The scorching sunlight illuminated Alex and Ken as they walked toward a stage surrounded by black and white flowers.
Each of their steps caused their dirty white robes to flutter, while the wind blew through their black hair.
Alex and Ken walked along a narrow path that split through the sea of flowers.
Alex glanced briefly at the flower of life and death. Its stem swayed in the wind, its petals arranged elegantly—half of it white, and the other half black, with a transparent sphere at its center.
Alex shifted his gaze to the two figures sitting atop the stage.
Alex and Ken stopped at the edge of the stage.
The two figures turned their heads.
One had long white hair tied back, with a long white beard. Wrinkles surrounded his eyes as his gaze met Alex and Ken.
The other had short black hair, his dark eyes cold, with wrinkles scattered across parts of his face.
Their clothes were tattered and brown.
The bearded man smiled.
"Did you come here to take those flowers?"
Alex fell silent for a moment.
"Yes…"
He slowly stepped onto the stage, followed by Ken.
Alex sat down on the stage, facing the two figures, leaving a slight distance between them.
The bearded man nodded and stroked his beard, then spread his arms.
"You can take as many as you want…"
Ken cracked his knuckles.
"All of them? Is that possible? Are you the guardians or something?"
The bearded man chuckled, pointing at himself and the black-haired man beside him.
"I'm Roka…"
"…and he is Kesu."
Roka shrugged.
"We're not the guardians here…"
One of Alex's eyebrows lifted.
"Then who are you, if not the guardians?"
Alex stared at Roka as he continued speaking, while Kesu remained silent, watching Alex and Ken with lifeless eyes.
Roka scratched his temple.
"We're also flower seekers, just like you…"
The wind blew across them, swaying each of their hair.
Alex frowned.
"Are you trapped here?"
Roka chuckled.
"You could say that."
Roka took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
"We couldn't complete the trial… so here we are, stuck."
Ken stroked his chin.
"What kind of trial is it?"
Roka fell silent for a moment, only looking at Alex and Ken.
"The trial is done by two people…"
Alex and Ken stared intently.
Roka let out a sigh.
"You two are still full of life…"
Alex and Ken's expressions turned confused.
"...To leave this place, there must be one life and one death…"
The blazing sunlight cast darker shadows of Alex and Ken, and silence filled the air for a moment.
Alex and Ken's eyes widened as they looked at each other.
Roka chuckled, while Kesu remained silent, watching their reactions.
"Yes… that's the only way out."
Alex swallowed and looked at Roka.
"So that's the truth behind the rumors?"
One of Roka's eyebrows raised.
"Rumors…?"
Roka stroked his beard for a moment, his eyes widening before he snapped his fingers.
"Ah! Yes! That rumor."
Roka smiled.
"We've heard that rumor too."
Roka sighed.
"And yet, here we are, trapped because we couldn't bring ourselves to kill each other."
Ken rubbed his cheek.
"What was your purpose for coming here?"
Roka scratched his head, his expression turning confused.
"What was it again? I'm starting to forget…"
Roka thought for a moment, confusing Alex and Ken.
Kesu's eyes slowly filled with life as he looked at Alex and Ken.
His voice sounded hoarse.
"We came here to turn that flower into medicine for my wife."
Alex and Ken swallowed hard, goosebumps rising when they heard Kesu speak for the first time.
Roka clapped his hands once.
"Ahh! That's right! We came here for medicine for Kesu's wife."
Alex looked at Roka and Kesu.
"You've forgotten your own reason…"
Alex cracked his fingers.
"…how long have you been here?"
Roka thought again and looked at Kesu.
"How long has it been, Kesu?"
Kesu remained silent.
Roka shrugged.
"We forgot."
Alex narrowed his eyes.
"How do you survive? What do you eat?"
Roka pointed at the sky.
"Sometimes birds come, and sometimes it rains."
Ken stretched his body.
Alex looked at Roka and Kesu.
"What if there are no birds or rain?"
Roka shrugged.
"Then we don't eat…"
Ken scratched his cheek.
"But you look healthy…"
Ken looked at their tattered clothes.
"…only your clothes are worn out."
Roka nodded in agreement.
Alex massaged his forehead.
Ken glanced at Alex.
"So what are we going to do now?"
Alex picked his ear.
"What else? We'll think about it tomorrow…"
Alex slowly lay down on the stage floor.
"…I want to sleep first. We didn't sleep all night, right?"
Ken let out a sigh and slowly lay down as well.
"You're very relaxed, huh?"
Alex turned his body, and so did Ken.
There was a gap between them, their backs facing each other.
Roka and Kesu simply sat there, watching them.
Ken exhaled, his eyes still open.
"What are we going to do?"
Alex, lying on his side, had already closed his eyes.
He clicked his tongue.
"Tomorrow… we'll think tomorrow. We're mentally exhausted, you know?"
Ken chuckled.
"Yeah… we're exhausted."
Alex and Ken fell asleep soundly. The scorching sunlight no longer bothered them, the cold floor contrasting with their warm bodies, and the gentle wind soothed them for a moment.
After some time passed, the sun was replaced by the dark sky, and moonlight took its place.
Alex's closed eyes twitched slightly.
The sound of the wind and the rustling flowers became the first things he heard.
Alex slowly opened his eyes.
There was only darkness.
He let out a breath and stood up.
Alex glanced toward where Roka and Kesu had last been sitting.
The wind brushed against him, sending chills down his spine.
In the darkness, Roka and Kesu were still sitting, staring at them as they slept.
Alex wiped his lips.
"What are you doing?... where's the campfire?"
Roka chuckled.
"We don't need it."
Alex scratched his sore neck.
"You just sat there while Ken and I were sleeping?"
Roka thought for a moment, confusing Alex again.
"Maybe…?"
Alex tapped the stage floor. With his other hand, he shook Ken to wake him up, his gaze still fixed on Roka and Kesu.
Ken slowly woke up, looking around in confusion while rubbing his eyes.
"Is it already night…?"
Alex answered briefly.
"Yeah."
Alex held his stomach, starting to feel hungry.
"Are you hungry?"
Ken scratched his dry throat.
"Yeah… hungry and thirsty."
Alex sighed and stood up, walking toward Roka and Kesu. Ken followed.
Alex began pulling out various materials from the symbol paper stored in his smart bracelet.
The first thing that appeared was a campfire, its light becoming the only source of illumination.
Roka's eyes widened, and Kesu, who saw it, also trembled slightly.
"What is that?... everything came out of that paper."
They sat closer, separated only by the campfire.
Alex chuckled.
"My talent, how is it?"
Roka stroked his white beard while Kesu stared deeply at him.
"That's very useful, isn't it…?"
Alex gave a short nod as he slowly began cooking various instant foods for the four of them.
The delicious aroma of the food spread through the air. With the moon above them and the wind moving the surrounding flowers, it all felt like an ordinary picnic.Roka watched intently.
"If I could use mana, we definitely wouldn't be struggling."
Alex tasted his food with a spoon, then looked at Roka.
"You can't use mana?"
Roka nodded.
"We can't use mana…"
Ken waited for Alex to finish cooking, but he joined in asking.
"Then how did you get here?"
Roka frowned, his eyes focusing as he tried to remember.
Alex and Ken looked at each other.
Another voice came from Kesu.
"We were carried here by a desert storm."
Alex swallowed, he was almost done cooking.
"So were we…"
Ken crossed his arms.
"Did you pass those zombies?"
Roka and Kesu looked at each other, this time Roka answered.
"There were none… there was only a dark corridor."
Ken scratched his head in confusion.
Meanwhile, Alex finished cooking and handed the food to Ken.
Ken accepted it, his eyes sparkling, drool almost dripping.
"Thank you…"
Alex handed the food he made to Roka and Kesu.
"Here… you eat too."
Kesu remained silent, while Roka smiled.
"Just leave it there…"
One of Alex's eyebrows lifted.
"Aren't you hungry?"
Roka chuckled and held his stomach.
"We're still full…"
Alex froze for a moment, then placed the food near them before returning to his spot and eating.
The sound of eating filled the air as Alex and Ken ate eagerly.
Ken, suddenly thinking of something, asked Roka.
"Did you meet anyone else?"
Roka returned to his serious expression, trying to remember.
Roka crossed his arms..
"Yes…"
Alex took another bite, chewing slowly before swallowing.
"What did they do?"
Roka answered lightly.
"They killed each other."
Ken swallowed hard hearing Roka's words, then glanced at Alex and whispered.
"That's the rumor…"
Alex nodded briefly.
Slowly, they talked throughout the night.
Alex kept observing the movements of Roka and Kesu.
Alex drank water, his eyes still on Roka who was chatting with Ken, while Kesu remained silent.
'They're strange and creepy, aren't they, Krystal?'
Krystal agreed with what Alex said.
'Yes… one is forgetful, and the other barely speaks except about the outside world.'
Alex's eyebrow twitched.
'What did you say? One is forgetful and the other only talks about the outside world?'
Krystal clicked her tongue.
'Isn't that exactly how it is? What's wrong with you? You're not as sharp as usual.'
Alex swallowed, his hand trembling slightly.
'Am I…?'
Alex let out a breath and looked at the dark sky illuminated by the large moon.
'We don't have much time, do we?'
Krystal agreed.
'Yes…'
Alex looked around.
'This also isn't a place where help can reach us…'
Krystal sighed.
'So, what will you do? Will you die, or will you kill Ken?'
Alex scratched his head.
'That's a difficult question…'
Just as Alex was about to continue, the sound of crying was heard.
Alex immediately turned his gaze.
There, Kesu was sobbing, while Roka beside him patted his shoulder.
Alex looked at Ken.
Ken sighed and whispered.
"I accidentally asked about his wife…"
Alex clicked his tongue and whispered.
"You idiot…"
The sound of Kesu's crying was painful to hear.
Alex's expression turned uneasy, while Ken didn't know what to do.
Kesu began scratching the stage floor.
His voice sounded hoarse and painful.
"Forgive me… forgive me…"
Roka kept patting Kesu's shoulder, trying to calm him.
"It's okay… it's okay…"
Tears streamed down as his cries echoed.
Alex's goosebumps rose.
Kesu slowly bent forward, almost touching the floor.
"Forgive me, Roka… we shouldn't have come here…"
Alex swallowed, his stomach aching as he heard Kesu's cries.
He looked at Ken.
"I'm going to relieve myself…"
Ken looked at him seriously and held him back.
"Hey… hey… you're going to leave me here like this?"
Alex clicked his tongue and forcefully pulled his hand away.
"Your fault. I'll be back soon."
Alex walked down from the stage, passing through the path that split the flowers of life and death.
His stomach growled again, now accompanied by pain.
Alex jogged lightly.
"Damn…"
He entered the dark forest, the moonlight barely peeking through the dense trees.
Alex walked past a large rock bathed in moonlight, but he paid no attention and went into a bush.
After some time, the rustling of leaves was heard as Alex slowly came out, a relieved smile on his face.
He wiped the sweat on his forehead.
Then continued walking slowly.
His calm footsteps were the only sound, the wind brushing against his white robe.
He passed the large rock covered in moonlight again.
Now no longer in a hurry, Alex glanced at it briefly.
His body suddenly froze, his legs stiff.
He turned his head toward the rock.
His eyes widened as he looked at it.
His heart pounded rapidly, his body unable to move.
Alex swallowed and forced himself to step toward the rock.
His steps were stiff now, the wind almost knocking him over.
Alex walked slowly.
After a moment, his steps stopped in front of the rock.
Alex looked down.
His heart nearly exploded.
Slowly, he bent one knee and looked forward.
There, two human skeletons were leaning against the large rock, sitting side by side, occasionally touched by the moonlight.
Alex's goosebumps rose.
Slowly, he touched the clothes worn by the two skeletons.
At the first touch, Alex was slightly startled, but he tried to touch them again.
He looked at the two skeletons, their brown clothes tattered.
Alex slowly lost his strength and fell backward into a sitting position.
He just stared at the two skeletons for a moment, even the cold wind no longer bothered him.
Alex examined every part of the skeletons.
His eyes widened when he saw something.
Alex slowly gathered all his strength.
He took a small book tucked between the two skeletons.
The book felt rough.
Alex opened it slowly, the once-white pages now yellowed, but the black writing remained unchanged.
Alex swallowed. He opened his mouth and read the contents of the page.
"First day of the journey…."
"…Kesu forced me to follow him to search for the golden desert."
Alex took a breath.
"I kept refusing, but after knowing his reason, I finally followed him…"
Alex slowly turned the page.
"Seventh day…."
Alex's eyes widened.
"…a sandstorm hit us…"
"…I thought that was the end, but suddenly we woke up in a dark corridor…"
Alex turned the page again.
"Eighth day…."
Alex wiped his sweaty fingers, almost dampening the yellowed paper.
"…we managed to get out of the corridor…"
"…the golden desert appeared, it was a place we should never have come to."
Alex exhaled.
"We walked and eventually found a forest, but there was nothing there. No animals, water, not even sound."
Alex turned the page.
"Ninth day…"
Alex swallowed.
"…we found what we were looking for. The flower of life and death…"
"…it is a flower that is very difficult to obtain… I had heard of it before…"
"…there has only ever been one person who returned carrying the flower of life and death…"
Alex's voice caught.
"…that's because only one person can live to leave and bring it."
Alex's body went stiff, he just stared at the worn book.
He turned the page again.
"Twelfth day…."
"…we couldn't decide anything."
Alex swallowed.
He turned the page.
"Fifteenth day…."
"…there is nothing here…"
"…our food ran out yesterday…"
Alex held his forehead.
"Seventeenth day…."
"…some people came…"
"…they were just like us…."
On one part of the page, there was a small circle where the texture looked different from the rest.
"…how could they kill their own companions?"
Alex's breathing became heavy.
He turned another page.
"I no longer know what day it is… I've lost everything."
"Kesu keeps crying, apologizing every day…."
"But on the day I write this, his cries sound more painful…"
"…I can't bear to hear it."
Alex gritted his teeth.
"But when his crying stopped, everything became silent…."
"…I saw Kesu already unconscious…."
"…he was just lying there, not breathing."
"I carried him into the forest, but I was already too weak…"
Alex swallowed.
"I laid him down on a large rock, and I lay down beside him."
"To whoever reads this… please tell him, I never blamed him…"
Alex's tongue felt bitter, he could only remain frozen, covering his eyes with his palm, seeing nothing but darkness.
He took a deep breath, calming his heartbeat.
Alex raised his head, looking at the shining moon.
Both his hands rested behind him.
He swallowed.
"How is it, Krystal…?"
Krystal answered inside Alex's mind.
Alex listened.
His eyes were closed.
"What about that? Can it be useful?"
The wind brushed against Alex's face.
A frown formed on his forehead.
"Twelve hours…?"
Alex opened his eyes and shifted his gaze to the two skeletons leaning against the large rock.
Alex let out a breath.
"So… that really is the only way, huh?"
Only silence answered Alex.
Alex slightly bowed his body toward the two skeletons.
"When I get out… I will forbid others from coming here."
Alex looked at the two skulls.
"My friend is a princess… so she can definitely do that…"
"Sorry… I can't take you with me…"
Alex sighed.
"...But I'll make sure no one else enters this cursed place…"
A faint smile formed on Alex's face.
"Sorry too, I can't accompany you any longer…"
Alex slowly stood up, putting the worn book into his smart bracelet.
"…those bastards will complain if I'm late even one more day."
The wind blew against Alex's body.
His white robe fluttered.
"Rest in peace… Roka and Kesu."
Alex slowly walked away, his steps no longer heavy.
He split through the silence and darkness of the forest.
Alex took off his white robe, leaving only a white shirt and long white pants.
He stretched his arms, cracking the bones in his neck and fingers.
His steps slowly reached his destination.
A field of black and white flowers came into view, with a stage in the middle.
On top of the stage, there were three people.
Ken raised his hand.
"Hey! You took so long!"
Alex went silent, his face turning cold.
He stepped forward slowly, each step getting faster.
His walk turned into a run.
The cold air didn't stop him.
Alex jumped onto the stage.
Ken looked at him in confusion.
"Did you eat something wrong or what?"
Alex didn't respond, he only looked at Ken.
Roka and Kesu remained silent.
Alex slowly walked closer to Ken, ignoring everything else.
Ken looked up at him with a confused face.
Alex quickly raised his right leg and delivered a straight kick that hit Ken's head cleanly.
Thud
Ken was thrown back, it was a kick without mana.
Ken felt pain in his head, he fell on his back, but quickly regained focus.
He looked at Alex while rubbing his head.
Veins bulged on his forehead.
"What the hell are you doing, bastard?!"
Alex exhaled, taking a stance, no longer caring about anything.
Ken looked around, he couldn't find Roka and Kesu.
Now only the two of them remained on the stage.
The wind blew their black hair.
Ken gritted his teeth and stood up.
He pulled out his katana from his smart bracelet and unsheathed it.
Sreeet.
The blade gleamed, reflecting the moonlight.
"What happened to Roka and Kesu?"
Alex exhaled.
"They're dead…."
Ken's body trembled slightly, his eyes unfocused for a moment.
Alex stepped forward quickly, taking advantage of that brief moment.
Ken became awkward as Alex was already in front of him.
Ken gripped his katana with both hands and swung it horizontally.
Alex's expression didn't change, even as the katana reflecting moonlight approached him.
His first soul core activated.
His body lowered, dodging the slash.
Slash!
Alex responded by grabbing Ken's right leg.
He used his strength and lifted Ken without resistance.
Ken's eyes widened, gritting his teeth as his head moved closer to the night sky.
Alex took one step and threw Ken.
Fwosh.
Thud
Ken fell on his back, still holding his katana.
Alex didn't give him time to rest, he raised his right leg high, aiming for Ken's body.
Ken swallowed, rolling his body to the left. Alex's kick only hit the cold floor.
Thud.
Alex grimaced slightly.
Ken tried to stand, but Alex charged faster.
He jumped and aimed his left leg at Ken.
Ken had no time to dodge, he took the hit.
Thud.
He was thrown back again.
Ken grimaced as he tried to get up while Alex walked slowly.
Ken took a deep breath.
Now Ken's right eye closed, while his left eye turned white.
Alex stopped walking.
This time Ken charged.
In the vision of Ken's whitened left eye, red points appeared on Alex's body.
Ken swallowed.
'His reflexes are insane….'
Alex smiled faintly.
'…but I've learned from that too.'
Ken charged, thrusting his right arm holding the katana, his movement like a spear thrust.
Alex's first soul core responded, he dodged slightly to the left as Ken's katana was about to hit him.
But at the same time, Ken pulled his katana back.
He jumped using his left foot as support.
Alex's eyes widened, his body stiffened.
While Ken's feet didn't touch the ground.
He twisted his body, gripping the katana with both arms, and swung it to the left with full force.
Slash!
A thin cut split across Alex's chest.
Fresh blood spilled, soaking his white shirt.
Ken landed on the ground.
'Got him!'
He quickly turned his body and launched a horizontal slash.
Alex stepped back, dodging the slash, but Ken followed up with a thrust aimed at his body.
Alex dodged to the side before the thrust landed.
Fwosh
The thrust pierced only air.
Ken's right leg lifted, aiming for Alex's left shin.
Crack.
Alex's eyebrow twitched, his left foot touched the ground as he looked at Ken who now stood higher.
Ken lifted his left leg and aimed it at the red point on Alex's abdomen.
Thud.
A collision sound was followed by an explosion.
Boom!
Alex was thrown backward. Smoke rose.
Ken walked past him and saw Alex lying down, holding his burning abdomen, his white shirt torn.
Alex grimaced.
Ken frowned.
"What's wrong with you…?"
Ken stepped closer.
"…you attacked me out of nowhere, did you decide to go alone?"
Ken clicked his tongue.
"That's not like you, is it?"
Alex didn't answer, he just grimaced and tried to stand.
"You're not serious, are you?"
Ken swallowed.
"'Let's wait for a moment…' we'll definitely find a way.' That's what you're supposed to say…."
Ken stopped, pointing his katana at Alex's neck as he lay on the ground. Alex just looked at him.
Ken sighed, both his eyes closed.
Alex spat out the blood pooling in his mouth.
"Ptuih…"
He exhaled.
"Do you know what I found?"
Ken opened his eyes.
Alex continued.
"Roka and Kesu's skeletons…"
Ken's body stiffened.
Alex exhaled.
"They didn't kill each other… they chose to die here."
Alex tried to stand, but Ken's katana pressed closer to his neck.
"We can't be like that, can we?"
Alex kept trying to stand even as the blade dug into his neck.
Alex took a deep breath.
"WE CAN'T BE LIKE THAT, CAN WE?!"
Alex's shout echoed, Ken could only stare at him silently.
Alex used that moment, striking Ken's right hand holding the katana.
Thud
Ken's grip loosened and the katana fell to the ground.
Ken, still shocked, couldn't react.
Alex drove his left elbow toward Ken's face.
Ken swallowed.
Now he closed his left eye, while his right eye turned white.
Alex's body became stiff again, his elbow strike never reaching Ken's face.
Ken grimaced.
"This isn't how it's supposed to be, right?… we can find another way, right?"
Alex couldn't answer, his body and expression frozen.
The black sky slowly turned deep blue.
Ken's whitened right eye began to bleed, staining his cheek.
"I've only known you for a short time, but I didn't think we'd end up killing each other like this…"
Ken took a deep breath, blood still flowing from his right eye.
He grabbed Alex's neck with his left hand.
Alex could only endure, his expression unchanged despite the pain.
But slowly, Ken's right eye trembled, he unconsciously closed it, lowering his head.
Alex's body gradually regained movement.
Alex took advantage of Ken's vulnerable moment.
He grabbed Ken's head and slammed it into his left knee.
Thud
Blood flowed from Ken's nose as he stepped back slowly.
Ken rubbed his nose.
Alex rubbed his neck, cracking it.
He kicked Ken's katana toward him.
Alex looked at Ken, raising his hand and provoking him to come forward.
"Come on…"
Ken took a deep breath and picked up his katana.
Meanwhile, Alex responded by summoning his changing sword.
A white longsword appeared.
They stared at each other.
Alex and Ken walked slowly, their steps getting faster.
They ran toward each other.
Alex held the changing sword in his left hand.
Ken attacked with a slash to the left side.
Alex channeled mana into the changing sword, and it transformed into a one-handed shield.
Ken's slash was blocked by the shield.
Cling.
Alex pushed his shield against Ken's katana, exposing Ken's body wide open.
He aimed his open right palm toward Ken's right shoulder.
As he got closer, he clenched his fist and added force with his right shoulder.
The strike aimed at Ken's right shoulder.
Thud.
Ken grimaced, his grip on the katana almost slipping from the shock.
Alex attacked again, now aiming the shield in his left hand at Ken's face.
Ken's left eye closed quickly, his right eye turned white.
Alex became stiff again.Ken stepped back slowly, avoiding the attack range of Alex's shield, fixing his position before opening his left eye again.
Alex's attack hit nothing but air.
Fwosh.
Ken's body tensed, his head throbbed, more blood pooling in his right eye.
Alex gritted his teeth.
He transformed the changing sword in his left hand into a spear and aimed it at Ken's face.
Ken barely dodged, his cheek getting cut.
The spear pierced the air.
Alex channeled mana into the changing sword again. The spear transformed into a long scythe, its blade positioned behind Ken's head.
Sensing danger, Ken was forced to use his right eye again.
But at almost the same time, Alex channeled mana into the changing sword again, the large scythe transforming into a barbell weighing 20kg.
Ken's shoulder trembled in shock at the sudden weight, his knees hitting the ground, causing both his eyes to close.
Freed from the influence of Ken's right eye, Alex transformed the barbell into an ordinary staff.
He gripped it with both hands and swung it at Ken's kneeling face.
Thud
Ken kissed the ground, his left cheek throbbing with pain and ringing.
Alex tried to attack again, but Ken closed his right eye while his left eye turned white, several red points appeared, and he threw his katana toward Alex's heel.
With his first soul core, Alex dodged by lifting his right leg.
In that moment, Ken's left eye closed and his right eye turned white.
Alex froze with his right leg raised.
Ken charged, grabbing Alex's waist, lifting him high and slamming him to the ground.
Thud
Alex groaned in pain as his back hit the cold floor.
Ken sat on Alex's stomach, his left foot stepping on Alex's right hand.
Ken threw punches at Alex's face repeatedly.
Thud
Thud
Thud
Alex's blood stained Ken's hands.
Alex endured several punches before maximizing strength in his waist, pushing upward with his legs.
Ken, caught off guard, was thrown forward, hitting the ground past Alex.
Alex immediately got up, approaching Ken who lay face down, and locked his neck from behind.
Ken struggled, shifting his body to the right, causing his back to press against Alex.
Ken kept holding Alex's arm that locked his neck, trying to break free.
Ken's face turned red, veins bulging on his forehead as he gritted his teeth.
He tried to break free by raising his left hand upward, slightly shifting his body to the right, and driving his elbow into Alex's stomach.
Thud
Thud
Thud
Alex's body trembled, he unconsciously released Ken.
Ken rolled to the right, holding his reddened neck.
Meanwhile, Alex looked at the sky, holding his aching stomach.
They stayed silent for a moment, enduring the pain spreading through their bodies.
After a while, Ken was the first to stand, retrieving his katana.
Alex followed, slowly standing while holding his stomach, summoning the changing sword again.
The cold wind blew against them.
Slowly, the sky began turning white.
Their breathing was clearly heard in the air.
Ken looked at Alex, grimacing.
"I don't want to die…."
Ken swallowed hard.
"…but I don't want to kill you either."
Alex pointed the changing sword at Ken.
"Sorry, Ken… but I have to get out of here."
Alex stepped forward unsteadily.
He aimed his sword at Ken's body.
An unintentional scream escaped his lips.
"UWARGHHH!!!"
Ken charged as well, thrusting his katana toward Alex.
His scream was mixed with tears and blood.
"ARGHHHHH!..."
As they got closer, a katana thrust pierced Alex's body.
Slash!
Alex coughed up blood.
"Cough…"
Ken's eyes widened, he froze.
He felt no pain, nothing pierced his body, only a blunt object touching his stomach.
Slowly, Alex fell beside Ken who stood frozen.
Thud.
His body lay sideways.
His eyes were nearly lifeless.
Ken looked at Alex's body, his katana still embedded there.
Ken's hand hesitated before reaching out, but eventually touched Alex's shoulder.
Tears flowed from Ken's eyes, washing over the dried blood on his cheek.
"Alex… Alex…"
Ken shook Alex's shoulder.
He slowly lowered his body.
"Alex…."
Sunlight slowly illuminated Ken's back, its light dispelling the darkness of night, but it couldn't calm Ken's sobbing.
The only thing that could stop it was Alex's hoarse voice.
Ken's eyes widened as he leaned closer to hear what Alex was saying.
His heart pounded rapidly, they froze for a moment as the sunlight continued to engulf them, along with the stage and the flowers of life and death.
Slowly, everything turned white.
That white light gradually turned brown.
They had both successfully exited the golden desert.
Grains of sand carried by the wind stuck to Ken's lips.
Slowly, he opened his eyes.
The wind and scorching sunlight made him squint.
His ears rang before gradually focusing again, the sound of the wind being the first to greet him.
Ken's eyes widened as he looked around, searching for Alex.
Not far from him, Alex lay with the same wounds as before, several flowers of life and death scattered beside him.
Ken grimaced and quickly approached Alex.
He grabbed the flowers and carried Alex on his back, not wanting to waste even a second.
Ken gritted his teeth, trying to stand as his body screamed in pain.
Their wounds were still clearly visible.
Ken shouted, forcing his body to carry Alex.
"Argh…."
With determination, Ken slowly stood, began stepping forward, and ran across the desert.
With every step, his muscles screamed.
Several times, Ken stumbled and nearly fell.
His long black hair, tied back, was now stained with sand.
His steps grew more hurried as his back felt the coldness of Alex's body.
The scorching sun and desert heat didn't stop him.
Ken climbed a sand dune blocking his path.
Each step caused his feet to sink deeper into the sand.
Ken gritted his teeth.
'Damn… I should have known…'
His breath was ragged, sweat pouring from his entire body.
The flowers of life and death he still held were slightly blown by the wind.
'…he didn't even use his talent…'
Ken finally reached the top of the dune.
He looked across the desert.
'Katarina… I have to meet her as soon as possible.'
Ken slowly descended the dune.
He moved quickly, his speed increasing as he went down.
Halfway down, his right foot sank too deep.
Ken gritted his teeth, his eyes widened.
'Damn…'
He and Alex rolled down.
Thud thud thud.
Ken groaned, pain spreading through his body.
He immediately got up to check on Alex.
Alex's body was almost completely covered in sand.
Ken took a deep breath, picked up the flowers of life and death, and tried to carry Alex again.
But his body didn't respond properly, and he fell again.
Thud
Alex fell into the sand beside Ken.
Ken looked at Alex's face, now still and unmoving.
Ken swallowed.
'Damn…'
'…this is hard.'
Ken closed his eyes.
'I don't have the strength anymore…'
Ken took a deep breath.
He was about to give up when a faint magical engine sound reached his ears.
Ken's eyes opened, he slowly stood, the blinding sunlight not stopping him from looking around.
His eyes widened.
There, four sand ATVs were moving.
Ken swallowed sand-mixed saliva, took a deep breath, and shouted.
"HEY!… HEY!… HEY!…"
His voice echoed across the desert. The ATV riders stopped and looked back toward where Ken was shouting.
"HEY!… OHOK… OHOK"
His shouting stopped as sand entered his throat.
The four ATV riders approached.
Ken's breathing became more stable.
The ATV riders arrived shortly after, one of them a short-haired black-haired woman who immediately approached Ken.
Ken spoke.
"Katarina… take Alex to Katarina."
The woman didn't waste time asking anything else, she immediately took Alex and Ken along with the flowers of life and death toward Katarina.
Not far from there, a girl with dark red hair flowing in the desert wind could be seen.
Another girl with short brown hair approached.
"They're already one day late, Princess…"
Katarina turned to the girl.
"Yes… but we'll wait a little longer, Reva."
Reva massaged her forehead.
Katarina sighed.
"Maya and her team are sweeping the desert…"
Katarina pointed upward where Samir was flying.
"…Samir is there too."
Reva massaged her forehead.
"What if they entered the golden desert?"
Katarina adjusted her scarf that was almost slipping.
Reva continued.
"If that rumor is true, how could they come out?"
Katarina sighed.
'Back then, we got out in an unusual way….'
Katarina bit her finger.
'…can Alex do it too, or will they do that?'
Katarina's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Samir's wings as he descended.
Katarina and Reva looked at him.
Samir pointed in a direction, Katarina and Reva followed his gaze.
There, four sand ATVs approached, sand scattering around them.
"They're visible…."
Samir's voice paused.
"…those two are with them."
Katarina's heart pounded heavily, she wanted to know what happened.
Soon, the ATVs arrived. Ken got off and approached Katarina.
Katarina saw his tattered clothes and dried blood on his cheeks and nose.
Her heart beat faster, she quickly shifted her gaze searching for Alex.
There, Alex lay stiff with a stab wound in his stomach and other injuries across his body.
Katarina could only stare blankly, her body stiff, her ears ringing.
Reva's voice beside her didn't reach her, but a touch on her shoulder snapped her back.
Ken shook Katarina's shoulder.
Sounds returned to Katarina's ears, she looked at Ken.
Tears flowed from Ken's eyes, mixing with dried blood on his cheeks, his face covered in sand.
Katarina swallowed.
Ken's voice was hoarse.
"Saint… we have to take him to the Saint."
Reva spoke first, tears also filling her eyes.
"What can they do?! Holy energy can't heal him!"
Katarina's breath grew ragged, her heart beating faster.
Ken spoke.
"He said he has to meet the Saint… he has to meet within 12 hours!"
Katarina swallowed, looking at Ken.
'Saint… 12 hours?...'
Her thoughts raced in a short span of time.
'…it's better to follow it for now.'
Katarina took a deep breath.
"Maya!"
Maya responded loudly.
"Yes, Princess!"
Katarina approached.
"Contact Tyler Adams in the Beastman Kingdom, ask him to send a logistics-type magical helicopter…"
She looked at everyone.
"We move and board while moving…."
Katarina looked at Maya.
"Set the coordinates."
Katarina exhaled.
"And prepare a communication line to the human king…."