**Chapter 136: Advanced Secret Realm**
"Instructor, something doesn't seem right," Su Yu spoke up. "Tina's fury is almost depleted, and she's sustained serious injuries. Is she really fit for the trial in this condition?"
Tina forced herself to her feet. "I'm fine. I can do this."
The divine blood in her veins began to pulse, and a golden glow emanated from her once more. Within just a few seconds, her depleted fury surged back to 50%.
Su Yu and Margaret exchanged incredulous looks.
Her recovery rate was... astounding!
Margaret, wiping her brow, couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret. She'd only wanted to put a bit of pressure on Tina—but now?
Forget it! Who would have thought she'd be dealing with a freak like this?
Reluctantly, Margaret steadied herself, pressing a hand to the ground as she got to her feet. She led them toward a passage on the eastern side of the proving ground, her steps slightly unsteady.
"Well, since you're clearly ready, follow me! I hope you gain something valuable from this."
"Thank you, Instructor!"
Tina's resilience was astonishing. Not only had her fury nearly returned to full, but her wounds had already begun to heal.
She and Su Yu followed Margaret toward the passageway, leaving their unicorns behind to wait outside.
They entered a narrow passage, descending a wooden staircase that spiraled downwards. The deeper they went, the darker it became, until they were enveloped in near-total blackness. The silence was almost eerie.
Though Tina was a powerful Tier 3 warrior with the blessing of divine blood, she found herself faltering in the darkness. She instinctively slowed her pace, hesitating with each step.
Noticing her unease, Su Yu took her hand and stepped ahead. "I'll guide you, Tina."
Tina's cheeks flushed as she felt the warmth of his hand, a brief flash of nostalgia lighting her face. Memories from Nolan Village flooded back—she recalled that day when Su Yu had taken her hand as they sought out Baron Wilson to settle old debts.
A sense of warmth filled her heart.
**Ding! [Tina Garcia]'s favorability towards you has increased by +1.**
They reached the fourth floor of the trial grounds, a massive underground chamber.
Margaret retrieved a key from her pocket and inserted it into a mechanism on the wall. With a soft hum, the walls on three sides lit up—one white, one green, and one blue, each forming a glowing portal.
Margaret gestured to them. "I'll spare you the long history of these secret realms. The white portal leads to the beginner secret realm, the green one to the intermediate, and the blue one to the advanced secret realm."
She turned to Tina. "With your current strength, the beginner secret realm should be manageable, and you may be able to handle the intermediate as well. If you're feeling confident, give it a try."
"Understood, Instructor," Tina said, then glanced at Su Yu. "Nemesis, I'll leave it to you to choose. I trust you completely."
"Are you sure? What if you regret it?" Su Yu teased with a smile.
"I won't," she replied, her eyes sparkling with trust.
"Alright then."
Su Yu took her hand and led her toward the green portal, as if he intended to play it safe. But just as they were a meter away, he suddenly shifted direction, wrapped an arm around her waist, and together they dove straight into the blue portal.
"Hey, wait a minute!"
Margaret had felt a moment of admiration as she saw Su Yu steering Tina toward the green portal.
"This kid has good judgment," she'd thought. "It's a shame he's not a Druid."
But as she watched him veer into the blue portal, her face paled.
"What is that kid thinking?!"
"They went into the advanced secret realm?!"
"With Tina's current strength, she could actually die in there!"
"If Tina dies, I'm losing my entire year's salary!"
"That reckless kid, I'll tear him apart!"
Margaret stomped her foot in frustration. "I should have closed that portal while I had the chance!"
After calming herself, she sighed, deciding to report this to the legion commander. "Tina, please, don't die in there!"
When Su Yu opened his eyes again, he and Tina stood in an otherworldly dark purple landscape.
The ground beneath them was a strange, dusky soil stretching into a vast desert under a twilight sky. Above, giant stars cast their ominous purple glow across the eerie landscape.
"What... this is the Void!" Su Yu's eyes widened. He knew this place all too well.
When he died in his previous life, the game was on its seventh expansion, *Void Invasion*, and he had spent countless hours in environments just like this.
"What's the Void?" Tina looked at him, a cute little question mark practically visible above her head.
Before he could respond, shadows flickered on both sides as two creatures emerged and charged at them.
**[Void Crawler] (Lv. 50)**
HP: ???
Spell Power: ???
Skills: [Dark Energy Surge], [Void Crawl], [Void Stone (Passive)]
*Description*: "Before you learn to walk in the void, crawl!"
**[Void Tide Element] (Lv. 50)**
HP: ???
Attack Power: ???
Skills: [Void Wave], [Void Imprisonment], [Elemental Modification (Passive)]
*Description*: "Stand up, mortal!"
Due to their level disparity, Su Yu couldn't view their exact attributes. But before he could react, Tina swiftly stepped in front of him. "Stay behind me, Nemesis. I'll protect you!"
She stowed her lance, swapping it for a pale golden sword. With a leap, her body ignited with golden fury, radiating like a miniature sun, dazzling and dangerous.
"Hyah!"
With a single powerful swing, her golden sword cleaved through the **Void Crawler**'s head, splitting it in two.
The **Void Tide Element** froze momentarily, startled by its companion's sudden demise. But it quickly retaliated, casting **Void Imprisonment**.
A lavender ring appeared above Tina, snapping shut around her and rendering her immobile.
The Void Tide Element grunted unintelligibly and charged toward Su Yu.
Though Tina couldn't understand the creature's language, Su Yu could: "You killed my ally, now I'll kill yours!"
Su Yu smirked, responding in fluent Void Common, "Bring it on!"
The creature paused, stunned. *Why does this human speak Void Common?*
But Su Yu didn't waste the opportunity. He blinked away, reappearing beside Tina and quickly handing her the **Senior Scholar Badge**.
"Tina, you're up."
"Leave it to me!" She activated the badge, releasing herself from the imprisonment effect.
"Charge!"
"Radiant—Slash!"
Her fury blazed golden once more as she hurled herself at the **Void Tide Element**, her sword flashing like wildfire. The creature barely had time to react before her strike cleaved it in two, dissolving it into pools of dark, viscous liquid.
"Tina, that was amazing!" Su Yu flashed her a proud smile and gave her a thumbs-up. She was truly impressive—even here in the Void!
But he wasn't content to always be under her protection, so he asked, "Tina, do you have something to level the playing field?"
"Of course," she replied, guessing his intention. A pale golden aura formed around her as she cast a buff.
**[Blessing of Tina Garcia]**: *For one hour, your level is raised to match [Tina Garcia].*
"As expected from my Tina," Su Yu thought with satisfaction, seeing the new buff icon appear in his status bar.
**(End of Chapter)**