They stopped at the edge of the Glass Lagoon, panting.
"Why are they after us?" Haruka asked.
Soren leaned against a rock, his grin strained. "Because rare dungeon trophies like the Leviathan unlock new zones. They want the exclusive rights to farm it—and they'll kill anyone who stands in their way."
He touched her cheek, wiping away blood from the earlier scuffle.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
Haruka blinked, startled by his closeness. "Y-yeah."
"Good. I don't want you dying here."
Their eyes met. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.
This isn't the time, Haruka thought, heart hammering. But she didn't pull away.
The moment broke when Mirelle and Eamon arrived.
"We need to disappear," Mirelle said. "There's only one place they won't follow: The Sunken Catacombs. But it's Tier IV. Higher than any dungeon we've cleared."
Eamon adjusted his glasses, eyes grim. "And if we fail? We won't respawn."