Zain and the three girls had already left the cultivator group far behind.
The mist of the inner zone swirled around them, thick and red, but no longer a threat.
Zain's ether barrier remained active, protecting Savra and Zelia from the corrosion.
Velra walked beside him, still unaffected thanks to her body already adapted to his power.
They moved quietly for a while, their footsteps light against the rough, cracked earth.
Strange howls echoed faintly in the distance, but nothing dared approach them now.
After some time, Zain stopped walking and turned around to face the girls.
"It's time," he said firmly. "We're heading to the core area."
The girls looked at him with a focus in their eyes now.
No more jokes or teasing.
Velra tilted her head slightly. "So soon?"
Zain gave a small smile. "Yeah. I've seen everything I needed to see."
He raised a hand and began counting on his fingers.
