The deeper Kai and Umbra moved into the forest, the more the world seemed to change.
The air felt heavier.
Not suffocating—but alive.
Every step Kai took felt like it was being watched. The trees stretched endlessly above them, their leaves glowing faintly with a soft green light. Even the ground beneath his feet felt warm, as if something beneath the soil was breathing.
Kai slowed down.
"This place… it's different."
Umbra didn't stop walking.
"It is."
Kai looked around carefully.
"It feels like the forest is alive."
Umbra's voice was calm.
"It is alive."
Kai placed his hand gently on a tree as they passed.
For a moment…
He felt it.
A faint pulse.
Like a heartbeat.
He pulled his hand back quickly.
"…What is this?"
Umbra glanced at him.
"Aether."
Kai frowned slightly.
"Spiritual energy?"
Umbra nodded.
"And here… it flows stronger than anywhere else."
Without warning—
A sharp gust of wind sliced through the forest.
Leaves lifted from the ground… and shot toward them like blades.
Kai reacted instantly.
Zooka Dash.
WHOOSH.
He vanished from where he stood.
The leaves struck the ground where he had been.
Umbra didn't move at all.
The leaves stopped mid-air just before touching him… then dropped.
A voice echoed from above.
"You shouldn't be here."
Kai looked up.
Standing on a high branch was a girl.
Her long green hair flowed gently, even though the wind had stopped.
Her eyes were sharp.
Focused.
Protective.
She jumped down lightly, landing in front of them.
"I said… leave."
Kai raised his hands slightly.
"We're not here to cause trouble."
Her eyes moved to his sword.
Then narrowed.
"…That blade."
Kai stiffened.
Umbra stepped forward.
"We're looking for the other swords."
The moment he said that—
The girl's energy changed.
The ground trembled slightly.
Vines began to rise slowly around her feet.
"Then you're my enemies."
Kai stepped forward quickly.
"Wait—!"
But it was too late.
The vines shot forward.
FAST.
Kai reacted.
Zooka Step.
He vanished and reappeared behind her.
"Listen—!"
But before he could finish—
A vine slammed into him mid-air.
THUD.
He crashed into the ground.
"…Too slow," she said calmly.
Kai stood up, wiping dirt from his face.
"She's strong…"
Umbra stepped back slightly.
"Fight."
Kai looked at him.
"What? I said we're not—"
"Fight," Umbra repeated.
Kai clenched his fist.
"…Fine."
The girl raised her hand again.
The entire forest responded.
Vines burst from the ground.
Branches twisted and bent.
The battlefield itself became her weapon.
"Why are you attacking us?!" Kai shouted, dodging another strike.
"Because I protect this forest!" she replied.
Kai jumped back, barely avoiding another attack.
"I'm not your enemy!"
"Then prove it!"
Kai stopped running.
He steadied his breathing.
"I don't want to hurt her…"
The sword in his hand began to glow faintly.
"Then don't hesitate…"
Ignivar's voice echoed.
Kai's eyes sharpened.
"…Alright."
Kai rushed forward.
Zooka Dash.
He closed the distance instantly.
She reacted—
But he moved again.
Zooka Step.
He appeared beside her.
SLASH.
Her vine defense split apart.
She jumped back, surprised.
"…You're fast."
Kai stood still.
"I don't fight for no reason."
She raised her hand again.
"Neither do I."
She closed her eyes briefly.
Then—
The forest surged.
A massive wave of vines rose behind her.
Towering.
Overwhelming.
"This forest chose me."
Kai stared.
"…That's huge."
The vines crashed forward.
Kai ran toward them.
Zooka Flash.
Afterimages appeared behind him.
He cut through the first wave.
Then the second.
Then leaped high into the air.
"Ignivar!"
Flames erupted from his blade.
He swung downward—
A wave of fire energy split the vines apart.
The attack stopped just before reaching her.
Silence.
She stared at him.
"…You held back."
Kai lowered his sword.
"I told you. I don't want to fight you."
There was a long pause.
Then she spoke.
"…My name is Lira."
Kai nodded.
"I'm Kai."
She looked at him carefully.
"…You're different."
Kai tilted his head.
"How?"
Lira turned slightly.
"Come."
They followed her deeper into the forest.
Soon, they reached a massive tree.
Ancient.
Towering.
Glowing faintly.
At its center…
A hollow.
Inside it—
A green sword embedded within the wood.
The Jade Blade.
Kai's eyes widened.
"…So this is where you found it?"
Lira nodded.
"Yes."
She stepped closer.
"There was a time when I was just like you."
"I used to wander this forest as a child," she said softly.
"I could always feel something here… something calling me."
"One day, I found this tree."
She placed her hand gently on it.
"It was glowing."
"I didn't understand why."
Kai listened carefully.
"What happened next?"
Lira's expression hardened slightly.
"I reached inside the hollow…"
"And I touched the sword."
"The moment I tried to pull it out…"
"The forest went silent."
"A Guardian appeared."
Kai leaned forward slightly.
"Like mine?"
Lira nodded.
"But stronger."
"A spirit of nature itself."
"It spoke to me."
'Only those who protect life may wield this blade.'
Kai swallowed.
"What did you do?"
Lira looked ahead.
"It attacked."
"Not to destroy me…"
"But to test me."
"The ground opened."
"Roots tried to trap me."
"The wind pushed against me."
"The forest itself turned against me."
Kai's eyes widened.
"…That's intense."
Lira nodded.
"I couldn't win by force."
"So I stopped fighting."
Kai blinked.
"…What?"
Lira smiled faintly.
"I let the forest surround me."
"I didn't resist."
"I didn't attack."
"I trusted it."
"The Guardian stopped."
"It asked me why I didn't fight back."
"I told it…"
'Because I'm not here to conquer the forest.'
'I'm here to protect it.'
Kai smiled slightly.
"…That sounds like you."
Lira nodded.
"The Guardian accepted me."
"The sword awakened."
'I am Verdantis… the Jade Blade.'
Kai looked at her sword.
"So you were chosen too…"
Lira's expression darkened slightly.
"But not everyone who comes here is worthy."
Her eyes shifted toward Umbra.
"…Some come for power."
Kai turned.
Umbra stood silently.
Watching.
Unreadable.
Suddenly—
The ground shook violently.
A monstrous roar echoed.
Lira's eyes widened.
"…No."
From the darkness—
A massive Abyss Beast emerged.
Kai stepped forward.
"…Here we go again."
Lira raised her hand.
"Let's see if you really mean what you said."
Kai nodded.
"I do."
The beast charged.
Lira bound it with vines.
Kai used Zooka Dash to strike.
This time—
They moved together.
In sync.
Fire and nature.
Speed and control.
And together—
They brought the beast down
Silence returned.
Lira looked at Kai.
"…You fight to protect."
Kai smiled.
"I told you."
She nodded.
"…Then I'll come with you."
Kai's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"But I don't trust him."
She looked at Umbra.
Kai hesitated.
"…I understand."
Three figures now stood together.
Kai.
Lira.
Umbra.
But not all of them walked the same path.
Final Line
Trust begins with truth…
But shadows still remain