?


    The final impression at the time of parting is crucial.


    The synchronicity between Viviana and Tyler just now was actually a coincidence created by Tyler using mind-reading.


    "Where will you go next?"


    "I... I need to go to Gudetown first."


    Viviana remembered her agreement with Albert and feared she wouldn''t make it if she didn''t hurry back.


    — (Elders... please don''t return early...)


    "Banning, what about you?"


    Although Viviana knew she had little time, she was also concerned about Banning''s journey.


    If they parted ways here, they wouldn''t know when they could meet again... Viviana thought.


    Tyler didn''t answer immediately but thought for a moment.


    His original n was to rendezvous with Avril/Elle and then return to Ira Vige to deliver the sandrift flower to Grandma Kana for treatment.


    However, if he went back to Ira Vige, he would be on the same path as Viviana.


    In that case, the situation would be Tyler, Avril/Elle, and Viviana traveling together.


    Thebination of one man and two women was already frightening, but with Elle, it would be one man and three women!


    At that time, Tyler felt goosebumps just thinking about what might happen in such a battlefield.


    "I need to go to Sunnytown. After defeating the demon earlier, I feel like there''s an energy inside me that''s full. I''m not sure if it''s the influence of thebat upation, so I want to ask about it in Sunnytown," Tyler said.


    "Full...?...Combat upation?"


    Viviana was somewhat surprised. She had thought Banning was just a hunter, but it turned out he had abat upation in addition to his production upation.


    — (You''re truly no ordinary youth.)


    Now Viviana understood a bit. Banning''sposure in the cave was no ident. If time allowed, she would love to learn everything about Banning.


    "Indeed, defeating such a formidable demon would naturally lead to significant growth... I believe you must be approaching the bottleneck for abat upation advancement," Viviana said, her extensive knowledge shining through.


    Upon hearing this, Tyler''s eyes lit up.


    "Combat upation advancement?"


    "Yes,bat upations require thepletion of corresponding ''trials'' to advance and continue leveling up at levels 20, 50, 90, and beyond. Depending on the trial and individual performance, mostbat upations also undergo a ''ss change''... If you''re not in a hurry, I suggest you head to Emerald City for a profession and level appraisal," Viviana exined in detail.


    Tyler wanted to ask more about the "trials" and "ss change", but seeing Viviana''s eagerness to rush to Gudetown, he decided not to press further.


    "Thank you, Viviana. You''re truly impressive."


    Viviana shook her head, indicating that there was no need for thanks.


    She had hoped to thoroughly share her knowledge with Banning, but she was running out of time.


    "Take this with you. If there''s a Quest Guild in Sunnytown, show them this badge, and they''ll help you," Viviana said, handing Tyler a pure gold badge engraved with the emblem of her family. It was weighty and clearly valuable.


    "...Or, you could...e to mestride City to find me... if you wish," Viviana muttered quietly, unfortunately unheard by Banning.


    "I will always remember your kindness, Viviana, and I will repay you someday."


    "...Alright."


    There was much left to say, but time waits for no one.


    "I must go now..."


    "Stay safe."


    Viviana took onest look at Banning before conjuring the Floating Crimson Sword. She deftly leaped back and forth between the rock wall and the flying sword, soon reaching the cliff''s top. ncing back, she saw Banning still watching her, and her lips curved into an involuntary smile.


    "Remember, never attempt the F·I·F·T·H level of difficulty in the trials, no matter what!" Viviana shouted to Banning.


    "Alright! You should go now!" Tyler shouted back, waving goodbye.


    It was a gentleman''s duty to see ady off. He continued watching until Viviana disappeared from view before setting off.


    .


    Tyler searched for Avril and Elle along the bottom of the gorge, retracing their steps towards the earlier fissure, and finally, he found Avril lying unconscious near the crevice.


    (…?!)


    It had been over six hours since Tyler and Viviana had fallen into the underground cavern.


    Tyler quickly rushed to Avril''s side, relieved to find she had merely fainted.


    ━━━━━━━━━


    Avril


    Life Energy: 16/30


    Endurance: 0/23


    Magic Energy: 80/80


    ━━━━━━━━━


    (Did she faint due to exhaustion...?)


    Tyler nced at Avril''s status information and then at the pile of rocks beside her, resembling a small mountain. He felt a pang of difort in his heart. \


    It was clear to Tyler that every stone in the pile was stained with blood—Avril''s blood.


    Avril had painstakingly removed each rock blocking the crevice until she was utterly exhausted and had copsed at the edge.


    Imagining this scene, Tyler''s face turned pale.


    He carefully examined Avril''s hands. Both were covered in blood, her skin rubbed raw andcerated. In some ces, her flesh had been worn away, exposing the bone beneath.


    Tyler knew that Avril had endured such agony in her attempt to rescue him from the underground cavern.


    Unable to fathom the excruciating pain Avril must have withstood while removing the rocks, and the desperation she felt in trying to save him, Tyler felt guilty, knowing her effort was ultimately futile.


    (Too foolish... Avril... I''m not worth it…)


    Tyler sat beside Avril, wanting tofort her but not daring to touch her. He sat in silence for a long time.


    Eventually, he got up and found the remains of the Gudetown cavalry squad. He collected a few usable healing potions from their belongings and brought them back to Avril.


    The sting of the medicine roused Avril from her unconscious state. As she saw Banning''s face, she couldn''t tell if she was dreaming or awake.


    But it didn''t matter if it was a dream or reality. As long as she could see Banning again, she was content.


    —— (Oh, benevolent gods…)


    —— (If this is reality, I''m willing to trade my life for Banning''s survival.)


    —— (If this is a dream, please let me never wake up. )


    —— (It''s my only request in this lifetime… Please grant my wish.)


    Unrestrained tears slid down Avril''s cheeks.


    .


    At the same moment, atop the Sandrift Gorge''s cliff, the level 67 Mercenary Sage Granny Kasi gazed solemnly at the bottom of the gorge.


    "I can no longer sense Swarerock''s presence... Could he be dead?" she muttered to herself. "Just in case, I''ll make a record."


    "Gudetown cavalry... annihted..." she noted.


    "Survivors include... the young hunter from Ira vige... the orchard girl... Hm? And the youngdy of the Scarlet Family?" Granny Kasi''s eyes widened in surprise.


    —— (Swallelock, you couldn''t have been killed by Scarlet Family''s youngdy, could you?)


    The unexpected discovery intensified Granny Kasi''s suspicion that Swarerock was indeed dead.


    To ount for her findings when reporting to the "Earthly Ghost," she quickly noted the names of the few survivors from the gorge incident.


    "Sandrift Gorge survivors: Viviana of the Scarlet family, Banning from Ira vige, and Avril, also from Ira vige."


    .


    End of the Volume /Shadow of the Sandrift Gorge/


    ????????*??