Keon and Stella finally reached the top of the watchtower. The wooden platform creaked under their steps as they moved toward the open archways that overlooked the land. Cold wind rushed through the gaps in the stone walls, carrying the scent of damp earth and something faintly metallic.
Stella pulled out a small, battered telescope from her belt and extended it, peering into the distance. "The Science Center should be just beyond the valley," she muttered, adjusting the lens.
Keon leaned on the railing beside her, squinting at the landscape below. The dense forest stretched for miles, its dark canopy shifting under the wind. "So? Do you see it?"
Stella didn't respond immediately. She adjusted the telescope again, her face tensing. "That… can't be right."
Keon frowned. "What?"
Wordlessly, she handed him the telescope. Keon took it and looked through, scanning the horizon—until he saw it.
Far beyond the valley, where the Science Center should have been, the land was ruined. The trees in that area were blackened, twisted, their trunks gnarled like something had forcefully mutated them. Thick, pulsing vines covered the ground, wrapping around broken structures. Blood-red mist hung low over the scene, as if the land itself was bleeding.
Keon lowered the telescope slowly, his throat dry. "That's… not normal."
Stella exhaled sharply. "No, it's not."
Keon turned to her. "The Science Center… it was supposed to be a place of research, right? What the hell happened to it?"
Stella's s expression darkened. "I don't know. But whatever did that… it's still there."
A heavy silence fell between them as they stared at the ruined land. Keon clenched his jaw, his grip tightening around the telescope. Whatever they were walking into—it wasn't just a simple mission anymore.
Stella sighed and leaned against the stone wall of the watchtower, crossing her arms. The cold wind continued to swirl around them, but it couldn't quite cut through the tension in the air. She turned to Keon, her eyes softening a little as she saw the grim expression on his face.
"Keon," she began, her tone gentle but firm, like she was speaking to a younger sibling who didn't fully understand the danger. "Look, I know this seems like the only option right now. But trust me, going to the Science Center? It's not just a bad idea. It's a death wish."
Keon stood still, his jaw clenched, staring out over the ruined landscape. The blood-soaked forest, the twisted trees—he couldn't shake the feeling that whatever had happened there was something far worse than they could even imagine.
"You don't know that," Keon replied, his voice low, almost harsh. He turned to face her, his eyes dark with a mix of determination and frustration. "We can't just sit here and wait. A rescue team will take days—maybe longer. I'm not waiting around to be forgotten."
Stella's brow furrowed in concern. She took a step toward him, her expression softening. "Keon, listen. I get it. You're frustrated. But there's a reason I'm saying we should hold off. This place…" She glanced back out at the darkened forest. "It's not just some abandoned research station. It's been destroyed. There's nothing left for us there. And we don't know what else might be lurking around."
Keon's fists clenched at his sides, his gaze hardening. "I'm not waiting for a rescue. No. I won't. I don't care about that. I need to see it for myself, Kelly." His voice trembled slightly, betraying the urgency in his words. "I've been stuck in this place too long. And I'm done hiding. I want to find real humans—people who won't try to kill me."
Stella froze, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean, 'people who won't try to kill you'? We're not talking about beasts, Keon. We're talking about real people, like us. I thought you said—" She hesitated, her eyes narrowing. "You said you were chased by the beasts, right? Is that what you mean?"
Keon's face darkened even more, his features hardening with a cold determination. He didn't answer immediately, but his mind was racing. He wanted to say the truth—wanted to shout about the elves, the monsters, the human-like creatures that had all tried to end him. But he couldn't risk it, not yet. Not when Kelly still had no idea what was really going on.
"No," he finally said, his voice flat. "I'm not talking about the beasts. I'm talking about the people—the ones I've been running from. The ones who—" He stopped himself, cutting off the thought. His eyes shifted away from Kelly's, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
Stella didn't press. She still thought he was talking about creatures, the same way he had described them to her in the past. She took a deep breath, trying to put herself in his shoes.
"I know you've had it rough, Keon. But you've been through a lot. You've been alone for so long." She softened, taking a step closer. "Maybe that's what's got you so tense. But that's why we need to think this through. We'll find a way out, but charging into the Science Center won't help. It's too risky."
Keon stared at her, his eyes filled with quiet resolve. "I don't care. I'm going."
Keon's fingers tightened into fists as he stared at stella. Her calm demeanor was starting to crack his resolve. He wasn't here to sit around and wait for some rescue team that might never come. He wasn't going to back down again.
With a deep breath, Keon's mind focused. He closed his eyes, feeling the familiar surge of energy as he used his Stat Points. The world around him blurred for a second as he spent 20 SP to increase his Strength to 38, the power flooding his body and reinforcing his decision.
"Keon!" Stella snapped, her hand shooting out to grab his arm, attempting to stop him from doing something reckless. "You're being stupid! I'm trying to make you see reason here!"
But Keon had already made up his mind. His muscles tensed, his body a coiled spring. Before stella could react, he lifted her effortlessly, holding her around the waist with one arm, while the other grabbed the edge of the watchtower.
"What are you—?!" Stella's words were cut off as Keon jumped, pushing off the stone floor with a force that sent them both soaring into the air.
The wind howled around them as they descended. Keon's heart raced with adrenaline, his strength making the jump feel almost effortless. The distant ground rushed up to meet them, but there was no fear in Keon's eyes—only an overwhelming sense of urgency.
Stella grip tightened around his neck as she realized what was happening, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Keon, are you insane?! We're—!"
Before she could finish, Keon's feet hit the ground, rolling on impact, using his enhanced strength and agility to absorb the fall. The moment they landed, he stood up swiftly, unshaken, still holding Kelly tightly.
He looked at her with an intense, almost reckless determination. "I'm not waiting around. We're going."
Stella voice shook, though she tried to stay calm. "You could've killed us both!"
Keon smirked, looking down at her. "Well, guess it's a good thing you're with me." He started walking forward, his newfound strength surging through him, making him feel more alive than ever. "Come on. Time to see if there are any real humans out there."
Stella didn't respond, still stunned by the sheer audacity of what just happened. She glanced back at the watchtower, now a distant silhouette. She'd been prepared for anything—but not for this.