Ethan Reed, his entire body charred black, devoid of hair and eyebrows, pushed forward relentlessly and arrived at the fourth level. This transcendent, who had earlier faced dozens of attackers—blades, bullets, and flames—with unflinching resolve, finally showed a change in expression.
Because at the far end of the fourth level, he saw a familiar figure.
"Lily!!" Ethan shouted, his voice tinged with disbelief and joy. He stood at the entrance of the fourth level, which opened into a vast, empty hall. At the opposite end, near the exit, stood Lily.
"Lily, thank goodness! You're not hurt, are you?" Ethan called out, his excitement palpable as he prepared to rush toward her. But to his shock, Lily's expression shifted dramatically.
"Don't come any closer!"
Ethan froze mid-step, his joy turning to confusion. "What's wrong, Lily? Don't worry, I'm here—"
"I said don't come any closer! Go back now! There's poison gas here!" Lily's frantic voice echoed across the hall, her face flushed with urgency as she screamed at him with all her might.
Poison gas?
Ethan's expression darkened as he halted his advance. The initial rush of happiness at seeing Lily alive began to fade, replaced by suspicion and unease.
Why was Lily here, alone? Wasn't she supposed to have been captured? And why did she appear completely unharmed?
"Lily, what's going on?" Ethan Reed's voice was sharp, demanding answers.
"I'm sorry, Ethan…" Lily's voice broke as she spoke, her words trembling. "I lied to you. Don't come any closer—it's a trap." Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and her delicate features were awash with guilt.
"You… lied to me?" Ethan's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. He wasn't a fool, and pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fall into place.
"I'm so sorry," Lily choked out, her voice barely audible. "I was forced by Sam."
"Sam?!" Ethan's body stiffened, his mind reeling. "You mean Sam, my classmate?"
"Yes," she nodded miserably. "He's the leader of the Vipers. He threatened my brother, used him as leverage to make me act. He wanted me to lure you here, to trap you. His goal is the transcendent power inside you. I had no choice but to agree… But after spending time with you, I realised you're a good person.
"I don't want you to die… I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry…" Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her face, each drop falling like shattered pearls.
Ethan stood in silence, his head bowed. Shadows veiled his face, leaving his expression unreadable.
Then, suddenly—
Thud!
The sound of his footfall echoed heavily through the vast hall as he took a step deeper into the fourth level.
Lily's panic surged. "No! Don't! Please, I'm begging you—don't come any closer!" Her voice rang out, frantic and desperate.
Ethan Reed seemed oblivious to Lily's desperate cries. Step by unwavering step, he marched into the hall of the fourth level, his determination radiating like an unyielding flame.
Bang!
As soon as he entered, the iron gate behind him slammed shut with a deafening thud, locking tightly. At the same moment, the iron gate at Lily's end of the hall sealed as well, cold and merciless, cutting off the fiery connection between the two.
Lily was frantic, pounding on the gate with all her strength. "Ethan! Ethan!"
Zzzzzz...
Pale purple gas began seeping into the sealed hall, swirling ominously and gradually engulfing Ethan's figure.
But Ethan remained calm, unshaken by the encroaching poison. Instead, a faint, mocking smirk tugged at his lips. He raised his head, locking eyes with the surveillance camera hidden in the corner of the room, and directed his derisive grin toward whoever was watching.
"You know nothing about the transcendent," he mouthed silently.
Then, with a single breath, he held his air and exploded into motion, his body accelerating into a blur. He became a streak of shadow as he charged at full force toward the iron gate separating him from Lily.
"Lily, stand back!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each collision of his steel-like body against the iron gate reverberated through the room, shaking it to its core.
The seemingly impenetrable gate began to buckle and bend under his relentless assault. The once-solid structure warped visibly, until—
CRASH!
With one final, earth-shattering impact, the entire gate was ripped from its frame and sent crashing to the floor.
The fierce silhouette burst out of the purple haze, and Lily, hiding nearby, stared in stunned disbelief at the scene unfolding before her.
"Ethan, you—"
Before she could finish, she found herself colliding with a solid chest. In the next instant, her feet left the ground as Ethan swept her up and carried her away, his powerful strides propelling them forward.
Behind them, the purple mist surged and spread, relentless in its pursuit.
Ethan held Lily tightly as he sprinted straight into the fifth level. Only when he was certain the poison gas couldn't follow did he come to a halt.
Even then, he didn't put her down. Instead, he gazed intently at the tear-streaked face in his arms, his sharp eyes softening ever so slightly.
For a moment, their fiery gazes locked.
"You scared me," Lily choked out, her voice trembling. "Why did you do that? Do you have any idea how dangerous it was?"
Ethan's cold, stoic expression melted into something gentler, a faint warmth thawing his icy exterior. He leaned in closer, his deep voice tender as he whispered, "Silly girl, because you were there."
Lily's eyes widened, her heart struck by his words. Something delicate and vulnerable within her seemed to shatter, sending ripples of emotion through her. Her body trembled, and fresh tears welled up, spilling over once again.
"But… but I lied to you," she sobbed. "It's all my fault. I… I'm so sorry…"
Ethan's gaze softened even further, a hint of tenderness flickering in his eyes. He interrupted her gently. "I don't blame you. In fact, I'm grateful to Sam. Because of him… I got to meet you."
Lily stared blankly at the man before her. In this moment, the torrent of emotions she'd been suppressing broke free. Following her most primal instinct, she wrapped her pale arms around Ethan's neck, leaned forward, and kissed him deeply.
Time seemed to stand still. Even though they were in the depths of danger, surrounded by peril, nothing could hinder the raw, fervent emotions that surged between them.
Of course, the ever-considerate Vipers didn't dare interrupt the scene, despite being villains.
"This," Sam remarked with a bemused smile as he watched the scene unfold on the surveillance monitor, "is love."
In the surveillance room, Sam sat comfortably, watching the drama play out as though it were a soap opera. His expression was one of casual amusement, completely at ease.
"Chief, you're amazing," Ryan Cole chimed in, laying on the flattery thick. "Everything's happening exactly the way you said it would—her repentance, her daring escape, the warning about the trap, the heartfelt apology, the passionate kiss, and the crowning touch: those tears."
Sam smirked at the praise but remained silent, letting the moment linger. After a beat, Ryan's brow furrowed with concern. "But, Chief, shouldn't we think about leaving? I mean, he's already made it past the fourth trial…"
Sam's smile widened into something far more enigmatic. "You're wrong. He didn't pass. He's already fallen."
Ryan blinked in confusion, his gaze flicking back to the monitor where the couple was still locked in their kiss. It looked more like the triumphant reunion of the protagonists in a happy-ending romance. Fallen? How?
"Prepare yourself," Sam said, rising from his seat. "It's time to meet the star of our little drama."
Meanwhile, Ethan and Lily finally broke apart after what felt like an eternity—an entire minute of breathless passion.
"It was… a bit salty," Ethan murmured, still savouring the memory of their first kiss.
"You're awful! That was my tears!" Lily exclaimed, her face flushed with embarrassment. She lightly pounded his chest in mock anger. "And I haven't even mentioned you—you smell like burnt charcoal!"
As she spoke, a thought struck her. Worry flashed across her face, and she immediately grabbed Ethan, inspecting him closely. "Are you hurt?"
"Just surface wounds."
"Then let's get out of here while we still can!" Lily urged, her voice edged with urgency.
Ethan, however, let out a disdainful chuckle. "It's Sam who should be running."
Lily's expression shifted, unease creeping in. "You're still going after him?"
"Of course," Ethan said with unshakable conviction. "Sam dared to use you against me. I'll make sure he understands the price of crossing a transcendent."
"But…" Lily hesitated, her voice faltering.
"Lily," Ethan interrupted, his tone firm yet reassuring. "Trust me. I'm here, and I'll protect you no matter what."
Despite his words, a storm of worry churned within Lily. In her mind, she couldn't shake the image of Sam—that unnerving blend of composure and madness, the way he always seemed steps ahead, as if holding all the cards. It gnawed at her, leaving her uneasy.