I Can See Evolution Paths

They continued deeper into the chamber, but the farther they went, the more oppressive the heat became. Arthur could feel sweat running down his back. The stone beneath his boots was hot enough that even the soles of his shoes seemed to be warming.

Beside him, Luna’s breathing had become heavier. She tried not to complain, but Arthur noticed the way she kept wiping the sweat from her forehead.

Mithra noticed as well. "Hold still for a moment," she said.

Luna looked at her in surprise. "I’m fine."

"I know," Mithra said with a smile. "I’m still checking."

A small amount of golden mana flowed from Mithra’s hand and spread across Luna’s arms, cooling the burns that had begun forming on her skin.

Luna sighed in relief. "Thank you."

"Don’t thank me yet," Mithra replied. "We still have a long way to go."

Another eruption suddenly burst from the wall. Arthur looked up. "Down!" he shouted.

Everyone immediately lowered themselves. A massive stream of boiling vapor swept across the passage above their heads. Vedas swiftly created a shield trembled as some of the steam struck it, but the barrier held.

Eden covered her face with both hands. "It’s so hot!"

Arthur glanced at her. "Can you keep going?"

Eden lowered her hands and looked at him with a stubborn expression. "I can."

Arthur studied her for several seconds. She was trying very hard to look fine, but Arthur could see the redness around her cheeks and the way her breathing had become slightly quicker.

He smiled gently. "I know you can." When Eden blinked and started to say "Then—" he cut in. "But you don’t have to. Rest for a little," he said, reaching over to touch her shoulder.

Golden light immediately surrounded Eden. Her body became enveloped in the familiar glow before she disappeared into the Mana Realm.

Luna stared at the empty space beside Arthur. "Where did she go?"

"Back to the Mana Realm," Arthur said, continuing to look ahead. "The heat is becoming too dangerous for her. There’s no reason to make her suffer when she doesn’t need to."

Luna nodded slowly. "That’s nice."

Arthur smiled. "She’s my partner."

Athy looked toward Athena. "You should send me back too if it gets much worse."

Athena glanced at the surrounding steam before nodding. "I will. Don’t push yourself just because everyone else is still moving."

Athy gave a small nod. "Okay."

Melo, meanwhile, had been watching Mithra. Her ears lowered slightly. "You should pace yourself and be careful."

Mithra shook her head. "I’m fine."

Melo’s five tails curled slightly around her body. "You’re already sweating."

Mithra smiled. "Then heal me."

Melo stared at her. For several seconds, she said nothing. Then, "...You’re annoying."

Mithra laughed softly. "I know."

Arthur glanced back at them. "You two are having a very normal conversation in a place that’s trying to boil us alive."

Mithra smiled. "We’re adapting."

Melo nodded seriously. "She’s difficult to kill."

Mithra’s smile widened. "That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me today."

Melo looked away. "I didn’t mean it nicely."

"Sure."

Melo’s ears flattened. "I really didn’t."

Arthur laughed before turning his attention back toward the path.

The next eruption forced them to move again. The group continued deeper into the cavern, each person becoming increasingly aware that the heat wasn’t going to improve. Vedas kept the barrier active while Mithra continued treating the small burns that appeared whenever the barrier failed to completely block a burst of heat.

And then they continued moving after.

Melo eventually spread a thin layer of dream mist around Luna. The effect was subtle at first. The roar of the steam seemed to become farther away. The oppressive heat didn’t disappear, but the sensation became easier to tolerate, as though Luna’s body had been given a moment to forget just how uncomfortable it was.

Luna slowly looked around. "What did you do?"

Melo’s tails swayed gently. "Dream Weave."

"You can make the heat disappear?"

"No," Melo shook her head. "I can make your mind less focused on it."

Luna looked at her in surprise. "So you can make frightening things feel less frightening?"

Melo nodded. "Sometimes that’s enough."

Luna gave her a small smile. "Thank you."

Melo’s expression softened. "Stay close to Mithra."

Mithra glanced at her. "You’re worried about me too."

Melo immediately looked away. "I’m worried about everyone."

Mithra smiled. "Of course you are."

Melo’s ears twitched. "Don’t make it weird."

Mithra laughed. "I wasn’t."

Arthur shook his head. "You two are surprisingly entertaining."

Melo and Mithra both looked toward him. "Keep walking," Melo said.

Arthur grinned. "Yes, ma’am."

They eventually reached the middle of the chamber. For a brief moment, the path ahead appeared clear. Then the wall beside them suddenly trembled.

Arthur’s expression changed. "Wait."

A deep rumbling sound came from somewhere inside the rock. Then—

FWOOOOOSH!

A massive stream of steam erupted from the wall. Unlike the previous geysers, this one didn’t shoot upward. It blasted sideways across the entire passage, forming a continuous wall of boiling vapor.

Everyone stopped.

Arthur raised one hand. "Nobody move."

The steam roared in front of them. Even from several meters away, the heat was overwhelming.

Sun took a cautious step backward. "How are we supposed to get through that?"

"We aren’t," Arthur replied.

Sun looked at him. "What?"

"Not yet."

Arthur watched the steam carefully. The pressure inside the wall fluctuated every few seconds.

Athena moved closer to him, keeping a safe distance from the vapor. "It’s cycling."

Arthur nodded. "How long?"

Athena watched the pattern, counting several bursts beneath her breath before looking at him. "About twenty seconds."

"Twenty seconds before what?"

"It weakens."

Arthur looked toward the other side. "Then that’s our opening."

Luna swallowed. "And if we’re too slow?"

Arthur glanced at her. "Then we’ll have to wait for the next one."

Luna looked at the boiling wall. "That sounds dangerous."

Arthur smiled. "It is."

Vedas sighed. "You could at least pretend to reassure her."

Arthur looked at Luna. "Don’t worry. If something goes wrong, I’ll grab you."

Luna stared at him. "That’s not very reassuring."

Sun laughed. "Welcome to Arthur’s version of reassurance."

Arthur shrugged. "It works."

The group waited, and the longer they stood there, the more difficult the heat became. Luna’s breathing grew unsteady again. Mithra immediately placed another healing spell over her. "Slow breaths."

Luna nodded. "I’m trying."

Vedas noticed her trembling. He stepped closer. "Stay focused."

Luna looked at him. "I’m trying."

Vedas raised his hand. Golden energy flowed from his body, spreading across the group, passing over Arthur, Luna, Mithra, Sun, Kong, Athena, and the others before settling around Luna. His voice carried an unusual weight. "Believe in us."

The effect wasn’t forceful. Instead, something about his words seemed to push back against the fear that had been building inside Luna. Her breathing gradually slowed. Her shoulders relaxed.

She looked toward Vedas. "I believe you."

Vedas lowered his hand. "Good."

Arthur looked at him. "Nice."

Vedas glanced over. "She needed confidence."

Arthur nodded. "Still nice."

Sun looked between them. "Does that work on everyone?"

Vedas looked at him. "Do you want to find out?"

Sun immediately shook his head. "Nope."

Melo laughed. Kong snorted. Even Luna couldn’t help smiling. For a brief moment, the unbearable chamber felt a little less frightening.

Then Athena spoke. "It’s weakening."

Arthur’s expression sharpened. He looked toward the steam. The wall of vapor was beginning to thin. "Everyone get ready."

The others immediately moved into position. Mithra took Luna’s hand. Athy flew above the group. Kong moved toward the front. Vedas remained near the rear.

Arthur raised Dusk. "Wait for it."

The steam thinned further.

"Now!"

Everyone moved.

They rushed across the remaining path. For several seconds, the chamber seemed almost peaceful. Then a crack opened beneath Mithra’s foot. She immediately jumped. The stone collapsed behind her, revealing the boiling water below. Mithra landed safely and continued without slowing.

Melo’s tails flashed. Several illusions appeared ahead of the group, each one looking almost identical to them. The false groups moved through the chamber first.

Melo watched carefully. "That section." She pointed toward the illusion that suddenly disappeared beneath a burst of steam. "Don’t step there."

Arthur immediately changed direction. "Left!"

The group followed. A geyser erupted where they had been heading.

Athy flew above them, her golden eyes scanning the cavern. "Right!"

Arthur trusted her immediately. The group shifted. A wall of steam exploded across the path they had just abandoned.

"Keep going!" Arthur shouted.

Mithra grabbed Luna’s hand and pulled her across another narrow gap. "Almost there!"

Luna stumbled. Mithra caught her before she fell. "I’m okay," Luna said.

"I know," Mithra said. "Keep moving anyway."

As they crossed the final stretch, Vedas felt the barrier flickered as it absorbed another burst of boiling vapor.

Vedas gritted his teeth. "Just a little farther."

They pushed forward.

Then Luna’s foot touched solid stone.

Mithra stepped onto it immediately afterward with Melo following. Then Kong and Sun. Athena and Athy were the last before Vedas and Arthur finished crossing.

The instant his foot reached the safe ground, the golden barrier faded away. For several seconds, nobody spoke. Everyone simply stood there and breathed.

Sun eventually bent forward, resting his hands on his knees. "I never want to do that again."

Kong nodded. "Agreed."

Sun slowly looked up. "You agree?"

Kong wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Too hot."

Melo stared at him. "That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you admit something was too much."

Kong frowned. "Don’t tell anyone."

Mithra immediately smiled. "Too late."

Kong looked at her. "You heard nothing."

Mithra laughed. "I heard everything."

Even Vedas allowed himself a small smile.

Arthur looked around at them. "At least everyone made it."

Sun straightened. "That’s what you’re taking away from this?"

Arthur nodded. "Yes."

Sun sighed. "You’re impossible."

Arthur smiled. "I’ve been told that before."

Luna remained near the edge of the safe platform, still looking back toward the chamber they had crossed. The geysers continued erupting behind them. Steam rolled across the ceiling. For the first time since entering the cavern, they had a moment where nothing seemed to be trying to kill them.

That moment didn’t last.

Then something dropped from above.

Clatter.

Arthur looked down. A small bone had landed beside his boot. His expression changed.

Another fell. Then another.

Mithra slowly looked upward. "Where are those coming from?"

Nobody answered.

A faint hiss echoed through the chamber. Arthur’s grip tightened around Dusk. The ceiling above them shifted. A section of stone cracked open. Then a pile of bones slid through the opening and crashed onto the path.

Luna’s face immediately went pale.

Arthur approached carefully. These weren’t ancient remains. Several still had pieces of fur attached. One skull had a long horn protruding from its forehead.

Mithra crouched beside the remains. "They died here."

Arthur looked toward the chamber. "The Beasts that fell through the cracks."

Athena examined the bones. "Some of them probably fell while trying to cross."

Luna stared at the remains. "And they couldn’t get back out."

Athena nodded. "The heat probably weakened them before they could find another route."

Luna’s hands tightened around her clothes. "My grandfather told us never to come here."

Arthur looked at her. "Now you know why."

One of the bones suddenly began glowing faintly.

Luna stepped backward. "What..."

Another bone began glowing. Then another. The heat around them intensified. Within moments, the entire pile began to crumble. The bones didn’t burn. They dissolved. Fine particles drifted upward and disappeared into the steam.

Luna stared in horror. "That’s why..." Her voice trembled. "That’s why the Beasts avoid this place."

Arthur looked toward the chamber. For once, he didn’t make a joke. He understood now. The cavern wasn’t simply dangerous. It was a place where mistakes became death sentences.

Arthur looked down at the compass. The needle was still pointing forward. His expression gradually became serious. "Then we’re not finished."

The passage ahead opened into another enormous chamber. Arthur stepped closer. Steam rose from somewhere far below. At first, he assumed it was another geyser. Then he noticed something strange.

The vapor wasn’t simply rising.

It was falling.

A massive stream of boiling steam poured downward from the ceiling and crashed across the pathway ahead like a waterfall. The sound was deafening.

Arthur stopped. The path continued beyond it. The compass pointed directly through the steaming wall.

Luna stared at the obstacle. "How are we supposed to get through that?"

Arthur didn’t answer immediately. He studied the flow. The steam wasn’t moving randomly. It was pouring down from somewhere above, striking the stone below before spreading across the passage. More bones occasionally appeared through the vapor. They fell onto the pathway. Then, after only a few seconds, they slowly dissolved.

Luna took another step backward. "We can’t go through that."

Arthur looked at the compass. Then at the steam. Then back at Luna. He remained silent for several seconds, taking in everything they’d already survived to get this far, before his eyes slowly brightened.

"We’ll figure it out."

Vedas looked at him. "That smile worries me."

Arthur grinned. "It should."

The steam suddenly roared louder.

The cavern trembled beneath their feet. Arthur tightened his grip around Dusk. Somewhere beyond that impossible wall of boiling vapor, the Fire Mirror was waiting. And whatever protected it clearly wasn’t finished testing them.