Shirou and Ikki's group was responsible for the southern mountain forest area. This area, unlike the mountain paths frequented by ordinary hikers, was a training facility exclusively for Blazers. Therefore, the road was quite bumpy, with dense vegetation everywhere. Additionally, the path had a steep incline, making it very treacherous to walk. Of course, if it were just rugged mountain paths, it would be nothing for the well-trained Shirou and Ikki, but...
"Ugh, here we go again." After a rustling sound in the bushes, a black shadow suddenly darted out. Ikki grabbed the black shadow with his left hand. A viper was baring its fangs at Ikki. This was the third time. This path was not only treacherous, but these surprise attacks were endless, which was quite troublesome.
Ikki forcefully threw the captured viper far away, reminding Shirou, who was walking behind him, "There seem to be quite a few venomous snakes around here.
Although they're not deadly species, you should still be careful, Shirou."
"Haha, these are just small fries to me!" Walking through the dense jungle, Shirou felt an unprecedented sense of joy. Looking at the environment, he felt as if he had returned to Orario, to the Dungeon. His past adventuring life seemed vivid, filling Shirou's eyes with a sense of nostalgia. For the rest of the journey, Shirou no longer let Ikki lead the way, but took charge himself. Walking at the very front, he skillfully dealt with various unexpected incidents in the jungle, his practiced movements like those of an expert who had survived in the wilderness for many years.
"Shirou, you seem very good at wilderness exploration!"
"Indeed, I once survived for a long time in such a dangerous place." Shirou scanned the surrounding environment, continuously searching for suspicious traces. However, effort finally paid off. Under Shirou's continuous searching, traces of the giant soon appeared before them.
"This is... a footprint!?" Near a collapsed area of trees, Shirou and his companion found a giant footprint.
Looking at the mark that no human could possibly make, Shirou and Ikki were both a little surprised.
"There really are traces of a giant here!" Squatting down and measuring the size of the footprint, Shirou and his companion gradually began discussing.
"Who knows? After all, we don't know the methods of those Blazers."
"Eh, Shirou, you don't understand these either?"
"What made you think I know everything?!" Squinting at Ikki, Shirou said crossly, "What do you take me for? I'm just an ordinary high school student!" Noticing Shirou's unfriendly gaze, Ikki chuckled awkwardly a few times. At the same time, he couldn't help but think: "You'd be weird if you were just an ordinary high school student! I heard that when you first arrived, you scared the Student Council President Shinguuji and Saikyo-sensei with just your killing intent!" Although he had many thoughts, Ikki didn't dare to speak them aloud. After all, in terms of strength alone, he was no match for Shirou.
Measuring the footprint in front of him, Shirou said calmly, "The information is wrong. Judging from this footprint, the enemy's height must be at least five meters! Maybe even taller!"
"You can tell that?!" Looking at the footprint on the ground, no matter how Ikki looked at it, he couldn't infer the enemy's height.
"Isn't this basic knowledge?"
"What the heck is 'basic knowledge'?! Whose basic knowledge teaches this?!" For Shirou's statement, Ikki not only kept complaining aloud but also in his mind. Looking at Shirou's calm back, he kept thinking: "And you still say you're an ordinary high school student?"
After looking around, Shirou stood up and said calmly,
"Let's go!"
"Where?" Ikki, confused by Shirou's abrupt statement, asked doubtfully.
"Of course, we're following the footprints to find traces of the giant!" Glancing at Ikki, Shirou walked ahead first.
In response, Ikki chuckled dryly a few times before quickly following. This wasn't because he wasn't smart.
It was because Shirou's previous words had left him a little stunned, and he hadn't fully reacted yet. And now, in this awkward atmosphere, he finally sobered up.
Subsequently, the two continuously moved through the forest, following the traces left by the giant on the ground. And as the two delved deeper, the sky gradually darkened, and then it even began to rain lightly. Just then, a ringing sound suddenly echoed. Looking at the four large characters for Shizuku displayed on his student handbook, Shirou's heart immediately filled with a bad premonition. After all, he was moving forward with Ikki. If something were truly wrong, Shizuku would definitely call Ikki, not him. But now, she had actually called him. That meant it was about Stella. But if it was about Stella, why didn't she call her own phone?! Thinking this, Shirou's heart couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"Hello, Shizuku? What's wrong?"
"What? Stella's sick?"
"I understand. Where are you now?"
"Okay, I'm coming right away!" Hanging up the student handbook, Shirou immediately said to Ikki with a serious expression, "You heard it too, Stella seems to have fallen ill due to acclimatization. We're going to them now!"
"I understand, but how do we find Shizuku and them?"
"No worries, the student handbook seems to have a map function. Shizuku will give us a location!" Shirou had barely finished speaking when Shizuku's location was transmitted to his student handbook. Looking at the route in his hand, Shirou, just about to move forward, suddenly noticed that this route was exactly the same as the route the giant was taking! Could it be...? Shirou and Ikki, thinking of the same thing, looked at each other, both seeing concern in the other's eyes.
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