The Search for the Crevice

"So this is… what that old man called the creek's end?"

Ash murmured to herself, gazing at the cascade of water pouring down from an unknown height above.

The surface of the slick rocks was blanketed with a thick layer of moss, and various weeds and vines thrived in dense clusters on the mountain stones.

This perfectly matched the old man's earlier description.

"You can follow the creek all the way up, pass through a dense forest, and find a moss-covered rock wall entangled with vines. Push aside the vines, and you'll uncover a narrow crevice just wide enough for one person to pass through. That's the only path into the center of Azure Bay Mountain."

"Rocks? Moss and vines? Now all that's left is to find that narrow crevice the old man mentioned—the one just wide enough for a person to squeeze through," Ash muttered to herself, her gaze scanning the area. "Once I find it, I'll finally reach the place where the Ripple Fruit grows. Whether it's ripe or not… I'll have to see for myself."

For the first time in what felt like ages, a glimmer of hope flickered in Ash's heart.

A faint smile tugged at her lips, and even the persistent pain from her injuries seemed to ease ever so slightly.

Leaning on her multipurpose tool, she made her way to the base of the waterfall.

Using her hands, she tugged at the moss clinging to the rocky surface.

As she peeled it back, she was surprised to find the rock beneath was exactly as the old man had described—smooth and solid, almost like a wall.

"This might just be it!"

Her amber eyes lit up with excitement as she straightened up, clutching her tool tightly.

Moving a few steps to the side, Ash repeated the process, peeling away more moss.

This time, too, the rock was smooth and unbroken, but it didn't dampen her spirits.

She was sure now—this was the place she had been searching for.

Taking a few steps back, Ash began scanning the wall for any hint of the crevice's location.

The problem was that the area near the waterfall was lush with overgrown vegetation.

The plants thrived so vigorously that they obscured any natural formations beneath them, making it impossible to discern where the crevice might be by sight alone.

"So, I'll have to search every inch by hand, huh?"

Ash sighed, realizing that a systematic, painstaking search was her only option.

She hesitated for a moment, her brows furrowing.

The dense greenery swayed slightly in the misty breeze, its peaceful appearance contrasting with the unease creeping into her chest.

For some reason, a vague sense of foreboding nagged at her, making her feel increasingly restless.

Shaking her head to dispel the uneasy feeling, she muttered, "Guess there's no other choice…"

Still, she couldn't shake the voice in the back of her mind, her instincts screaming at her: Don't linger here too long. Get out while you can.

But the Ripple Fruit was right in front of her—Ash couldn't give up now.

She was desperate.