Jorvan and Gabriel were less than three kilometers away when Jorvan spotted the Cloud Vine Forest looming behind Axel.

"Oh, shit! How the hell did we end up here?"

In that moment, Jorvan finally understood why Axel wasn't running.

"What the fuck do we do now?"

Before he could panic any further, a crushing presence rolled toward him from the front. His breath caught.

"That's… Axel?!"

Jorvan's pupils shrank as he watched Axel slowly draw the Red Flame Blade. Compressed Force surged along its edge, crackling with restrained power.

Back then, Axel's energy had only painted the weapon with a faint red glow. But now, after compressing his Force, the blade burned like living fire.

"This bastard…" Jorvan muttered in disbelief.

The next instant, Axel roared: "MOVE!"

Jorvan clenched his jaw, scooped Gabriel tight against his chest, and slammed a ditch into the earth as he twisted sharply aside.

A streak of light tore overhead — Axel, propelled by the Cloud Chasing Boots, Force bursting with every step. His blade came down in a savage arc straight at the wings of the Blackwinged Dragonbird.

"Axel?!" Gabriel's eyes went wide.

The next second, blood sprayed in sheets. One of the mutant's massive wings was nearly cleaved in half.

The beast shrieked, its cry splitting the sky, and staggered midair before lurching desperately away.

Jorvan's breath caught in his throat. "Holy shit… Has he already compressed half his Force? Otherwise, there's no way he could've landed a strike that devastating!"

At the hotel, he'd written Axel off. The kid's so-called achievements had only come from Gabriel's bragging — and Gabriel was about as reliable as a drunk goat.

But now? Axel's strength was undeniable. Even among the noble heirs, this level of growth was insane.

Jorvan's mind spun. I'll have to bring this up with Father when we get back…

He exhaled, some of the tension easing from his face.

"Axel, that was incredible!" Gabriel wriggled free from Jorvan's arms and charged toward Axel like a kid.

Axel grinned faintly. "Your brother had already worn it down badly. I just took the chance."

Inside, he was satisfied. If he had unleashed Flame Burn, he was certain he could've finished the beast in a few more blows.

But there was no need to flaunt his full strength. Not when he didn't know exactly what kind of man Jorvan was. Better to stay humble.

"Don't sell yourself short," Jorvan said, his voice more respectful than it had ever been back at the hotel. "That thing only took a scratch earlier. For me, its resistance makes it a nightmare.."

"How did you even end up being hunted by that thing?" Axel asked.

At the question, Jorvan's gaze swung toward Gabriel, his expression darkening. "It's this little shit's fault!"

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The story spilled out quickly, and Axel couldn't help but laugh.

"Thanks, Axel," Jorvan said after. "You're seriously gifted. You should come by the Remington estate sometime."

Gabriel's face lit up like a child at a festival.

"See?! I told you Axel was a beast. He's never even had to touch nuclear waste!"

Axel froze. Nuclear waste?

Of course he knew what it was.

Back in the early days of the mutant tide, when Krythos had been powerless to resist, humanity had been forced to use its deadliest weapons — nuclear bombs. They had torn mutant armies apart, sure… but at the cost of catastrophic radiation and an environment drenched in toxic fallout.

Even Awakened bodies weren't immune. Who the hell would willingly mess with that kind of poison?

Catching the confusion on Axel's face, Jorvan immediately snapped at his brother.

"Don't listen to his bullshit. He means the water from the Dragon Pond."

"It's like nuclear waste," Gabriel muttered, curling his lips. "But it's still pretty useful. I had no hope of awakening, but after soaking in it, I did."

Jorvan shot him a look, silently adding in his mind: And you haven't made any progress since.

"Why don't we talk to Dad and let Axel soak in it too?" Gabriel suggested, making Jorvan frown.

The Dragon Pond was unique to their family. During the first great wave of mutant beasts, humans had managed to kill several Beast Kings. Each clan received a portion of their remains. The Remingtons had used flesh, blood, and bone from those beasts—combined with their own rare spiritual herbs and an underground hot spring—to brew a kind of medicinal soup.

Unless someone was blood-bound and absolutely loyal to the family, that treasure was never shared. The more people who soaked in it, the weaker the medicine became. If Gabriel hadn't blurted it out, Jorvan wouldn't have wanted Axel to know at all. He couldn't make that decision on his own, anyway.

Seeing Jorvan's silence, Axel understood. This wasn't something to be taken lightly.

He wasn't the type to shamelessly beg for something that wasn't freely offered, so he simply changed the subject.

"Mr. Jorvan, you should focus on recovering first. There are plenty of mutants lurking around here. Even though it's almost time to leave, we'd better not take any chances."

Jorvan let out a quiet sigh of relief. Good. I can at least recommend him to Father.

But when he glanced at Gabriel, chatting away with Axel like an idiot, he felt a pang of helplessness. Seriously… is he your brother, or am I?

.....

Fifteen days passed in the blink of an eye. When the deadline finally arrived, some people breathed a sigh of relief.

Deep inside a wooden cabin beneath the valley of Infinite Cold Cave, Millers slowly opened his eyes. He looked around, dazed.

"Huh? Wasn't I infected? Where's Axel? Did he finish compressing?"

He rubbed his temples, trying to recall. The last thing he remembered was the moment he nearly succumbed to infection.

"I feel like I'm forgetting something…" His head still felt fuzzy, and a chill ran down his spine. "The fact I'm alive must mean Axel took those bastards out."

Bits of memory came back: the iron balls he'd set up being sliced apart, Axel unleashing a devastating strike… and then nothing.

"Whatever. Damn, what a fat rabbit."

His eyes lit up as he spotted a plump white rabbit nearby. In an instant, his mind filled with recipes—roast rabbit, smoked rabbit legs, deep-fried rabbit strips.

But then he froze. Why the hell did it feel like that rabbit was staring at him with murderous intent?

Before he could dwell on it, the Opportunity Plate in his arms pulsed faintly with light. His jaw dropped.

"Holy shit! It's already been fifteen days? I… I slept that long?!"

Before he could finish cursing, his body vanished. The rabbit hopped lazily back onto the wooden bed as if nothing had happened.

......

"It's time."

Outside the Abyss, tension hung thick in the air. After word spread of the Abyss's abnormal changes, instructors from the War Academy, clan elders, and even military officers had all rushed to the scene.

A flash of white light flickered, and members of the Whisper Syndicate materialized. Rosaline's face was drawn with worry.

"Why the hell haven't those two idiots come out yet?"

She wasn't alone—Vince had arrived as well.

Watching her pace, Vince spoke gently. "Rosaline, don't worry. There are still many who haven't returned."

Rosaline inhaled deeply and forced herself to sit. But as more and more people emerged—yet Axel and Millers were still nowhere in sight—she shot to her feet again.

"Those two brats. Don't tell me they've gotten themselves killed?"

Vince gave her a helpless shake of his head. Then, suddenly, he smiled faintly. "Relax. They're here."

Sure enough, Axel and Millers appeared.

Rosaline let out a long breath and muttered under her breath, "A scourge always outlives the rest. Those two aren't easy to get rid of." Still, a smile tugged at her lips.

.....

"Axel!" Millers grinned as he spotted him and hurried over. "I knew you'd be fine."

"So… those guys…" he began, but Axel only gave him a small nod. Millers' easygoing expression darkened.

Before he could say more, a sharp voice cut in from the side.

"What the hell is this? Why aren't letting us leave?"

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