Night had completely descended upon the trial.
The forest looked like a world abandoned by light itself.
Cold wind swept through the black trees, making the branches sway slowly like countless skeletal arms reaching toward the sky. Above the convoy, thick clouds drifted across the moon, allowing pale silver light to occasionally spill upon the ground before darkness swallowed it again.
More than seven thousand survivors stood silently beneath the night sky.
Some wore shattered armor stained with old blood.
Some held cracked swords.
Some trembled from exhaustion.
Others simply stared ahead with empty eyes.
Yet despite their miserable state…
every single one of them was staring at one person.
Jade.
He stood atop a massive stone covered with frost and blood.
Dark Rock Armor covered his body completely. Crimson veins pulsed faintly beneath the armor plates like molten blood flowing underneath black stone. His cape fluttered slowly behind him in the cold wind.
He looked less like a teenager…
and more like a warlord born from the trial itself.
Behind him stood Aaron.
Aaron leaned calmly against a tree with his arms folded. His dark cloak swayed gently while shadows moved unnaturally around his feet like living creatures. His purple eyes glowed faintly beneath the darkness.
Beside Aaron stood Aviana.
The moonlight reflected beautifully upon her black-and-gold armor. Her long striped hair danced in the wind while her golden eyes calmly observed the crowd.
She looked so flawless that many survivors avoided looking at her directly.
Ella stood beside them with her bow resting against her shoulder.
The atmosphere was suffocating.
No one dared speak.
Only the sound of cold wind could be heard.
Then Jade finally spoke.
"Everyone."
His voice was calm.
Yet it echoed through the silent forest clearly.
The murmurs immediately stopped.
Thousands of eyes focused on him.
Jade slowly scanned the crowd.
"This…"
"…might be our last speech in this trial."
Some survivors lowered their heads instantly.
Others clenched their fists tighter.
The words carried terrifying weight.
Because everyone knew the truth.
Tomorrow night—
many people would die.
Jade continued.
"When you all first followed me…"
"I made you a promise."
The cold wind swept across the campfire flames, causing sparks to rise into the darkness.
"I said…"
"…I would set you free."
Silence.
Then whispers slowly spread through the crowd.
Some people frowned.
Some looked confused.
Others became nervous.
Jade remained motionless.
"But in one sense…"
"…I lied to you."
The whispers exploded louder.
Even Henry narrowed his eyes.
Aaron simply smirked faintly as though he already understood Jade's intentions.
Jade raised his hand slightly.
Silence returned immediately.
"But in another sense…"
"…I never lied."
The survivors stared at him.
Jade's crimson eyes glowed faintly beneath his helmet.
"I promised freedom."
"But I never promised whether that freedom would come through life…"
"…or death."
The entire convoy froze.
The words struck them heavily.
A woman slowly stepped backward.
One man cursed quietly beneath his breath.
Others stared at Jade with disbelief.
But Jade's expression never changed.
"If anyone wishes to leave my command…"
"You may leave now."
Silence.
Pure silence.
The forest itself felt frozen.
Jade calmly watched the crowd.
He was waiting.
Waiting for the hidden danger to reveal itself.
Then—
A man stepped forward.
Heavy footsteps echoed against the rocky ground.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
The crowd instantly moved aside.
People recognized him immediately.
"Ghost Killer…"
Fear spread among the survivors.
The tall man smirked coldly.
A long scar crossed his face while spiritual energy distorted faintly around his fists.
"You really are a deceiver, Blood Slayer."
His voice carried mockery.
"But everyone here already understands your plan."
Jade remained silent.
Ghost Killer slowly raised his fist.
"You wanted traitors to expose themselves."
Then—
He punched the empty air.
BOOM!
The sound exploded violently.
Yet nothing visible appeared.
No energy wave.
No projectile.
Nothing.
But many survivors instantly paled.
Because they knew.
Ghost Punch.
An invisible strike that attacked internal organs directly.
Impossible to see.
Impossible to dodge.
The invisible attack rushed toward Jade instantly.
But—
Before Ghost Killer even completed the strike—
Jade shifted sideways calmly.
The invisible attack passed through empty air.
Ghost Killer's pupils shrank.
"What?!"
The survivors exploded into shock.
"How did he dodge that?!"
"That's impossible!"
Aaron chuckled softly.
"He predicted it."
Aviana stepped forward lightly.
Her golden eyes glowed faintly.
Then she spoke one word.
"Die."
The atmosphere distorted instantly.
Ghost Killer's body trembled violently.
Blood leaked from his ears immediately.
His knees bent slightly as though invisible pressure crushed his mind.
Yet he roared furiously and resisted.
Veins bulged across his forehead.
Aviana tilted her head.
"Die."
BOOM!
The pressure intensified.
Ghost Killer dropped to one knee.
The ground beneath him cracked.
Several nearby survivors stumbled backward in fear.
Ghost Killer's face twisted violently.
But slowly…
he forced himself back up.
Blood covered his face now.
Yet he smiled.
"What do you think I am?"
Dark energy erupted around his body.
"I evolved naturally."
The convoy became chaotic instantly.
"Naturally evolved?!"
"That's impossible!"
Ghost Killer laughed loudly.
"I may not have received my full power yet…"
"But my attacks…"
"…can kill any of you."
Then—
He punched the air again.
BOOM!
This time the invisible strike headed toward Aaron.
Aaron's eyes narrowed instantly.
He knew the attack was dangerous.
Extremely dangerous.
His shadows began twisting violently beneath his feet.
But before he could fully react—
BOOM!
Aaron exploded into countless fragments of shining glass.
Gasps erupted everywhere.
Sarah widened her eyes.
Ella immediately gripped her bow tightly.
Ghost Killer smirked proudly.
But then—
Jade laughed.
A cold laugh.
"Good job."
Ghost Killer frowned instantly.
"What?"
Jade pointed behind him slowly.
"There's no blood."
Ghost Killer froze.
Then Jade continued calmly.
"Because he's behind you."
Ghost Killer turned instantly—
Too late.
SHING!
A black blade flashed through the darkness.
His head flew into the air.
Blood sprayed across the cold ground.
The body collapsed heavily.
THUD.
Behind him stood Aaron.
Purple light glowed faintly within his eyes.
Shadows swirled around his blade silently.
The shattered glass fragments slowly dissolved into darkness.
It had merely been the Mirror Vessel.
The real Aaron had disappeared into the shadows long ago.
The survivors stared speechlessly.
Even Henry sighed slowly.
"That was terrifying…"
Aviana crossed her arms proudly.
"Obviously."
Jade stepped forward again.
"I know many of you evolved naturally."
"You paid the price."
"But that price…"
"…was worth it."
The survivors became silent again.
Everyone understood what he meant.
Natural evolution disconnected someone from the System.
But in exchange—
they gained something terrifying.
A Legendary Book.
The power to create their own Data.
Their own future.
Their own System.
Jade slowly raised his injured hand.
A vine pierced through his palm.
Blood dripped onto the ground beneath him.
The crimson liquid reflected beneath the moonlight beautifully.
"With this blood…"
"…I swear."
"Tomorrow night…"
"…you will all return home."
The convoy froze.
Some people immediately burst into tears.
Others laughed desperately.
Hope returned to their eyes.
Real hope.
Not survival.
Not endurance.
Home.
Jade's voice echoed through the darkness again.
"You'll see your families again."
"You'll speak with your loved ones again."
"You'll live again."
This time—
The survivors erupted completely.
Cheers echoed through the forest.
Some shouted Jade's name.
Others slammed weapons against shields.
The atmosphere completely changed.
Fear still existed.
But now—
there was purpose.
That same night—
the convoy moved.
Nobody slept.
Nobody rested.
The dark forest trembled beneath thousands of marching footsteps.
Torches illuminated the darkness like a river of fire moving through the woods.
Flying survivors soared above the convoy using wings.
Sword fighters marched ahead.
Archers moved between the trees.
The army looked like an unstoppable force moving toward destiny itself.
Jade walked at the very front.
Shadow Armor covered him completely while darkness wrapped around his body naturally.
Beside him walked Aaron silently.
Aviana floated above them calmly.
Henry transformed into his snow wolf form while leading scouts ahead.
Then finally—
After one hour—
they reached it.
The Shadowed Area.
The entire convoy stopped.
Before them stood complete darkness.
Not ordinary darkness.
This darkness looked alive.
The moonlight itself refused to enter it.
The trees inside were black.
The ground looked rotten.
Strange whispers echoed faintly from deep within.
Some survivors immediately felt chills run down their spines.
Even breathing felt difficult.
Then Cassie stepped forward nervously.
In her hands was the time artifact.
A circular device covered in glowing symbols.
"This is our only chance."
She handed it toward Jade carefully.
Jade grabbed it silently.
The moment he touched it—
The symbols lit up brilliantly.
Rain suddenly began pouring from the sky.
Cold rain drenched the convoy instantly.
Then—
A gigantic glowing symbol expanded across the land beneath their feet.
It spread endlessly like a massive clock.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Time itself began distorting.
The survivors stared upward nervously.
Jade slowly looked toward the darkness ahead.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Move."
And the entire convoy entered the Shadowed Area.