It's cold, I can't move my body, and my head is in pain... Where am I? I can't remember anything. Ugh... My chest feels tight, and it feels like something just entered my body...

Weird... It feels strange in here, yet it's oddly relaxing. This feeling isn't that bad. Perhaps I can stay here for a while...

...

A red, thick fog enveloped the entire mangrove forest. However, the trees didn't look normal at all; their color was black, as if cursed. Their leaves were red like blood, and they were abnormally large, capable of covering the entire dark sky with their overgrown roots sprawling across the ground.

In the center of the forest, among the tallest trees, an unconscious man lay sleeping.

...

Slowly awakening, I opened my eyes. My mind was hazy, memories blank, and my sight blurry due to the red fog and my first awakening. I felt a rough structure behind me, my back and head aching.

It hurts... I cant breathe...

I tried to touch my temple to ease the pain, but I couldn't move my hand. I was unable to speak or think clearly, feeling weak and unable to move my body properly. Just a slight movement made my body tremble with exhaustion, making me want to close my eyes. Yet, the tightness in my chest kept me awake.

Looking around, I was confused, unable to determine where I was or how I got here. The place felt ominous, and even in my weakened state, I knew the danger of being alone here. A shiver ran down my spine as if someone were watching my every movement, but I couldn't see anyone through my blurry vision and the thick fog that blocked my view of the deeper parts of the forest.

Where am i? What is this place? and why am i here?

I couldn't tell what truly lurked in this place, and I wasn't sure if they could be reasoned with. I felt the danger in the forest and came to one conclusion: I needed to escape, or I would die.

However, in my current condition, I couldn't look around carefully or take action. Instead, I tried to assess my situation better. To my left, I saw a black sword pierced into the overgrown roots with a book beneath it.

Is that a weapon? Perhaps i can protect myself with that...

Even though I wanted to pick it up to protect myself from whatever lurked in the forest, my body was abnormally weak, as if I were a newborn baby.

Hopeless, I tried to open my mouth and shout for help. I managed to move it a little, but no voice came out.

He-Help someone save me...

My nose started to hurt from the strong smell of blood and rotting corpses.

What is that smell?

At that time, I became anxious, and the pain in my head only worsened, preventing me from thinking clearly. My weak body couldn't take any action. I was scared, knowing that whatever lurked in the deepest part of this forest wouldn't be human. The gaze that I felt upon me sent shivers through my entire body.

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Suddenly, a thick red-black fog appeared, blurring my sight as it enveloped me. My chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. I tried to catch my breath, but my body was so weak that even breathing became a struggle. It felt as if the red-black fog was starting to devour me.

Is this how I die? Heh, I don't even know who I am or anything about myself. Yet I'm dying without a name or a history, all alone? Fuck!...

With that final thought, I closed my eyes, hopeless and ready to die. But then, through the red-black fog, a black hand appeared, pointing its index finger at my temple and slowly approaching me.

The hand was dripping with blood, and a long, sharp nail extended from its fingertip.

What the fuck...

That was my last thought as it touched my temple, and suddenly, a single memory flashed in my head.

...

A woman's voice called, "Julian... Your name is Julian Campbell. Remember it. I love you, my son. I'll always be there, watching you."

...

Snapping back to reality, I gasped for breath, touching my chest to calm myself down. The red-black fog was gone, replaced by a red fog that enveloped the entire forest.

I looked at my palm, closing and opening my hand, and noticed that I had regained my strength, as if that black hand had given me the power to survive.

What was that? A woman's voice called, and then that creepy black hand appeared. What is happening?

Even though I was full of questions because of that hand, I was relieved. I wanted to celebrate but stopped myself, aware of my surroundings. I knew that I couldn't celebrate yet, as the presence lurking in the deepest part of the forest still gave me chills.

So I looked around and noticed the sword impaled in the overgrown roots. I rose and rushed to the sword, grabbing its handle with both hands. I tried to pull it out for protection, but I struggled. Suddenly, I heard a crack in my spine and dropped down, rolling on the overgrown roots.

"Ugh... Fucking damn it, it hurts..."

I looked at the sword, disappointed that I couldn't pick it up.

Well, there goes my protection. I guess I won't be able to defend myself. Goddamn it, just where am I? This place feels too creepy.

When my back pain became endurable, I sat up and looked at the sword, thinking deeply about how to pull it out. However, the uneasiness of the forest shifted my gaze to the black book beneath the sword.

Curious, I slowly moved toward the book and touched it. It was an old, mysterious black book. Suddenly, an ominous aura of black and red emerged, the same as the red-black fog from earlier.

A shiver ran down my spine, and the pain in my back flared up again. I backed away, scared and nervous, my body trembling. My mind couldn't process everything that was happening. It felt like my brain was already full, and I didn't know what to do.

I wanted to run but was afraid of getting lost and encountering the beings that lurked deeper in the forest. I feared dying or being eaten.

Despite my fear, I knew I needed to pick up the sword or gather information about this forest and find a way out. If I didn't, I wouldn't know whether I would survive.

Thinking deeply, I pondered what to do. I looked around, hoping to find something that might protect me, but found nothing, so I gave up. Instead, I tried to remember who I am, hoping that something might come up to help me leave here.

It was lonely and chilly. The wind was strong, and red leaves fell from the trees. The forest was creepy, and the uneasiness lingered.

Just how did I get here? Who am I? That creepy hand showed me something. What was it again? A woman's voice was calling someone. It was...

"Julian Campbell."

Trying to remember what the black hand showed me, I said the name. Suddenly, the wind became stronger, and the black book started shaking uncontrollably. Its red-black aura became more violent than before, and it began levitating three feet in the air.

Startled and shocked, I was frozen as the book suddenly opened with a loud bang, revealing its first page.

The paper was old, a dark yellow color, and covered in some kind of rune text that looked hard to decipher. Yet, for whatever reason, I was able to read it. The text was the color of blood, and I instinctively read it aloud.

"The conquest begins."