Alec wiped the blood from his lips and forced himself back onto his feet. Every movement sent pain through his battered body, but he gritted his teeth and ignored it.
His gaze soon found Lara. Seeing her struggling to rise, he immediately staggered toward her and reached out a hand.
"Are you alright?"
Lara nodded weakly.
Alec helped her to her feet before gently wiping the blood from her chin with his sleeve. His expression remained tense as he glanced over her injuries, making sure she could still stand.
Nearby, Regius helped Sinon up, while the others supported one another as they slowly climbed out of the shattered ice.
Their clothes were torn, their bodies covered in injuries and blood, and their faces were pale from the overwhelming pressure they had just endured. Yet somehow, they were still standing.
One by one, they all gathered together, leaning against each other for support.
Then, almost simultaneously, their gazes lifted. From outside the hollow, shattered ice, Yue was silently looking down at them.
Nine forced a smile despite his battered appearance and waved in reassurance.
"We’re fine."
Jian followed with a chuckle.
"Yes!"
Hearing him, Kelvin and Asher, who were supporting him from both sides, clicked their tongues and softly poked his injuries, making him hiss immediately in anger.
Yue bit down on her lower lip.
Her amber eyes were red-rimmed as she looked at them. She wanted to tell them that they definitely didn’t look fine, but the words remained trapped in her throat. In the end, she swallowed them back and gave them the only response she could manage.
"Okay."
Alec and Lara both were the first to climb out of the hollow ice. Jian followed close behind, with James and Elizabeth coming third, followed by the rest of the group.
They were all battered, their movements sluggish, but at least they were still alive.
Moreover, although it was slow, their injuries were already healing.
Suddenly, Sinon hissed in pain, drawing everyone’s attention.
Only then did they notice that one of his wings was missing, apparently severed by the Ruler who had attacked him earlier.
Sinon smiled when he noticed everyone staring at his back and shook his head.
"It’s bearable."
Odiak, Susan, and Hubert, the three elders, immediately stepped forward, enveloping Sinon’s back in a soft glow. However, the damage was far too severe to heal quickly.
Even with the healing power of many Celestials combined, it would take a long time for Sinon’s severed wing to recover.
Bia gritted the words out as she lowered the still-unconscious Nox to the ground.
"The Rulers were merciless. If they hadn’t suddenly spotted a treasure because of Yue, they would have killed us already!"
Carcel looked toward the snow-white platform where the Rulers were fighting.
"What now?"
"What are we supposed to do?"
Mia, who had helped him to his feet, also turned her gaze toward the platform. Her eyes flickered when she saw the ethereal snowflake floating above the ice sword.
"That thing... Is it related to Kyle?"
Asher’s maroon-gray eyes narrowed.
"It’s definitely related to Kyle! I’m one hundred percent sure! That cold aura... I could never mistake it."
Nine, who was with Elli, helping her sit down, immediately agreed with him.
The thread within his golden eyes spun violently as he stared toward the sword.
"It is. But..."
His brows furrowed deeply.
"I can’t seem to see anything."
At that moment, Yue finally managed to calm her turbulent emotions and spoke up.
"We need to get that sword."
Jian immediately turned toward her.
His expression becoming serious.
"Only the sword?"
Yue’s brows knitted tightly together as she glanced toward the chaotic battle unfolding between the Rulers above the platform.
"Yes. The sword."
She paused, her voice turning solemn.
"And we need to reach it before the Rulers do. I don’t know why, but every instinct in me is telling me that’s what we need to do."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"That’s what called me here"
Realizing that her words were too vague, Yue looked at everyone, her gaze serious.
"I know I can’t explain it properly. I don’t even understand why I feel this way myself... but you all need to believe me."
Elizabeth stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on Yue’s shoulder.
"We all believe you. You were closest to Kyle. Yue, you can sense what we can’t."
Her voice was firm, without the slightest hesitation. Like Elizabeth, one by one, the others also nodded in agreement. Even though they didn’t fully understand what Yue had sensed or why she was so certain, not a single one of them questioned her.
They had fought together, survived countless dangers together, and trusted each other with their lives.
If Yue said that they needed to reach that sword, then they would do everything they could to help her reach it.
After all, that was what friends were for.
No matter how dangerous the path ahead was, they would face it together.
Yue’s eyes flickered with emotion. The heaviness weighing on her heart lifted.
She had been so focused on finding Kyle that she had almost forgotten something important. Even if Kyle wasn’t here...
She wasn’t alone. All these people they both had met, fought beside, and come to care about were still with her. They might not understand what she was feeling, but they trusted her without hesitation.
Bia rolled up her sleeves, her expression sharpening as she looked toward Yue.
"You focus on reaching that ice sword."
The aura of a Celestial Phoenix lingered around her, despite her battered state. She cracked her knuckles and glanced toward the chaotic battlefield above the platform.
"Leave the rest to us."
Alec immediately nodded, his gaze firm with determination.
"Yeah. We’ll fight our way through this together."
One by one, the others gathered themselves, their battered bodies still aching from the earlier battle.
None of them knew whether they could actually stand against the Rulers. Deep down, they knew they couldn’t—not with their current power, at least. However, they were certain that with enough time, even the Rulers would be nothing before them.
Nevertheless, for now, they didn’t need to defeat or kill the Rulers. They only needed to create an opening for Yue.
And they would do whatever it took.
Just as the group was about to draw the Rulers’ attention and create an opening for Yue to reach the ice sword, three familiar figures suddenly stepped out from behind the ice walls on the opposite side of the platform, looking around in confusion.
Alec’s eyes immediately widened.
"The kids!!"
Seeing Amon, Caria, and Leon appear in such a dangerous place, everyone’s heart sank. Bia almost flew over to protect the three kids, but the others quickly stopped her before she could rush forward and get caught in the Rulers’ overwhelming power.
The Phoenix muttered anxiously, her glowing eyes fixed on the three children.
"Amon! That brat! How many times—how many times have I told those three never to roam around alone? But no! No, no! They always have to do whatever they want!"