CHAPTER 511: 511. AM I ’THAT’ STRONG? (2/2)

"Aaahh..."

"From now on, place ice on your cheek. Once we find a safe place, we can slip into your pocket dimension and use some potions to heal it." Yumina’s tone was brisk but caring as she handed Tyla her frozen water pouch while they continued running.

Tyla pressed the cold against her bruised cheek and winced. "It’s a little itchy..."

"Well, it might also be a little too chill. But endure it for now," Yumina replied, glancing at her with worry.

"Hmm... I don’t feel the cold that much, actually," Tyla murmured. She tightened her grip on the frozen water pouch Yumina had given her. The pouch had split under the pressure, but Tyla carefully cradled the block of ice so it wouldn’t shatter.

Snow crunched under their boots as they raced through the wilderness, bandit voices echoing faintly in the distance.

While sprinting across the snowy wilderness, Tyla’s breathing came out in small white puffs. Her boots sank slightly into the frosted ground, each step leaving a clear print in the snow. She kept glancing behind her, hearing the distant shouts of bandits echoing through the night.

Suddenly, she blurted out, "Huh? Why can’t we just fly away? Wouldn’t that be easier?"

Yumina didn’t slow down. She glanced sideways at Tyla with a little grin tugging at her lips. "Oh, there’s a reason for that," she replied mysteriously, her tone playful despite the danger. Then, with a wink, she added, "Don’t worry. We’ll take to the sky soon enough —right after we pass that pit ahead."

Tyla frowned, puzzled, but she didn’t argue. She decided to trust Yumina’s words even though she didn’t understand them. So she simply nodded and pushed herself to match her pace, following closely.

To be honest, Tyla felt she could move even faster, but she held back to match Yumina’s pace.

The pit Yumina mentioned wasn’t just a hole in the ground— it was a jagged depression, large enough to swallow a wagon whole. Frost clung to its rocky edges, and it stretched wide across their path like a scar carved into the earth. As they approached, Tyla’s brows knitted together. Was Yumina seriously planning something here?

"Now!" Yumina’s voice rang out.

Without hesitation, both girls bent their knees and launched upward. Tyla felt the sudden weightlessness take hold as they hovered for a split second before floating higher. The snow and pit shrank beneath their feet as they soared into the cold air.

They floated naturally. But Yumina was slow again.

"Grab my hand —we’ll go faster this way!" Yumina shouted over the wind.

Tyla immediately reached out, her fingers clasping Yumina’s. The warmth of Yumina’s palm contrasted against the icy night air. Even though she barely felt cold. A moment later, the thrusters in Yumina’s shoes roared to life with a low hum. A bright blue-white flame flared beneath her boots, and with a sudden burst of power, they shot forward, streaking across the dark sky like twin stars.

Tyla’s long hair whipped wildly behind her, her cheeks stung from the wind, but her eyes shone with exhilaration. For a brief moment, the danger, the bandits, and even the bruise on her cheek were forgotten. She felt refreshed.

Within minutes, the forested landscape below faded into patches of black and white. Snow-covered trees turned into smudges of silver, the ground a canvas of shadows. They disappeared into the vastness of the night sky, leaving no trace for their pursuers to follow.

Meanwhile, back on the ground, the bandits who had been chasing them skidded to a halt near the pit. Their leader crouched down, squinting at the trail of footprints in the snow.

"What the...?" one of them muttered, scratching his head. "The prints... they just stop here."

Another bandit knelt down and tapped the ground, confusion plastered on his face. "They didn’t turn back. And they didn’t fall in either. It’s like they... vanished."

The men exchanged nervous glances, their breaths misting in the cold. Some began searching the surrounding area, sweeping the snow with their weapons and stomping around as if hidden doors might reveal themselves.

But no matter how far they searched, the tracks were gone— swallowed by the pit and erased by the sky above.

"Did they fly away? Are they Grandmasters? Are we really chasing Grandmasters?" one bandit asked nervously.

"Alright, I’m out... Looks like they don’t even realize we’re just Master-level bandits," another muttered as he turned to leave.

---

Meanwhile, near the ruins of the collapsed tower, the bandits were busy clearing away the heavy debris. Dust still lingered in the cold night air, mixing with the scent of smoke and charred wood. Suddenly, one of them cried out, his voice filled with both relief and dread, "I found the boss!"

The others rushed over at once, shoving aside splintered beams and broken stone until the battered figure of their leader came into view. With great effort, they tried to lift him from the rubble, but the moment their eyes fell on his condition, every movement froze.

Their so-called fearless leader was barely clinging to life. His jaw hung at an unnatural angle, broken beyond repair, while his swollen face was bruised and mangled so badly it was almost unrecognizable. Blood matted his hair, and his breath came out in weak, ragged gasps.

"Is... is that really bro?" one of the bandits asked in a trembling voice, as though hoping someone would tell him it wasn’t.

But no one answered. The silence among them spoke louder than words.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

Finally, Tyla and Yumina reached a small cave hidden beneath a ridge. Yumina quickly sealed the entrance with layers of compacted snow, while Tyla discreetly buried the pocket dimension pearl deep into the cave floor.

Once the space was secured, both of them slipped inside the pocket dimension.

"Let’s find the potion and heal your chee—" Yumina stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes widened as she reached out and gently touched Tyla’s face.

"Your wound... vanished?" she whispered in disbelief.

Tyla blinked. "Huh? Oh... really? That’s great!" She gave a light laugh, pressing her fingers against her cheek. The tender bruise that had marked her skin moments ago was gone as if it had never existed.

"Do you... have regeneration ability or something?" Yumina asked, her voice laced with awe and curiosity.

"I don’t know," Tyla admitted with a small shake of her head, the same way she always responded to questions about her oddities.

Before Yumina could press further, a weak groan echoed behind them.

"Umm... girls... can you please save me and continue your chatter later?" a frail voice croaked.

Both of them spun around and froze.

Luman.

He was sprawled across the ground of the pocket dimension, looking like a beggar left for days without food or care. In their rush to escape, they had completely forgotten him.

"Oh no..." Yumina’s face flushed with guilt. "I’m so sorry, Luman. We... we left you like that."

"I’ll carry him," Tyla said firmly before Yumina could move. She slipped her arms beneath him and lifted him in a princess carry with effortless strength.

Luman blinked weakly, his head lolling against her shoulder. A faint, sweet fragrance lingered in the air— Tyla’s scent. His vision blurred, but he could still see her face hovering above him, calm and beautiful, like a dream.

"Am I... dead?" he murmured faintly. His lips curved into the faintest of smiles. "Am I in... heaven?"

Before either girl could answer, his consciousness faded once more, leaving Yumina and Tyla staring at each other in silence.