UNIFIED W

Chapter 12: Phase two, Conclusion

While wandering, Zeru unexpectedly found his team in a quiet, dense forest between the cities of Von and Buur.

Sunlight passed through the tall trees, casting delicate patterns on the forest ground.

The entire forest lies within a vast mountain range, where a clear waterfall cuts through the landscape, its waters joining the river that runs through Kai's hometown.

Zeru went to the forest to recover and heal from the battle with Team 9, but as time went on, more people began to enter the forest.

Although he hated to admit it, Zeru lacked the strength to take on even a single opponent, so his only choice was to hide.

That's when he saw Kai and May just a few steps away. Zeru also noticed a team attempting to ambush them from behind.

The enemy launched a combo attack, and without hesitation, Zeru charged at his team, pushing them out of the way.

They fell off the cliff, crashing into the waterfall below.

***

Zeru's team struggled to swim to safety because of the strong current, but eventually, they managed to reach the shore, only to find that the enemy had vanished without a trace.

"Cough... Cough... Cough..."

May coughed up a lot of water, gasping for air as she struggled to breathe.

"What the hell, Zeru?!"

You idiots! Why are you walking around carelessly in a dangerous place like this?

May and Kai exchanged a quick glance as May twirled her ponytail to squeeze out the water and dry it faster.

"A dangerous place? What are you talking about, Zeru?"

"Didn't you hear what the commentator said earlier?"

"We came to the forest because it seemed the safest place at the moment, especially since we have the last sphere with us."

"Wait, you have the last sphere? That explains why the other participants all came to the forest—they were all searching for it."

Kai and Zeru finally had their longest conversation since the test started, but it was cut short by May's scream.

"EEEK!"

"G-Guy... guys, t-t-the sphere's gone!"

Zeru's eyes widened as veins began to bulge on his face.

"WHAT?!"

"I must have dropped the sphere when we were falling."

That's when Kai spotted the sphere drifting away on the water. It was too late to act, as the enemy had already snatched it up.

There were two members from Team 10, and one of them was a well-known graffiti artist.

"Look, John, it must be our lucky day!"

"Let's head back to the boss, Alice."

Zeru and Kai froze, unsure of what to do, as Alice and John ran deeper into the forest.

"Guys, snap out of it! We need to take back our sphere before it's too late."

But May knew that, given Zeru's injuries, they would never catch up to Team 10 and retrieve the sphere.

Kai gathered all his courage and determined to take charge.

"I have a plan, and it will work if Zeru is willing to cooperate."

Kai struggled to control his nerves. May saw that he was trembling the entire time.

She approached him and gently rested a hand on his shoulder.