The wind howled through the icy valley as Jeff and I crouched behind a frozen boulder, holding our breath. Just a few meters away, the massive frost wyvern lay coiled around its nest, steam rising from its nostrils. Every exhale was like the hiss of a volcano buried under snow.
Jeff leaned closer to me and whispered, "Bro… if we die here, I just want you to know—I regret nothing."
I glared at him. "You said that three times already."
"Yeah, but this time, I mean it extra."
I sighed, slowly unsheathing my broken sword. "We just need to take a few ice fangs and get out. Don't wake it up."
Jeff nodded. "Sneaky mode. Like a ninja. A freezing ninja."
"Jeff."
"What?"
"Stop talking."
He zipped his mouth shut and started tiptoeing toward the nest. The wyvern's tail twitched.
We froze. Not a single breath left my lips. The creature shifted, groaning, and then went still again.
Jeff raised a trembling hand, wiping sweat—or was it snow?—from his forehead. "Bro… this is worse than finals week."
I rolled my eyes. "You didn't even finish college."
"Exactly. That's why I said it's worse."
We finally managed to grab a few icy crystals from near the nest. Jeff stuffed them into his bag, and we began backing away…
Then he sneezed.
The wyvern's eyes snapped open.
"JEFF—!"
"IT WAS THE COLD!" he yelled as the monster roared, shaking the mountainside.
We ran. Again.
Snow exploded around us as the wyvern unleashed a blizzard of white flames. Jeff was half-sliding, half-falling beside me, clutching his bag.
"This thing really hates us!" he screamed.
"It hates you!" I shouted back.
We dove into our cave just as another blast of frost slammed into the mountain behind us. The cave trembled, dust and snow falling from the ceiling. Jeff rolled onto his back, panting, eyes wide.
"Okay," he gasped. "I officially hate ice."
I sat down beside him, brushing frost off my hair. "We've been saying that for a week now."
"Yeah, but I mean it extra this time," he said, mimicking his own line earlier. We both burst out laughing, even though we were completely exhausted.
The laughter slowly faded into silence. The cave was dark, the only light coming from a small flame Jeff conjured in his palm. It flickered gently, warming the air.
"You know," he said softly, "this isn't so bad."
"What isn't?"
"Living like this. Running, fighting, trying to survive."
He smiled faintly. "Feels more alive than my old world."
I nodded. "Yeah. Me too."
He looked at me curiously. "What about you, Fan Ling? You ever think about going back?"
I stared at the little flame. "I used to think I wanted to go home. But now… I'm not sure what 'home' even means anymore."
Jeff smirked. "Deep talk, huh? Alright, philosopher Fan Ling."
"Shut up," I said, throwing a snow pebble at him. He laughed and tossed one back.
For a moment, it felt like everything was peaceful.
Then, without warning, a blue light filled the cave.
The ground beneath us pulsed with energy, and the familiar voice of the system echoed in our heads:
> [Attention, participants.]
[All remaining irregulars, reincarnators, and regressors will now return to their original worlds.]
[Countdown: 1 minute.]
Jeff's eyes widened. "Wait—what? Already?!"
I stood up, looking around as the cave walls began to blur. "No… I thought we'd have more time."
The voice continued.
> [Return protocol initializing. Please prepare for transfer.]
[Countdown: 50 seconds.]
Jeff's fire went out. Only the glow of the portals illuminated our faces — two swirling gates of light forming before us, one blue, one red.
"Guess this is goodbye," Jeff said quietly.
He scratched the back of his neck and smiled awkwardly. "Not gonna lie, bro, I didn't think I'd actually make a friend here."
I felt a lump in my throat. "Same here."
> [Countdown: 30 seconds.]
"See you next time, yeah?" Jeff said, giving me a thumbs-up.
"Yeah," I said, forcing a smile. "Next time."
> [Countdown: 10 seconds.]
The light grew stronger, pulling us toward the portals.
Jeff looked at me and nodded twice. "You go first."
"You sure?"
"Yeah," he said. "I'll be right behind you."
I stepped into the portal. My vision exploded in color — heat, sound, and light swirling all around me. When I opened my eyes again…
I was standing in ruins.
The smell of smoke and ash hit me instantly. Around me lay the remains of a burnt mansion, its walls crumbled and covered in blackened vines. The air was thick, the sky tinted orange from smoldering embers.
I stumbled forward. My heart pounded.
"This place…" I whispered. "I… I know this place."
It was the Tiger Clan estate.
My home.
Or what was left of it.
I fell to my knees, staring at the ashes. My chest felt heavy, my throat tightening.
"I will take revenge," I shouted. My voice cracked through the silence like thunder. "I'll take back everything!"
Then a familiar voice came from behind me.
"Hey, Fan Ling! Where are we?!"
I turned around, shocked. "Jeff?!"
He was standing there, covered in ash, blinking. "Man, your world's hot! Are we in a volcano or something?"
"Why did you follow me?" I asked, still stunned.
He shrugged. "I told you I'd be right behind you. And besides…"
He smirked.
"You think I'm gonna let you have an adventure without me?"
I couldn't help it. I laughed — a tired, broken laugh, but real.
The smoke rose higher, and the ashes danced in the wind.
The world had changed, burned, and crumbled… but somehow, it felt like a new beginning.