Red cut through the dark forest like a proverbial knife. A seemingly infinite forest unraveled itself. Fresh trails littered the ground leading deeper into the forest only to unexpectedly terminate.

The trees were alive. Envious Brambles waited for their next prey within the desolate canopies. The light of an eternal moon could barely illuminate the forest floor, putting Red at a disadvantage.

However, this did not change that she could still follow the Bloody Trail. Additionally, the tendrils that swiped at her could only do a maximum of 1 ATT damage and 150 MAG ATT damage so long as she was wearing her clothes.

The real problem is getting caught by the brambles. I still don’t know how high their DEF stats are. I won’t let it happen again. I didn’t know it could play tricks like that… but what if they really were still alive deep down?

A wave of thoughts assailed her as did dozens of brambles from above the canopy. They stabbed at the ground, temporarily jamming themselves in place which gave Red an opportunity to cleave them in rapid succession.

The faintest silver glint shone on the edge of her blade as it carried a slight, red orb at the tip. A trail of red followed wherever The Hunt Must Go On moved. It appeared like the floating ribbons of a performer, and when more than 3 were grouped together – then it became a Bloody Mist.

This mist made up for her disadvantages in the dark, as it allowed her to sense the movement of her attackers so long as they were inside of the Bloody Mist. She sidestepped their ruthless jabs that could easily skewer a human like she could see seconds into the future.

Not only that, but the wounds she inflicted applied the Bleeding Condition, which caused black and vibrant, red coagulated blood to dribble from the bark.

Bleeding Condition

< Target loses a percentage of Total HP per second. Bleeding Condition is determined by the number of Bleed Stacks a target has >

Agate revealed that this was also determined by the RESIST stat of the target rather than their DEF value.

“I’m no doctor, but wouldn’t having a tougher body make you more resistant? What’s the RESIST stat gotta do with having a good anti-bleeding factor?”

Red demanded an answer from Agate. She may as well have shouted to the air, because the Voice was unwilling to answer her.

“Fine then… Maybe you’ll start talking after I kill these things first!”

Envious Brambles

< Observation Level 1 >

< They didn't understand why they were born the way they were. So they look at others for what they lack >

She cleaved through the Envious Brambles with spectacular ease. They were only level 20 Corrupted… no, denizens of a Corrupted. The Envious Brambles were beings created by the Queen of Sweet and Bitter Thorns, so killing them did not amount to much.

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However, at the tail end of her slaughter, she finally found the time to further study their bodies. A mound of quivering brambles and tree trunks that were split in the middle, spilling human remains like they were its organs splayed before her.

“There are three kinds of enemies, huh. This is the one that hunts people for nutrients.”

Red commented, lifting various parts that she found difficult to study. They were all rotting and emitted a foul odor; the kind that could only be explained as ‘death’.

“They were still alive until I killed the Envious Brambles.” She stared into the soulless eyes of a dead man before taking a bramble in her hand. “For you, fellow human. But before that… Can I even Appraise this?”

Broken Bramble of an Envious Tree

< The bramble of a denizen of the Forest of Everlasting Envy. Has no notable anomalous properties. Highly poisonous >

//////// < ALERT > ////////

< But it may be consumed safely >

“Uhuh. If I didn’t know any better than I wouldn’t believe you. I feel like I’ve eaten worse things and haven’t gotten sick, or whatever humans go through when they eat something bad. I don’t think I can cook this, so I’m back to basics!”

Then, she took a bite of the bramble.

It was surprisingly tender, like she had bitten into a slab of meat with a crispy, burnt edge. Dark juice poured from the bramble and dribbled down her chin.

Despite it clearly being poisonous, Red did not exhibit any signs of poisoning. Perhaps it was linked to how she was able to devour the stats of the creatures she ate.

However –

“*Cough* Pfffft. *Spits* Ugh… No wonder you’re envious of humans. You taste like mud. I bet humans taste good. Not that I’d try. That’s taboo, right!?”

– It did not change that she was still eating something awful. Additionally, she had choked on an ever so familiar gemstone. A dull-purple gemstone sat in her palm, waiting to be devoured.

“… could it be that this Corrupted is closer to the Queen of Sweet and Bitter Thorns, while the others don’t have a gemstone because they’re made from people? But they haven’t disintegrated like the other one… Anyway – Helloooo? Elysia to Agate? Is eating humans a taboo or something?”

< Taboos of Justicia >

< There are 12 Taboos in Elysia, each governed and punishable by a Branch of Justica Arm. Being found guilty of any of these 12 Taboos – including Cannibalism – will result in immediate persecution by their Flocks >

“Branch… Oh right, isn’t Hearth Village under the juristic-something of Justica Hands… Arms, I mean? I don’t want to get on the bad side of people who want to protect humans. I bet they’re just like me!”

Red shrieked with delight, hoping to get along with this protective body. If they were willing to keep Snow’s identity a secret and indirectly protect her, then how can they not get along!?

But… these were only thoughts. Red entertained them as she tried to get her bearings in this strange place. There wasn’t a direction for her to follow. Just trees, trees, and more trees with the occasional Bitter Thorn and Sweet Thorn.

Red pondered about the safety of Hearth Village as she gained the Stats of the Envious Brambles. She hoped that they managed to make it out of here. But more than that…

“… I hope they’re ok.”

She doodled on the soil with her food, drawing crude, scribble-like faces of Snow, Rockie and a strange creature. It had ears that did not belong to their a human or an insect, and Red quickly erased it as she gathered her thoughts.

That figure was Three Paw.

Before she left, Red suddenly received a second Observation message.

Envious Brambles

< Observation Level 2 >

< Distilled flavors were injected through their xylems. They thought they could easily fill an empty vessel >

It was different from the Bitter Thorn and the Sweet Thorn. She felt as though a story was being told through them. The words were harsh and seemed to mock the Envious Brambles.

Red had to wonder where these passages came from. The Bitter Thorns and Sweet Thorns were spoken through an objective voice. But not here.

The Corrupted were always strange, and this did not help.

“Well, only one thing to do now.” Red said as she dumped the gemstone into her mouth.

And as soon as she crushed it in her teeth –

– she heard a familiar scream.

It was Snow.