The voice whispered again, deep and cold —
> "Sai… wake up. You are running out of time. Death is coming. The war has begun."
Sai jolted upright, sweat dripping down his face. His breathing was heavy — like something dark was pulling him from a nightmare.
"Bro, you good?" Tai asked, rubbing his eyes.
Sai stood, clutching his chest. "We have to hurry."
"Huh?" Amal blinked. "What do you mean?"
"My time…" Sai said quietly, "It's running out."
Shi rose slowly, sensing the shift in energy. "Explain."
"The voice," Sai said, his tone sharp. "It warned me. Death is coming — the war's already started. We can't waste time."
Xei crossed his arms. "Then we move faster. But we can't all fight together anymore — we'll burn out before reaching the summit."
Tai frowned. "Wait, what do you mean? The next beast could be stronger than the Huntress!"
"Maybe," Xei replied, calm but serious. "But think — Huntress was weaker than Trasam. The next beast could be weaker than her. If we split up, we can cover more ground."
Sai nodded. "He's right. We don't have time to fight them one by one."
Amal folded her arms, still unsure. "So what's the plan?"
Xei looked at them all, then drew a map on the ground using his sword.
"Two groups. Group One will attack the next beast directly — distract it, hold it off. Group Two will move ahead to face the Eighth Beast."
Tai blinked. "That's suicide."
"Not if we do it smart," Xei said. "Group One attacks first. Group Two passes while it's distracted. Once Group Two finishes, they'll send someone to help Group One — then continue climbing."
"And if Group One finishes first?" Shi asked quietly.
"Then we return the favor," Xei said with a rare grin. "We stop, we help, then we move together again."
Sai nodded, fire flickering in his eyes. "Then it's settled. We move before sunrise
The morning wind carried a strange stillness across the mountain ridge. The group sat around the faint embers of last night's fire, the air heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Tai broke the silence first.
"Can I be in Group One?"
Xei smirked faintly. "You already are. And I'll be in it too."
Shi crossed his arms. "So that means me, Amal, and Sai are in Group Two?"
"Exactly," Xei said. "You and Amal are stronger, Sai. You two can handle what's ahead."
Sai shook his head, half-laughing. "Stronger? You're stronger than me, bro."
Xei looked at him calmly. "Maybe. But I don't have the connection you and Amal share."
Amal tilted her head, curious. "Connection?"
"The one that made you two win," Xei replied. "When you fought the Huntress. That bond — it's something the rest of us can't copy."
Amal looked away for a second, remembering the fire, the fight, and the pain they shared. "Maybe," she said softly.
Xei stood up, brushing dust from his jacket. "Then before we move, let's take this moment to work on teamwork. No solo hero stuff. No rushing ahead."
"Wait," Amal said suddenly. Everyone turned to her. "Before we train, I have something to share."
Sai frowned. "What is it?"
Amal stepped closer, her tone calm but serious. "The Five Colors of Ash."
Tai blinked. "What's that?"
"It's the foundation of all Ash — the purest form of power. Each color represents a path, a soul, a meaning," she said. "I bear the color Black, the color of shadow and chaos. The power that devours and restores."
She looked around at the group, then her gaze landed on Xei.
"And you, Exi—" she stopped herself, her expression twisting in confusion.
Xei's eyes narrowed. "Who's Exile?"
Amal froze, realizing what she'd said. "I… meant Xei. Sorry."
But the group went quiet. The name Exile hung in the air like a ghost — something ancient, something remembered by the mountains themselves.
Even the wind stopped for a second.
Sai looked at her, frowning. "Amal… what did you just say?"
Amal shook her head, her voice trembling just slightly. "Nothing. Let's just train."
Xei stared at her for a long time, but said nothing. Somewhere deep inside, though, a memory flickered — like something old and buried was trying to wake up.
Night had fallen quiet over the camp. The stars shimmered above the mountain, and the faint sound of wind brushing against the trees filled the silence.
Amal sat alone near the dying fire, staring into the embers. Her mind wandered — to Exile, to pain, to everything she had buried.
A soft crunch of footsteps broke her thoughts.
"Amal," a familiar voice said.
She turned. Xei stood there, his face calm but serious.
"You didn't finish earlier," he said.
Amal blinked. "Finish what?"
"When you said that name," Xei replied. "I saw pain in your eyes."
Amal looked away, her throat tightening. A single tear escaped before she could stop it.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Xei knelt beside her. "I won't ask you to tell me," he said gently. "But know this — you're family to me. You're like a sister. After that king… when everything fell apart… you comforted me. So let me do the same for you."
Amal wiped her tear and smiled faintly. "Thank you, Xei. You… you bear the Green color. The power of life itself. If you train it, you'll be stronger than ever."
Xei tilted his head. "How do I train it?"
Amal straightened up, her voice soft but firm.
"Close your eyes. Breathe in… and out. Now imagine a single drop of water. Just one. Let it fall… and feel it."
Xei followed her words. He breathed slowly. But he didn't see water.
He saw a lion chasing a deer across golden grasslands. The deer fled, terrified — yet as the lion pounced, the world around them pulsed with life. The grass shimmered, the wind danced, and even the soil seemed to breathe.
In that moment, Xei understood.
The lion was not cruelty.
The deer was not weakness.
They were one — life and death, hunter and hunted, balance.
Amal opened her eyes and gasped softly. Xei's eyes had turned a glowing white, energy flowing from him like a heartbeat connected to the world.
Hours passed like seconds. The wind grew still again.
Xei finally opened his eyes, his voice calm but powerful.
"Send word ahead," he said, standing up. "I'll stay behind… and master this."
Amal looked at him — proud, yet worried.
"Don't lose yourself to it, Xei."
He smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I've finally found what I was missing.