Morning came with a quiet chill.
The camp stirred slowly, survivors rising one after another, shaking off fatigue that never truly left them. The air was calm—but everyone knew that calm wouldn't last.
Jade woke early.
As always.
He sat up, inhaled slowly, and felt his body.
Stable.
Strong.
Ready.
The Ice Vine within him pulsed faintly, responding to his awareness like a second heartbeat.
Without wasting time, he stood, stepped outside, and washed himself using collected water. The cold liquid ran down his skin, clearing away the remnants of exhaustion.
Then—
He began cooking.
---
The smell spread quickly.
Warm.
Comforting.
Familiar.
It drifted through the camp, reaching tired survivors who hadn't smiled in days.
Jade worked silently.
Focused.
Precise.
Despite everything—
He still cooked.
Not because he had to.
But because it reminded him of something else.
Something distant.
Something human.
---
As people gathered to eat, Jade watched them quietly.
They weren't just survivors anymore.
They were fighters.
An army.
And soon—
They would face something far worse.
---
As he handed out food, a thought crossed his mind.
After the guardian is destroyed…
After the trial ends…
After survival…
He imagined it again.
A restaurant.
A real one.
People laughing.
Eating.
Living.
No blood.
No monsters.
Just peace.
---
Jade exhaled.
"…Too far."
It was just a dream.
For now.
---
Soon after—
The convoy moved again.
Thousands marching forward.
Closer to their destination.
Closer to the end.
---
Hours passed.
The forest began to thin.
The air changed.
Heavier.
Damp.
---
Then—
They saw it.
---
A massive river.
Stretching endlessly from left to right.
Violent currents.
Dark waters.
Something felt wrong about it.
---
Ella stepped forward slightly.
"…This is it."
Her voice was low.
"The boundary."
Jade narrowed his eyes.
"…Between us…"
"And the world of monsters."
Aaron crossed his arms.
"…Figures."
---
The river wasn't just water.
It felt alive.
Watching.
Waiting.
---
Jade's vines twitched.
Suddenly—
They reacted.
Violently.
---
"Something's—"
Before he could finish—
The water exploded.
---
WHOOSH!!!
Massive tentacles shot out from beneath the surface.
Fast.
Unpredictable.
Deadly.
---
They struck.
Instantly.
---
Jade was grabbed.
Aaron was grabbed.
Several survivors—
Gone in seconds.
---
"FLY!" Ella shouted.
"SUMMON YOUR WINGS!"
---
The survivors reacted immediately.
Wings burst out—
Feathers.
Energy.
Bone.
Various forms.
---
They shot into the air.
Escaping the water.
---
But not everyone.
---
Jade was already pulled under.
---
The moment he hit the water—
Everything changed.
---
Cold.
Heavy.
Crushing.
---
Water flooded his senses.
His lungs burned instantly.
He tried to move—
But his body resisted.
---
"…Can't… breathe…"
---
He was strong.
Fast.
Deadly.
---
But—
He couldn't swim.
---
The tentacle tightened.
Dragging him deeper.
---
Darkness swallowed him.
---
He struggled.
His mind began to blur.
---
Then—
His instinct reacted.
---
The Ice Vine exploded outward.
---
Underwater—
It moved differently.
Slower.
But still deadly.
---
PIERCE!
One tentacle was stabbed through.
---
The monster didn't react.
Not even slightly.
---
It continued dragging him.
---
Jade's vision blurred.
---
Then—
He felt something else.
---
More movement.
---
Other creatures.
Circling.
Waiting.
---
The vine responded.
Automatically.
---
It lashed out—
Killing smaller monsters nearby.
One.
Two.
Three.
---
But it didn't matter.
---
The main creature—
Didn't stop.
---
Jade was pulled closer.
Closer—
To something massive.
---
A mouth.
---
Gigantic.
Dark.
Endless.
---
"…So this is how…"
---
His thoughts slowed.
---
He was about to be swallowed.
---
Then—
A flash.
---
A blade.
---
SLASH!!!
---
The water split.
---
The tentacle—
Severed.
---
The monster—
Cut open.
---
Something had entered the water.
Fast.
Precise.
Deadly.
---
A shadow.
---
Aaron.
---
He moved like a phantom even underwater.
---
Earlier—
He had escaped.
Barely.
---
But then—
He noticed something.
---
A vine.
---
It struck toward him.
Instinctively, he prepared to counter—
But stopped.
---
"…Jade."
---
The vine couldn't harm him.
Not anymore.
His resistance had grown.
---
So instead—
He followed it.
---
Through the water.
Through the darkness.
---
Until he found him.
---
Jade.
---
Unconscious.
---
Being dragged toward death.
---
Aaron didn't hesitate.
---
He moved.
---
His sword flashed again.
---
SLASH!
---
The monster split apart.
---
Its grip loosened.
---
Aaron grabbed Jade immediately.
---
Pulled him upward.
---
Fast.
---
Breaking through the surface—
---
GASP!!!
---
They emerged.
---
Aaron dragged him to the edge.
---
Jade wasn't breathing.
---
"…Tch."
---
Aaron dropped him to the ground.
---
Then—
Pressed his chest.
Hard.
---
Once.
Twice.
---
Again.
---
Water spilled from Jade's mouth.
---
Still nothing.
---
Aaron pressed harder.
---
"Come on…"
---
COUGH!!!
---
Jade's body jerked.
---
Water burst from his lungs.
---
He inhaled sharply.
---
Alive.
---
For a moment—
Neither spoke.
---
Then—
Jade slowly opened his eyes.
---
"…You…"
---
Aaron looked away slightly.
"…Don't die yet."
---
Jade coughed again.
---
"…Wasn't planning to."
---
He slowly pushed himself up.
---
Still weak.
---
But alive.
---
Then—
Without another word—
He summoned his wings.
---
They spread wide.
---
Powerful.
---
Cold.
---
Aaron did the same.
---
Both rose into the air.
---
Above the river.
---
Ahead—
The path was blocked.
---
Not by water.
---
But by—
A massive horde.
---
Monsters.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
Guarding the path to the ancient ruins.
---
Jade's eyes sharpened.
---
Aaron smirked slightly.
---
Ella hovered nearby.
---
"…This is it."
---
Jade exhaled slowly.
---
"…No more retreat."
---
Aaron gripped his sword.
---
"…Good."
---
The army gathered behind them.
---
Ready.
---
Broken.
---
But determined.
---
Jade looked forward.
---
"…We break through."
---
And just like that—
---
The next battle began.