The forest felt different once they stepped out of the cave.

What felt like a tropical climate at the top of waterfall now looked more like a boreal forest.

They walked without a clear path, pushing through broad-leafed plants and weaving around roots thicker than tree trunks.

Jay kicked a stone off the trail and sighed.

"So… why's it called the Isle of the Lost, anyway? Because we're lost? Because this place is lost? Because someone definitely got lost and died here?"

Ryn didn't slow down. "I don't know."

Jay blinked. "You don't know? But you dragged us to a place called the Lost. That's already like a red flag, maybe two."

Ryn lifted a branch out of the way. "I'm not completely clueless. I just don't know the name's origin."

"All I know is that Rora, the swordsman, came here and learned something big."

Well… part of that statement was true. Ryn didn't actually know what technique Rora learned.

However, he did know that it was destructive. So destructive that it actually caused harm to Rora, who had reached High-Master Essence Realm.

Ryn knew that if he tried to learn it now, at his current Essence Rank, he'd be blown to bits.

It wasn't a metaphor or exaggeration. His Essence would literally tear itself apart, as the technique itself probably outweighs Ryn's own understanding.

Which was why he needed the Essence-Conversion Pill.

A pill designed to strip a person down to their foundation, compressing every physical attribute, sliver of strength, hidden potential—and fuse it directly into their Essence.

How did he know about this pill? The answer was walking right behind him, flailing his arms about, trying to deter any flying insects.

Ryn remembered it clearly. Jay had presented it years later, exhausted and triumphant, calling it 'the riskiest thing he's ever done.'

It was given to the Hero, Fritz Calder, and surprisingly enough…it worked.

However, it wasn't enough to stop the Evernight…

Ryn pushed a branch aside.

But now, on this island, Ryn had access to everything Jay would one day use to create it.

This time, he didn't have the luxury of failing.

Jay had to succeed.

…

They walked for another solid 30 minutes before that same Jay finally snapped.

"Okay but seriously, are we just randomly walking around until a clue falls out somewhere?"

"No," Ryn said.

Jay waited.

Ryn did not elaborate.

"…Ryn."

Ryn sighed. "We're not wandering. I'm looking for something."

Jay perked up. "Really? What?"

"There should be four islands," Ryn said simply.

Jay blinked. "Four?"

"Yeah," Ryn said, gesturing around them. "Forest. Then desert. Then snow."

Jay stared. "And the fourth?"

Ryn paused.

"…Irrelevant right now."

"That's not reassuring at ALL."

Ryn ignored him and continued, voice even.

"Each island has something we need. A key. Not a literal one, but some kind of item, allowing us to access the last island."

Jay rubbed his temples. "Is this another one of your 'I read in that book' type of information?"

"Yep," Ryn assured.

Jay groaned. "Great. Wonderful. So what exactly are we even looking for? A sign? A clue? Anything?"

"I don't know," Ryn said. "We'll recognize it when we see it."

Jay opened his mouth to argue—

—but Ryn suddenly stopped walking.

"…Ryn?" Jay asked.

He didn't answer. His breath hitched.

Carried by the wind…was a scent. Floral, sweet, and almost… intoxicating.

It wasn't just pleasant. It was irresistible.

A fragrance so pure it felt like it seeped into his bones, tugging at his Essence, urging him forward. His entire body reacted before his mind caught up.

Jay sniffed loudly. "Wait… do you smell that? Is that… flowers?

Concentrated Life Energy—one of the ingredients needed for the pill.

They both approached slowly until they got to a curtain of leaves.

Pushing it aside, a clearing opened up. It was bathed in gentle sunlight, air shimmering with motes of green light drifting all around it.

Then, at the center, a colossal bloom. Its petals glowed softly, almost as delicate as glass. The plant itself was almost as big as a small townhouse.

And in its center, suspended by thin living tendrils, hovered a radiant jewel, pulsing with a steady, rhythmic heartbeat.

Jay stumbled out from the bushes beside him, eyes glazed.

"So… pretty…" he whispered, hand already reaching toward the bloom.

Ryn's head snapped toward him.

"Jay?"

Then a message slammed into his mind.

[Poison Resistance Activated: Poison will be nullified.]

Ryn's stomach dropped.

Shit.

The flower twitched.

A split second later, tendrils exploded outward, vines lined with dozens of needle-like spikes launched straight at Jay.

Ryn didn't think. He lunged, grabbing Jay by the collar and yanking him back with all his strength.

The vines slammed into the ground where Jay's chest had been a heartbeat earlier—hard enough to dent the soil with a heavy, echoing THUD.

With the quick realization that the plant's spores was the cause, Ryn immediately took out a cloth and wrapped it over Jay's nose and mouth.

Jay's eyes slowly returned to color, a sign that Ryn's observation was working.

"What—what just happened to me?"

"Long story, dodge!"

Another tendril slammed down on them with the same crushing force as before.

Ryn shoved Jay out of the way and rolled, the ground cracking where the spike hit. Dirt and splinters burst upward like shrapnel.

Jay scrambled to his feet. "WHY IS THE FLOWER TRYING TO MURDER US?!"

"Because you tried to pick it," Ryn snapped.

More tendrils rose around the bloom, curling like serpents preparing to strike. The entire plant seemed to awaken, petals spreading wider as if to claim territory.

It wasn't a flower.

It was a predator in disguise.

A tendril lashed toward Ryn. He ducked under it, the spike grazing his cheek before burying into a tree behind him, splitting the trunk clean in half.

[HP: 150 → 142 → 134]

[Poison Resistance Activated: Poison will be nullified.]

Shit, even a light graze might be lethal.

"Jay! Just stay back for this one! You'll die if it scratches you!"

Even without the command, Jay was already hiding behind an appropriate boulder.

"Yea–yeah! Sounds good!" he yelled in reply.

More tendrils whipped toward him, three at once this time, forcing Ryn to backpedal fast.

Even with Aquila, there were simply too many attacks, at too rapid of a pace for him to go on the offensive.

Though he saw an opportunity. One of the tendrils was recovering, perfect time to strike.

With one fluid motion, he pulled out his sword, dashing toward the tendril.O ne clean cut—that was all he needed. The blade sliced through the vine entirely, the severed piece collapsing to the dirt with a wet noise.

But that seemed to be a bad idea.

The flower immediately convulsed, petals shuddering violently as the jewel's pulse spiked. A guttural, plant-like screech tore out of its core. Tendrils erupted upward in a frenzy, sweeping in vicious, erratic arcs across the field.

Ryn cursed and dove away as a spike slammed down where he'd stood, cracking the ground like brittle stone, managing to graze him again.

[HP: 134 → 126 → 118]

[Poison Resistance Activated: Poison will be nullified.]

The tendrils pulled back again, coiling tightly, preparing for another explosive sweep.

Ryn braced himself. He needed a plan, something to weaken the plant long enough to reach the jewel.

From behind the boulder, Jay suddenly shouted:

"Ryn! Stall it for a second!"

"A second for WHAT?!" Ryn barked, dodging another vine.

"For… for alchemy!"

Ryn blinked. "You're going to BREW something right now?!"

Jay was already digging frantically through his satchel, ingredients spilling everywhere as he talked at a frantic pace.

"Thinkthinkthink—plant monster—giant flower—roots—cellulose—AH! Plants hate certain compounds—especially when you MIX them!"

Ryn dodged a whip that nearly took his head off.

"Jay, this thing is not a houseplant!"

"JUST LET ME WORK!"

Jay snatched up a handful of dried minerals, two vials of clear liquid, and a weird-smelling powder he bought earlier for special occasions.

The moment the substances touched—

FWOOM—!!

A violent reaction burst inside the cup, rattling Jay's entire arm.

A noxious green steam hissed out.

Jay's eyes widened.

"Ohhh, this is DEFINITELY herbicidal."

With a loud yell, Jay got his attention.

"Ryn! Use this!"

Ryn barely slipped under another sweeping vine, backing to the boulder to receive the concoction.

Jay shoved the flask toward him with shaking hands.

"Take it! Just—just splash it on the vines! If it touches the main roots, it should paralyze the whole plant!"

Ryn didn't hesitate.

He grabbed the flask, its heat searing even through the cloth wrapping.

The plant roared, petals flaring open as all tendrils locked onto Ryn at once.

Jay screamed, "GO!"

Ryn moved.

Energy surged within him, turning the world sharp and slow.

The tendrils lashed out. One, two, three, five—

Following Aquila's guidance, he slipped through them all, each step precise, like he was weaving through a battlefield.

He reached the base of the bloom.

With its last-ditch effort, the petals slammed shut, protecting the jewel inside.

Ryn smashed the herbicide against the roots.

SSSSSHHHHHH—!!

The corrosive green vapor exploded outward, washing over the plant's base.

The tendrils convulsed, retracting violently, their strength collapsing in an instant. The petals shook, trying and failing to keep their form as they peeled back again.

Jay gasped. "IT'S WORKING!"

Ryn didn't wait.

He sprinted straight through the weakened vines, leapt, and ripped the jewel free from its center.

RIP—!

The flower let out a final, spiraling screech, petals collapsing inward as its body went limp.

A notification flickered.

[Key Acquired: Heartjewel of the Forest Isle]

Ryn's breath stopped.

"…What?"

The system had never done that.

It only tracked progression—stats, Blessings, Essences, and such.

It did not acknowledge objects, did not label items, or cared about the world or its relics.

Yet here it was. Clear as day.

Jay staggered over. "Ryn, are you alive? Did we win? Do we—why are you making that face?"

Ryn didn't answer immediately.

His eyes stayed fixed on the translucent notification hovering in front of him.

He slowly lowered his gaze to the jewel in his hand.

Ryn finally spoke, voice quiet.

"…Jay."

"Yeah?"

"This jewel… it's not just a key."

Jay blinked. "Okay? Then what is it?"

Ryn closed his fingers around it.

"I don't know."

He looked at the dimming system window, then up at the sky, towards the stars.

"But something else does…and it knows we're here."

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