Manasei opened his eyes, feeling an unusual clarity wash over him. The searing pain was gone, as was the venom that had coursed through his veins. His skin had returned to its natural bronze hue, though his expression was far from relieved. Sitting up, he furrowed his brows.

He knew about the red light, a force that had intervened in his life for as long as he could remember, healing him in dire moments. Yet, it always left him conflicted. The light’s origins were no mystery to him, and the knowledge of how it operated burdened him with an inescapable guilt. While it had saved his life countless times, it was never without cost—both literal and figurative.

This time was no different. The red light could mend his torn body, but it could not restore his severed arm.

Shaking his head, Manasei dismissed the rising tide of guilt. Now wasn’t the time for reflection or regret. Pushing himself to his feet, he scanned his surroundings with renewed alertness. The memory of the deceptive fruit burned in his mind, a sharp reminder of how easily his senses could betray him.

An illusion… A damn fruit manipulated my senses, he thought grimly, his skin prickling at the realization. If something as seemingly harmless as a fruit could possess such deceptive abilities, the true dangers of the forest must be far worse.

Gripping the chakram tightly, Manasei stepped out of the cave, his posture taut and his gaze sharp. The crimson glow of the three celestial orbs bathed the forest in an eerie light. Around him, the massive trees stretched endlessly into the distance, their ominous forms creating a maze of shadows.

Just as he adjusted to the strange glow, a haunting melody reached his ears.

It was soft at first, almost beautiful, but it quickly became unnerving. The sound seemed to emanate from all directions, a flute playing a melody that sent shivers down his spine.

Manasei froze. His instincts screamed at him—this was no benign sound. Whatever was creating this melody, it could only mean danger.

His grip tightened on the chakram as his mind raced.

What now?

—---------------

Unbeknownst to Manasei, his unconscious state had stretched across several days in the peculiar forest. During that time, his pursuers, 72 and 69, had long arrived and were steadily making progress. Pressed for time and eager to catch up, they had asked Aladdin to transport them as close to the dungeon's objective as possible, sacrificing detailed preparation for expedience.

Now immersed in the forest’s strange atmosphere, they had shifted their focus to hunting goblins, a necessary step to prepare for what lay ahead. Their plan was simple: eliminate as many of the creatures as possible, so that when they finally caught up with Manasei, they could finish their mission and leave without delay.

Sitting on the thick branches of a towering tree, the two assassins gnawed at pieces of meat. The faint crimson glow from above filtered through the forest canopy, casting an ominous light on their faces.

"Even though we can survive without food for extended periods because of our oroa, this situation isn't sustainable," 69 muttered.

"Exactly," 72 agreed between bites. "We need to stay at peak strength in this place. Any lapse, and it’s over for us. Forget the kid—we won’t make it out alive."

69 fell silent, his thoughts drifting to the peculiarities of their predicament. Despite their relative success in thinning the goblin population through stealth and precise attacks, there was one unsettling discovery they couldn’t ignore: the presence of a magi.

Stolen novel; please report.

This variant soldier goblin wasn’t just a leader, it was a threat on par with or even exceeding their capabilities. Facing it directly was out of the question, even without its troops. And then there were the cursed beasts that lurked deeper in the forest, to say nothing of other unknown variables.

This was the true danger of dungeons; not just the objectives but the entire realm itself. The firmament was a world of horrors, unpredictable and unforgiving. Every step carried the risk of encountering creatures beyond the actutal grade of the objective.

"People fear dungeons for a reason," 69 murmured under his breath. "It’s not the objectives—it’s everything else. The moment you underestimate this place, you’re done."

72 reached for the small gray device they used to ration their remaining provisions, but a sharp glare from 69 made him pause.

“We need to conserve as much as possible,” 69 warned.

Reluctantly, 72 pulled his hand back and changed the subject. “What do you make of those goblins? They’re acting… strange.”

69 raised a brow. “You’ve noticed it too? They’re not behaving like normal. It’s almost like they’re searching for something.”

"Exactly," 72 said, leaning in slightly. "They’re more focused on this forest expedition than the actual dungeon break. If we could get close enough to their main tent, we might be able to figure out what they’re after."

“That’s too risky,” 69 countered, shaking his head. "As much as I’m curious, we can’t afford the distraction. The kid is our priority."

It was at this moment that the eerie melody began to echo throughout the crimson forest. At first, it sounded almost pleasant—a soft, lilting flute tune that drifted through the air. But as the seconds passed, unease settled over its listeners. The sound was too strange, too pervasive, coming from all directions as though the forest itself was singing.

“What is that...?” 72 muttered, standing abruptly atop his perch, his body tense with alarm.

69 remained silent, his narrowed eyes scanning the trees below as his hand instinctively reached for his weapon.

Before either could utter another word, the ground beneath them began to tremble. At first, it was faint, a vibration that seemed almost insignificant. But it grew stronger and stronger, until the very trees around them began to shake as if in terror.

Miles away, Manasei felt the same tremors. He froze mid-step, his breath catching as his instincts screamed at him to move.

Then came the sound.

A low, guttural roar erupted from the depths of the forest, followed by more, each more feral and guttural than the last. It echoed endlessly, filling the air with a primal fury that made the blood run cold.

72 and 69 exchanged a glance, their eyes wide with the same unspoken realization.

Manasei's grip on his chakram tightened, his heart pounding against his ribs.

A single thought rang in the minds of all three men, clear and unmistakable:

'Cursed beasts. A horde of them.'

Just as 72 began to descend the tree, 69's hand lashed out, delivering a sharp slap to his face. The sound of the impact echoed faintly amidst the rising chaos, snapping 72 out of his panic.

“Under no circumstances are we to descend the trees,” 69 commanded, his cold, steady gaze locking onto his partner. “Do you understand me?”

“R-right... I wasn’t thinking,” 72 stammered, his voice trembling. “It’s just... t-they’re cursed beasts!”

“Exactly. And that’s why we can’t lose our heads.” 69’s voice was sharp, cutting through the noise like a blade. “Panic, and we’re dead. Keep your cool, or they’ll find us.”

72 swallowed hard, nodding in stiff agreement.

“We know the general direction they’re coming from,” 69 continued. “Stay above ground. Use the branches. Hop between the trees, and keep low.”

“The crowns will hide us from view,” 72 added, his voice steadier now as understanding dawned.

“Exactly. Now move!” 69 barked, already leaping to the next tree.

.