Jade ran.
The instant the ancient ruin began collapsing, every instinct in his body screamed at him to escape.
The walls cracked violently.
BOOM!
Chunks of ancient stone shattered apart and crashed onto the icy ground behind him. Dust exploded into the air while deep fractures spread through the ceiling like lightning.
Jade's eyes narrowed.
He sprinted forward as fast as his exhausted legs could carry him, but despite his enhanced physique, it still felt slow.
Too slow.
The cave was collapsing faster than he could run.
Another explosion thundered behind him.
BOOOOM!
The ground trembled so violently that Jade nearly lost his balance.
Without hesitation, he summoned Ice Vine.
Crystalline vines burst from his chest instantly.
SHRRRK!
One vine shot upward and pierced deeply into the ceiling.
Jade immediately gave it a mental command.
The vine tightened—
—and violently dragged him forward.
WHOOSH!
Jade flew across the collapsing corridor at terrifying speed.
Broken rocks crashed behind him continuously.
More cracks spread through the walls.
The entire ancient ruin looked like it was destroying itself in rage.
Jade gritted his teeth.
The wind howled against his face while the vine continuously attached itself from one point to another, dragging him rapidly through the collapsing cave.
The speed was incredible.
Yet—
The room only collapsed faster.
It was almost as though the ruin wanted him buried alive.
Jade cursed inwardly.
Then suddenly—
Light.
His pupils widened.
An exit.
"Finally!"
Jade immediately dismissed the vine and dashed toward the opening.
The moment he burst out of the ancient ruin—
BOOOOOOOOM!
The entire cave behind him collapsed completely.
The ancient ruin shattered apart and disintegrated into dust.
A violent shockwave erupted outward.
Dust clouds rose into the sky while pieces of ancient stone crumbled endlessly.
Jade stood there breathing heavily.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
Then he saw her.
Aviana.
The gigantic black-and-gold bird stood nearby gracefully, her enormous wings folded behind her. Even in her beast form, she looked majestic beyond words.
Without thinking, Jade walked toward her quickly.
Then he hugged her tightly around the neck.
Aviana blinked.
Her golden-black eyes stared at him quietly.
Jade held her as though he had almost lost something precious.
Something irreplaceable.
Aviana then spoke softly.
"Little gold will never go away from you."
Jade froze slightly.
Then he slowly released her.
"I knew that already," he replied calmly. "I just wanted to hug you because you're pretty."
Silence.
Then—
BAM!
Aviana immediately kicked him directly in the groin.
Jade's face twisted instantly.
He nearly collapsed to the ground.
"You little demon—!"
Aviana transformed into her human form gracefully.
Golden-black feathers dissolved into sparkling light while her gigantic body shrank rapidly.
In seconds, the breathtaking teenage girl appeared before him once more.
Her black-and-gold striped armor formed around her body elegantly.
Aviana folded her arms.
"I never knew you were this bad."
Jade slowly stood upright while forcing himself not to groan in pain.
"That hurt…"
"It was supposed to."
Jade sighed.
"Enough jokes. How's Ella doing?"
Aaron answered from nearby.
"She was injured badly," he said calmly, "but she's stable now. Don't worry."
Jade finally relaxed slightly.
Then the tent nearby opened softly.
Sarah stepped out.
Jade unconsciously looked toward her.
For a moment, even he paused.
Sarah looked different now.
Softer.
Her long hair flowed gently in the cold wind while her eyes carried traces of exhaustion from everything she had endured inside the ancient ruin.
Yet despite that…
She still looked beautiful.
Sarah walked toward Jade slowly.
"Thanks for saving me."
Jade shrugged lightly.
"It wasn't much of a problem."
Sarah stared at him quietly for a few seconds.
Then she suddenly said something unexpected.
"Let's go on a stroll."
Aviana's eyes widened slightly.
She immediately looked at Jade like he had lost his mind.
Is he seriously going on a stroll in this terrifying trial?
Even Aaron looked slightly confused.
But Jade simply nodded.
"Sure."
Aviana looked utterly speechless.
Aaron, meanwhile, quietly turned away.
Though his face remained calm, the corner of his lips twitched slightly.
He already had a bad feeling about where this was going.
Still…
He said nothing.
Jade and Sarah slowly walked away from the camp.
The night was quiet.
Cold wind moved through the forest softly while faint moonlight illuminated the icy ground.
For once…
There were no screams.
No battles.
No monsters attacking endlessly.
Just silence.
Jade walked beside Sarah calmly.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
Then Sarah finally looked at him.
"When I first saw you at the restaurant," she began softly, "I honestly thought you were weak."
Jade raised an eyebrow.
"That's harsh."
Sarah smiled faintly.
"You were handsome," she added quickly, "but still looked like a weakling."
Jade sighed dramatically.
"I'm deeply wounded."
Sarah laughed quietly.
The sound was surprisingly gentle.
Then her expression softened slightly.
"But after entering the trial…"
Her gaze lowered briefly.
"I started seeing visions."
Jade's eyes narrowed.
"The visions again?"
Sarah nodded slowly.
"I saw how strong you became."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"I saw everything."
"The battles."
"The monsters."
"The way you survived."
"The way you fought Aaron."
"And honestly…"
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Good job defeating my brother."
Jade blinked.
"How did you even know about that?"
Sarah looked amused.
"Do you really think I'd miss the vision showing how you two met?"
Jade finally smiled slightly.
The cold tension between them disappeared little by little.
They continued walking slowly through the forest.
The silence between them no longer felt awkward.
Instead…
It felt comfortable.
Then Jade suddenly stopped walking.
Sarah turned toward him.
Their eyes met.
Jade stared at her quietly before speaking.
"So…"
"What do you think about me now?"
Sarah looked directly into his eyes.
Moonlight reflected softly within them.
"You're handsome," she said honestly.
Then she smiled faintly.
"And awesome."
For a moment—
Neither of them moved.
The air suddenly felt strangely heavy.
Jade unconsciously stepped closer.
Sarah didn't move away.
Jade slowly wrapped one arm around her waist and gently pulled her nearer.
Sarah's breathing softened.
Then she slowly lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck.
Their faces moved closer instinctively.
Closer.
Closer.
Jade stopped just inches away from her lips.
Sarah stopped too.
Neither of them moved.
There was tension in the air.
Dangerous tension.
The kind that made hearts beat faster.
Then both of them moved instinctively at the same time.
Their lips met softly.
Warmth spread through Jade's body instantly.
For a brief moment, the brutal world around them disappeared completely.
No trial.
No monsters.
No death.
Just the two of them beneath the moonlight.
Then suddenly—
SKREEEE!
A sharp squeal echoed behind Sarah.
She immediately broke the kiss and turned around quickly.
Her eyes widened.
A monster lay dead on the ground.
A Fangrat.
Its body was pierced completely through by a crystalline vine.
Blood spread across the earth beneath it.
Sarah slowly followed the vine with her eyes.
Then she realized something.
The vine…
Was connected to Jade.
The vine had secretly emerged from his back during the kiss.
Jade scratched his cheek awkwardly.
At the same time, the familiar whisper echoed inside his head.
"You have slain Fangrat."
Sarah stared at the dead monster.
Then back at Jade.
Then at the vine again.
Realization struck instantly.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"You tricked me?!"
Jade immediately raised both hands defensively.
"In my defense, it was trying to attack us."
Sarah slapped his chest lightly.
"You used a kiss as a distraction?!"
Jade looked completely serious.
"It was tactical."
Sarah looked utterly speechless.
Then she started laughing.
Actual genuine laughter.
Jade smiled faintly while watching her.
Then suddenly—
He gently wrapped his arm around her waist again.
This time more slowly.
More carefully.
Sarah looked up at him quietly.
Jade leaned closer.
"Then let's do it genuinely this time."
Sarah's cheeks turned slightly red.
But she didn't resist.
Instead, she slowly closed the distance herself.
Their lips met once more.
This time—
Neither of them were distracted.