, "You’re probably unaware, but that feeling is called love at first sight. It’s just unfortunate that she has likely forgotten you by now; to her, you were merely a child she saved in passing."

Anna deliberately emphasized "a child," making Owen momentarily feel awkward.

If he truly harbored affection for that female Rakshasa, such feelings must be immature.

"I..."

Owen wanted to say something, but catching a glimpse of Rose’s jealous expression, he held his tongue.

"Let it be, then. I won’t make it difficult for you."

Picking up a black cloak from the ground and draping it over her shoulders, Anna continued, "I never truly fancied you. However, my father’s memories suggested that you might fancy me. I thought to use this method to keep you, but it seems you indeed hold no interest in me."

"I..."

"However, Rose has always been fond of you. In the outside world, she’s always looked up to you, I hope you won’t let her down."

"I won’t." Owen’s response was resolute and decisive.

"You’re free to leave, but..." Anna paused, her tone grave, "this Boundary Rift exists because of you. Its existence is sustained by your presence. Once you leave, this world will eventually collapse."

"But..."

"Three years."

"What?"

"Three years after you leave, this place will collapse. Before then..."

"Before then, I will return. I will find a way to keep this Boundary Rift going." Owen looked into Anna’s eyes as he spoke.

"Very well, I’ll open the gate now."

Anna tossed the small vial forward.

Before it could hit the ground, it vanished, and a slit in the space, taller than a person, appeared.

"Be cautious. Once you exit the Boundary Rift, you might enter into another layer of illusion, a completely fictional maze. If you can’t find your way out, you’ll die inside. And if you die, the Boundary Rift will collapse instantly."

Owen felt his hands tremble slightly.

Anna’s words effectively placed the lives of everyone within the Boundary Rift in his hands.

Now, Owen no longer saw the inhabitants of the Boundary Rift as mere illusions, for their emotions felt more real than those in the actual world.

Hesitating, Owen felt Rose take his hand.

"Go. Do what you must."

"Wait for me." Owen embraced Rose for a long time until Anna separated them.

"It’s time to leave; this door won’t remain open much longer."

"Farewell."

Owen turned towards the rift in space and stepped through with determination, vanishing from sight.

Rose buried her face in her mistress’s embrace, sobbing uncontrollably, yet firmly believing that Owen would return.

...

Promi had been waiting outside the Illusion Cave for Owen for over ten days.

During this period, the Illusion Cave experienced two anomalies, each producing dazzling streams of light.

Promi once thought Owen had overcome the trials of the Illusion Cave, but Owen did not emerge from the cave after the flashes of light, leading Promi to realize Owen must have broken through one layer of illusion only to fall into another.

The Illusion Cave is considered one of the most unique training grounds in this world.

Those who enter must possess profound strength and unwavering resolve.

The happiness and pain, contentment and guilt one has experienced are magnified in twisted forms by the Illusion Cave, trapping individuals in a quagmire of their own psyche.

One day, Promi sat down, crossed his legs, and entered a state of meditation to calm his mind.

However, it wasn’t long before trouble found him.

"Elder Promi, it’s urgent!"

A disciple from the Sanctuary, bearing injuries, arrived at the location of the Illusion Cave.

Promi looked up, surprised to see that the visitor was Kulaimi’s junior disciple.

Promi remembered this young man as one of the promising talents among the Sanctuary’s youth, highly regarded and hoped upon by Kulaimi.

However, Promi could see that the young man’s aptitude was not particularly outstanding.

It seemed Kulaimi had no choice; the younger generation of the Sanctuary lacked notable talents, and in a group of mediocrities, one is forced to place hopes on whoever stands out, even slightly.

Despite the esteem, it was surprising that Kulaimi had revealed the location of the Illusion Cave to others, indicating that a significant change must have occurred within the Sanctuary.

After all, only Kulaimi and he knew of the Illusion Cave’s whereabouts within the current Sanctuary.

Promi stood up, extending his hand toward Kulaimi’s junior disciple.

"Elder Promi, there’s...someone, the elder has already..." The disciple was beyond coherence.

"Relax, don’t resist."

"What?"

Startled, the disciple froze as Promi’s hand pressed against his forehead, memories transferring into Promi’s mind like a series of paintings.

Kulaimi was the first to sense something amiss.

Promi learned that the Sanctuary had been ensnared by a malevolent formation, significantly weakening everyone’s strength.

Someone was plotting against the Sanctuary.

This young man, Zerath, had scoured the Sanctuary top to bottom on Kulaimi’s orders without finding Elder Promi.

Promi’s dwelling was secluded, rarely visited by others, and it was unknown when he had left.

A reliable person had suggested Zerath check on Promi’s recently acquired disciple.

Only then did Zerath learn that the disciple had left about ten days ago, likely taken by Elder Promi himself.

This meant Elder Promi had also left some time ago.

Breathless, Zerath hurried back, nearly crawling to his master’s residence.

He saw his master gazing down the mountain.

"I’ve already investigated," Elder Kulaimi said.

"What’s suppressing our strength is an extremely evil ward, and the source of this ward’s power is a person."

"A person? How many?"

"If I’m not mistaken, just one."

Elder Kulaimi’s expression was grave.

"How is that possible..."

This was beyond Zerath’s comprehension.

How could the power of one person suppress the strength of all the disciples in the Sanctuary?

"It could be said to be a person, or it could also be described as a Fiend." Zerath stood frozen in place.

Elder Kulaimi could only sigh before continuing.

"My judgment is not wrong. After my investigation, I knew you wouldn’t be able to find Elder Promi."

"Why..."

"If he were here, with his strength, he would have already sensed the anomaly and engaged in battle with this Fiend."

Elder Kulaimi then took out a hastily drawn map and said, "Head north out of the mountains and search for the place marked on this map. Elder Promi should be there."

"Your strength is suppressed now, and it won’t recover immediately after leaving the formation; you might need to rely solely on your physical strength to run."

"I’ve roughly sketched this map from memory to prevent you from getting lost."

"I understand," Zerath replied, regaining his composure upon receiving the command.

"Good. Relay my order: all members to prepare for a push northward. I will personally see you out of this malevolent formation."

"Yes."

Zerath left his master’s dwelling, retrieving his full set of equipment and weapons.

He took the necessary healing potions, making thorough preparations like a commoner setting off on a long journey, and then quickly descended the mountain.

...