?Bia's eyelids fluttered shut as she made herself comfortable opposite the castle stairway.
Haylee's gaze wandered around the phoenix, and he couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"So, after all that worrying, now you're going to sleep?"
Bia opened one eye to peek at him.
-'For some reason, after hearing his evil laugh, I think he's doing just fine.'
Haylee blinked at her answer, but then he let out a hearty laughter.
"Even though I haven't heard his laugh, I am having the same feeling."
The duo basked under the warm sunlight on the mountain, enjoying the serene and calm atmosphere. However, after a few hours, the peaceful moment was abruptly shattered when the air in front of the castle twisted to form a bright portal.
Haylee's eyes widened slightly. He couldn't believe it. Kyle had managed to complete the castle trail in just a few hours. How was that even possible?
"Was the punishment trial so easy that even a five-year-old kid can complete it?"
He mumbled under his breath, contemplating that maybe it was not as hard as he thought.
On his left, Bia burst into laughter. She spread out her wings to fly toward the portal.
In an instant, the portal pulsed, and a familiar figure emerged, Kyle's silver hair fluttered beautifully as he flashed a faint smile.
Haylee's eyes met Kyle's mid-air, and for a moment, he swore he saw a strange glint in those green eyes. But before he could process anything, Kyle kicked off his foot and vanished into thin air.
Haylee blinked, and Bia froze in her spot as Kyle's figure materialized behind the boar.
The moment Kyle vanished, a loud cry rang out from the portal, and a large crystal-scaled chameleon stepped out.
Bia's eyes dilated when she faintly sensed the lizard-like creature's rank. She quickly flapped her wings to distance herself from the portal.
-'What the hell did you do now!?'
Her panicked eyes wandered toward Kyle, who was hiding behind Haylee. Even the boar was stunned.
Meanwhile, Ris's eyes dangerously zeroed in on the silver-haired human. He let out an evil laugh, an angry vein bulging out on his forehead.
"Very well, human, you have successfully entered my radar! How dare you take advantage of my jumbled memories? Do you think I will let you go?"
Haylee opened his mouth, shocked.
"Ris!?"
"Huh?"
The chameleon finally noticed the winged boar, and just like Haylee, his eyes widened slightly. Memories flashed in his eyes as he blinked.
Kyle glanced at the duo and slowly tiptoed away from Haylee. Swiftly, he distanced himself from the boar and vanished into thin air before anyone could notice.
'Bia, we're leaving. Let the old friends have their conversation.'
The phoenix snapped out of her daze and quickly flew away in another direction.
Unaware of the two individuals who had run off, Ris let out a surprised gasp.
"Little Haylee? Wow, how long has it been? What are you doing here? Last I remember, you were bound to the last treasure island."
Haylee smiled, but one could see the irritation in his eyes.
"I believe I am not little anymore."
"Ah.. right."
Ris's body flashed, emitting countless glowing sparks as he circled the boar with a hum. But then he remembered he was supposed to be following someone.
"Wait, where is the human?"
His eyes widened as he stared at Haylee.
"Don't tell me he ran off!?"
Haylee's lips twitched and he barely stopped them from curling up into a smile. He had a hunch about what happened. After all, he knew that Ris sometimes had issues with his brain. The boar cleared his throat and composed his expression.
"What did he do?"
Ris's face darkened and his body flashed around the floating castle as he sniffed the air.
"That little prick sure knows how to put on a show. Not many have dared to break the rules in this place. And since master closed off the realm, I haven't had a chance to open my eyes. But I can't believe the first thing I experience is deception!"
He kept sniffing the air, hoping to catch a trace of Kyle's presence. But after a few minutes, his face fell.
"I thought it was due to the illusion that I couldn't sense him. But why in the world am I still unable to sense him?"
Haylee let out a weary sigh, but his crescent eyes revealed a different story altogether.
"Leave it, you won't be able to sense him, I can't either. He is wearing an artifact."
Ris blinked and gazed at the boar with a blank expression.
"You are joking right?"
Haylee shook his head, his ears perking up with delight. In the past, Odiak and his master would always push him to train with the Lizard. And, even though he hated to admit it, he would always end up losing whenever they had a real battle.
Ris cried out and slammed his tail on the ground.
"Ahhh! I was supposed to make him suffer with his darkest desire! With his worst nightmare! How could he just slip through my fingers like that?"
His tongue darted out to lick his lips as he gazed in the distance.
"Should I go look for him?"
However, like a sudden splash of cold water, Haylee's next words left him speechless.
"Forget about it, he's the one who asked me that question Odiak left behind."
Ris stared at the boar with shock and a bit of suspicion. Yet, he couldn't detect any deceit in Haylee's eyes. How could he? After all, Kyle really asked Haylee the question.
With a frustrated groan, the chameleon started walking away from the mountain. The crystal scales on his body shimmered with bright sparks under the sunlight.
"Whatever, I am just gonna go get some fresh air. It's been a while, after all."
Haylee chuckled and followed behind him.
"Let's watch the kids. There are a lot of strong individuals who have entered the realm this time."
Soon, the duo disappeared into the distance. Once they were gone, Kyle's body materialized in the air. He gazed at the peaceful mountain and looked towards the second castle he had yet to enter.
Bia's tiny figure appeared beside him. She circled him before settling on his head with a satisfied sigh.
-'They're gone. Why are we here again?'
Kyle rubbed his hands together and his lip trickled upward into a faint smile.
"Let's explore the second castle. I have a feeling we will need another cure for the future."
Bia clicked her tongue.
-'You still wanna break the rules?'
"Who said I do? I'm just taking extra precautions."
-'Oh, so you're doing it when the guardian's gone.'
Kyle ignored her words and flew toward the second castle without hesitation. Now, with the dark race gone and his body back to normal, he felt confident in plundering all the treasures from this realm.
...
At the other end of the realm, Guil's body was ruthlessly thrown into a mountain. Dust and debris filled the air as the once towering mountain collapsed into a heap of shattered fragments.
Emerging from the wreckage, the winged man let out a burst of maniacal laughter that echoed through the desolate landscape.
"How dare those weak outsiders kill my people! I will make them pay!"
A far contrast to his bloodied condition, his coal-black eyes burned with a fiery rage, capable of obliterating everything in his path.
However, before he could take any action, an illusionary old man materialized in front of him.
"Stop Guil, you are not supposed to meddle in the affairs of mortals."
Guil cried out. He clawed into his head with a crazed expression.
"Haha! I am going to kill them all! No one will go back alive!"
The illusionary old man's face flickered with complicated emotions as he eyed the man before him.
"You know, it's quite ironic. Last time, when the secret realm was opened, your people ruthlessly took the lives of everyone who entered. Now, the tables have turned. So why does it make you so furious?"
Guil's face darkened as he spat out a mouthful of blood. He narrowed his eyes at the illusionary figure with a mocking glint.
"How much longer can you hold on, old man?"
The illusionary old man raised an eyebrow in response.
"Don't worry, it's going to be longer than you expect. I believe I can keep you busy until they all make it out safely."
With a laugh, the winged man flapped his wings and zoomed towards the figure. His bloodied eyes dangerously narrowed in on the old man.
"Are you sure? The realm exit won't open for another two years. Yet..."
He dragged his words and gazed at the flickering light particles surrounding the illusionary figure.
"Your body is crumbling."
The old man let out a scoff.
"If my last moment arrives, I will make sure to take you with me."
They fought for two whole days before Guil's body was once again thrown into the distance. The old man eyed his panting figure and gazed back in the distance.
The air was humming and with the dark race gone, the youngsters were exploring the treasure islands without much trouble.
"Hmm, not like the old times, but this generation is indeed the strongest."
"I believe now I don't need to worry about them. They will explore the realm, clear the trials, and leave when it's time."
