The wind howled louder as the trio continued along the narrow mountain path.
The forest behind them had slowly disappeared, replaced by jagged rocks and steep cliffs that rose sharply on both sides. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, and every step echoed faintly in the open space.
High above them, the floating island shimmered faintly in the sky.
Its green glow pulsed like a distant heartbeat.
Arin couldn't take his eyes off it.
"It feels closer now…" he said quietly.
The warmth inside his chest flickered again—stronger than before. It wasn't just a feeling anymore.
It was a connection.
The traveler walked ahead of them, his staff tapping steadily against the rocky ground.
Tap… Tap… Tap…
"The closer we get," he said calmly, "the stronger the emerald's influence becomes."
He paused slightly.
"But so does the danger."
Mira tightened her grip on the branch she carried, her eyes scanning their surroundings.
"You keep saying that," she said. "But what exactly are we going to face?"
The traveler did not answer immediately.
Instead—
He stopped.
The air changed.
It became heavy.
Cold.
Unnatural.
Arin felt it instantly.
That same presence from before.
But this time…
It was much stronger.
"…He's here," Arin whispered.
Mira turned quickly.
"Who?"
The wind suddenly stopped.
Everything became silent.
No movement.
No sound.
Then—
Clap… clap… clap…
A slow, deliberate clapping echoed through the mountains.
Arin's body tensed.
From behind a tall rock formation, a figure stepped forward.
Tall.
Covered in a dark cloak that seemed to absorb the light around it.
His face was partially hidden.
But his eyes—
Glowed red.
"Well done," the man said calmly.
"You've made it farther than I expected."
Arin immediately stepped in front of Mira.
"You've been following us."
The man smiled faintly.
"Of course," he replied. "I wanted to see the new Guardian for myself."
The traveler stepped forward, his grip tightening on his staff.
"Stay back," he warned. "This is no ordinary enemy."
The man tilted his head slightly, amused.
"Still protecting the emerald after all these years?" he said, looking directly at the traveler.
"How loyal."
Arin frowned.
"You know him?"
But the man ignored the question.
Instead, his red eyes locked onto Arin.
"So… you're the one the emerald chose."
The moment those words were spoken—
Arin felt it.
The power inside him reacted instantly.
The warmth in his chest became unstable.
Wild.
Dangerous.
"What do you want?" Arin asked.
The man's smile widened slightly.
"The Master Emerald."
Mira stepped forward, anger in her voice.
"You're not getting it!"
The man chuckled softly.
"I wasn't asking."
Suddenly—
BOOOOM!
Dark energy exploded from his body.
The ground beneath him cracked as shadows spread outward like living smoke, twisting and rising into the air.
The temperature dropped instantly.
Arin's eyes widened.
"So much power…"
The traveler raised his staff.
"Arin! Focus!"
The dark figure lifted his hand—
And vanished.
"What—?!"
Before Arin could react—
BOOM!
A powerful удар slammed into his side, sending him crashing into the rocks.
"Arin!" Mira shouted.
Pain shot through his body as he hit the ground hard.
He struggled to push himself up.
Too fast…
The man reappeared behind him.
"You rely too much on raw power," he said coldly.
"You have no control."
Arin clenched his fists tightly.
Green energy flickered around him.
"I… won't lose!"
He turned suddenly and released a burst of emerald energy.
FLASH!
The attack shot forward—
But the man raised one hand.
And stopped it.
Effortlessly.
The green light shattered against a wall of darkness.
Arin froze.
"What…?"
The man stepped closer, his voice calm and dangerous.
"This is the difference between power… and mastery."
Then he raised his hand again.
Dark energy gathered rapidly, forming a dense mass of shadow.
"Let me show you despair."
"ARIN!!" Mira screamed.
At that moment—
The traveler slammed his staff into the ground.
BOOM!
A burst of pure light exploded outward, pushing back the darkness.
"Now!" he shouted. "Focus your power!"
Arin's heart pounded wildly.
Focus…
He closed his eyes for a split second.
Everything went quiet.
The fear.
The pain.
The doubt.
All of it faded.
He felt the energy inside him again.
But this time…
He didn't fight it.
He controlled it.
The warmth became steady.
Calm.
Powerful.
Arin opened his eyes.
They glowed brighter than ever.
"I am the Guardian…"
Green energy surged around his body—stronger, sharper, more focused.
The dark man paused slightly.
"…Interesting."
Arin stepped forward.
His voice was firm.
"This power… isn't yours to take!"
He thrust his hand forward.
A concentrated beam of emerald energy shot out, cutting through the darkness like a blade of light.
BOOOOM!
The attack struck the man directly—
And for the first time—
He moved.
His feet slid backward across the ground.
Silence fell.
Dust settled slowly in the air.
The man looked at Arin.
Then…
He smiled.
"Now that… is better."
Arin stood still, breathing heavily, but his eyes remained focused.
The man slowly stepped back.
"This isn't over, Guardian."
His voice echoed as his body began to fade into shadows.
"I'll be waiting…"
"…at the emerald."
And just like that—
He disappeared.
The darkness faded.
The wind returned.
The mountains became silent once again.
Arin's strength gave out.
He dropped to his knees.
"I… I did it…"
Mira ran to him immediately.
"Arin! Are you okay?!"
He nodded weakly.
"Yeah… but that guy…"
The traveler stepped forward, his expression serious.
"That was no ordinary enemy."
He looked toward the mountains.
"That was only a glimpse of what lies ahead."
Arin followed his gaze.
High above—
The floating island pulsed again.
Stronger.
Closer.
Calling him.
Arin slowly clenched his fists.
Then he stood up.
His eyes filled with determination.
"Then we keep going."