Everywhere I look, the suffocating darkness of the abyss stretches endlessly. It’s not just emptiness—it’s alive, like it’s wrapping around me, swallowing every trace of my existence. Time doesn’t flow here. I can’t feel it, can’t grasp it. What happened? I struck that demon, struck him until he bled, until he crumbled beneath me. But in the end... I died. That cursed smile... What did he mean by “Reikizuna will kill me”? The words gnaw at my mind, sharp like daggers, but there’s no time to unravel it. The screams of the hunters still echo in my ears. Their cries... endless. And the way Gorou was devoured by that black fire... I’ll never forget his twisted, final smile as the flames consumed him.

Emiko... what happened to her? She has to know by now. But who left to say to her.

Then, it comes—a red dot, tearing through the suffocating dark. At first, it’s barely visible, like the eye of some unseen predator watching from the abyss. But it grows, larger and larger, swallowing the black. Its light pierces everything. The abyss shudders in its presence. My body glows under its harsh red blaze, every scar and wound illuminated in sickening detail. The weight of it is unbearable—I try to open my eyes, but the light burns. Even with them closed, it sears through my eyelids, a red inferno that won’t let me hide.

This mysterious red light stays for a long time, but suddenly it begins to dim. Bit by bit, the painful brightness fades away. As it dims, I start to feel a calming warmth beneath my skin. It reminds me of the time I first came to this world. A sense of weightlessness washes over me, as if I'm finally laying down. Wait... Am I really at Emiko’s shop? Did the villagers come and rescue us? If they did, they might have already seen the bodies. I open my eyes, hoping to see Emiko sitting right beside me. My first vision is a blur, but gradually it begins to clear. I realize I’m under a TREE!

I feel the cold earth beneath me as I slowly regain some strength. My body feels heavier than it should. Pushing myself up, my back meets the rough bark of the tree. I breathe in, trying to calm myself, but something feels... wrong. There's this strange sensation on one side of me—like my own body isn't mine anymore. It's as if half of me is weighed down by something foreign.

I glance down.

My heart stops.

What... what the hell is this?

The right side of my body—it’s twisted, blackened like charred flesh, but more than that. My arm... my hand—it’s not human anymore. Thick, grotesque veins pulse through the darkened skin, twisting like black vines. My fingers end in sharp claws, glistening with an unnatural sheen. My skin—no, it’s not even skin anymore. It’s like... scales? Hardened, jagged armor, as if I’ve become part demon.

I can feel my heart racing in my chest. My breath comes in shallow gasps. Is this real? Am I still dreaming?

As I lift my hand—my hand? —I see the Blacksteel bracer embedded into my arm. It’s not just strapped on; it’s fused, its cold surface melding into my flesh, surrounded by those pulsing veins that seem to grip me, drawing strength from within. My eyes widen at the wolf gem embedded in the bracer. Its ordinary red color gleams back at me, a stark contrast to the dark corruption surrounding it. But how long will it stay that way?

I stare at my arm in horror, feeling everything—the sharpness of the claws, the rough texture of the scales—but it doesn’t feel like me. This... this thing, it’s part of me now.

What happened to me?

Memories flash in my mind—Gorou’s last smile, the black fire that consumed him, the demon’s voice whispering about “Reikizuna killing me.” It all comes rushing back, hitting me like a storm. That fight... that damn demon.

Is this his doing?

I want to scream, to tear this cursed arm from my body, but I can’t. The fear paralyzes me. I’m not just broken—I’m something else. No... this can’t be real.

Now, what should I do? Where am I? I look around, hoping for some clue. Then I realize I’m next to the cave we explored. I get up on my feet, but it’s still hard to walk like this. My already tattered pants and shoes are now ripped further by the claws of my demon side. I walk slowly toward the entrance of the cave. To my surprise, it’s still collapsed, just like before. How did I get out?

I look back at the forest, my mind drifting to the faint memory of the road to the village. Maybe that old man can help me. He must have some ancient knowledge about undoing this. So, I begin retracing my path back to the village. As I delve deeper into the forest, an unusual feeling creep over me. I can’t shake the sensation that I’m being watched.

After a few hours of walking, I stop under a shady tree, feeling exhausted. I sit, laying my back against the trunk, and glance at my hand once again to make sure I’m not crazy. Unfortunately, my hand is still the same—razor-sharp claws and black, rock-like scales. It all feels like a surreal dream. If my right side looks like this, what about my face? I touch my face with my left hand. While the left side feels normal, my right side has hardened into rock.

What happened to me?

“If I walk all the way to the village, it will take more than ten days,” I mutter to myself, considering my options.

“Wait… if I can somehow activate the wolf gem, I could run to the village as fast as the wolf leader.” I touch the wolf gem, hoping to activate it. In an instant, the gem erupts with its usual red light. But suddenly, my entire right side starts to burn.

Even without any real flames, the burning sensation grows stronger with each passing second. In a matter of moments, the heat begins to spread to my left side as well. It feels like I’m being consumed by fire from the inside out. I thrash and roll across the ground, screaming, desperate for the pain to stop, but it only intensifies. My body is ablaze without a single flame in sight.

I scream at the top of my lungs, trying to escape the agony, but there’s no relief. The searing pain surges through me, making every nerve scream. It feels like an eternity, but then, gradually, the fire in my veins begins to die down. The burning sensation, after ravaging my entire body, finally starts to fade, bit by bit, until it’s gone.

I lie there, staring at the sky, my chest heaving, my mind struggling to make sense of it all. A single tear slips from my left eye, rolling down my cheek as I breathe in the cool air.

I can’t move. My body is drained of every ounce of strength. The only thing I can do is wait. Sleep overtakes me right where I lie, without even a twitch.

When I wake, the sun is just peeking over the horizon, its light slowly pushing away the darkness. But something feels off.

'This forest is crawling with monsters... how did I manage to sleep through the night without any trouble?'

Before I can dwell on it, a low growl echoes from my stomach. I'm starving. My thoughts drift back to the village and the delicious food Emiko used to make for me. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. But where can I find something to eat out here?

Suddenly, I remember Gorou’s teachings. He had shown me which fruits were safe to eat in this forest. I push myself up and start walking again, searching for something to satisfy my hunger. It doesn’t take long before I find a patch of fruits and eat until I’m full.

Hours pass as I trek through the forest. Eventually, I stop to rest. As I sit under the shade of a tree, yesterday’s events flood my mind. The burning pain, the transformation... did the wolf gem try to kill me? Then I recall something from my previous life—a game I once played where the protagonist gained upgrades throughout the story. Sometimes those upgrades were painful, sometimes they cost him a limb.

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'So... what if that was an upgrade yesterday? Could I have gained the wolf leader’s speed?'

I stand up, a surge of curiosity and excitement rushing through me. It’s time to test it out. I take a deep breath, steadying myself, and begin to run. At first, everything feels normal. But as I pick up the pace, something shifts. My legs move faster, smoother. Before long, I’m tearing through the forest with the speed of the wolf leader. The wind whips through the trees, and I can feel it rushing past me.

'This is incredible. At this speed, I could reach the village by evening,' I say to myself, pushing my legs to move even faster.

By the afternoon, I stop for a break, eating the fruits I had gathered to regain some energy. After resting for a few minutes, I resume running. With each step, I can feel the rhythm of my heart, the blood pumping through every part of my body. The landscape around me is becoming more familiar, and the excitement of being close to home makes my heart race even faster.

As I approach the edge of the forest, I slow down and eventually come to a stop. The sight ahead causes my left eye to well up with emotion—there, just a few meters away, is the village. Home.

I walk down toward the gate at a normal pace, feeling a rush of relief wash over me. But something feels off. The closer I get, the clearer the scene becomes. Standing at the village entrance are a few figures in gleaming armor, waiting. My heart sinks. These aren’t villagers.

As I approach, one of them spots me and calls out to the others. The soldiers all move to the entrance, their weapons drawn.

'Please, don’t attack! It’s me, Haruto! I need to speak with the chief. He knows me!' I raise both my hands, showing that I’m unarmed, hoping they’ll recognize me despite my appearance.

They exchange uncertain glances, their eyes widening in surprise. For a brief moment, I think they might listen.

Then, without warning, a spear hurtles through the air and lands between my feet with a heavy thud.

'I don’t care who you claim to be—begone, monster, if you value your life!' A towering man steps forward from the back of the group, his voice booming with authority. The other soldiers apart, clearing a path for him.

Fear grips me as I stand frozen in place. Monster? Is that what they see now?

“Listen! I don’t know who you are, but I’m not a monster. I just want to meet Emiko or the village chief. Please, let me in!” I insist, my voice straining. As soon as I mention Emiko’s name, every soldier’s face stiffens with surprise, including the towering man who threw the spear.

“What’s going on here?” A deep, familiar voice cuts through the tense atmosphere. The village chief steps forward, Emiko trailing behind him. But her face—it’s not the same. The usual warmth in her eyes is gone, replaced by a heavy shadow of sorrow. When she sees me, her eyes widen in shock, as if trying to piece together a puzzle that doesn’t fit.

The captain who threw the spear straightens; his tone more respectful now. “Chief, it’s not safe here. You should return inside, along with Lady Emiko.”

“But captain, he says he wants to talk to—”

“Haruto? Is that really you?” Emiko’s voice breaks through, her tone a mix of disbelief and hope.

“Yes, Emiko. It’s me,” I reply, lowering my gaze. I can’t bear to look her in the eyes. The weight of what I’m about to say crushes me.

“What happened? Where have you been? It’s been more than 30 days since you left! And... Gorou... Is he okay?” She bombards me with questions, her desperation pouring out. My heart clenches at the sound of Gorou’s name.

Thirty days? That’s impossible. We only spent ten days getting to the cave. Was I unconscious for twenty days? The thought rattles me, but there’s something even more crushing than time—Gorou’s death.

“Emiko...” My voice cracks, and I force myself to speak the words that tear at my soul. “Gorou is... Gorou is dead.”

Silence. I don’t dare look at her. My heart feels like it’s being ripped apart. How will she bear this?

I glance up, and she’s frozen—her eyes locked on me, trying to process what I just said. The world seems to stand still. Her lips tremble as if she wants to speak but can’t. I take a breath and explain everything—the cave, the battle, Gorou’s final moments, and how I survived. Each word feels like I’m cutting open a wound that will never heal.

“So, you’re saying after the battle with the demon, Gorou died... and you survived?” The captain’s voice is sharp, accusatory. He points a finger at me, his eyes narrowed.

“Yes,” I reply, my voice steady but hollow. The weight of Gorou’s loss is heavy on my chest.

Suddenly, the captain bursts into laughter—a harsh, cruel sound that echoes in the air.

“Gorou died, and you survived? You expect us to believe that?” The captain's voice is cold, cutting through the air like a blade.

“Gorou was one of my closest friends. His combat skills were unmatched. When he was in the capital, no one could defeat him. With his ability, he was unstoppable. And now, you’re telling us he’s dead while you stand here alive? I think you’re the one who killed him. You backstabbing bastard!”

I feel the blood draining from my face. His words ring in my ears, twisting my thoughts. Me? Kill Gorou? My mind races, trying to comprehend the accusation. What the hell is he talking about?

“No!” I shout, my voice cracking with anger. “I did not kill him! Why would I ever want to kill him? Gorou was my mentor! He taught me everything I know. Without him, I wouldn’t even be alive right now. He was more than a mentor—he was my friend. Why would I ever—”

The captain sneers, but before I can continue, a voice cuts through the air. “So, that’s how you repay him.”

I look up, and the world seems to slow down as I see Emiko standing there. Her eyes, wide and wet with tears, are locked on mine. Each drop trails down her face, shimmering in the light, and her lips tremble as she speaks. “Is that how you repay him, Haruto? By leaving him to die?”

Her words stab through my chest like knives, sharper than anything the captain could have said. I try to speak, but my throat closes up. My heart is pounding painfully, each beat heavier than the last.

“Emiko, no, I—” But she continues, her voice rising, her pain spilling over.

“He saved your life twice. Twice! Once, he nearly killed himself just to protect you! And this... this is how you repay him? You left him there to die, didn’t you?”

Her words shatter me, every accusation feeling like a weight pulling me deeper into the abyss. I want to tell her, to explain everything—that I never wanted this, that I would have given anything to save him. But the words won’t come out. My lips move, but no sound escapes.

The silence between us is unbearable. She stares at me for a moment, her tear-filled eyes searching mine for something—an answer, an explanation, anything. But when she finds none, her expression hardens. She takes a step back, her face twisting with pain and betrayal.

“Leave,” she says, her voice breaking. “Leave this village right now, Haruto. I don’t ever want to see you again.”

I watch her turn away, her final words crashing down on me like a boulder, crushing whatever hope I had left. The weight in my chest grows unbearable as I watch her walk back toward the village, each step pulling her further from me. Her last words echo in my mind over and over again, suffocating me.

In a corner of my mind, I want to run—run as fast as I can. But with this tension, I can’t even feel my legs. The world around me seems frozen, except for the rapid thudding of my heart.

“You’re not going anywhere! Mages, capture him!” Captain’s voice cuts through the air, commanding like thunder.

Out of nowhere, four figures in white cloaks appear, circling me. Their chants rise steadily, hands forming intricate signs. I can feel the pressure building in the air around me, the pull of something... unnatural.

Then, I hear it—a voice, not from outside, but deep within me.

"Kill them. Kill them all."

What?! No! I don’t want to kill! I’m not a monster.

“If you want to live, kill them! They’re going to kill you!”

The voice grows louder, darker, more insistent, echoing through my mind. My heart pounds harder, fear gripping me from the inside. But... I don’t care. If they want to kill me, let them. I’ve already lost everything that matters in this world.

“Then I have no choice. I’ll do it myself.”

Suddenly, my body is no longer mine. My right leg drops to the ground, kneeling without my command. I struggle to regain control, but it’s as if my entire right side is moving against me—controlled by something else. My right hand rises to the sky, and panic surges through me as I see the shocked faces of the soldiers.

Before I can react, my right-hand slams down into the earth with crushing force. A violent shockwave erupts from where I stand, the ground trembling beneath me. The mages and soldiers are sent flying like leaves caught in a storm.

What... what is happening?!

“If you can’t kill them, then run with the time you’ve bought,” the voice commands, cold and relentless.

Just as quickly as it came, the foreign grip on my body loosens, and I feel control rushing back into my limbs. I gasp, my breath shaky as I realize that my right side—my hand, my leg—they're mine again. I flex my fingers, confirming that the demon’s influence has retreated, for now.

My thoughts race. I can't stay here. I need to escape before the soldiers recover.

With newfound control over my body, I force my legs into motion, sprinting toward the forest. The wind rushes past me as I push myself harder, each step filled with desperation. Every beat of my heart feels like a countdown to something worse.

As I approach the tree line, I glance back and see her—Emiko.

She’s returning, likely drawn by the sound of the shockwave. Her wide, tear-filled eyes meet mine for just a brief moment—a moment that feels like an eternity. I want to say something, anything, but there’s no time. The distance between us grows, her face a fading image in the storm of emotions tearing through me.

I run, but inside, I feel like I’m falling apart.