121 Sending Flowers~

As they delved deeper step by step, their bodies gradually adapted to the darkness within the Black Dread. Theresa began to discern the dim surroundings more clearly. The deeper she ventured, the clearer the presence of the Black Dread became. At first, she had mistaken it for something like a black mist, but as she penetrated further, the Black Dread in the air grew denser, revealing its true form—it was like a transparent black spiderweb spread throughout the entire space. The further inward they went, the more distinct the web-like structure became. The strangest thing, however, was that walking through this Black Dread felt exactly like walking through normal air, with no sense of obstruction.

To be honest, the sensation of seeing something ahead but still having to keep moving forward, as if walking into it repeatedly, was extremely uncomfortable—though rationally she knew she wouldn’t actually collide with anything.

As they continued, Theresa suddenly stopped, her brow furrowed.

When she halted, the whole group stopped as well. Lambert turned around and raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”

“I feel uneasy,” Theresa said, frowning. “The further we go in, the worse it gets.”

“Where exactly do you feel uneasy?” both Pedia and Lambert asked simultaneously. Pedia’s tone was filled with concern and anxiety, while Lambert’s carried more curiosity and surprise.

Theresa stepped away from the main group, walked forward a couple of steps, paused, then moved two steps to the left before retreating back to the group. “It feels like my soul is being torn apart. It’s very unpleasant—and the deeper I go, the worse it becomes.”

“Excellent!” Lambert chuckled with a knowing smile. “Don’t worry, that’s a normal reaction. Your sensitivity to spiritual energy far exceeds your current level, hence this feeling. Training in an environment like this will greatly benefit your foundation. My advice is to keep going unless it becomes unbearable.”

Lambert’s suggestion was a typical stress-training method. Though Theresa felt various discomforts in her heart, she decided to endure them. After all, they had come here to witness the spatial rift between the Soul-Eating Demons’ realm and this virtual plane. If they reached this point and turned back without seeing the rift, she would undoubtedly regret it deeply in the future.

Better to suffer now than regret later.

With resolve, Theresa gritted her teeth and signaled the group to move forward.

After advancing about ten meters, the sensation of being pulled by invisible forces, as if she was about to be split in two, grew stronger. Another ten meters on, she felt as if half her body no longer belonged to her; her entire being drifted into a floating state. Her consciousness ebbed and flowed, and her body, driven only by instinct, mechanically followed Lambert’s steps.

“We’ve arrived,” Lambert’s voice sounded as if from a distant horizon, or like it was transmitted through water—so far away, so unreachable. Theresa’s drifting mind was still trying to comprehend the single word when her body, propelled by inertia, suddenly collided with Lambert’s chest. Instantly, a warm, sunlit fragrance filled her nostrils, miraculously alleviating much of her soul’s discomfort. Her previously floating spirit felt as though it had gently landed, steady and reassured.

“What fragrance are you wearing?” The words slipped out of Theresa’s mouth before her mind could fully process them. She startled herself, but being who she was, she quickly regained composure. Looking up calmly, she explained, “I just sensed a very comforting scent from you—did you use some kind of aromatic product? Or something else?”

Though Theresa tried hard to maintain composure and not show any oddness, she overlooked one major point—she was standing less than twenty centimeters from Lambert. Her upward glance had unknowingly brought them even closer…

Lambert studied the young girl before him. Though her face was youthful, her demeanor was exceptionally calm and composed. A mischievous impulse rose within him, and just as he was about to tease her, he suddenly noticed several hostile gazes fixed on them. Even without shifting his line of sight, he knew those hostile looks came from Theresa’s summoned beasts, puppets, and Pedia, among whom Pedia’s glare was the most piercing.

So Lambert suddenly broke into a sly smile. With a light flick of his right hand, he pinned a small, pale pink fluffy flower onto Theresa’s temple. The fresh blossom looked as if freshly picked from a tree, its soft pink hues complementing the girl’s fair and translucent complexion perfectly, creating a strikingly harmonious image.

Lambert’s action startled Pedia and the others, and even Theresa herself was slightly taken aback. But Lambert grinned with satisfaction. “This is the Thousand-Petal Fluff, the most soul-stabilizing item there is. You have a good eye for such things.”

Only then did Theresa realize how close she was to Lambert. She reached up to remove the flower from her hair, lowering her head to examine it, then subtly stepped back. Though the flower gave off no discernible scent, just holding and looking at it brought a comforting warmth.

As Theresa gently twirled the flower, its layers of petals vibrated softly, and when moved faster, they shimmered faintly with radiant beauty.

“The Thousand-Petal Fluff is very particular about whom it embraces. Near those it favors, it blooms splendidly and beautifully. Near those it dislikes, it withers as if dead—like this,” Lambert said, handing her another flower. Compared to the fully bloomed, charming flower in Theresa’s hand, the one in Lambert’s was shriveled and crumpled, looking like a dried, lifeless husk—truly unattractive.

Feeling pity, Theresa reached out and took the flower from him. Miraculously, the once withered flower seemed to rewind time, gradually unfolding and plumping up. Within seconds, a fresh, rosy Thousand-Petal Fluff rested in her palm, delicate and charming.

“Tsk… so biased,” Lambert sighed, as if feeling unjustly neglected. Before Theresa could respond, he continued, “These are the only two I have left. You can have them both—I believe they prefer being with you.”

Theresa hesitated briefly but, reluctant to lose that comforting feeling, thanked him and accepted the flowers.

Afterward, the group turned their attention ahead. Within a roughly ten-meter radius, the space was utterly void, save for a streak of dark purple lightning-like energy flickering and surging intermittently. Countless tendrils of Black Dread swirled ceaselessly from behind the lightning—an enigmatic spatial rift.

While everyone focused on studying the rift, Pedia silently stood between Theresa and Lambert, accompanied by Canis, subtly preventing any contact between the two.

Theresa, absorbed by the mysterious spatial rift, remained oblivious to this. Lambert noticed but felt no threat, allowing it to be, and quietly stared at the rift, lost in thought.

“Can this thing be destroyed?” Pedia suddenly asked.

Lambert snapped back from his reverie and asked in surprise, “You want to destroy it?”

“Cutting off its source is fundamental,” Pedia replied succinctly. “Passive defense is the most foolish approach.”

“Destroying a spatial rift violates the fundamental law of space. Are you sure about this?” Lambert pressed.

The fundamental law of space was a rule painstakingly verified through millennia of bloodshed and tears by countless intelligent beings. Among its tenets was to hold every spatial rift in utmost respect, for they symbolized all new possibilities. Pedia’s desire to destroy the rift was a blatant breach of this law, and if known by the public, would be met with universal condemnation.

Yet Pedia’s expression remained stoic. “The law’s purpose is to preserve life’s continuation. This spatial rift already poses a grave threat to humanity’s safety and thus falls outside its protection.”

Theresa chimed in, “We don’t necessarily have to destroy it. What about temporarily sealing it? The formation of a spatial rift requires powerful energy and stability. If we disrupt its stability, it would take years or even decades to reform, right?”

Hearing this, Pedia’s eyes lit up like he had found a treasure. He turned to Theresa for more details. The siblings then began discussing various interference strategies, treating Lambert as invisible and oblivious.

To Lambert, their so-called plans seemed naive and simplistic—they both only understood the rift superficially. Yet their ideas and short-, medium-, and long-term considerations brimmed with a fresh, vibrant energy. Especially Pedia, whose quick wit, graceful composure, and fearless, unshackled thinking brought an exhilarating novelty.

Lambert silently smiled, finally etching that name into memory—Pedia Aubryon.

The two exchanged ideas back and forth while Lambert silently observed, not disturbing the pleasant atmosphere—until a sharp, piercing howl abruptly shattered the calm. Following the howl, a silver figure darted out from beside Pedia, rushing toward the edge of the Black Dread. But just a few meters out, a faster shadow caught up, clamping down on the figure’s neck and dragging it back, dazed and unconscious—

It was Canis! And the one who subdued and dragged it back was Lambert.

(To be continued.)