The Hidden Extra: The Lazy Prince Refuses to Ascend The Throne Chapter 673 Pursuit! (2)

Nestled roughly a hundred kilometers from Miravelda city was the notorious Nethravel Valley—one of the deadliest locations in the Ancient Kingdom of Eron.

Besides its treacherous landscape, hordes of monsters prowled deep inside.

These creatures ranged in strength from low to medium and high. Whispers even suggested city-destroying monsters lurked in the innermost depths.

Occasionally, they ventured to the outer edges, stalking for victims.

"Nethravel Valley," Seira whispered gravely. "Nolan, we're in deep trouble now."

Her eyes locked onto the vast valley ahead. A heavy silence hung over it, wrapped in thick mist, showing no trace of life.

Though standing merely at its border, Seira already sensed the perils lurking further in.

Nolan surveyed the area with composure. Then he inquired, "Can we cross it successfully?"

Silence gripped Seira. Didn't the answer speak for itself?

They were mere mortals—no, Nolan possessed mage abilities. Yet that changed nothing.

Should he push to traverse this valley, both would become monster bait.

Falling into the hands of royal palace forces beat dying here so senselessly.

Yet Seira held her tongue. She trusted Nolan had a purpose for this path.

Noticing her quiet demeanor, Nolan offered a gentle smile. He squeezed her hand softly and comforted her, "Relax. I've got a method to protect us. This route cuts our travel time short. Best of all, our pursuers won't dare follow inside."

Seira drew in a steady breath and clung to him tighter.

"I get it. I believe in you."

Nolan nodded approvingly. A companion who backed his choices without question was a rare gift.

He spurred the horse onward without delay. Rather than racing wildly as earlier, he guided it at a calm, measured trot.

Simultaneously, he murmured, 'Stealth…'

Instantly, Nolan, Seira, and their mount faded from sight completely.

One hour passed. Two kilometers shy of Nethravel Valley, Erkan and his forces came to a precise stop.

Erkan glowered at the valley, his face etched with severity.

"Have they truly gone in?" he demanded somberly.

"Yes." Thousand Faces drifted down gracefully to stand by his side. "They've entered. They're pushing to the valley's distant side for escape."

Thousand Faces' gaze sharpened intensely. He never imagined Nolan and Seira's boldness in braving Nethravel Valley.

Not even he, a Celestial Mage, would venture there lightly.

That valley brimmed with lethal hazards, devouring endless lives. Records showed tens of thousands perished yearly within.

The beasts there raged fiercely, beyond taming.

Even worse, their vast hordes made entry akin to self-destruction.

Erkan stood mute. He failed to grasp the source of Nolan and Seira's audacity.

'Have they abandoned hope and picked this doom?' he pondered.

Dismissing the notion, he faced Thousand Faces. "Will you assist us?"

Thousand Faces eyed him briefly, then flashed a broad smirk.

"Of course. But—"

Erkan lifted his right hand sharply before the words ended, declaring icily, "Twenty million more Rune coins."

"Done!" Thousand Faces agreed instantly with a nod. Advancing, he commanded, "Stick with me. Above all, stay inside the barrier I'm creating."

His staff's end struck the earth hard. A round shield sprang up at once, swelling to envelop the troops.

"Soldiers!" Erkan bellowed. "Never exit this barrier! Doing so means death! Clear?"

"Clear, General!" the troops roared together.

Thus, they plunged into Nethravel Valley hunting Nolan and Seira.

***

"This spot feels downright creepy," Seira whispered tensely, eyeing the area cautiously.

The valley exuded an otherworldly vibe, like entering a separate realm. Dense fog cloaked everything, restricting sight to a mere five meters.

Most striking were the odd trees—standing just a meter high each.

Noses, mouths, and eyes adorned them.

They appeared locked in serene slumber, oblivious to the intruders.

Seira had never witnessed such oddities before.

Stifling her dread, she faced Nolan. "How far until we're through?"

"Not far now," Nolan answered offhandedly.

The exit lay roughly two kilometers ahead, detectable to him. Yet haste wasn't his goal. He aimed to sync speed with their trackers.

The gap had narrowed—down to twelve kilometers alone.

'I have to say, that Celestial Mage they brought on is truly remarkable. He pulled off sneaking all those troops into this valley undetected. I definitely underestimated him,"' Nolan mused inwardly with a chuckle.

Venturing into Nethravel Valley was far from easy. Nolan knew that the majority of Celestial Mages would hesitate long before daring to enter.

This fact alone showed that the mage with the army was no one to take lightly.

"Well, it's just that no monsters here can sense them. If there were… wouldn't that be hilarious?"

A chilling smile crept over his lips.

All of a sudden, the earth under their feet started shaking. The horse neighed in terror and bolted upright in fright.

Nolan creased his forehead and yanked the reins, making it settle.

"What's going on?" Seira demanded tensely, clutching his waist harder.

Thud!

Thud!

The tremors intensified, with booming footsteps approaching nearer.

Gazing forward, Nolan murmured, "A monster ten meters tall lies ahead."

His statement chilled Seira to the bone. Trembling, she questioned, "What do we do?"

Nolan gave her thigh a reassuring pat.

"Relax. That beast can't spot us."

Soon after, a huge shadow loomed out of the mist in front.

Initially vague, the shadow sharpened as it neared—a wingless, dragon-shaped monster resembling a dragon.

Seira's heart raced wildly, her breaths coming in gasps. She gripped Nolan's robe desperately, clinging to it for composure.

In contrast to Seira, Nolan grinned upon seeing the creature.

His purple eyes lit up softly at first, then shifted into the Eyes of Chaos.

With an icy tone, he muttered, "Obey my command…"

The monster halted abruptly. Its red eyes dulled blankly, as though stripped of its very soul.

Nolan's grin grew broader while issuing the order, "Shatter the army formation in my rear. But don't wipe them out—spare half. Got it?"

The beast gave a rigid nod, strode by them, and vanished into the mist.

Believing an assault imminent, Seira clamped her eyes closed.

Time ticked by, yet the anticipated agony didn't strike.

Peeking once more, she found the monster had vanished.

"Huh? Where'd it disappear to?"