Hours had passed since they'd left the cave behind.
James adjusted Emily's weight on his back, her small arms looped around his neck. Jake had carried her earlier but eventually gave in to fatigue, his shoulders slumping in relief when James took over.
By now, the sun was high in the sky—but there were only two suns now.
Observing the strange phenomenon, James slowed slightly before turning to Viper behind him.
"What's with the suns?"
Viper glanced at him, then at the sky.
"After the arrival of new people, the suns return to their original order."
"Two suns?" he questioned.
"Yes. It's always been that way since I got here," she added.
"There's still more to this world than you think."
She smiled softly.
"Here, the impossible is possible."
They continued forward through the trees.
Ahead, Iron strode through the undergrowth, his short sword flashing as he hewed through thick vines that blocked their path. Each swing sent showers of leaves drifting to the mossy floor. James watched the blade carve a clear trail, then turned back to Viper.
"Then how did you find us?" James asked curiously.He had been thinking about it—if the suns marked their arrival.
Viper stepped forward and pushed aside a thick vine blocking his path before answering,
"We followed the smoke from the explosion."
That means they followed us since we entered the forest…
James thought, glancing around the trees.
Then Viper asked,
"What caused the blast?"
James slowed until he walked side by side with her.He drew in a slow breath.
"A wyvern," he said, remembering the sheer size of the beast.
"Oh… Skyrender," Viper muttered—but James heard it.
"You know it?" he asked, wariness creeping into his tone.
"Yes. An A-rank beast. It rarely leaves the forest. Hunters have tried to hunt it down, but none have ever succeeded."
"An A-rank?" James asked, brow furrowing.
"And you expect people to fight things like that?"
"Yes. Beasts here are categorized by rank, just like hunters."
She paused, stepping over a fallen log, then reached back to help James across offering him a steady hand.Her touch was cool against his palm
"From F-rank… to S-rank."
She raised one slender finger. "F-rank: pests you kill if you keep calm."
A second finger. "E-rank: dangerous if you're careless."
A third. "D-rank: you don't face those alone unless you crave a grave."
She swept her hand. "C and B: even seasoned hunters fall."
Her voice dropped. "A-rank…" She let the name linger. "That wyvern? You don't fight it. You survive it—if fortune favors you."
James's jaw tightened. Viper's lips curved into a knowing smile.
"And S-rank?" she continued softly, lifting her final finger. "You don't run. You pray it ignores you."
She stepped forward as the forest murmured around them, her tone drifting back to its easy cadence. "Clear enough?"
After a heartbeat, she added with a playful gleam in her eye,
"Remember: same rank doesn't mean equal. A beast will almost always kill a hunter of matching rank. If you're weak… you don't get a second chance."
Suddenly, James groaned in pain.
"What's wrong?" Viper asked, frowning.
"Something's wrong… my back—it burns," James said through clenched teeth.
He quickly tried to bring Emily down from his back, but the moment his hand touched her skin, he jerked it away.
"Ahh—!"
He carefully lowered her to the ground.
His cry echoed through the forest, and the others ahead heard it clearly. They rushed back.
"What's wrong with her?" James demanded, his eyes fixed on Viper.
The rest had gathered now. Seeing Emily on the ground, her skin flushed red, the fallen leaves nearby beginning to dry and curl from the heat—they all turned to Viper.
"She's showing signs," Viper said, studying her.
"Signs of what?" James shouted, panic creeping into his voice. The thought of her failing—of her dying—tightened his chest.
"Keep your voice down," Iron snapped from behind them.
Viper sighed softly.
"Signs of awakening. The heat… it could be from a fire-based ability. Or something else."
She knelt beside Emily and lifted her slightly. The heat didn't seem to affect her.
"I'll carry her from here," she added.
"We need to move. Your shouting may have attracted beasts."
The others instinctively stepped back as she moved forward, the heat radiating from Emily like a wave.
James followed closely despite it.
"She'll be fine," Viper said, glancing at him. "You'll only hurt yourself."
James said nothing. He just kept walking.
"Dude, relax," Jake came up from behind, pulling him back slightly.
"You should be careful," Rachel added.
James glanced at them, then back at Viper carrying Emily.
Suddenly—
Howls echoed across the forest.
Their bodies tensed instantly. Viper and Iron stopped.
"They're here," Iron muttered, his gaze flicking to James—blame clear in his eyes.
"Everyone, stay close," Viper said, setting Emily gently against a tree.
"Training starts now."
Her tone sharpened.
"Time to prove yourselves.You won't survive out here if I keep saving you."
Weapons appeared in her hands—a sword and shield… and a katana.
She passed the sword and shield to Jake, and the katana to James.
Turning to Van and Rachel, she said,
"Van, use that gauntlet. Rachel—stay with her."
"What—you expect us to fight?!" Jake snapped.
"In this world, if you don't fight—you die."
Viper's voice was cold now. Different.
Jake opened his mouth to argue—But then the first beast stepped out from the trees.
Then another.
And more.
A wolf the size of a tiger emerged, its eyes locked onto them.
"E-rank beasts," Viper said calmly.
"You can handle them."
Jake tightened his grip on the shield.
"…And what will you be doing?"
"Observing," Viper replied calmly, stepping back to stand beside Rachel.
The boys formed a loose circle in front of them. Their palms were slick with sweat, their hands trembling as they gripped their weapons.
"Raise your weapons," Iron commanded from behind.
They barely had time to react—
The first wolf lunged forward, its eyes locked on Van, sensing the weakest among them.
Jake moved instantly, stepping in front of him and raising his shield.
Clang!
The impact sent him sliding backward. He had underestimated its strength.
James, standing beside him, saw the opening.He stepped in and swung the katana, aiming for the wolf's belly—
But the wolf twisted mid-motion, landing lightly as the blade cut through empty air.