Chapter 312: Ch 311: Reaching an Echo

Kael continued walking, keeping his eyes on the path ahead while the young Lyra remained firmly wrapped around his neck.

He could not help but find the entire situation strange, especially since he had never imagined that he would have to rely on a child version of Lyra to navigate through someone’s subconsciousness.

"Where exactly are you taking me?"

Kael asked, but Lyra did not answer immediately. Instead, she pointed toward another path that had appeared between the trees.

"There."

"That is not exactly an explanation."

Kael muttered, but he followed her instructions regardless. The corridor had started to get narrower as they went deeper inside, and Kael was beginning to feel like the walls were closing in around him.

But the young child in his arms had not panicked, which meant that it was not a problem he needed to worry about either.

Still, this was definitely not a normal dream.

"Are we getting close?"

"Yes."

Lyra answered without hesitation, but her voice had become quieter than before.

Kael noticed the change immediately, and he looked at the child in his arms. But her expression was the same as ever.

"You know something, so can’t you tell me? Where are you taking me? And for what purpose?"

The young girl remained silent for a moment before slowly nodding, only to shake her head afterward. She looked conflicted about what she should say next.

"She is scared."

Kael’s expression became serious.

"Who is scared?"

Lyra raised her hand and pointed ahead.

"The one waiting for you at the end of this road. She is scared that you would not come for her..."

Kael followed her finger and felt his heart sink when he saw a familiar silhouette standing between the trees.

He knew that person.

And judging from the way she was looking at him, she had been waiting for him for a very long time.

It was Lyra’s adult body that had been stuck to the tree at the end of the corridor, and she was struggling against the holds the corruption had on her.

But no matter how hard she twisted and turned, there was nowhere for her to move.

"Lyra—"

The young girl in Kael’s arms started to twist and turn until he was forced to let her go. She ran toward that body nailed against the tree as soon as she was free.

"She’s waiting for you. Don’t you dare disappoint her now. Oh, and be careful of what you do."

The young girl said softly before she disappeared into the body nailed against the tree. Kael could only watch this happen with a sigh before he approached the tree in front of him.

But his instincts warned him to be careful.

He reached toward the barrier, only to sense something running toward him at full speed and slamming into his barrier, startling him.

Kael pulled his hand back just in time to keep it from being bitten off by the guard dogs of the barrier.

"Ugh, where did these mutts come from? I doubt that these are illusions as well."

The first beast that attacked Kael had brushed against his hand, and he had felt fur against his hand. So he knew that these beasts were not an illusion. They were pacing around the barrier, trying to keep him away from their queen.

Sigh

"It looks like Lyra finally got some useful followers that will give up their lives to protect her. But she forgot to teach them manners. This is so much like her that it makes me chuckle in amusement."

Kael’s powers had mostly recovered at this point, and his energy levels were back.

It still felt taxing to use his magic, but he was willing to exhaust himself once more if it meant that he would be able to awaken Lyra’s body trapped in the corruption.

As for the rest, he would figure it out once he had more information from Lyra.

Kael slowly raised his hand, allowing a small amount of divine energy to gather around his fingertips before directing it toward the barrier.

The guard dogs immediately noticed the change and began growling, their bodies tensing as they prepared to attack him again.

"Alright, alright. I get it. You are just doing your job."

Kael muttered as he stepped closer, carefully examining the barrier surrounding Lyra. There were countless layers of corruption wrapped around it, but beneath all of them, he could sense something else.

A familiar presence.

Lyra’s essence was still intact and she was trying her best to reach him in one way. That alone was enough to make Kael relax slightly and he increased his efforts to reach her.

"Good. At least she has not been completely consumed yet. That means she still has a chance to live a normal life after all this."

Kael narrowed his eyes before raising his hand again, this time preparing to break through the barrier by force. The moment his magic touched it, however, the entire corridor began to shake violently.

The guard dogs immediately became more aggressive, throwing themselves against the barrier while Lyra’s body struggled harder against her restraints.

Kael gritted his teeth as he realized what was happening.

"The corruption knows I am here. It won’t be long before it starts to exert its pressure fully."

He could feel the pressure increasing around him, trying to force him away from Lyra before he could reach her.

But Kael had already made up his mind.

"I came all this way to get you. I am not leaving without you. I will take you back this time even if I have to give up this body."

He increased the amount of divine energy flowing through his body, and the barrier finally began to crack.

The monsters looked horrified as they watched Kael coming closer and they tried to push him back, but Kael passed the barrier and headed toward Lyra.

His magic pushed the monsters back, causing them to struggle as well. But Kael finally closed his hand around Lyra’s and pulled her away from the tree.

Or, he at least tried to. But the binds won’t give up on her.