Jade's eyes narrowed slightly the moment Henry finished speaking. The atmosphere inside the tent turned heavy, as though invisible pressure had settled onto everyone's shoulders. Outside, the convoy was still lively. Survivors were eating, sharpening weapons, laughing quietly, or resting after countless battles. But inside the tent, silence spread like cold mist.
Henry's expression remained serious.
"We encountered an Initiate Unranked creature," he repeated slowly, as if making sure everyone understood the weight of his words. "And I'm not exaggerating when I say we couldn't even fight it properly."
Even Aaron's relaxed expression faded slightly.
Jade folded his arms and leaned against the wooden table they had built from rough forest timber. His face remained calm, but inwardly, he was analyzing every possibility.
Henry continued.
"It wasn't like the creatures we've fought before. It didn't chase us immediately. It simply watched. The moment we attacked… it disappeared. Some survivors died before they even understood what happened."
Cassie lowered her eyes.
"We only survived because Henry ordered everyone to scatter," she added softly. "If we had remained grouped together… we would all have died."
A deep silence followed her words.
The flickering lantern hanging inside the tent cast dancing shadows across everyone's faces.
Sarah unconsciously moved closer to Aaron.
Ella rested both elbows on the table, her sharp eyes focused on Jade.
Blake stood quietly near the entrance, his expression tense.
Little Gold, currently in her tiny bird form, sat calmly on Henry's shoulder while grooming her feathers, seemingly unconcerned about the terrifying discussion.
Jade suddenly spoke.
"Little Gold will handle it."
Everyone turned toward him immediately.
Henry blinked.
"You're that confident?"
Jade nodded once.
"She's of the same rank."
Henry instinctively looked toward the tiny golden bird resting on his shoulder.
Little Gold tilted her head proudly, as though she already expected such praise.
Aaron suddenly smirked.
"I still can't believe that tiny bird slapped Henry."
Henry's expression instantly darkened.
"That incident does not need to be remembered."
Little Gold chirped loudly as if mocking him.
Sarah covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Even Ella's lips curved slightly upward.
Henry sighed heavily.
"I almost kissed a bird…"
Aaron immediately burst into laughter.
"That sounds worse every time you say it."
Henry pointed at him.
"You're not allowed to laugh. Your sister kissed Jade in the middle of a death trial."
Sarah instantly became embarrassed.
Aaron looked toward Jade slowly.
"…Actually, that's true."
Jade remained expressionless.
"We were attacked during the process."
Aaron raised an eyebrow.
"The process?"
Sarah immediately kicked Jade lightly under the table.
Blake coughed awkwardly while Cassie tried holding back her laughter.
For a brief moment, the tension inside the tent lessened.
But only briefly.
Ella straightened her posture and spoke seriously.
"I think it's settled then. We leave for the shadow area tomorrow."
The atmosphere instantly became heavy again.
No one objected.
Because everyone knew there was no other choice.
The trial would not wait for them forever.
The longer they delayed, the stronger the creatures would become.
Jade suddenly looked toward Henry again.
"Do any members of your convoy possess healing-type data?"
Henry nodded immediately.
"I think I have one suitable for this situation."
Without hesitation, Henry stretched out his hand.
A soft glow appeared around his palm.
Then a beautiful silver flute materialized slowly.
The flute looked ancient and elegant, covered in glowing purple patterns that pulsed faintly like veins.
The moment it appeared, the atmosphere inside the tent became calmer.
Jade's eyes narrowed slightly.
Even Aaron looked interested.
Henry handed the flute to Cassie.
"Play it."
Cassie accepted it carefully.
The moment her fingers touched the instrument, faint purple mist spread gently around her body.
She placed the flute near her lips.
Then she began to play.
A soft melody echoed through the tent.
The sound was beautiful.
No…
Beautiful wasn't enough to describe it.
The music felt alive.
It carried warmth.
Peace.
Healing.
The melody flowed through the air like invisible water, gently wrapping around everyone present.
Purple aura spread slowly from the flute and drifted toward Ella.
The moment it touched her body, Ella's breathing paused slightly.
Her wounds began healing visibly.
The cracks hidden beneath her skin slowly repaired themselves.
The damaged muscles around her ribs regenerated.
Even the exhaustion in her eyes faded.
The survivors outside the tent gradually became quiet after hearing the melody.
Some unknowingly closed their eyes.
Some sat down silently.
Others simply stared toward the tent as if enchanted.
Inside the tent, everyone watched in amazement.
Aaron crossed his arms.
"That's honestly terrifying."
Henry nodded proudly.
"Approximately one thousand survivors in my convoy possess healing-related data."
Jade's eyes flickered slightly.
One thousand.
That was far more valuable than offensive abilities.
Especially in a long-term war of survival.
Ella exhaled slowly.
Her injuries were disappearing rapidly.
Even her internal organs felt as though they were being rebuilt.
The strange thing about the flute wasn't merely healing.
It felt as if the body itself believed it had already recovered completely.
An illusion so powerful that reality obeyed it.
After nearly an hour of continuous music, Cassie finally stopped playing.
The purple aura slowly disappeared.
Ella opened her eyes.
She clenched her fists slowly.
Then stood up.
Her condition was completely restored.
Not even a trace of weakness remained.
Henry smirked slightly.
"Told you."
Ella looked at her own body in slight disbelief.
"I feel better than before the battle."
Jade silently observed everything.
His regenerative abilities already made his own recovery abnormal, but this type of healing data could preserve countless lives.
That alone made it priceless.
Outside the tent, survivors slowly resumed their activities after the melody ended.
But now hope had returned to many of them.
For the first time in a while, the convoy didn't feel completely doomed.
Aaron leaned back lazily.
"Honestly, hearing that flute almost made me forget we're trapped in a horrifying death trial."
Blake sighed.
"Same."
Little Gold chirped proudly again.
Henry rubbed her head absentmindedly.
Then his expression suddenly stiffened.
Because he remembered the earlier incident.
He immediately removed his hand.
Aaron noticed instantly.
"Still traumatized?"
Henry glared at him.
"You try almost kissing a bird and see how you recover emotionally."
Sarah immediately laughed.
Even Jade smirked slightly.
Little Gold puffed her feathers angrily.
Henry quickly raised both hands.
"See? She gets offended now. Before, she only sat on shoulders and stole food."
Little Gold pecked his head lightly.
"Ow!"
Cassie burst into laughter.
For a few moments, the tent no longer felt like the center of a nightmare trial.
It felt… normal.
Like ordinary teenagers talking.
But the illusion shattered quickly when Ella suddenly spoke again.
"We've lost too many people."
Silence returned instantly.
Everyone's expressions became serious.
Aaron lowered his gaze slightly.
"According to our current numbers… only seven thousand survivors remain."
The words felt heavy.
Painfully heavy.
From the very beginning of the trial until now…
Thousands had died.
Some devoured alive.
Some poisoned.
Some crushed.
Some simply disappeared into darkness.
And tomorrow…
Even more would die.
Jade slowly walked toward the entrance of the tent.
The forest wind blew softly against his face.
He could hear survivors talking outside.
Some were hopeful.
Some exhausted.
Some terrified.
But all of them were waiting for him.
Aaron suddenly noticed the strange look in Jade's eyes.
Henry noticed it too.
It was cold.
Too cold.
Jade suddenly spoke quietly.
"I'll have to address the convoy."
Henry frowned slightly.
"About what?"
Jade didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward the distant forest.
Then he spoke calmly.
"A realization."
The moment he said those words, Henry felt a chill run down his spine.
He couldn't explain why.
But something about Jade's tone felt dangerous.
Not physically dangerous.
Emotionally dangerous.
As though Jade had reached some conclusion that would change everything.
Henry stood up immediately.
"What realization?"
Jade finally turned around slowly.
His face remained expressionless.
"All of you… summon your armor."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Ella narrowed her eyes.
Cassie looked nervous.
Even Aaron stopped joking completely.
Henry stared at Jade for several seconds before speaking carefully.
"You're scaring me a little."
Jade ignored the statement completely.
"Henry," he said calmly, "you and Cassie should prepare the convoy and remain among them."
Henry frowned.
"To prevent panic?"
Jade nodded once.
"Yes."
Henry now understood something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Whatever Jade planned to say to the survivors…
…it was not going to be pleasant.
Still, Henry trusted him.
So he simply nodded.
"Fine."
He turned toward Cassie.
"Come on."
Cassie stood up quietly.
Before leaving, she glanced back at Jade nervously.
But Jade's expression remained unreadable.
Henry and Cassie exited the tent.
Now only Jade, Aaron, Ella, Sarah, Blake, and Little Gold remained.
Ella suddenly crossed her arms.
"I'll stay here."
Jade looked at her.
Ella's gaze remained unwavering.
"We're all participants in this trial," she said firmly. "We're warriors. Survivors. If I can't stand beside you during difficult moments, then who am I to call myself a warrior?"
Aaron looked between both of them silently.
Blake remained near the entrance quietly.
Sarah lowered her gaze slightly.
Little Gold sat calmly on the wooden table.
Jade stared at Ella for several seconds.
Then without another word…
He turned around and walked out of the tent.
And the moment he left—
A strange heaviness settled inside everyone's hearts.