The Bigshot's Superstar Wife - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Saving Someone

The farther they walked, the more unsettling their surroundings became. The once-damp ground turned into patches of shallow puddles, then into small pools.

By the time they reached a low valley, the water was rising alarmingly fast, swirling around their ankles.

Athena stopped in her tracks, staring at the water creeping higher with each passing moment. “It’s not draining,” she said, her voice tense. “It’s like the forest is flooding.”

Mors stepped ahead, his sharp eyes scanning the terrain. “This isn’t a natural flood. The water level is too consistent,” he said grimly. “Something is feeding it.”

Athena tightened her grip on her sword, her senses on high alert. The rain fell harder now, its relentless rhythm pounding against the canopy above.

Visibility was worsening, the downpour creating a misty haze that obscured their path.

“Look,” Mors said suddenly, pointing to a tree ahead.

The trunk was marked with deep scratches, almost claw-like in shape. Around it, the water shimmered unnaturally, faintly glowing under the dim light of the storm.

Athena narrowed her eyes. “Whatever caused this… it’s still here.”

As they moved closer, the water reached their knees, and Athena noticed something else.

The current wasn’t flowing outward or downward, it was spiraling, as if being pulled toward an unseen center.

“We’re heading straight into the source,” she said, glancing at Mors.

“Better to face it now than wait for it to come to us,” he replied, his tone calm but resolute.

Athena nodded, though unease twisted in her chest.

With every step, the water grew colder, and the strange energy in the air grew heavier. Whatever awaited them ahead, it was no ordinary calamity.

Is this the horrors of the interstellar era?

As they moved deeper into the flooded forest, the heavy rain showed no sign of letting up.

Water splashed against their knees with every step, and the once-familiar sounds of the forest were drowned out by the relentless pounding of the storm.

Amidst the chaos, a faint cry for help broke through the din.

Athena froze, her sharp hearing catching the desperate tone. “Did you hear that?” she asked, glancing at Mors.

He nodded, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. “Over there,” he said, pointing toward a dense thicket where the voice had come from.

They approached cautiously, their senses on high alert. The forest was treacherous, with fallen trees and debris littering the ground.

Lightning illuminated the scene for a brief moment, revealing a man trapped under the weight of a massive tree trunk.

“Look,” Athena said, spotting the man clearly. “It must be him. A tree’s fallen on him, he can’t move.”

Mors stepped closer, squinting through the rain. Recognition flashed across his face. “That’s Xianli,” he said grimly.

“He’s a military officer from another fleet. But…” His gaze shifted warily to their surroundings. “Where’s his partner?”

Athena scanned the area as well but saw no sign of anyone else. Her instincts told her to stay vigilant.

“We can ask him later,” she said. “Let’s get him out of here first.”

Mors nodded, stepping forward to lift the tree trunk while Athena crouched beside Xianli. “Stay still,” she instructed, her voice calm despite the urgency of the situation.

With Mors’s strength, the tree was lifted just enough for Athena to pull Xianli free. He groaned in pain but managed to nod his thanks.

“Can you walk?” Athena asked.

Xianli winced, clutching his side. “I think so. Just… need help.”

Without hesitation, Mors slung one of Xianli’s arms over his shoulder, supporting the injured man. Athena kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, her sword ready in case of danger.

“There’s a cave nearby,” Mors said. “We can take shelter there.”

They made their way carefully through the rising water, the journey was slower now with Xianli’s added weight.

Athena led the way, keeping her senses tuned to any movement around them. The storm seemed almost alive, the wind howling through the trees like a warning.

Finally, they reached the cave. It was shallow but dry, a welcome reprieve from the rain.

Mors eased Xianli down onto a flat rock while Athena quickly assessed the area for potential threats.

“Stay here,” Athena instructed. “Let me check your injuries.”

Xianli nodded weakly, his face pale but grateful. “Thank you… both of you,” he murmured.

Mors crouched beside him, his gaze hard. “You’re lucky we found you. But where’s your partner? You weren’t sent here alone, were you?”

Xianli shook his head. “No… but… we got separated. There was an earthquake, and then the water started rising. I don’t know where she is now.”

Athena exchanged a look with Mors, concern etched on her face. “We’ll deal with that later,” she said, her tone firm. “For now, rest. You’re safe here, for the moment.”

The storm continued to rage outside.

Morning arrived, but the dense, dark clouds that hung over the forest allowed no sunlight to pierce through.

The air was thick with moisture, and the continuous patter of rain against the forest floor added to the oppressive atmosphere.

Despite the grim weather, Athena and Mors set out to search for Xianli’s partner, Daphne Woods.

The camera bots, freshly recharged, hovered around them, streaming their every move.

The live broadcast resumed, and almost instantly, the comment feed exploded with viewers eager for updates.

[What’s going on? Where are they going?]

[Didn’t they rescue that military officer earlier? Who’s Daphne Woods?]

[I saw a post with bts videos from the program! Something about a massive natural disaster happening.]

[Yeah! The producers said all participants have to gather at the designated assembly point.]

[But why hasn’t the broadcast shown anyone else? Are they all okay?]

[Did anyone notice how weird the earthquake was? It wasn’t normal.]

[Right! And now there’s this constant rain, what kind of forest is this?]

[I’m low-key scared for Athena and Major Mors. They’re heading deeper into the woods. What if they get caught in something worse?]

[Relax, they’ve handled everything so far! Major Mors is literally carrying the team.]

[Athena’s no slouch either. She can survive in the wilderness alone!]

[They better find Daphne Woods soon. Imagine being lost in that forest alone.]