Jared exhaled deeply. His tone was grim. “Looks like we’ve been pulled into an ancient ruin… This might be the real secret behind the Floating Island…”
Jemima swallowed hard. “Does that mean… We can’t get back?”
The idea of being trapped here frightened her. The eerie, oppressive silence of this place sent a chill down spine.
Jared didn’t answer. His eyes were locked on the deeper ruins ahead, where a low rumble echoed from the shadows. It sounded like something was awakening. Then, all of a sudden, a burst of white light appeared, making both Jared and Jemima flinch.
When the light faded, a tall man in green stood before them. A massive blade rested across his back, and radiated an unmistakable, battle-hardened aura.
The newcomer looked surprised to see them. “How’d you two end up here? Your cultivation levels are so weak!”
Jared examined the man carefully. He was clearly at Wandering Immortal Realm Level Five. That caught Jared off guard. Experts of that level should’ve long since left the first level. Yet this man, unmistakably at Wandering Immortal Realm Level Five, stood right in front of him.
No wonder looked down on them. After all, Jared was only at Wandering Immortal Realm Level Three, and Jemima was at the third. To someone like this, they were insignificant.
“Is it against the rules for someone weaker to be here?” Jared asked.
“Not exactly,” the man, Verdin, replied. “I just can’t figure out how a Wandering Immortal Realm Level One cultivator like you ended up in level two.”
“Level two?” Jared was confused. “I haven’t crossed into level two. I’m still in level one.”
“Impossible,” Verdin said flatly. “The only entrance to this ancient ruin is in the Heavenly Cave, located on level two. There’s no way someone from level one could’ve gotten here.”
Jared had no answer. He was as baffled as the stranger.
Just then, the void ahead rippled.
A figure in white appeared, slicing through the sky like a lightning bolt. He held a folding fan, his aura so powerful it caused the very void around to tremble.
Jared stared. The man in white was every bit as formidable as the one in green.
The moment the newcomer arrived, Verdin scowled. “F*ck. Are you done?”
Without another word, Verdin drew the massive sword from his back and launched an attack at Caelis. The blade’s light slashed across the air, radiating a terrifying wave of energy that battered the void itself.
Seeing things escalate, Jared quickly grabbed Jemima’s hand and pulled back to avoid the shockwaves. He still didn’t understand why these two had started fighting on sight, but had no intention of getting Involved.
Jemima’s hand was delicate, smooth, almost weightless in Jared’s grip.
Jared stayed focused on the battle. Jemima, on the other hand, turned red instantly. It was the first time a man had ever held hand. And not just any man, someone quietly admired.
Jared, entirely unaware of Jemima’s thoughts, held his Dragonslayer Sword firmly, blocking every wave of sword intent that came their way.
Jemima stood behind him, watching the way Jared shielded with unwavering strength.
At that moment, Jared’s figure seemed larger than life.
Without thinking, Jemima gently rested head against Jared’s shoulder.
Jared noticed, but only cast a quick glance before looking away. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on such things.
The pressure in the air was growing heavier. The two strangers were fighting with such power that even the void felt like it might collapse.
Jared had to use every bit of strength just to keep himself and Jemima safe from the fallout. It was fine if those two wanted to brawl, but the shockwaves could easily destroy the weaker cultivators caught in the middle.
