---
The forest stretched endlessly before them, its oppressive silence broken only by the rustling of leaves and the occasional distant cry of an unseen creature. The fight with Kael had left the trio drained, their marks subdued but still thrumming faintly beneath their skin.
JC walked ahead, his gaze fixed on the path, his chains coiled loosely at his sides. Alice followed closely, her golden blades resting in their sheathes, while Rex brought up the rear, his hands glowing faintly with his aura.
"Skill Sync," Alice muttered, breaking the silence. "It's powerful, but we barely scratched the surface."
Rex nodded. "Yeah, but how do we even practice something like that? It's not like we have another Kael to fight... thankfully."
JC stopped, turning to face them. "We make do with what we have. The system gave us a tool—we just need to figure out how to use it."
"Easier said than done," Rex grumbled, but he didn't argue further.
---
Discovering the Sync Tree
As they set up camp for the night, Alice opened her system interface, her curiosity piqued. Among the glowing branches of her tree, she noticed a faintly glowing icon labeled Skill Sync Tree.
"Guys, check this out," she said, motioning for the others to join her.
They each opened their interfaces and saw it—a new section of their system dedicated to sync abilities. The tree was sparse, with only a few abilities unlocked:
1. Basic Coordination: Increases the effectiveness of combined attacks.
2. Shared Insight: Temporarily links senses between synced users.
3. Energy Amplification: Combines the energy of all synced marks for a single powerful attack.
"Looks like we've got a lot to learn," JC said, studying the tree.
Alice nodded. "If we can master this, we'll stand a better chance against enemies like Kael."
---
The Curses' Influence
As the others slept, JC sat alone by the fire, the shadows around him flickering ominously. His mark of Hades pulsed faintly, and the whispers returned, growing louder and more insistent.
You could have finished him, the voice hissed. Your chains hold the power of the underworld. Use it.
JC clenched his fists, his calm demeanor cracking for a moment. "I won't become a monster," he muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile, Alice lay awake, her thoughts swirling. The mark of Athena was a constant presence, urging her to take control, to lead, to sacrifice. She felt torn between her growing tactical instincts and the emotions she struggled to keep in check.
Rex, too, was wrestling with his curse. The mark of Hercules amplified his strength, but it came with a simmering rage that he couldn't fully suppress. He worried that one day, he might lose control completely.
---
The Trial of Sync
The next morning, the trio ventured deeper into the forest, searching for a place to train. They stumbled upon a clearing surrounded by ancient stone pillars etched with runes.
"This feels... significant," Alice said, examining the pillars.
As they stepped into the clearing, their marks flared to life, and the system interface appeared before them with a new prompt:
> Sync Trial Initiated: Defeat the Guardian to unlock advanced sync abilities.
Before they could react, the ground trembled, and a massive, serpentine creature rose from the earth. Its scales shimmered like obsidian, and its eyes burned with an otherworldly light.
"Another test," JC said, his chains materializing.
"Let's see if we can make Skill Sync work," Alice added, summoning her blades.
Rex cracked his knuckles, his aura flaring. "No holding back this time."
---
Syncing Their Abilities
The serpent struck with blinding speed, its tail whipping toward them. JC's chains shot out, intercepting the attack and holding the creature in place.
"Alice, now!" he shouted.
Alice dashed forward, her blades slicing through the serpent's scales. But the creature roared, its wounds healing almost instantly.
"This isn't working!" Rex said, leaping to avoid the serpent's snapping jaws.
"Try syncing!" Alice called.
The trio closed their eyes, focusing on their marks. The system responded, activating the Basic Coordination ability. A faint glow surrounded them as their movements became more synchronized.
JC's chains moved in perfect harmony with Alice's strikes, binding the serpent long enough for her to target its vulnerable spots. Rex used Energy Amplification, channeling his strength through JC's chains, sending a shockwave through the creature's body.
The serpent let out a final, deafening roar before collapsing into the ground, its form dissolving into golden light.
---
Unlocking New Powers
As the serpent vanished, the system interface appeared once more, displaying their progress:
> Sync Tree Updated
Advanced Coordination: Allows for seamless teamwork, enhancing speed and efficiency.
Shared Energy Pool: Redistributes energy between synced users as needed.
Sync Shield: Creates a defensive barrier around the group during sync mode.
"This changes everything," Alice said, her eyes shining with determination.
JC nodded. "We're stronger together. But we can't rely on this alone. There are still too many unknowns."
Rex frowned. "Like who sent Kael—and why they want us dead."
---
A New Warning
As they left the clearing, a figure stepped out from the shadows—a cloaked woman with glowing silver eyes.
"You've grown stronger," she said, her voice calm but laced with menace. "But strength alone won't save you from what's coming."
"Who are you?" JC demanded, his chains at the ready.
The woman smirked. "You'll find out soon enough. For now, consider this a warning. The gods are watching—and not all of them are on your side."
Before they could stop her, the woman disappeared, leaving behind only a faint shimmer in the air.
---