But their humor faded the next day when they ascended to the higher levels.
The air grew thinner, fresher, and light seeped in through cracks above. And with that light came voices.
They weren't alone.
Three figures waited, dressed in shimmering uniforms bearing the crest of the Royal Sovereign House Academy.
Prince Qin Lei.
Prince Hu Ailing.
Prince Lian Sao.
The three carried themselves with the arrogance of born rulers, their beasts prowling close behind.
Jin Minhe stiffened, instantly remembering Principal Renshu's debrief. "Oh no. Not these lunatics."
Liang Chenwu muttered under his breath, "Of course. Just our luck."
Min Zhao's grip tightened on her daggers. "Stay calm. We walk away."
But the princes had other ideas.
⸻
"Well, what do we have here?" Prince Qin Lei's voice was smooth, venom wrapped in silk. "Strays from the Federation Academy."
Prince Hu Ailing sneered. "Crawling out of the dirt, like rats."
Prince Lian Sao's eyes landed on Min Zhao—and lingered. His smile twisted. "Ah. A rare flower among weeds. Brothers, what do you think? Should we share her? Or fight over her?"
The words hit like a blade.
Min Zhao's face went cold. "Disgusting."
Jin Minhe stepped forward, fury trembling in his voice. "Say that again. I dare you."
Prince Qin Lei chuckled. "Bold little cook. Perhaps you'll serve us better in the kitchens."
"Better than you choking on your own arrogance," Jin Minhe snapped back.
"Arrogance?" Qin Lei sneered. "No. Birthright."
Liang Chenwu's tone was razor-sharp. "We want no trouble. Let us pass."
But the princes only laughed.
Prince Hu Ailing's beast—a serpent with golden scales—slithered forward. "No one refuses royalty."
Min Zhao lifted her daggers, electricity crackling between the blades. Her voice was steady, righteous fury burning in her eyes. "Try me."
Jin Minhe muttered, "Why do I always open my big mouth…"
"Because you can't shut it," Min Zhao shot back.
⸻
The clash exploded.
Steel and qi flared, beasts roared, and the chamber shook with impact.
Jin Minhe unleashed refined talismans along the floor, their sparks scattering and drawing the beasts' attention. He tossed powders into the air, creating bursts of blinding smoke and minor elemental disruption. His panda pounced into the fray, claws slashing, teeth snapping at the golden serpent.
Min Zhao danced between the attackers, channeling lightning and water currents through her daggers. Sparks arced across the stone walls as she fused flame and storm, keeping the elemental flow balanced to support her allies.
Liang Chenwu held the front line, spear moving like a whirlwind. His body glowed faintly with bloodline qi as he clashed with the princes' beasts, striking with precise brutality while his own beast mirrored every movement, biting and ramming in perfect sync.
⸻
But the cost was high.
Min Zhao screamed as a blast ripped through her summoned water current, disrupting her elemental control. Her beast, caught in the feedback, fell to the stone floor. Blood sprayed across her armor as she collapsed, grievously wounded.
"No!" Jin Minhe's voice cracked. He flung talismans in a desperate flurry, his panda blocking attacks that would have ended him, but another shockwave hurled him across the floor.
Liang Chenwu alone stood tall, buying them time. His spear pierced through the chaos, his beast circling to intercept each incoming threat. "Run!"
"Chenwu—!" Jin Minhe tried to rise, Min Zhao clutching his sleeve weakly.
"Go," Liang Chenwu commanded. "Protect her."
Chains of qi ensnared him as the princes' combined might overwhelmed his battered form. Captured.
⸻
Jin Minhe dragged Min Zhao, half-conscious, through endless tunnels.
"Stay awake, Zhao. Talk to me!" he begged.
Her lips trembled. "…You're… too loud…"
"Good! Complain more!" Jin Minhe urged. "Tell me I'm useless, tell me I'm ugly, I don't care—just don't go quiet!"
For three days and two nights, they fled, barely stopping to eat or breathe. Their clothes were torn, their bodies filthy, their wounds never given time to heal.
The princes' guards pursued relentlessly, but the two refused to die.
On the dawn of the third day, sunlight broke through. They stumbled into a vast jungle, vines draping down from towering trees.
Jin Minhe collapsed against a trunk, panting. "If I ever… see another tunnel again… I'm cooking it into soup."
Min Zhao weakly groaned. "That makes… no sense…"
But they both laughed through the blood and tears.
⸻
By sheer luck, they reached a city—Egg Hatch City. Once a thriving hub for beast egg traders, now half-abandoned. They hid in the ruins of an old purchasing center, dust thick on shattered egg shells.
Jin Minhe scoured his supplies, preparing herbal-infused talismans and qi-enhancing powders, trying to stabilize Min Zhao's elemental energy and injuries. Nothing fully worked; her elemental qi was unstable from trauma.
He cursed, voice breaking. "Why… why now?!"
Opening his rift map, he saw Fan Yumei's signal flare into view—then vanish.
"Damn it!" He slammed his fist into the wall, despair crashing over him.
Min Zhao slipped into unconsciousness, her breathing shallow.
Jin Minhe pressed his forehead against hers, whispering, "Don't you dare leave me. I'll… I'll find something. Anything."
⸻
They were discovered again.
The guards.
Jin Minhe hoisted Min Zhao onto his back, darting through alleys and crumbling rooftops, talismans and powders in hand to slow their pursuers. Every slash of his panda tore through chasing beasts and soldiers alike. Blasts of qi lit the night, carving dangerous arcs through the city.
"Hold on, Zhao! Just a little longer—!"
He threw a signal disk into the air, letting it pulse with Rift light. At the same time, he slashed with talisman-infused qi, buying precious seconds.
The disk connected.
A voice cut through the chaos.
"Hello?"
Fan Yumei.
Jin Minhe choked, sobs breaking loose. "S-sister! Help—please—there's so much blood, I can't stop it—Min Zhao is dying—Liang Chenwu is captured—we can't—!"
His words tumbled, incoherent, but he knew she understood.
"I'm coming," her voice snapped sharp, steady. "Three cities away."
"We're in Egg Hatch City!" he cried, ducking another blast.
He clutched Min Zhao tighter, sprinting through the ruins, tears blinding him.
All he could do now—was run.