Final Life Online-Chapter 235: Sun Island V

"Finish it!" Caria yelled.

Puddle floated higher and cast Gleaming Halo. Healing light wrapped around Rhys.

Rhys activated Water Blade, his sword glowing blue, and charged straight under the behemoth.

He slashed upward, hitting the exposed belly again—this time deeper.

The behemoth’s roar cracked the air.

Golden light burst from its body.

Then the monster fell, collapsing into dust and glowing particles.

A system chime echoed.

[ Mid-Trial Boss Defeated ]

[ Trial Progress: 6 / 10 ]

Aria dropped down, sitting in the sand.

"I... need a break."

Aqua nodded weakly.

"Me too... that one was scary."

Caria stretched her arms, still hyped.

"Mid-boss or not, that was fun."

Lyra raised an eyebrow.

"You have a strange definition of fun."

Sophia looked ahead toward the plains.

"We’re doing well. But the last four trials... they’ll be the hardest."

Rhys wiped sweat from his forehead.

"We’ll handle them. One at a time."

Puddle pumped her tiny fist.

"Next fight! Puddle ready!"

Aqua groaned.

"I wish I had your energy..."

The team healed, rested for a moment, then slowly stood back up.

The remaining trials waited somewhere ahead in the shining plains.

Rhys took a deep breath.

"Let’s keep going."

And they walked forward into the heat once more.

The heat grew stronger as they walked. The sunlight felt heavier, almost like someone was pressing down on their shoulders.

Aqua fanned herself with both hands.

"It’s getting worse... I feel like I’m melting."

Lyra nodded.

"That means Trial Seven is close."

Caria cracked her fingers.

"Good. Bring it on."

Sophia suddenly raised her staff.

"Wait. Something’s approaching."

The ground vibrated softly—much lighter than the behemoth’s footsteps. Then the air shimmered, and several small sparks floated around them.

Aqua blinked.

"What... are those?"

The sparks formed into tiny creatures with glowing wings. They looked almost cute—until sparks of fire crackled from their bodies.

[ Sunflare Wisps – Level ??? ]

[ Trial 7: Swarm Test ]

Rhys frowned.

"A swarm fight...? That’s new."

Sophia nodded.

"Be careful. These monsters explode when defeated."

Aqua squeaked in terror.

"E-explode?!"

Before anyone could react, the wisps darted toward them at high speed.

"Spread out!" Rhys shouted.

Lyra sliced the nearest wisp with a quick strike—it burst in a small fire explosion, knocking her back.

"Ah—! Okay, that hurts."

Caria jumped in, spinning her axe to knock three wisps away before they could explode near anyone.

Puddle floated beside Rhys, glowing.

"Puddle protect Master!"

She used Light Shield, covering Rhys in a glowing barrier.

Rhys swung his sword quickly, taking down two more wisps. The explosions flared against his shield but didn’t break through.

Sophia aimed her staff upward.

"I’ll handle groups!"

She cast a wide magic wave, stunning several wisps at once. Aria followed up by knocking them back with a burst of wind magic.

Each explosion lit up the ground like tiny fireworks.

Caria laughed.

"This is kinda fun!"

A wisp zoomed right toward Aqua.

"Ahhh!! No no no—!"

A dark tendril shot past her, grabbing the wisp and slamming it into the sand far away before it exploded.

Aqua turned and hugged Puddle.

"Puddle you saved me again—!"

Puddle puffed her cheeks proudly.

"Puddle always save!"

Rhys sliced through the last wisp. The final burst of light faded into the wind.

A system message appeared.

[ Trial Progress: 7 / 10 ]

Rhys lowered his sword.

"That one was annoying..."

Sophia nodded, tired.

"And dangerous. If even one exploded too close, we would’ve taken real damage."

Aria sighed in relief.

"At least it’s over."

But then the ground rumbled again.

Rhys blinked.

"...Already?"

Lyra pointed ahead.

"Trial Eight. No break, I guess."

Aqua whimpered softly.

"I really hate this island..."

Caria grinned.

"Come on, Aqua. Only three left!"

Rhys tightened his grip on his sword again.

"Everyone ready?"

Sophia nodded.

"As ready as we can be."

Puddle raised both tiny fists.

"Let’s go!"

They moved forward again, deeper into the blazing light.

The heat stopped getting worse.

Instead... the air became still.

Too still.

No wind.

No sound.

No movement—almost like the island itself was holding its breath.

Aria frowned.

"...This feels strange."

Sophia tightened her grip on her staff.

"Be careful. Silence trials are never good."

Aqua gulped.

"W-why does that sound so scary...?"

They walked a little further—and suddenly the sunlight dimmed, as if something huge passed overhead.

Rhys looked up.

A giant shadow circled once, slow and quiet, like a predator choosing where to strike.

Lyra narrowed her eyes.

"It’s flying. And big."

Caria cracked her neck.

"Good. Big means easy to hit."

A loud screech cut through the air.

Then something landed in front of them with a heavy, burning thud.

Sand blasted everywhere.

A huge bird-like creature rose from the impact crater. Its feathers shimmered like molten metal, and every step it took melted the sand beneath it.

[ Suncrest Scorchbeak – Level ??? ]

[ Trial 8: Endurance Test ]

Aqua pointed in fear.

"T-that thing is on fire!!"

The Scorchbeak spread its blazing wings. Heat waves burst outward like a furnace opening.

Rhys stepped forward.

"Everyone, keep distance. We don’t know its patterns yet."

The monster let out another piercing cry—and shot upward instantly.

Aria gasped.

"It’s fast!"

Sophia raised a shield spell just in time as fire rain shot down from the sky like raining meteors.

Lyra dashed aside.

"It’s dropping fire feathers!"

Caria swung her axe, knocking a falling plume away before it exploded.

Aqua ran behind a rock, yelling,

"I hate flying monsters! They cheat!"

Puddle floated up beside her and activated Aqua Veil, covering both of them in cool water energy.

"Puddle cool Aqua!" she said proudly.

Rhys watched the sky carefully.

There.

A flicker in the flames—its weak point.

"Lyra! Caria! Hit the wings when it swoops down!"

"Got it!" Lyra replied, sword ready. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The Scorchbeak suddenly dived, wings folded in, flames trailing behind it like a comet.

"Here it comes!" Aria warned.

Rhys activated Mana Shield, bracing himself. The creature streaked past him, the heat burning even through the barrier.

Lyra leaped high and slashed across the joint of its wing.

Caria used the opening to smash her axe into it right after.

The creature screeched in pain, crashing into the sand. Its flames flickered—

—for just a moment.

Sophia aimed her staff.

"Aria! Now!"

Aria unleashed a blast of wind magic. Sophia followed with a burst of ice.

The heat clashed against the cold—steam burst everywhere.

Aqua watched with wide eyes.

"Did we get it...?"

The steam faded.

The Scorchbeak stood again... angrier.

Its entire body ignited brighter than before.

Rhys lowered his stance.

"No. Now it’s serious."

Puddle floated forward, tiny eyes determined.

"Puddle fight too!"

The Scorchbeak spread its wings wide and charged a massive fire attack.

Rhys exhaled slowly.

"Everyone—prepare for the final strike!"