I was preparing the food with Ronan while Elena rested.
"We're supposed to find massive mountains; once we cross them, we'll reach the first temple,"
I said while drawing on the ground the map we had seen in the ruined church .
"What were they thinking putting a temple there?"
Ronan complained irritably as he looked at the map.
"Don't be stupid. This is a vast world, just like ours. Of course people are scattered. And don't forget, the temples were built to protect the keys of the Floating Island — it's only logical to place them somewhere hard to reach,"
I replied calmly. My words pierced Ronan, reminding him how shallow his thinking was.
"Stop talking, the meat's going to burn."
Elena scolded us from behind, staring at the grill with hungry eyes.
I stood up, prepared her portion, and brought it to her. She took it from me happily and devoured the skewers quickly.
'I don't need to eat, so the food will be enough for the others,'
I thought as I watched Elena eat greedily, completely ignoring table manners.
'I bet her family would go crazy if they saw their daughter like this.'
"I wonder if we'll find some people in the temple. I mean, wouldn't it make sense for us to be split among important places?"
Ronan asked while chewing his food.
"Maybe. But think about it: the temples guard the keys that lead to the palace containing the true body of the Cursed Flower. Isn't it logical there would be an extremely powerful monster protecting the key? Perhaps some did find the temples, but died facing the monster,"
I said what I felt. The others didn't argue; they knew my words were probably true, especially after what we'd been through.
We rested for an hour before deciding to continue, even if night fell — we had to cross the mountains.
'I had assumed the journey would take a week, but we're moving incredibly fast because we've been escaping dangerous areas at top speed.'
Ronan carried us with his winds, lifting us out of the cave through the opening in the ceiling.
Once outside, I scanned the surroundings for enemies but found nothing.
"This is strange. Don't monsters share awareness? The insects should know the queen died and be waiting for us here,"
I said, confused about what was happening.
"Nox, please stop being so negative,"
Ronan said with a mocking smile as he walked ahead.
'This bastard—since when can he talk to me like that?'
My face twitched as I fought the urge to punch Ronan.
Elena saw the scene and patted my back as if to console me.
'What's wrong with her? Treating me like a child.'
I walked away from her, moving ahead, still staring at the sky, wary of any surprise attack.
"What the hell!!"
Ronan suddenly stopped, cursing loudly in shock.
Elena also froze, eyes widening at the sight before us.
I followed their gaze. They were staring at the horizon where an endless range of colossal mountains appeared — but what stunned us was:
"The mountains… they're floating upside down in the sky,"
I muttered in astonishment, looking up. The range we were supposed to cross to reach our destination was inverted above us. And the ground?
"The ground is empty… nothing but darkness. What does this even mean?"
Ronan said, clutching his head, trying to comprehend the situation.
'How were the mountains flipped? Adam didn't do this, and I doubt the Flower could. The humans in this world are strangely weak. Adam is supposed to be the strongest human alive,but the others so weak even the Flower who invaded the world was only in level seven, while the creatures here are level eight. No one should be able to overturn entire mountains, make them float, and leave the land below an endless darkness.'
All kinds of thoughts and theories flooded my mind, but none explained what was before us.
"Let's get closer and see properly,"
Elena suggested as she walked toward the mountains. We decided to follow her for now, trying to gather information.
When we reached the edge, I knelt down, staring into the endless darkness.
I felt something mysterious calling me closer. My mind filled with inhuman whispers — distorted, incomprehensible sounds carrying a seductive authority.
I wanted to go down. I felt like I would achieve all my dreams if I went there. Greed filled my mind as I got closer and closer to the darkness.
I was close to reaching my goal and touching the darkness. , but a hand grabbed me and yanked me back instantly.
"What?!"
I looked up, shocked to find Elena, drenched in sweat, her eyes darting in fear as she pulled both me and Ronan back with force.
Ronan was in bad shape, blood pouring from every opening on his face. He collapsed, clutching his throat and breathing painfully.
"What happened?!"
I raised my hand slowly to my face and looked at it — it was covered in blood.
*I'm bleeding?*
I thought, then my endurance faded, and I fell to the ground, gasping and vomiting blood heavily.
"This… this darkness is corrupted. It tried to lure us in,"
Elena said as she falling on the ground, wiping sweat from her face.
"I didn't look directly, so I wasn't affected. But you two… you almost jumped into it. I barely grabbed you in time,"
she said with difficulty, her body trembling violently before she gathered her strength and sent her light over us to heal.
'My body… it's not regenerating. This attack wasn't physical.'
Realization struck me like lightning — this darkness had almost completely killed me if not for Elena's intervention.
I had wished for death before, but now, after getting used to my immortality, the appearance of something that could kill me was terrifying.
"Nox, what's wrong? Calm down,"
Elena called out in panic, but I couldn't hear her. My breathing was fast, my heart pounding as if it would explode any moment.
A familiar warmth enveloped me, bringing me back. Elena was hugging me tightly.
"Calm down, don't be afraid. You're safe now,"
she said gently, patting my back slowly.
I hugged her back tightly, burying my face in her shoulder, trying to calm myself.
After a few moments, my body relaxed. I let go of the hug and looked at Elena, deeply worried.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded to reassure me.
"Yes, I'm fine now. Sorry for scaring you,"
I said quietly, my mind cold and my thoughts slower than usual.
'Who would believe something exists that can kill immortals at a ninth-level gate?'
I thought as I looked at Ronan, now calm, lying on his back and staring blankly at the sky — like a broken doll.
"Ronan, are you okay?"
Elena called to him with concern. He was slow to answer, then, as if life returned to his eyes, he looked at us and spoke very weak:
"I'm fine… just very tired."
"Let's rest today. It's impossible to continue in our condition. We should return to the cave — at least it'll give us some protection,"
I said, standing slowly. My body trembled painfully, but I endured it.
Ronan stood too, groaning and cursing under his breath.
We returned to the cave, dragging our exhausted bodies. The moment we arrived, we collapsed on the ground and fell asleep without care.
I had no luxury of staying up to keep watch — I needed rest, especially mental rest.
'We must find a way to cross. We can't let the corruption stop us,'
I thought of tomorrow before closing my eyes. Elena slept beside me while Ronan lay at a distance.
'She seems exhausted and doesn't want to think about her Her noble status . But who cares? It's obvious Ronan has realized she loves me,'
I thought inwardly as I looked at her sleeping form. Her eyes twitched in discomfort, then she moved closer, burying her face in my chest and hugging me.
I didn't mind. I pulled the cloak over us, hugged her, and fell asleep too.
---