The tigers were growing more and more numerous, undeniable proof that we were heading in the right direction. Each encounter marked another step toward an unknown territory—more dangerous, but also more promising.
Our fights, though less frequent, had become incredibly intense. The creatures we faced were no longer just fierce beasts, but cunning opponents, learning from their kin, adapting to our strategies.
Some tigers, smarter than the one we had slain at the beginning, anticipated my movements, dodged my attacks, and several times managed to wound me. Deep scratches, burning bites. But I held on.
And, as always, after every battle, Cassandre would rush to me, her eyes shining with restrained worry. She never let emotions take over during a fight—she wasn't reckless. She waited, patient, then healed me with infinite gentleness, her expert hands closing my wounds as if they had never existed.
"You should be more careful…" she sometimes murmured, her reproachful tone contrasting with the tenderness of her touch.
I smiled, a bit guilty.
"I know, I know… but if I were too careful, who would give you the chance to shine with your divine magic?"
She huffed, exasperated, before giving me a light tap on the shoulder.
"One day, you'll regret joking about that…"
But she smiled. And I savored every moment spent by her side.
Weeks passed like that, a fragile balance between the brutality of combat and the softness of love.
During the day, we faced increasingly formidable tigers, refining our coordination, perfecting our attacks, evolving together as if we shared the same mind. Each encounter was a challenge, a survival game where the slightest mistake could be fatal. But we were strong. We were united.
At night, everything changed. The turmoil of battle gave way to the quiet of a campfire, the rustling of wind through the canopy, Cassandre's laughter echoing under the starless sky. It was there, in those moments stolen from the harshness of the world, that my heart found peace.
Curled up beside me, her soft voice would rise in the night:
"Do you think we'll make it? That there's really a way out of all this?"
I looked into her eyes, that ocean of azure where I had already lost myself so many times.
"No matter what awaits us… as long as you're with me, I'm ready to face anything."
She smiled, placing a hand on my cheek before closing her eyes, lulled by my presence.
And so, between the trials of the day and the promises of the night, our story was woven, inseparable from the cruel world around us.
Time flowed, elusive. Several weeks, maybe even months, had passed since the beginning of our journey.
Had we already crossed the one-year mark? This endless forest, these fierce battles, this constant struggle to survive… All of it had shaped our daily life so thoroughly that the very notion of time seemed to dissolve.
But something deep inside me whispered that we were finally nearing the end.
Our clashes with the Xylorath Tigers had intensified, and with them, our progress. My level had skyrocketed, and the day before, I had reached level 80. A strange feeling had run through me when the interface announced the acquisition of a new skill.
It was a sudden revelation, a confirmation of what I had suspected for some time. Skills didn't unlock randomly—they followed a precise pattern: level 10, 20, 40… and now 80. Every time I doubled a threshold, a new ability was granted to me—a gift from this hell to help me survive.
But this time, there was a difference. Unlike the previous ones, all labeled "Lower," this one was of a higher rank: "Novice." A milestone had been crossed.
I took a deep breath, letting my senses open to the sounds of the forest around us. The leaves trembled under the caress of the wind, invisible creatures slithered between mossy trunks, and in the distance, the muffled cry of prey marked an ongoing hunt. This wild world left no room for rest or weakness.
At my side, Cassandre walked lightly, seemingly carefree, yet always alert to her surroundings. She was the light that contrasted with the darkness of our daily life. Her smile lit up even the darkest undergrowth.
"You're overthinking," she murmured as she leaned toward me, mischievous.
I shook my head, chuckling softly.
"You really know me well…"
"Of course I do!" She straightened up, puffed out her chest proudly, and added in a mock-solemn tone: "After all, I'm a Holy Aspirant, specialized in healing the body and soul!"
"I think it's mostly your big heart that makes the difference," I whispered.
She blushed slightly before raising an accusatory finger.
"You're trying to flatter me again!"
"Is it working?"
"Maybe… but you should tell me about your new skill! I want to know everything!"
Her enthusiasm was contagious. I couldn't help but smile as I turned to her.
"Alright then, listen carefully, little goddess…"
And, carried by the gentleness of the evening and the reassuring melody of the forest, I told her everything.
The forest rustled gently around us, rocked by the wind's whisper through the canopy. The leaves quivered as if nature itself were listening to our conversation.
The distant crackle of a campfire accompanied the night songs of insects.
The atmosphere could have been peaceful, almost enchanting—if not for the growing tension between us.
"So, my new ability is called Blood Pact. It lets me sacrifice some of my blood to get a massive boost in my capabilities. The more I give, the stronger I become," I explained in a neutral, almost detached tone.
But Cassandre didn't take it that way. Her expression changed instantly, her features tightening with contained anger.
"What kind of stupid skill is that?!" she exclaimed, furious.
"Why do you always have to make things more complicated? Why do you take so many risks?! You know I worry about you!"
Her eyes sparkled under the flickering light of the flames, reflecting a mix of frustration and genuine concern. That's how she was—whole, incapable of hiding what she felt.
I had expected it. Cassandre hated anything that could put me in danger, and this skill went against everything she stood for. Yet, I had no other choice.
"I know, Cassandre," I whispered, looking at her gently. "But if one day you're in danger… I want to be able to protect you. No matter the cost."
She fell silent for a moment, biting her lower lip—a sign she was searching for words. Then, with an annoyed sigh, she crossed her arms and turned slightly away.
"You're really stubborn, you know that…"
Her voice was softer, but I could still sense a hint of worry behind her words. I smiled faintly.
"And that's why you love me, isn't it?"
She rolled her eyes, but a small smile betrayed her feigned annoyance. Then, without warning, she stepped forward and placed a hand on my cheek.
"Just promise me one thing," she murmured. "Never overuse this skill. No matter the situation."
Her gaze locked with mine—intense, pleading.
I took her hand in mine and squeezed it gently.
"I promise."
Even though, deep down, I knew that some promises were easier to make than to keep.
That night, Cassandre was resting. Lately, we had needed less and less sleep, our bodies gradually adapting to the demands of this cruel world. Yet true rest… that was something we missed. And tonight, for the first time in far too long, we finally allowed ourselves some.
I watched her as she slept—peaceful, her breathing light and steady. Under the pale moonlight, her golden hair spread in soft waves across the ground. To me, she was a star. The only star in this skyless world—my star.
Wait… what?
My gaze froze.
The moon… there wasn't supposed to be a moon in this world. And yet, there it was, hanging in the darkness, bathing the forest in a pale and silent light. A shiver ran down my spine as a distant memory resurfaced.
The night of the massacre.
After Lucas's death… I had already seen this moon.
My heart pounded. This wasn't a coincidence. Something was wrong.
My mind, now on high alert, analyzed every detail of this vision. Why now? Why here? Was it an illusion? A sign? An entity watching us?
I narrowed my eyes and immediately activated Identification on the enigmatic celestial body.
The translucent screen appeared before me.
Identification (Adept) : ????????????
My blood ran cold.
I expected it, but… that didn't make it any less terrifying.
What the hell was that? Why?
My mind spun through hypotheses. Was it a living being? An artificial construct? A divine entity? Or worse… something beyond comprehension?
Hours passed, my thoughts looping through a thousand theories. But in the end… nothing. No answers.
Just an oppressive void and an unpleasant feeling that refused to go away.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.
Dwelling on this would do no good. Whatever this "moon" was, I had neither the clues nor the understanding to draw a conclusion.
So I forced my mind to turn away from this oppressive enigma, looking for a more tangible anchor.
My status.
Since we left, since all those battles, since Cassandre and I forged our own path through this merciless world, I had grown immensely.
I summoned the translucent screen in front of me.
[Status]
Name: Anthony Paine
Race: Human (Lower)
Class: Blood Warrior (80)
Profession: --
[Stats]
Strength: 7
Speed: 236
Perception: 100
Vitality: 100
Intelligence: 111
Mana: 0
Mental: 30
Endurance: 54
Free Points: 0
[Skills]
Universal Language (Mythic) – Ability to understand and read the language of all races, except divine and ancient languages.
Identification (Adept) – Greatly enhances analysis ability, offering detailed information on objects and creatures. In addition to name, quality, and general use, the user can now discern specific properties, potential origin, and interactions. For creatures, a more accurate evaluation of strengths, weaknesses, and behavior patterns becomes accessible. Identification may now partially reveal hidden effects or special conditions, though some info remains vague if the target far exceeds the user's level.
Dual Dagger Style Mastery (Novice) – Enables the use of two daggers with improved coordination, increasing attack fluidity and speed. Movements become more precise, reducing mistakes and making strikes more effective. Though finesse remains imperfect, opportunities for critical hits increase.
Stealth (Master) – The user becomes an elusive shadow, capable of almost completely erasing their presence. Their body instinctively harmonizes with the environment, reducing noise, visual, and scent traces while disturbing predator perception and aura-sensitive beings. Even under active surveillance, they become hard to locate unless under intense focus or with advanced detection skills.
Intimidation (Master) – You emit an aura so threatening it pierces the mind and body of those who see you as a threat. Its effect ranges from complete fainting to simple murderous intent, depending on the opponent's strength.
Claw (Adept) – The user's nails transform into natural weapons, reaching a hardness comparable to the most resilient metals. Their deadly edge can sever muscles and tendons with ease. The user gains better control over claw length and curvature for optimized precision and power.
Weakened Poison (Adept) – The user can now produce a faster-acting, more potent weakening poison through their blood. Once inside the body, it causes increased muscle fatigue and reflex slowdown within moments. It peaks in intensity within just 40 minutes.
Blood Manipulation (Adept) – Blood control reaches a higher level, allowing the user to shape it faster and more fluidly. They can now create more complex weapons, maintain them longer, and generate temporary defensive structures. Control extends to a larger quantity of blood, slightly reducing the impact of moderate losses. However, excessive use remains dangerous, and proactive regeneration is essential to avoid weakening.
Blood Pact (Adept) – Sacrifice a quantity of blood in exchange for a temporary boost in physical and sensory abilities. The effect adapts to the user's dominant stats. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the boost—but excessive loss may cause lasting damage or death.
[Titles]
Candidate for the Twelve Chosen – One of the 7,777 individuals selected by the Twelve Ancient Gods, thus having a chance to join the elite circle of the Twelve Chosen. Grants +12 free stat points.
Tutorial Forerunner – Member of the first cohort to defeat a Rare-ranked entity. Grants +30 (+20) free stat points.
Tutorial Monstrosity – Beasts and humans agree on one thing: you are the entity to avoid at all costs. Your mere presence inspires instinctive terror—a warning etched into the flesh and minds of those who've heard of you. In this tutorial, you are no mere predator… You are the most feared creature, a living horror legend. Grants the "Intimidation (Master)" skill.
The numbers, the skills, the upgrades… All of it reflected the exact path I had walked.
A faint smile crept to my lips.
I had become far stronger than when I first arrived.
But was I strong enough for what still awaited us?