After Simon and Paul''s choices, the group spent the night camping with no issues. Now, only a short distance from the canyon, they could rest more easily. Thankfully, the barrier created by Arinea and Levia kept the disturbed beasts and monsters away.

    However, as they approached the canyon, the flowers and flora became thicker, and the stems darkened and became filled with sharp spines, twisting around the normal trees.

    "Hey, look at this strange plant... it''s funny."

    Erika pointed to a dark purple flower with a bell-shaped bud attached to the trunk of a silver tree, but the veins and stem continuously undulated every few moments.

    "It''s a dangerous plant, don''t touch it!"

    —Gasp~

    Arinea grabbed Erika''s wrist, suddenly causing her to gasp. The purple flower stem suddenly grew another purple vine that lunged for the demon knight, but thanks to Arinea, she avoided the bell-shaped cup with sharp thorns inside like teeth.

    "What the hell is that?!" Simon shouted, his swords cutting the flower apart, his face twisted in disgust.

    "Ah..."

    "A pity..." Ciela reacted similarly to Arinea as the silver tree suddenly started to darken before it collapsed into dust.

    "What?!"

    Even Paul exclaimed at the strange reaction.

    Asmodeus closed his eyes and let out a long sigh before he tapped another tree to gain everyone''s attention.

    Those plants seem to be dangerous to living creatures, but for the silver trees that cannot get the proper nourishment in this forest... they are essential to survival."

    "Oh?" Arinea''s eyes shone as she became interested in Asmodeus for the first time since meeting him; while rubbing her lower lips, she questioned him. "Why do you think that?"

    "Because those flowers are pumping the mana they''ve absorbed through photosynthesis into the silver trunk, while feeding on their sap... and the vine that lunged at Erika could probably have drained her mana dry in a few moments right?"

    Ciela''s ears stood up, flopping around as her lips curled up into a delighted smile.

    She rarely spoke of her hobbies or interests with Asmodeus, but because she grew up with Arinea, Ciela enjoyed studying the forest and how it interacted with mana created by the elven world tree.

    "I see... so the demon king can see the flow of mana? Interesting, that''s never been mentioned before." Arinea tapped her chin while gazing over Asmodeus like a test subject.

    "Really?" Ciela tilted her head while asking with a cuter voice, coming closer to him with a beaming expression.

    "Yeah, I thought you knew?"

    "Nn... I do now though. My Husband carries many secrets."

    Ciela twirled around while Erika dragged her away.

    She gazed at Asmodeus, pouting, and pushed her lips together. Then, they headed along the pathway towards the exit.

    —Slap!

    "It seems like a hassle to deal with so many women. I am glad I only have one." Simon slapped Asmodeus on the back, muttering and shaking his head.

    "Y-You''re right..." When she noticed his gaze, her cheeks turned slightly red as she stepped forward and followed beside him.

    —Rumble~

    The ground tremored, causing the group''s bodies to shift around while leaning against the canyon walls to regain balance.

    —Crack!

    The sound of breaking rocks came from below, and they could see a portion of the canyon starting to collapse, forming a landslide.

    "Hurry!"

    "Run, take my hand Arinea!"

    Erunda''s arm wrapped around his lover''s waist, carrying Arinea as he dashed forward, the crumbling rocks and shuddering earth growing more intense, while Asmodeus grabbed Levia and Ciela, while Erika rushed ahead using her skills.

    She moved with grace, jumping from rock to rock as if dancing on the wind. Despite the unstable terrain, her feet never lost traction or stability.

    —BANG!

    The group rushed into a small clearing in the canyon, the obsidian walls spread out, branching into two paths, as if a crossroad. But there was a small cave in the middle that blocked the way to the north, while the east and west could lead to another path around it.

    "Damn..."

    Rocks piled up from the collapsed walls behind them, and now every few moments a slight tremor spread through the canyon, causing Asmodeus, Levia and Arinea to narrow their eyes.

    ''I hope my hunch is wrong.''

    "This isn''t good. The return is blocked..." Ciela muttered while gazing back at the blocked entrance.

    "Asmodeus, what should we do now?"

    Simon turned to face Asmodeus, his eyes a little dilated and moving erratically. He couldn''t settle down and crossed his arms to hide his trembling limbs. "This heat, the tremors, the collapsing wall... this feels ominous."

    "I agree with Simon. I don''t like the feeling of this place." Paul also held several of his Magic Runes as if ready to fight at any moment.

    "Let''s split up and check the two paths." Asmodeus gazed at the west and east paths, both of which were partially obscured by the cave that separated the two sides. It was dark inside and seemed to continue for a long way, making him hesitant to enter without knowing where it led.

    "How will we split the forces?" Erunda gazed at Arinea and Ciela, showing his clear preference for command.

    "It''s up to Asmodeus!"

    "Let''s listen to the Demon King."

    Arinea didn''t fully trust Asmodeus, but she could only test him when she left him in charge of the journey.

    "Are you sure?" Asmodeus asked, looked at the elf and then Ciela.

    He was used to being the one in command, but he didn''t want to cause too much trouble with someone Ciela respected so deeply; thus, Asmodeus continued only the moment Arinea nodded.

    "Okay..."