The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 183 - 182. Finding Astrid

Chapter 183: 182. Finding Astrid

The labyrinth stretched endlessly before Lutz, a maze crafted by angels, filled with clouds and hidden paths. He knew that if anyone could find a way out, it would be Evergreen, who now possessed Astrid’s body. As a being with the bloodline of angels, she could sense the exit, and Lutz feared she was already trying to escape.

Having researched the labyrinth extensively, Lutz had studied the records left by Evergreen and knew its secrets. He had been the one to open the labyrinth, and he could also sense the path that led to its exit. Without wasting any time, he made his way to a section of the labyrinth filled with thick clouds. After crossing numerous fluffy cloud corridors and dead ends, Lutz finally arrived at a platform of clouds that appeared no different from any other part of the maze.

Lutz activated his prana, channeling it into the cloudy platform. An array hidden within the clouds responded to his power, and the platform transformed into an actual cloud, lifting him into the air. As he ascended, he felt the shift in atmosphere, rising above the labyrinth itself. At the top, the sky was an illusion, bright and endless. It felt like a new area entirely, one separated from the rest of the labyrinth’s confines.

As he landed atop the clouds, he saw the cloudy door that marked the exit of the labyrinth. This door, however, could only be opened by someone with the bloodline of an angel. For Astrid, a half-angel, this restriction wouldn’t pose a problem.

Lutz scanned the area and frowned. "She’s not here. Did she escape already?"

Just as the thought crossed his mind, he noticed a cloud drifting in the distance, and on it lay a golden-haired maiden, peacefully sleeping.

"Astrid," Lutz breathed in relief as he hurried toward her.

He reached Astrid, but something felt off. She was just lying there, unmoving, with no sign of trying to escape. Lutz approached quietly, his instincts warning him to be cautious. He gathered his magic, intending to cast a water prison around her to confine her safely. But before he could act, he sensed danger.

A sudden flash of light—a sword slash—cut through the air where he had stood moments earlier. Lutz narrowly dodged, rolling away just in time.

"Tsk... I thought I had you, my son," Evergreen’s voice hissed, coming from Astrid’s lips. Her tone was cold, devoid of any warmth or familial attachment.

"You tried to kill me?" Lutz stood, facing her. "I’m your son."

Evergreen, fully possessing Astrid’s body, simply shrugged. "I don’t care about that anymore. From now on, I am Astrid. This girl’s soul is rebellious, constantly fighting me. I’ve had to use nearly all my soul energy just to keep her under control."

Lutz clenched his fists, his heart breaking at the thought of Astrid suffering like that. "Please... stop torturing her."

Evergreen’s lips twisted into a sinister smirk. "And if I don’t? What will you do?"

"Then I’ll stop you," Lutz declared, his expression hardening with resolve.

Evergreen let out a mocking laugh. "Try anything funny, and I’ll hurt this body. You wouldn’t want that, would you?"

Lutz hesitated for a moment, but then a sly smile crept across his face. "You’re bluffing. You already think of this body as your own. You won’t risk damaging it."

He waved his staff, and water began to form in the air around Evergreen, swirling in preparation for an attack.

"Tsk..." Evergreen clicked her tongue, her eyes narrowing. "Why are you suddenly so smart?"

What she didn’t know was that it wasn’t Lutz’s idea at all—it had been Lily’s suggestion. A simple tactic, but one that worked.

---

Meanwhile, Tyler was on his own, wandering through a different part of the labyrinth. He took out his communication charm and sent a message to Mathilda, a sense of unease creeping into his voice.

"Hey, Little Mathilda, are you going to be fine on your own?" he asked, concerned for her safety.

"@#£&... I’m not little!" came the instant reply, followed by a stream of unspeakable words. Then, Mathilda’s tone softened slightly as she sent another message. "Don’t worry. I can make them regret it if anyone tries to harm me."

Tyler sighed, slightly reassured. He sent another message, this time to both Lily and Mathilda. "I don’t want to do this. I really don’t want to force myself on Astrid. Help me with this."

Mathilda’s response came first, her words dripping with mischief. "Hmm... how about we feed some aphrodisiacs to Lutz and let him save his lover?"

"That’s cruel," Tyler muttered, shaking his head at the suggestion.

Lily, who was also searching for Astrid, chimed in with a plan of her own. "It’s simple. You just have to..." She trailed off as she explained, and Tyler’s eyes lit up as he listened to her idea.

Just then, Lutz’s voice crackled through the communication charm. "This is Lutz. I’ve already found her. I’ll bring her to the church."

"Nice... I’ll tell everyone to come back," Tyler replied, relieved that Lutz had managed to find Astrid before things got worse.

---

Lutz emerged from the cloud maze with a few sword scars, his expression weary but determined. Behind him floated a sphere of water, and within that sphere was Astrid, still unconscious and suspended in a deep sleep.

Tyler met up with him, eyeing the water prison warily. "Is she okay?"

"She’s still fighting back," Lutz said grimly. "Evergreen is trying to suppress her, but Astrid’s soul is strong. She hasn’t given up yet."

"Good," Tyler nodded, glancing at Astrid’s peaceful face. "But we don’t have much time. If we’re going to save her, we need to act now."

Mathilda and Lily arrived shortly after, both looking prepared for whatever came next. They circled around Lutz and the water sphere, concern etched on their faces.

"Looks like she’s hanging in there," Lily observed. "But Evergreen’s influence is growing. We can’t delay."

Tyler hesitated for a moment, his mind racing through their options. "So... about that plan we talked about."

Lily nodded. "It’s the only way, unless you want to sacrifice someone’s soul."

"Absolutely not," Tyler said firmly. "No one’s sacrificing anything today."

Mathilda crossed her arms, grinning slightly. "Well, it’s either that or... you know, the other thing."

Tyler groaned inwardly, the awkwardness of the situation hitting him all over again. But there wasn’t any time for second thoughts.

"Fine," he muttered. "Let’s do it."

Lutz, standing by Astrid’s side, looked to Tyler with a mixture of hope and desperation. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Thank you for saving her."

Tyler nodded stiffly, not quite sure how to respond. All he knew was that they had to act fast—before Evergreen could tighten her grip on Astrid’s soul.

They soon arrived at a chamber with a huge bed, crafted from wood and vines found in one part of the labyrinth and topped with fluffy clouds from another. It was an oddly serene and beautiful sight, a perfect contrast to the chaos surrounding them.

"How do you know all of this?" Lily asked, curiosity gnawing at her. Mathilda seemed to understand the labyrinth’s intricacies better than anyone.

Mathilda smiled confidently, a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. "You noticed, huh? Don’t worry, I’m still me, Lily—Onee-sama. I’ll explain later."

Lily gave her a nod, trusting her friend despite the unanswered questions. "Alright."

"Now, place her on the bed. And Tyler, strip," Mathilda said, pulling a lever that activated an array in the room. The vines glowed softly as particles like fireflies floated through the air, casting a warm glow. The atmosphere became calm, almost magical. On the bed, Astrid lay peacefully, though inside her body, two souls continued their battle for dominance.

"We’ll wait outside," Mathilda said, signaling for Lily to follow her. They both left without another word.

Lutz, standing beside Tyler, looked uncertain but resolute. He patted Tyler on the shoulder. "I’ll leave it to you."

But instead of the usual response, he heard a clanking noise. Turning around, Lutz realized it wasn’t Tyler standing next to him—it was an ice statue.

"Ice Escape Technique?!"

"TYLERRRR!" Lutz shouted, his voice echoing with frustration and betrayal.

Tyler, already at the entrance, gave a quick wave before sealing it shut. "I’m sorry, but you can handle it!" he called back, disappearing from sight with a shameless grin as he made his escape.

Lutz gulped, his eyes fixed on the sleeping beauty before him. Astrid’s face, usually so calm and gentle, was now tense, betraying the inner turmoil she was enduring. Her lips trembled slightly, and beads of sweat dotted her forehead. She was struggling, fighting a battle he couldn’t fully understand but knew was crucial.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles white. The weight of the situation bore down on him like a crushing wave, but the thought of Astrid’s suffering fueled his determination. There was no running from this. Tyler’s escape had left him no choice.

"Fine," Lutz muttered, his voice low but resolute. "I’ll do it myself."

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