They reached the top.
Three surviving soldiers.
One of them knelt beside Eun Byol slowly untying her from the soldier's back.
Another reached into a small belt pocket.
Pulled out a potion.
Part of it made of metal.
Black in color.
He opened the lid and moved toward her.
Ha Joon's eyes moved to him.
The soldier smiled slowly.
"Come down, kid. This is a healing potion. If she isn't awakened this will help."
Ha Joon's voice came low.
"I know what a healing potion is. That's not what I'm worried about."
He reached into his own pocket.
Pulled out a similar bottle.
The soldier's face went white.
Shock spreading across it.
"Let me guess. You got that from the big guy down there."
Ha Joon smiled.
Small.
"Yes. I did. I wasn't sure you were going to give us some. Here. Take it."
The other soldiers looked at each other.
Then at Ha Joon.
One of them spoke.
"You've got skills, kid. But keep it. We're not going to need it as much as getting out of this place."
Eun Byol's eyes opened slowly.
Found Ha Joon's immediately.
Their eyes met.
The soldiers watched quietly.
One of them smiled.
Tired.
"Young love."
He looked at Ha Joon.
"You are extremely lucky, kid. To have a girl this beautiful by your side."
He shook his head slightly.
"But we have to go now. We can't stay here too long."
Ha Joon slowly nodded.
Then it came.
An unholy roar tearing through the forest below them.
The earth beneath their feet gripped tight.
From the shadow.
Close to them but far.
Something moved.
Something shaped.
Slowly becoming visible.
The system's voice cut through everything.
"Warrior Ant. Arrived."
All of them locked onto it at once.
It was bigger.
Much bigger.
Its claws sharp.
Its pincers gleaming.
One of the soldiers' mouths opened.
Barely a whisper.
"There's no way."
A pause.
"That ant we killed was just a scout."