Ethan stepped forward to steady Micah, who was swaying slightly.
"Brother… you guys go on to the second level. Don't worry about me," Micah said, his breath shaky. "Seems I underestimated the trials of the Spirit Realm. It only opens once every hundred thousand years—I thought I could at least make it to the third level, maybe even the fourth!"
He let out a low, bitter laugh. "I was too arrogant."
Though Micah had achieved a breakthrough, the process had ravaged his body. The injuries he suffered were severe, and the exhaustion left him feeling his own limits keenly. Worse yet, he didn't want to hold Ethan and Julian back.
Ethan scoffed and smacked the back of his head lightly. "What kind of nonsense is that? You call me brother, and you think I'm just gonna leave you here?"
He turned to Julian. "You know how to set bones?"
Julian was already crouched beside Micah, examining his leg. He gave a grim nod. "The pressure in this place is too heavy—it's not helping his injuries."
