628 They are unbelievable...
Kyle glanced at Jian's back. He had a nagging feeling that he was forgetting something. This feeling had been lingering since he achieved the transcendent rank. It seemed as though he had failed to uphold a promise made to the man because he couldn't recall it.
"Hmm?"
He tried to exert pressure on his mind. Now that he had reached the trancendent rank, he thought he might forcefully bring back the memories he forgot in the No Mana Land. But Yue's voice interrupted him.
"Yes?"
Yue tilted her head. It was rare for him to be so distracted and not hear her speak.
"I'm saying it's better if we explore the tomb separately. It will benefit us more. I know a lot about this tomb thanks to Asher. So, I can just hide at night from the undead."
Asher, standing before them, agreed with Yue's words. It would be better for them to explore the tomb separately.
'Does that mean I can follow Kyle? Great. If Yue isn't going with him, I can tag along since I have nothing else to do.'
Kyle went silent for a moment, then gave a nod. He glanced at Asher and with a swift motion of his fingers, a portal materialized beneath Yue. Before she could react, she disappeared into the portal. Kyle followed suit, leaving Asher alone with the phoenix, observing Nox circling the statue.
Asher gazed at the empty space in front of him and clicked his tongue.
"They are unbelievable... Can't they even consider the single folks around here??"
.....
Yue gasped as she emerged from the other end of the portal. Before she could steady herself, Kyle deftly caught her by the waist and drew her nearer.
Her eyes flashed with surprise as his touch wasn't cold and surprisingly felt usual... but on closer look, she spotted a faint layer of divine energy enveloping Kyle's skin. Yue smiled and grabbed his face in her hands.
"You don't have to. I have already grown accustomed to your body temperature."
Kyle leaned his head down to rest it on hers and tightened his grasp on her waist. They were floating under the clear sky. He murmured softly.
"Really? I thought it would be uncomfortable. After all, it's too cold."
Yue chuckled and wrapped her hands around his neck, lifting her eyes to gaze affectionately into his.
"How about you check it yourself?"
Her racing heart skipped a beat as he leaned in for a kiss.
"Well, the idea isn't half bad."
She giggled as his lips touched hers and moved back after a while with a smile.
"Is this your way of saying goodbye and reminding me to take care of myself?"
She teased, her voice filled with affection and a touch of playfulness. But her next words got stuck on the tip of her tongue, and her heart raced, nearly leaping out of her chest, upon hearing his next words.
"No, it's my way of letting you know... that I love you. Much more than words can express. So don't ever get hurt."
Kyle's eyes flashed with a hint of panic as he noticed tears welling in her eyes.
"What's wrong!?"
She simply nestled her face into his chest, a smile playing on her lips. It was actually the first time he had expressed his love for her. So she became a little emotional.
"Just you are an idiot..."
Kyle blinked and raised her face with one of his hands to catch her gaze.
"Why?"
Yue laughed at his bewildered expression, and the tears in her eyes dissipated.
"But I still love you."
His eyes caught the mischievous glint in hers, and with a sigh of indulgence, he leaned in to kiss her eyes.
"Hmm... now that's a lot pleasing to hear. Say it again."
....
Asher was lounging under the sky with a bored expression. Jian was seated in the distance, soaking in the divine energy from the air with closed eyes.
Bia was sitting on a rock beside the red-haired man. Nox had also returned to her after completing his hundred circles around the statue before them. However, the couple was nowhere to be seen.
The half-dragon sat up with a sigh.
"What are they doing? It's been an hour... I do want to know, but I feel like I shouldn't, or else Kyle will probably cut my throat."
He chuckled at his words and decided to have a conversation with Bia to learn how Kyle discovered such a powerful phoenix like her. Phoenixes were scarce and those who could attain the transcendent rank were even scarcer.
'Perhaps there isn't a phoenix in this universe who has attained the transcendent rank. Creatures like phoenixes are indeed beautiful, with potential higher than other beasts. However, they typically cannot surpass the divine rank due to their physical limitations... I wonder why she can achieve the transcendent rank.'
He was a bit surprised when Bia shared that Kyle bonded with her while she was still in an egg, and they come from a small planet where the concept of the divine rank was initially unknown.
"Doesn't that mean the divine energy on that planet is scarce? So why is your potential so exceptional? If you come from a small planet, I assume your parents' power levels only reached somewhere between (F) and (SS) in the mortal ranks. Did you consume divine essence to increase your potential? That's the only way one can enhance their mortal talent."
Bia's head was buzzing with the countless questions the half-dragon was bombarding her with. She almost let slip that her talent was elevated because of Kyle's bloodline but managed to stop herself just in time.
-'This bastard! He's so irritating!'
It was then that Kyle and Yue both came back. Bia promptly moved away from Asher's side and approached Kyle to dodge any further questioning. Yue affectionately rubbed Bia's head with a smile.
"Take care as well."
Bia nodded and leaned in for the touch before resting on Kyle's shoulder. Nox joined Yue and the two left together.
Kyle gazed at the elven woman's retreating figure for a moment before turning to Asher, who had arrived beside him.
"Don't follow me around. I don't need any more information."
Asher narrowed his eyes.
"I have nothing else to do. So I will follow. It doesn't matter if I am useful to you or not."
Kyle let out an 'Oh' and without a word started floating. He didn't really mind if the half-dragon tagged along, as long as the latter didn't bother him.