As they walked back, the darkness was already beginning to fade—that is, the dawn's first halo had begun to glow.
Both of their faces were pale and grim.
Sword of the Sky spoke: "We must hurry, or we'll meet our end before we fulfill our goal. Come on, let's run with everything we've got!"
Zane did not answer a word, but he began running at the absolute limit of human endurance.
The deeper they advanced, the more the darkness receded, and shards of light appeared in the sky.
The blackness of night vanished, replaced by a deep, inky blue, which slowly opened into the color of the firmament.
The sun had already risen, and with it came the unfamiliar catastrophe: the crimson-red rupture streaked with black high in the sky, and legions of demonic creatures poured forth, blotting out the blue and casting their shadows over the barren, desert land.
Appearances no longer mattered; their pace quickened, despite their exhaustion—fear gripped their bodies, for they knew not what awaited them.
Perhaps at this very moment, one of the two demons would strike them, so they pressed on, running relentlessly.
But suddenly, Sword of the Sky began to smile broadly, then laughed like a madman.
Zane could not fathom it at all—what had possessed him, or what was he laughing at?
Zane asked: "What's wrong with you? You're laughing like a fool!"
Sword of the Sky turned to him and replied, "I don't know either, but I suddenly felt exhilarated. I'm enjoying this now—it's thrilling to be running for our lives. It really kindles the fire of excitement in me. What about you? Don't you feel a rush of adrenaline? Just think: one day, we will be the ones chasing those two demons. We will become their terror. Imagine it, and you'll see how thrilling it is and how worth living for. I can't think of anything but laughing at this mundane world!"
Zane was astonished by his words, then smiled and answered with a mocking laugh, unconcerned with the situation: "You're absolutely right. When you said that, I could just imagine us chasing them while they fled in terror. It's truly exhilarating now. Even if it's not us, someone else will do it of course; that's human nature—the dominant species from time immemorial. Victory lies not in strength but in mind. All manner of creatures follow their instincts and lusts, whereas humanity relies solely on its intelligence; with it, we can surpass these creatures that defy all logic. Everything is clear now: we are the ones who will triumph in the end."
Sword of the Sky said, "Didn't I tell you it's indeed exhilarating? We just have to not care, and let the world burn to ash!"
Zane panted from the exertion, but his words carried a spirit of boundless enthusiasm: "That's true, but those feelings and bonds are what make us human. Whoever frees themselves from these chains alone will attain true freedom and peace. But if we also break free, it certainly goes against humanity and those innate human emotions. I'm sure there are people who care about you, and they feel the same way about you; that's why you remain bound by these human fetters. As for me, no one waits for me or loves me; I am already hated by the world. That's why I could be free, but I don't want that. I was born human, with all its humanity, and I don't want to lose it. Therefore, true freedom remains out of reach—we are still humans, after all."
Sword of the Sky looked at him with surprise and strangeness when he said, "You're mistaken, Zane. I will wait for you, as will the others. You are no longer the outcast; you are on the path to immortal glory. You are the only one in the world, besides Fate itself, who holds humanity's destiny in his hands. And I too do not wish to break free from these bonds; I remain human. Only monsters can free themselves from them."
The smiles vanished from their faces, replaced by ordinary expressions, while their legs still pumped at full speed because danger now loomed on either side.
They did not look back at all, only pressed forward—there was no need to glance behind.
But at that moment, Zane slipped on a rock and fell to the ground.
Immediately, Sword of the Sky turned back and helped him to his feet.
Behind them, a host of winged serpents was pursuing them, though they paid no heed.
Their expressions darkened, and their pace quickened, for at this moment everything would change.
Were their words mere delusions, or would they truly forge glory? We shall wait and see what happens.
The ruined Blade School came into view.
Yet they did not know whether they would survive to enter it, or face failure and eternal death.
The closer they drew, the greater the peril. Their synchronization faltered, until only about two meters separated them.
Now only one meter remained between them.
Sword of the Sky lifted the door into place, and Zane entered, while the serpents slammed into it. They tried to dodge, but Sword of the Sky had already closed it.
On the stairs, their breaths were ragged and audible in the hall below.
Zane said: "Oh, we escaped by a miracle! Otherwise, we would have died without ever forging our glory!"
Sword of the Sky turned to him and suddenly shouted, "Boooh, hahahahaha!" He could not contain his laughter.
Still laughing and wiping tears from his eyes, Sword of the Sky said, "What if I told you that I was so afraid that I thought we were truly going to die, and that our words were but delusions and madness? In that moment, excitement and tangled thoughts overpowered our minds. But now we have indeed survived, and we can truly carve that path."
Zane's face registered astonishment and shock before he too burst into laughter.
Their laughter filled the place, until someone below cried, "What are you doing, and where have you been all this time?"
They both looked down to see many trainee students staring at them with bewilderment and amazement.
Raven stood among them, his hands folded before him, his face displaying anger and sternness.
All fell silent; they slowly descended, their heads bowed, until they stood before Raven.
Raven spoke: "Do you have any explanation? Where were you all this time? The sun has already risen!"
Zane was about to answer, but Sword of the Sky stopped him and said: "We were just strolling around; we were stifled in there."
Raven's gaze grew sharper; he said, "That's not at all convincing! The place is dangerous outside, and you say you were just strolling around!"
Sword of the Sky replied: "That is the truth; we w
ent out just for a walk."
Raven was about to speak, then turned and walked away.