Adlet and Polo stepped cautiously into the mountains once again. Their bodies were rested, their wounds slowly healing, yet a subtle tension clung to them like a second skin. The air here was thinner, harsher, carrying a faint metallic tang, as if the mountains themselves were alive, watching their intruders. Unlike the dense forest they had left behind, where shadows and undergrowth provided refuge, these slopes offered nothing but exposure. Every footfall sounded against loose stone like a signal to some unseen predator. Every glance toward the horizon suggested eyes, always watching, just beyond the edge of perception.
The wind whipped through the narrow valleys with a low, whistling moan, carrying with it dust and tiny stones that stung their skin. Adlet's chest tightened as he scanned the jagged peaks ahead. The terrain was bare, stripped to the bone of earth and stone, and the sense of being observed deepened. Perhaps it was paranoia, he thought — after all, they had walked for days without attack. They had seen high-ranking flying Apexes drifting from mountain to mountain, but nothing had come close enough to strike. Still, a creeping unease gnawed at him, the kind that only true wilderness can evoke.
"We need to keep moving," Adlet murmured, voice low but firm. "Every moment we linger, every pause… we take our time. Every step counts — it's another chance for something to strike."
Polo nodded, his gaze flicking nervously across the jagged rocks and scattered bones. "I feel like the mountains are alive… like they're watching us, waiting for a single mistake."
Adlet's eyes narrowed. "This isn't a place for hesitation. Apexes don't care if we're careful or cautious. Our goal is clear — find Lucien and Linoa. That's all that matters."
Polo exhaled slowly, his tension easing slightly, replaced by a quiet determination. "You're right. We move forward, no matter what. Step by step."
Every step across the mountains was a test, every loose stone a potential hazard. Their senses remained straining, muscles coiled for reaction. The echo of their boots against jagged rocks seemed amplified, a constant reminder of the precariousness of their situation. Shadows of the distant peaks stretched unnaturally, twisting and bending with the movement of clouds, giving the place an eerie, alive quality.
After hours of cautious progress, they reached a wide, barren valley. The expanse before them stretched like a graveyard of predators past. Massive bones littered the ground. Each step sent echoes through the valley, reminders that they were not just trespassers but prey. The jagged peaks around them loomed like silent witnesses to countless battles.
"What do we do?" Polo asked, voice barely above a whisper, eyes scanning the skeletal remains.
Adlet crouched, examining a fractured skull half-buried in the dust. Its jagged edges and massive size told him everything he needed to know — this valley was claimed by a high-rank Apex. Each bone scattered across the ground whispered warnings of battles long past, of creatures far stronger than they were.
"We have no choice," Adlet said, his voice low but firm. "To reach the next mountain, we'll have to cross this valley. That means taking risks we can't avoid."
Polo's shoulders hunched, and he pressed a hand to his brow. "Maybe we should've stayed near the beach…" he muttered, the memory of the relative safety there haunting him. The sand, the driftwood, the quiet moments after the shipwreck — all of it seemed impossibly far away now.
Adlet shook his head, eyes scanning the jagged rocks and scattered bones. "Even there, we weren't truly safe. Apexes don't care about hiding spots. What matters is our goal — Lucien and Linoa. That's what will get us through this, not regrets about where we were."
Polo swallowed hard, the tension in his chest tightening. He knew Adlet was right, but the fear of being so exposed in this valley gnawed at him. Every shadow seemed alive. Every shifting stone hinted at the presence of something waiting — watching.
Adlet straightened, his green Aura flickering faintly along his arms. "We move carefully. Eyes open. Every sound, every movement could save our lives."
Polo nodded, forcing himself to breathe slowly, to steady his racing heart. The two boys began crossing the valley, their steps deliberate, muscles coiled, senses stretched to the limit. The wind howled around them, carrying the faint scent of iron and stone, as though the land itself were reminding them that nothing here belonged to the weak.
A low rumble vibrated through the rocks beneath their feet, subtle at first, but unmistakable. The air grew warmer, heavier. Something stirred above them, hidden from sight, and Polo's grip on his pack tightened involuntarily. "Adlet… do you feel that?"
Every step across the valley was deliberate. Loose stones skittered underfoot, the sound amplified in the stillness, each one a potential alarm bell to unseen eyes. Then—a sudden crash shattered the tense silence.
The ground trembled under the sound of shifting rock. Adlet's head snapped up, eyes narrowing. At the top of the slope they were about to climb, a massive shape emerged: a Stonefang Goat, a Rank 3 Apex.
Three meters tall, its dark hide bristled with jagged, crystalline spikes, each one gleaming under the scattered light that filtered between the cliffs. Its eyes glowed a menacing red, fixed upon them like a predator sizing up prey.
Polo froze, swallowing hard. "A Stonefang Goat… Rank 3."
Adlet straightened, fists clenched. Confidence radiated from him — not arrogance, but the quiet assurance of someone who had faced a Rank 4 Apex alone and survived. "If it's just that, I can handle it."
Polo's voice faltered slightly. "Be careful…"
The goat snorted, a sound that echoed across the valley like a declaration of intent. Adlet took a deliberate step forward. The creature stiffened, muscles coiling like springs. In a sudden, terrifying motion, it charged.
The ground trembled with each hoofbeat, loose stones shooting into the air. The sound rattled through Adlet's chest, and the scent of disturbed earth filled his nostrils. The goat's eyes glowed brighter, its spikes catching the dim light, glinting like knives aimed at him.
Adlet's pulse spiked. He had trained for days, learning to harness the strength of his new Aura, understanding its resilience — the lessons of the Ruby Turtle's shell lingering in every fiber. But even with that power, he couldn't face the charge head-on.
He summoned the green Aura of his lizard Guardian, weaving it around his body to enhance mobility and reaction speed. As the Stonefang Goat barreled toward him, Adlet leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the crushing impact. Rocks and dust flew in every direction, sparks bouncing off the jagged slopes.
Seizing the momentum, Adlet lashed out with his Aura whip, wrapping it around a spike near the goat's shoulder. He vaulted onto its back, the jagged terrain beneath threatening to pierce him at every step. Shifting Aura mid-air, he enveloped himself in the red, hardened energy of his Ruby Turtle — a protective shell against the spikes.
He clung tightly, aiming for the neck — the weak point of most Apexes — but the Stonefang Goat was relentless. It thrashed violently, spikes digging into his Aura, ripping through defenses. Adlet screamed as the force threw him from the beast's back.
Polo reacted instantly, sending a blue Aura tentacle flying to catch him midair. "You can't just rely on Aura to block everything!" Polo shouted. "It's stronger than you!"
"I thought the Turtle's resistance might protect me…" Adlet groaned, shaking off the impact.
Polo's eyes hardened. "We'll take it down together."
Adlet nodded, drawing in a ragged breath. Focus replaced panic, instinct guiding every move. The boys' senses sharpened; every subtle shift of the goat's weight, every twitch of muscle became a cue.
The wind howled between the jagged rocks, carrying with it the distant, haunting cries of flying Apexes. Shadows flickered along the valley walls as if the mountains themselves were alive, amplifying every movement. Adlet felt the ground pulse beneath him, as though the very stone were reacting to the battle.
Green Aura flared again, lashing across the goat as Adlet vaulted once more, this time landing more strategically, Ruby Turtle Aura shielding him from the worst of the spikes. He adjusted, testing the creature's rhythm, its strength, its limits.
Polo's tentacles were a constant shield, deflecting debris, manipulating the goat's momentum, and keeping Adlet safe from deadly spikes. Their teamwork grew in perfect synchronization — instinctive, precise, and deadly.
The fight stretched on, each second blending pain, adrenaline, and strategy. Adlet's muscles screamed, sweat and blood mixing with dust.
Finally, a precise, coordinated maneuver created an opening. Adlet latched onto the neck with the Ruby Turtle Aura blazing, while Polo used a tentacle to trip the beast on the jagged rocks. The creature faltered, losing balance. Adlet braced himself against the spikes, channeling every ounce of power he could muster, and struck with a concentrated surge of Aura.
The Stonefang Goat collapsed onto the rocky slope, dust and sparks flying from the impact. Silence fell over the valley, broken only by their ragged breathing and the distant cries of unseen Apexes.
Adlet and Polo stood over the fallen beast, bruised and scorched, but alive. Relief washed over them in a quiet, trembling wave.
"Still alive," Polo muttered, exhaling sharply.
Adlet wiped sweat from his brow. "Yeah… that was close."
Polo's eyes lingered on the faint glow of Adlet's Aura, pulsing over his arms and legs. "You handled that well," he said, voice calm. "But… there's a way to channel your Aura that lets it reach its full potential. You haven't tried it yet."
Adlet's brow furrowed. "Reach its full potential?"
Polo nodded, his tone calm but certain. "Yeah. It's not about being stronger—just using it differently, letting it flow through you in a way that changes everything. You'll understand when the time comes."
Adlet's lips curved into a determined smile. "Then I'll watch and learn. Next time, I'll make it count."
They moved forward, steps careful but resolute. The mountains rose like jagged sentinels around them, unforgiving and raw. Yet, in the oppressive quiet of the valley, Adlet felt a flicker of something new—an awareness that his Aura had more to offer, and that when he unlocked it, it could make all the difference.