Aviana soared through the ancient ruins like a streak of black-and-gold lightning.
The massive wings on her back beat against the frozen air with terrifying force, sending icy wind spiraling through the tunnels of the ancient cave. Her feathers shimmered beautifully under the pale blue glow of the frozen walls, each feather carrying faint golden lines that looked almost divine.
Jade sat on her back while Aaron held Sarah carefully behind him.
The speed was unbelievable.
The cold wind struck Jade's face violently, causing his long dark hair to whip behind him wildly. Even with his strengthened body, his eyes widened slightly in shock.
Little Gold… no… Aviana… had become far more terrifying than he imagined.
She could transform from a tiny harmless-looking bird into this gigantic divine creature in mere seconds.
Jade suddenly remembered Little Black.
If Aviana had evolved into something this monstrous…
Then what would Little Black become after evolving?
The thought alone sent chills down his spine.
A monster capable of evolving beyond ordinary initiated class…
A creature capable of taking human form…
Just imagining it made Jade feel uneasy.
Meanwhile, Aviana continued flying through the frozen cave with unbelievable precision. Despite her massive size, she maneuvered gracefully between the icy pillars and cracked walls as though she had flown through this place her entire life.
Then Jade's sharp eyes narrowed.
He suddenly saw movement below.
His pupils contracted.
Ella.
She was lying on the icy ground.
Her breathing was rough and unstable.
Blood continuously trickled out from her ears and the corners of her mouth. Her bow had fallen beside her, half-buried in frost, while cracks of ice spread around her body.
Not far away, the Ant Queen was retreating deeper into the ruins.
Even though the terrifying creature was frozen partially by Jade's earlier outburst of cold aura, it was still alive.
And now…
It was trying to escape.
Jade immediately spoke.
"Aviana… slow down."
Aviana's gigantic wings spread outward.
BOOOOM!
A violent gust exploded behind her as she reduced her speed instantly.
"What is it?" Aviana asked calmly.
Jade's eyes locked onto Ella's weakened figure below.
"I have something to do."
Aviana understood immediately.
Without another word, she descended gracefully toward the icy ground.
Her enormous claws landed softly despite her size, producing only a low crack across the frozen floor.
The moment they landed, the Ant Queen immediately noticed them.
Its countless crimson eyes locked onto Aviana instantly.
Its enormous body twitched violently.
The creature clearly sensed danger.
So Aviana hurried.
Jade jumped down immediately.
The icy ground cracked beneath his feet as he dashed toward Ella.
His body still ached terribly from the earlier battle against the divine vines, but he ignored the pain completely.
Ella looked terrible.
Her face was pale.
Blood stained her neck and clothes.
Her fingers trembled slightly from the aftereffects of the Ant Queen's screams.
The sound attacks had nearly destroyed her mind.
Jade crouched beside her quickly.
"Ella."
She slowly opened her eyes.
Her pupils were unfocused.
"J… Jade…"
Her voice sounded weak and broken.
Jade frowned slightly.
Without hesitation, he lifted her carefully into his arms.
Even while injured, Ella instinctively grabbed his shoulder weakly.
Jade immediately turned and ran back toward Aviana.
The Ant Queen screeched furiously.
The sound shook the frozen cave violently.
Cracks spread through the ice walls.
But Jade ignored it completely.
He reached Aviana and carefully placed Ella onto her back.
Aaron looked at him immediately.
"You're staying?"
Jade nodded calmly.
"I'll finish this."
Aaron's expression changed slightly.
He clearly understood what Jade intended.
The Ant Queen was heavily injured.
If they left now, the creature might recover later.
And if that happened…
The survivors outside the ruins would face disaster.
Aviana looked at Jade silently.
"Be careful."
Jade smirked faintly.
"I always am."
Aviana stared at him for a few seconds before spreading her enormous wings once more.
BOOOOOOM!
A violent storm exploded outward as she took off into the air with Ella, Aaron, and Sarah on her back.
Jade watched them disappear into the frozen darkness.
Then…
He slowly turned around.
The Ant Queen was staring directly at him.
Its massive body crawled across the icy ground while countless smaller ants moved around it like a living ocean.
The cave trembled continuously.
Jade exhaled slowly.
Then he summoned Ice Vine.
Immediately, crystalline vines burst out from his chest like living serpents.
SHRRRK!
SHRRRK!
SHRRRK!
The vines twisted violently around him, releasing terrifying cold aura into the surroundings.
Frost spread across the ground rapidly.
Jade's eyes became cold.
He had fought the divine vines earlier.
He had observed them carefully.
Every movement.
Every strike.
Every angle.
Every pattern.
Even while being injured repeatedly…
He had continued analyzing.
And now…
He wanted to test something.
A new technique.
A dangerous technique.
Jade narrowed his eyes.
He controlled his energy carefully.
The Ice Vine instantly became sharper.
Colder.
Deadlier.
The vines began moving strangely.
Roughly.
Chaotically.
At first glance, their movements looked meaningless.
Like tangled snakes thrashing wildly.
The Ant Queen stared at the vines without concern.
Then it opened its horrifying mouth.
The creature intended to scream again.
But suddenly—
One vine shot forward.
SWOOOOSH!
The movement was effortless.
Beautiful.
The vine slipped directly into the Ant Queen's open mouth before the creature could react.
Then—
RIPPPP!
Blood exploded violently.
The Ant Queen's vocal cords were shredded instantly.
Its scream died halfway.
The gigantic creature shook violently in agony.
Dark blood poured endlessly from its mouth.
Jade's eyes sharpened.
It worked.
The technique actually worked.
Mind Deceiver…
And the divine vine movements…
He had successfully combined them.
The rough chaotic motions were merely distractions.
The real attack hid among the disorder.
The Ant Queen never noticed the true strike.
Jade slowly raised his hand.
The remaining vines twisted together beautifully.
The once chaotic movements transformed into something elegant.
Like intertwining streams of living ice.
Like a deadly frozen tapestry.
The vines moved around one another in mesmerizing patterns.
The Ant Queen stepped backward instinctively.
For the first time…
Fear appeared in its crimson eyes.
Then—
Jade released one vine.
Immediately, the entire tapestry loosened.
SHOOOOOM!
The vines exploded outward like countless arrows.
Each one moved with terrifying precision.
Like slithering serpents hunting prey.
The Ant Queen tried retreating.
Too late.
RIP!
RIP!
RIP!
RIP!
Blood exploded everywhere.
The vines pierced through its shell effortlessly.
Its limbs were severed.
Its wings shattered.
Its flesh ripped apart continuously.
Jade moved calmly.
Each gesture of his fingers redirected the vines perfectly.
He no longer looked like someone merely controlling vines.
He looked like a swordsman.
A terrifying swordsman wielding dozens of invisible blades simultaneously.
This was the breakthrough he gained while fighting the divine vines.
Before…
He could only imitate roughly.
But now…
He understood it.
Each strike flowed naturally.
Smoothly.
Deadly.
The Ant Queen attempted escaping deeper into the cave.
But the vines instantly blocked every path.
Its body was pierced repeatedly.
Blood gushed out endlessly like a crimson ocean.
The creature collapsed heavily onto the frozen ground.
BOOOOM!
The cave trembled violently.
The Ant Queen twitched once.
Then stopped moving completely.
Silence filled the ruins.
Only Jade's cold aura remained.
Then the familiar whisper echoed inside his head.
"You have slain Ant Queen."
"You have received a data."
"Data name: Ant Demon."
"Data type: Echo."
"Data rank: Initiate."
"Data class: Ordinary."
"Evolveable."
Jade stood still silently.
An echo.
He finally received an echo of his own.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
But it quickly faded.
Ordinary class.
Not mutated.
Not berserk.
Not transcendent.
Just ordinary.
He felt both happy and disappointed simultaneously.
Still…
An evolveable echo had enormous potential.
Jade dismissed the thought temporarily.
Then—
CRACK.
A faint sound echoed through the cave.
Jade froze slightly.
Another crack appeared.
CRACK.
His eyes slowly widened.
The frozen walls of the ancient ruins were splitting apart.
The cave itself…
Was beginning to collapse.