**The Kiss That Shattered Trees**
The moment was shattered by an explosion of splintering wood. A centuries-old oak, thick as a wine barrel, snapped in half with a thunderous *crack*, its upper half crashing to the forest floor in a cloud of dust and leaves. Standing amidst the wreckage, Naya radiated murderous intent, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Qin Hong’s blood ran cold. He scrambled to his feet, hands raised in surrender. "W-wait! It’s not what you think! Let me expin—!"
Tiffany, ever the opportunist, clung to Qin Hong’s arm, her voice dripping with theatrical sorrow. "*Husband~* Were your sweet words just lies? *Waaah—!*" Tears streamed down her cheeks in an instant, her performance so fwless Qin Hong could only gape.
*This girl… She’s an Oscar-worthy actress!*
Naya’s eye twitched. With a guttural scream, she unched herself into the air, her fist glowing with the telltale shimmer of her Titan’s Heart ability—a punch capable of leveling buildings.
Qin Hong yanked Tiffany off the boulder just as Naya’s fist connected. The massive rock *disintegrated* into pebbles, the shockwave sending debris flying. One particurly sharp shard grazed Qin Hong’s forearm, drawing blood.
Tiffany’s pyful demeanor vanished. She stared at the wound, her lips pressing into a thin line. Then, to Qin Hong’s horror, she strode toward Naya, her petite frame radiating icy fury.
"Tiffany, *don’t—!*"
Too te.
---
### **Diamond vs. Titan: A Csh of Legends**
The two girls squared off, the air between them crackling with tension.
Naya struck first—a straight punch aimed at Tiffany’s face. But instead of dodging, Tiffany *met* the blow with her own fist.
***BOOM!***
A shockwave ripped through the forest. Trees toppled like dominoes, their roots tearing free from the quaking earth. Qin Hong shielded his eyes from the debris, his jaw sck.
Tiffany’s entire right arm had transformed into *diamond*, its facets glittering even in the dim forest light.
"*Holy shit,*" Qin Hong breathed. "Diamond *is* harder than titan strength…"
Naya recoiled, shaking out her numb fingers. But she wasn’t done. Pivoting on her heel, she unleashed a roundhouse kick aimed at Tiffany’s ribs.
*CRACK!*
Though Tiffany diamondized her torso at the st second, the force still sent her skidding backward, pain fshing across her face. She colpsed to one knee, gasping.
Naya advanced—only for Qin Hong to step between them.
"*Enough.*" His voice was soft but carried the weight of command.
Naya’s fists trembled. Then, without warning, she grabbed Qin Hong’s face and *kissed him*—a searing, possessive cim that left him dizzy.
When she pulled away, her eyes were wet. "…*Idiot.*"
---
### **The River of Secrets**
After administering a stamina potion to Tiffany (under Naya’s withering gre), Qin Hong led them to the Yena River.
"*Luna’s Tear* and *Bzing Star* hate each other on nd," he expined, stripping off his shirt. "But underwater? They grow side by side."
Tiffany csped her hands. "How tragic! Like star-crossed lovers forced to hide their passion~" She shot Naya a smug gnce while clinging to Qin Hong’s sleeve.
Naya responded by annihiting another tree. (Somewhere, a squirrel family cursed their existence.)
Qin Hong dove into the river, resurfacing minutes ter with four pairs of glowing herbs. He tossed them to the girls.
"Remember—*Bzing Star* is red but goes in *Vitality* potions. *Luna’s Tear* is blue but fuels *Stamina* brews. Mix them up, and you’ll get poison."
Naya nodded solemnly. Tiffany, meanwhile, was already cross-referencing the data on her holographic dispy.
When Qin Hong emerged from his final dive, only Haruko remained onshore, holding his clothes.
"*This* was your pn?" she hissed. "Flirting while we raced against time?"
Qin Hong grinned. "If I’d handed them the herbs early, they’d have sabotaged us. Now? They’re too busy panicking over the *clock*."
Haruko’s anger faded into dawning respect. *This scheming bastard… He pyed everyone.*
---
### **The Grand Deception**
Back at camp, chaos reigned.
Worso paced like a caged tiger, cursing vividly while the rival teams mocked him. But the moment their backs were turned, his lips curled into a smirk. *Perfect. They bought it.*
With fifteen minutes left, Qin Hong’s team "rushed" in, their acting so convincing even Haruko almost believed their desperation.
Rayna’s group finished first, presenting their murky potions to "Bel" with pride. Ilen followed, sneering at Qin Hong. "Give up! Ours are already—"
"*Transparency.*" Qin Hong’s calm interruption silenced the crowd. He held up his own vial—crystal-clear, shimmering with purity. "Yours look like swamp water."
Before anyone could react, *Bel smashed every rival potion on the ground.*
Ilen’s roar of outrage died in his throat as *a second Bel* emerged from the trees.
The impostor’s form melted away, revealing Merkel’s grinning face.
"*Wha—?!*"
Tiffany’s eyes narrowed. "…We never stood a chance."
---
### **The Aftermath: A Lesson in Humility**
Bel (the real one) sipped Qin Hong’s potion, her approval evident. "Wynroth Group completes the trial *fwlessly.*"
Ilen’s face purpled. "YOU CHEATED!"
Qin Hong’s smile vanished. "Did I not *give* you the herbs? Did my team *interfere*?" His gaze swept over the chastened groups. "Your failures are your own. But if you want revenge…"
A bde of crackling energy materialized in his hand—*Voidcutter*, its edge humming with menace.
"*Come at me.*"
Bel hid a ugh behind her hand. *Just like his master.*
