When Adlet opened his eyes, he wasn't on the island anymore.
He stood in a familiar place — the quiet riverside clearing of his inner world, where the water shimmered with a soft, endless glow. The air felt heavy, but comforting, as though the very atmosphere of this place was aware of his exhaustion and was trying to soothe him.
And there, floating before him, was Pami.
"Well done," the fish said, his voice calm yet filled with pride. "You've truly impressed me."
Adlet froze, overwhelmed by emotion. It had been so long since he'd seen his companion — too long. Pami wasn't just a Guardian… he was the first one who had ever believed in him.
Without Pami, there would be no journey, no dream to chase — no Adlet the Protector. Everything he had become… he owed to this being.
A tear rolled down his cheek as he whispered, "Thank you, my friend…"
"You've grown stronger," Pami replied, his seven tails swaying gently in the river's current, each one leaving trails of glowing light in its wake.
"It's all thanks to you," Adlet said, his voice thick with gratitude. He remembered every moment — that first encounter, the fear, the hope that followed. Where others had doubted him, Pami had guided him forward.
The fish chuckled softly, a faint ripple echoing around them, breaking the stillness of the river. "If you keep this up, you'll soon be able to visit me whenever you wish."
Adlet's eyes widened. That — the ability to reach Pami's world by will alone — had been one of his greatest dreams. The idea of being able to speak to him freely felt like a promise that his future held more than struggle… it held companionship.
Then, he noticed something new: the third tail behind Pami glowed a deep, radiant red. Black, green, and red — three ribbons of color danced behind the Guardian in a mesmerizing, almost hypnotic pattern.
"So, I've assimilated it…" Adlet murmured, the words slipping from his lips without thought. His fingers tingled — a reminder of the power he had seized with blood and will.
"Yes," Pami said, his tone solemn. "You called upon its strength with every fiber of your being. It's no surprise you've earned it."
Adlet nodded slowly, his breath catching. "I'm glad… It was a fearsome opponent." Flames, roar, pain — and ultimately victory. All of it surged back through him.
"And now," Pami continued, "with its power, you'll be able to reach even greater heights."
Adlet's chest tightened. He had survived the impossible, gained a new Guardian's strength, and could speak to his oldest companion again.
He wished he could stay longer.
But responsibility rushed in like a cold wave.
"My friend—Polo! How is he?" he blurted out, panic spiking through his heart.
"He should still be unconscious," Pami answered, gentle yet firm. "He'll need proper care soon."
Adlet's form flickered as urgency pulled him away. "Then I have to go. He needs me… But I'll come back, I promise."
"Of course," Pami replied softly. "It's not like I can go anywhere."
Adlet let out a faint laugh — shaky, but warm. Whether intentional or not, it felt like Pami was easing his fears in the only way he knew how.
"See you soon, my friend."
The river dimmed, the world dissolving into fragments of light. As his consciousness faded, his final thought echoed like a vow:
I won't let down the ones who believed in me.
Adlet awoke to pain — sharp, burning pain that shot through his chest like a thousand needles. His body felt heavy, unresponsive, as though the weight of his new power was pressing him down.
The first thing he saw was the pile of stones where the Ruby Turtle had been buried, its massive form now reduced to fragments of crimson light that had long since scattered into the air. The sight sent a chill through him, the magnitude of the battle still fresh in his mind.
But the creature was gone — its essence now absorbed into him, leaving only faint traces of that same crimson glow shimmering on his skin. Slowly, these remnants were drawn inward, absorbed by his very being. Each pulse of light that flickered across his body felt like the heartbeat of something foreign, something powerful, deep inside him.
A pulse echoed through his chest — deep, resonant, unmistakably foreign. The Apex's essence was now part of him.
He immediately turned toward the rocky shelter where he had left Polo.
The boy was still there, lying motionless, his body bruised and battered from the fight. The sight made Adlet's chest tighten again, his breath catching in his throat. He had almost lost him. He couldn't let that happen again.
"Polo! Hey, wake up!" Adlet shouted, his voice breaking under the weight of his desperation.
No answer.
He rushed to his side, shaking him lightly, careful not to worsen his wounds. His hands trembled as he checked for any sign of life. Still nothing. The panic in Adlet's chest swelled, almost suffocating him.
Then, a desperate thought struck him.
He pressed his palms together, green Aura sparking to life around him. He hovered them over Polo's body, channeling the healing energy outward, his heart pounding with a strange mix of fear and hope. He had never tried this on another person before. But he had to try.
Minutes passed, each one feeling like an eternity. Adlet's focus wavered, uncertainty gnawing at him — but finally, a weak breath escaped Polo's lips.
"A… Adlet… you're alive…" the boy murmured weakly, his eyes flickering open to the sight of green light dancing above him. His voice was cracked, barely a whisper, but it brought Adlet a surge of relief.
"Of course I am," Adlet said with a strained grin, though his heart still raced. "You didn't think a little turtle could get rid of us that easily, did you?"
Polo managed a faint smile, his lips trembling, but his voice still carried a tremor. As he watched the soft green Aura swirling around Adlet's hands and tracing faint patterns over his body, he whispered, "That power… what is it?"
Adlet hesitated, his heart heavy with the weight of his secret. Did Polo even understand the gravity of what was happening? Would he think Adlet had become something different?
"I'm sorry I kept this from you…" Adlet's voice faltered slightly. "This is the Aura of my second Guardian."
Polo's eyes widened, and his body stiffened in shock. "What did you say…?" His words were barely audible. "It's… normal as a Protector not to reveal their powers…" His voice trailed off, his body too weak to react fully to what he'd just heard.
"I'll tell you everything when you're better," Adlet said softly, trying to reassure him.
He stayed by Polo's side, continuing to channel the healing Aura, the green glow flickering and fading in rhythm with his heartbeat. Whether it truly worked or not, he couldn't tell — but he refused to stop.
Eventually, exhaustion overcame him. His Aura flickered out, and with a soft groan, he collapsed beside his friend.
When he woke again, darkness had claimed the land. The fire had dwindled to glowing embers, their soft light flickering gently through the quiet night.
Polo sat beside him, pale but conscious, his eyes already searching for Adlet's face. "Thanks, Adlet," he said quietly, his voice hoarse, but full of sincerity. "I owe you my life."
"Just… don't make me go through that again, alright?" Adlet replied with a tired smile — echoing their joke from days before. He didn't have the energy for jokes, but this one felt important.
Polo chuckled weakly, though it quickly turned into a soft cough. Silence fell between them, broken only by the rustle of the night breeze through the rocks. The weight of everything that had happened lingered in the air.
"So," Polo said at last, his tone more serious, "you can use two Auras now?"
"Yes," Adlet replied. His smile was faint, but there was a glint of something uncertain in his eyes. "And after that last fight… soon, there will be a third."
Polo raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of awe and disbelief. "If my father ever found out about that, he'd lose his mind…" He paused. "But seriously — how did you do it?"
Adlet took a deep breath, then told him everything.
About Pami, about his master, about the path that had led him here. He felt lighter for finally sharing it, but at the same time, something inside him tightened with the weight of the truth.
When he finished, Polo could only stare, his face slack with amazement. "That's… incredible."
"Yes," Adlet said quietly, his voice distant. "But terrifying, too. My master warned me — and I'm starting to understand why. If people learned what I was, I don't know what might happen."
Polo smiled faintly, his expression softening. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me — even from my father. Especially from him."
Adlet managed a small grin, feeling the weight of Polo's loyalty settle in his chest like a warm stone.
The night was long and restless. Pain, fatigue, and the island's oppressive air kept them from sleeping deeply.
When dawn finally came, Polo described a few medicinal plants he'd seen during their earlier explorations — herbs that might help speed his recovery.
Adlet set off into the forest at once.
After some searching, he managed to find them and returned quickly, tending to his friend's wounds.
Days passed in quiet recovery.
They built a small shelter, regained their strength, and when they could finally stand again without pain, they packed their things and looked toward the horizon.
Their next goal hadn't changed.
They would find Linoa and Lucien.