The cave felt colder than the jungle ever had.

  Myla barely spoke.

  Grinsh wheezed in his sleep.

  Rell stared into the dirt like it held answers.

  Zariin stood near the entrance, arms crossed.

  “Nerro’s gone.”

  No one replied.

  That morning, they moved.

  Not far — just enough to recon the nearby ridge.

  Selena scouted ahead.

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  Rell stayed close behind.

  Zariin crept with silent steps.

  “If we can find the boss, we strike together. No split-ups.”

  Ishro nodded.

  “Agreed. No more losses.”

  Then they found him.

  The Trial Boss.

  A towering, crown-rooted creature with a chest full of screaming vines and a jaw of wet stone. Eyes like blood.

  It stood atop a root-throne, feeding on corpses. Old ones. Newer ones.

  And next to it, arms crossed — grinning — was Nerro.

  “No way,” Myla whispered.

  Selena’s eyes widened.

  Rell’s fists clenched. Flame twitched from his knuckles.

  [THOUGHTS]

  You did this.

  You led them here.

  Zariin didn’t wait.

  She screamed — ran forward, illusions flickering like fireflies.

  Ten versions of her blurred across the roots.

  But the boss was ready.

  Vines shot out, speared three illusions —

  Then the real one.

  She shrieked as the root ripped through her chest, lifting her off the ground like meat on a hook. Her blood dripped in slow, wet drops.

  “ZARIIN!” Ishro yelled.

  He charged after her — fists lit with thunder-force.

  He landed two blows on the boss, cracking bark and burning skin.

  But the root-beast screamed — not in pain, but in joy.

  Its chest opened.

  Dozens of thorned arms burst out and ripped Ishro apart mid-air — arms, legs, chest — blood raining down like mist.

  Rell stood frozen.

  Selena screamed.

  Grinsh roared and pulled Myla back into the trees.

  “Nerro!” Selena screamed. “WHY?!”

  He just smiled.

  “Because I want OUT.”

  Only four remained now.

  And the trial had just begun to bloom.