The cave didn't end.
It split.
Two pathways branched off ahead—one sloping downward with jagged stone walls, the other narrower, glowing faintly with embedded crystals that pulsed with raw mana.
Everyone stopped.
Zane's expression flattened instantly.
"…No," he said. "We're not splitting up."
Asher turned to him, unimpressed. "Then what do you suggest we do, oh wise hoodie-wearing prophet?" he asked, not even trying to hide the edge in his voice.
Zane slowly side-eyed him.
Didn't reply.
Instead, he crouched and placed his palm against the cave floor.
Shadow spilled outward.
Not violently—smooth and fluid, like black ink poured onto stone. It stretched, thinned, then flowed into both pathways, hugging the walls, sinking into cracks, slipping through unseen gaps.
Zane closed his eyes.
Shadow Vision activated.
The world shifted.
Heat signatures of mana lit up like constellations. The right path shimmered brightly—dense clusters of natural mana stones and crystals embedded in the walls.
The left path…
Something alive.
Something breathing.
Something watching.
A system message flashed across Zane's vision.
[Rank 2 Beast Spotted]
Demon Horned Owl
Status: Advancing
Objective: Consume Core
Reward:
– Shadow Comprehension +3
– Access to Void Domain
Zane smiled.
Not a big smile.
A satisfied one.
"Found it."
Everyone looked at him.
He straightened up and pointed casually to the left path. "It's that way."
Then, without missing a beat—
"Let's split up."
Asher stared. Celeste stared. Even Mira blinked.
"…You were literally the one," Asher said slowly, "who insisted we don't split up. What happened all of a sudden?"
Zane shrugged. "New information."
He gestured toward the right tunnel. "Mana stones and mana crystals. Natural ones. High purity too."
Celeste's eyes widened slightly.
"If we split," Zane continued, "we kill two birds with one stone. You guys harvest the crystals. I deal with the owl."
Then—very deliberately—he reached out and took Luna by the hand.
She stiffened instantly.
"I'll go with Miss Flashlight here," Zane added casually. "Wouldn't want to trip over a rock and die tragically in the dark."
Luna's face turned red so fast it almost outshone her light.
"I—I'm not—!"
Asher opened his mouth. "Hold on, that's—"
"Nope," Mira said flatly, grabbing Asher by the collar.
Celeste joined her without hesitation, pulling him toward the right tunnel. "You heard him. Crystals."
Asher was dragged away, still protesting. "This is suspicious! Extremely suspicious!"
Their voices faded as they disappeared down the right path.
Silence returned.
Just Zane.
And Luna.
Zane looked down at her, noticing the way she was avoiding eye contact.
"…Why are you flustered all of a sudden?" he asked. "Come on."
He gave a lazy grin.
"We've got a monster to hunt."