The next morning came quietly.
A pale light filtered through the gaps in the bone shelter, stretching across the rough floor and climbing slowly over the walls made of ancient ribs. The wind had calmed, leaving behind a strange stillness that felt almost unnatural after the chaos of the previous day.
Jade's eyes opened.
For a moment, he didn't move.
He simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, listening to the silence, feeling his body.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"…Better."
The pain was gone.
Not completely—but enough.
His strength had returned.
His energy flowed smoothly again, no longer chaotic or strained. The fusion of Ice Vine seemed to have stabilized within him, reinforcing his body even in rest.
He sat up.
His movements were steady this time.
No trembling.
No weakness.
Jade turned his head.
Aaron was still asleep.
Lying against the wall, one arm behind his head, completely relaxed—as if the world outside posed no threat to him.
Jade watched him for a second.
"…Careless."
Or confident.
Jade couldn't tell which.
Either way, he didn't wake him.
Instead, he stood up quietly and stepped outside.
---
The forest greeted him with cold air and soft light.
Morning.
But even in daylight, the trial never truly felt safe.
Jade stretched his fingers slightly, feeling the flow of energy within him.
Then—
He moved.
A shadow darted between the trees.
Fast.
Small.
Jade's eyes sharpened.
"Found you."
A creature—low to the ground, quick, blending into darkness.
A Shadow Rabbit.
Without hesitation—
Jade raised his hand.
Vines burst from his chest.
But they weren't the same as before.
Crystalline.
Sharp.
Cold.
They moved like living blades.
In an instant—
They pierced forward.
The rabbit tried to escape—
Too late.
The vines caught it mid-motion.
Crushed.
Silenced.
The system whispered in his mind.
"You have slain Shadow Rabbit."
Jade stepped forward calmly and retrieved the shard.
He didn't hesitate.
He consumed it immediately.
"You have received three Shadow Fragments."
"Shadow Fragments: 7/15."
Jade frowned slightly.
"…Still not full."
It annoyed him.
He was close.
But not enough.
And to complete it—
He would have to enter the shadowed area.
That thought alone sent a faint chill down his spine.
Even after everything he had faced…
That place still felt wrong.
But he pushed the thought aside.
Instead, he lifted the dead creature and returned.
---
Back at the shelter, Jade began preparing food.
It was a simple process.
But for him—
It meant something more.
He gathered spices he had collected over time.
Crushed them.
Mixed them.
Cooked the meat slowly over controlled fire.
The aroma spread quickly.
Warm.
Rich.
Comforting.
Jade's expression softened slightly.
For a moment—
He wasn't in the trial.
He wasn't fighting.
He wasn't surviving.
He was simply… cooking.
A quiet thought crossed his mind.
A restaurant…
A large one.
Filled with people.
Laughing.
Eating.
Living.
A place where no one had to fight to survive.
Where the smell of food replaced the smell of blood.
For a brief moment—
That dream felt real.
---
Inside the shelter, Aaron's nose twitched.
He frowned slightly in his sleep.
Then—
His eyes snapped open.
"…What is that smell?"
He sat up slowly.
And realized—
He was hungry.
Very hungry.
"…When was the last time I even noticed that…"
He shook his head and stood up.
He dismissed his armor.
His chest and arms were revealed—covered in scars, both old and new.
Without hesitation, he summoned a crystalline bottle.
Water flowed endlessly from it.
He used it to clean himself quickly.
Face.
Hands.
Arms.
Then—
He dismissed it.
Summoned his armor again.
And stepped outside.
---
The first thing he saw—
Was Jade.
Standing near the fire.
Holding skewers of freshly cooked meat.
The aroma hit him fully this time.
Aaron paused.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Jade glanced at him briefly but said nothing.
He simply continued turning the meat.
Aaron walked closer, shaking his head.
"On the outside, you're Blood Slayer…"
He smirked.
"But on the inside, you're a cook."
He crossed his arms.
"Isn't that a weird combination?"
Jade didn't react immediately.
Then he handed him a stick of meat.
"…We are not friends."
His tone was cold.
Flat.
"Remember that."
"We're only working together to pass this trial."
Aaron took the meat anyway.
Completely ignoring the warning.
"Well," he said casually, "when we do become friends…"
He took a bite.
"…I hope you remember those words."
Jade opened his mouth slightly—
But before he could respond—
Aaron had already turned and walked off.
"…Annoying."
Jade muttered under his breath.
---
By noon, everything changed.
The quiet morning turned into movement.
Activity.
Purpose.
People began gathering.
From the bone shelter.
From nearby shelters.
From distant hiding places.
Word had spread.
Fast.
Jade.
Aaron.
Henry.
They were calling everyone.
And people came.
Hundreds.
Then thousands.
By midday—
Nearly 10,000 survivors stood together.
For the first time since the trial began—
They weren't scattered.
They weren't alone.
They were united.
A massive crowd filled the clearing.
Tired.
Scarred.
But alive.
Jade stood in front of them.
The noise slowly faded.
Silence spread.
Every eye turned to him.
Then—
He spoke.
"Survivors of this trial…"
His voice was calm.
Clear.
"Our time has come."
The words carried weight.
"We will conquer this trial."
A ripple moved through the crowd.
"I promise you…"
"…freedom."
The word hit them hard.
Freedom.
Something they had almost forgotten.
"The weak may die."
"The strong may also die."
Jade's tone didn't change.
"But I promise…"
"I will set you free."
The air grew heavier.
"Your lives…"
"…are in your hands."
He paused.
"…But your freedom…"
"…is in mine."
Some flinched.
Some frowned.
But no one spoke.
"If you wish to back out…"
"You may."
"I will not stop you."
He looked over them.
Cold.
Honest.
"But understand this…"
"I can assure you your freedom."
Silence.
Then murmurs.
Whispers.
Fear.
Determination.
But—
No one stepped back.
No one left.
They had already made their choice.
Aaron stepped forward slightly.
"This trial will be brutal."
His voice carried easily.
"But we will stand."
"Together."
---
The army was formed.
Jade – 2,500.
Henry – 5,000.
Aaron – 2,500.
Three leaders.
One goal.
---
Inside a shelter, the leaders gathered.
Jade.
Aaron.
Henry.
And a few key survivors.
Jade spoke first.
"Henry."
"You'll lead your group to the shadowed area."
Henry nodded.
"But don't enter."
"Wait for us."
Henry frowned slightly.
"And you?"
"I'll go with Aaron."
"To the ancient ruin."
The room grew quiet.
Blake spoke.
"What about the others?"
"The scattered survivors?"
Aaron answered calmly.
"It's our responsibility to protect them."
"Until the trial ends."
Blake nodded.
"I'll handle it."
Ella stepped forward.
The strongest woman among them.
Calm.
Focused.
"We shouldn't die carelessly."
Jade nodded once.
"…We won't."
Then—
"It's settled."
"We leave tomorrow."
The meeting ended.
People began to leave.
One by one.
Until only Jade and Aaron remained.
Aaron looked at him.
"…We're responsible for all those lives now."
Jade didn't hesitate.
"People will die."
Aaron blinked slightly.
"…You're saying that so easily."
Jade looked at him.
"…Because it's true."
Then—
Aaron tilted his head slightly.
"I didn't expect you to be this emotional."
Jade smirked faintly.
"…I'm not emotional."
"I'm cunning."
Aaron frowned.
"…Explain."
Jade's eyes darkened slightly.
"When I spoke to them…"
"I said their lives were in their hands."
"Not mine."
He paused.
"I also said their freedom is in my hands."
Aaron nodded slowly.
"That's true."
Jade's smirk deepened slightly.
"…Yes."
"Because if they die…"
"…they're free from the trial."
Silence.
Aaron stared at him.
"…You don't care if they die?"
Jade turned away.
"I care."
A pause.
"…0.1%."
Then he walked away.
Leaving Aaron standing there.
Stunned.
Silent.
"…This guy…"
Aaron muttered.
Then he exhaled slowly.
For the first time—
He realized something clearly.
Jade wasn't just strong.
He wasn't just talented.
He was something else entirely.
Something far more dangerous.
"…Cunning indeed."