Location: Anay's Trail – South‑west Climb
The air thinned as Anay climbed higher. Mist hung like cold breath against his skin, curling around jagged ravines and steep ridges. He kept moving, guided by the pulse of the forest, sensing the rhythm of wind and earth beneath his boots.
Feel it, he reminded himself. Like Kael taught. Like Liora showed. Breathe with the forest.
Halfway up the ascent, he reached a quiet ledge, where glowing moss pulsed dimly on the rocks. The sky above the peaks swirled with thunderclouds—dark, pregnant with storm. His hand instinctively brushed the strap where Zettai Anant was sealed, still dormant.
Just as he began to move again, the wind shifted.
Something was wrong.
A heavy tremor echoed beneath the soil. Anay turned just in time to see a towering shadow step from the mist.
A creature emerged—blackened like coal, with lava-red veins glowing beneath its skin. It stood on four legs, feline in form but far too large. Obsidian armor covered its back, and its eyes were pits of molten fire.
Volcanic Sentinel.
Anay's breath hitched. Not part of the training. Not a summoned test. This was wild, untamed. And it radiated fury.
The beast growled—a deep, molten sound that vibrated in his chest.
Anay exhaled, calm. Focused.
Then, without hesitation, he lifted his hand—and called.
"Zettai Anant."
A wave of pressure rippled outward. The mist recoiled. The mountaintop trembled. From the seal at his side, energy gathered into his palm, growing in density and form.
It didn't take the shape of a glaive this time.
It formed a ken—a long, sleek sword glowing with violet lightning and threads of divine silver, the edge impossibly refined. The hilt pulsed with spiritual memory, as if it had been waiting for this moment.
The Sentinel roared.
Anay took one breath.
And vanished.
To any observer, it would have seemed like the wind itself curved.
He appeared before the beast, blade already drawn back.
A single step.
A single slash.
The air split. Thunder followed.
A crack of lightning struck behind him, as if nature itself echoed the swing.
The Sentinel didn't even realize it had been struck. It stood still for a moment longer—then its molten body split cleanly down the center.
Stone and fire crumbled apart into dust and fragments, gently glowing before dimming out.
Silence returned.
Anay stood with Zettai Anant lowered at his side, the blade humming with gentle resonance.
He stared forward, calm. No anger. No ego. Just clarity.
"One slash," he whispered, eyes narrowing. "That's all I needed."
Zettai Anant slowly dissolved back into light, resting in his spirit.
And without looking back, Anay continued his climb—toward the thunderclouds.
Toward whatever came next.
Chapter : Where Wind Meets Vine
Location: Southern Peak – Twilight
The last curve of Anay's climb gave way to a narrow path leading to a wide summit plateau. Twilight spilled gold and violet across the horizon as the final rays of the sun danced behind the clouds. The wind, no longer wild, now brushed gently against him, as if congratulating the effort.
His breathing was steady, heart calm, body pulsing with quiet energy from the earlier battle. Zettai Anant, now resting in his spirit once more, hummed faintly—as if pleased.
He stepped over the final ridge.
Across the wide peak stood a single figure, silhouetted by the setting sun.
Liora.
Her hair drifted softly in the wind, catching the last light like falling snow. She stood tall, arms folded, gaze cast to the horizon where stars had begun to awaken.
Anay smiled as he approached. "Hello, Sister Liora."
She turned, her expression warming. "Hey, Anay. I knew you could do it."
He stepped beside her, looking out over the vast landscape below—the valleys they crossed, the mist-laced ravines, the faint glint of Astral City far in the distance.
"It was... more intense than I expected," Anay admitted. "There was a creature. Volcanic Sentinel. "
Liora raised an eyebrow, but her voice remained even. "And?"
"One slash," he said quietly. "It fell."
For a moment, she didn't respond. Then a soft nod. "Good. That means the training has begun to reach you. The wild doesn't test you with repetition. It waits for a single moment—and it demands everything in it."
Anay glanced sideways. "And you? Any trouble?"
Liora's lips curved slightly. "Nothing
They both stood there a while in silence. The sky turned deeper blue, stars freckling above.
Anay finally asked, "Where's Brother Kael?"
Liora chuckled, this time with more warmth.
"Training to find tonight's dinner, apparently."
Anay burst out laughing, the sound echoing faintly off the stone.
"That sounds like him," he said.
Liora shook her head. "He said, and I quote: 'The best training for the senses is hunting something tastier than dried roots.'"
Anay wiped a tear from his eye. "I hope he doesn't end up chasing a squirrel for three hours again."
"That poor squirrel," Liora muttered.
As they laughed, the atmosphere lightened. The stars watched quietly.
Together, they sat near the peak's edge, overlooking the world.
Two warriors. Two souls. And a long path ahead.
But tonight, they rested.
For tomorrow, the storm might rise again.
Chapter : Kael's Not-So-Glorious Return
Location: Southern Peak – Nightfall
The stars had begun to scatter like gemstones across the ink-blue sky. Cool winds whispered along the mountaintop, and Anay and Liora sat side by side, bathed in the calm of a hard-earned summit. The tension of their earlier climbs had faded, replaced by easy conversation and shared laughter.
A peaceful stillness lingered—
Until—
"WHAAAT!? No way I'm last!!"
A flurry of clattering rocks broke the serenity, followed by the unmistakable voice of a certain overly dramatic companion.
Anay blinked. "Is that... Brother Kael?"
Liora didn't even turn. Her lips curled into a smirk. "Took him long enough to notice."
Around the bend came Kael—sweaty, cloak torn, hair fluffed in every direction like a startled porcupine. One shoe was missing. A spirit vine clung stubbornly to his arm like it had fallen in love with him mid-battle. He stumbled to a stop in front of them, gasping.
"Y-you two... made it before me?!" he wheezed, collapsing to his knees.
Anay gave him a casual wave. "Yo."
Liora arched an eyebrow. "You take a detour through another dimension, or did a squirrel distract you again?"
Kael groaned dramatically. "Worse. I got jumped! First, four stone guardians showed up—FOUR! Just minding their rocky business, until I made eye contact with one. Boom. All hell broke loose."
Anay tilted his head. "So... you picked a fight."
Kael pointed weakly. "It was a misunderstanding. I sneezed. One of them thought I was declaring war."
Liora crouched beside him. "And the vine on your arm? A casualty of battle, or did it
Kael lifted the leafy intruder. "This? This is... strategic camouflage."
Liora narrowed her eyes. "Strategic falling into a bush, more like."
Kael turned to the sky dramatically. "I was saving a squirrel."
Anay blinked. "A... squirrel."
Kael sat up, suddenly serious. "Yes. A squirrel of pure spirit energy. Glowing. Majestic. It was being chased. I intervened—leapt through trees like a hero, branch snapped, I fell, vine caught me, shoe gone, guardian angry, and here I am."
Liora folded her arms, unimpressed. "So you're saying your heroic journey involved getting chased, tangled, losing your footwear, and face-planting into a rock monster."
Kael grinned proudly. "Exactly. A tale worthy o
Liora sighed. "What happened to Kael the Glorious Warrior?"
Kael placed a hand on his chest. "He lives... bruised, but undefeated."
Anay snorted. "More like the Glorious Escapist."
Kael pointed with mock offense. "You wound me, young one."
Liora rolled her eyes. "Alright, Mr. Glorious. Did you at least bring something for dinner?"
Kael froze.
Silence.
Slowly, he reached into his pack and pulled out... Some berries
Anay burst into laughter. "That's it? That's dinner?"
Kael shrugged. "It was warm. At some point."
Liora sighed. "So the Great Mountain Quest ends with you presenting us the Sacred Root of Shame?"
Kael placed the beet solemnly between them. "Even in darkness, the humble berries shines."
Anay rolled on the ground, still laughing.
Liora shook her head, though a smile tugged at her lips. "You're hopeless."
Kael raised a dramatic thumbs-up. "And yet... undeniably charming."
Just then, a soft squeak echoed nearby. From the bushes emerged a glowing creature—tiny, fluffy, and undeniably a squirrel. It paused, staring at them with sparkling eyes.
Kael sat up straight. "SEE!? I told you it was real!"
The squirrel chittered once, then launched a glowing acorn straight at Kael's forehead.
BOP!
Anay wheezed from laughter. "Even the squirrel holds a grudge."
Kael rubbed his forehead. "Alright, maybe I wasn't that heroic."
Liora smiled, finally standing. "Come on. . Kael, you're on firewood duty. And this time, no more side quests involving wildlife."
Kael saluted with exaggerated grace. "Yes, Commander Liora. I shall return with the most glorious sticks of destiny."
He wandered off, humming a bizarre mashup of Shinchan's theme and Doraemon's gadget song.
Anay watched him vanish into the woods. "You think he'll survive without starting another war?"
Liora chuckled. "Highly unlikely. But he'll definitely come back with a story."
The fire crackled to life. Laughter mingled with wind. It wasn't about who won, or who reached first. It was about moments like these—bonds, banter, and the absurd adventures that somehow made everything feel right.
Even when dinner was a berry
To be continued...