Several hours had passed since the awakeners entered the gate.
By then, every single one of them had encountered the monsters.
So were fortunate. A handful managed to reunite with others before engaging in battle, their paths crossing by chance in the vast, lifeless forest. Fighting in groups made a difference. Even low-tier C-rank awakeners, who should have struggled the most, were able to survive once the monsters’ weakness was discovered—and shared.
But luck was scarce.
Most of them fought alone.
For awakeners above C-rank, the battles were harsh but manageable. They adapted quickly, exploiting the glowing cores and eliminating the monsters before being overwheld. Injuries were inevitable. Survival, barely achievable.
For low-tier C-rank awakeners, it was different.
Many of them never made it out.
Those who survived—mid-tier and high-tier awakeners alike—did so barely. So walked away with shallow wounds, blood staining their armor. Others crawled forward with shattered bones, torn flesh, and mana nearly exhausted.
Death lingered everywhere.
And yet, as the monsters fell and their weakness beca known, sothing dangerous happened.
Confidence.
Those who had fought alongside others began to relax. Their guard lowered. Their caution dulled. Victory made them careless.
They moved deeper into the forest.
Deeper into the silence.
What they failed to realize was this—
The forest had only just begun to show its surface.
And the farther they advanced into its depths, the more the danger grew.
Not louder.
Not faster.
But heavier.
As if sothing ancient was watching, waiting, and patiently allowing them to walk straight into its domain.
***
Sowhere else, deep within the dead forest—
A team of six moved through the skeletal trees, their footsteps light, their voices loud in contrast to the lifeless surroundings.
“Ahh... man,” Amit laughed, stretching his shoulders. “That battle was seriously terrifying.”
“Yeah,” Navin agreed with a shaky chuckle. “For a mont there, I really thought we were done for. If Sir Mohin hadn’t noticed the monsters’ weakness...”
“We’d be dead,” Sagor finished bluntly. “No doubt about it.”
They laughed again—short, nervous laughs ant to chase away the lingering fear.
“Honestly,” Amit continued, “they weren’t even that strong. But monsters that revive endlessly? That’s just ssed up.”
“Exactly,” Navin nodded. “Who the hell designs sothing like that?”
Their voices echoed faintly through the forest.
Then—
“...Guys.”
The voice ca from behind them.
It trembled.
Miss Richika slowed her steps, her eyes scanning the darkness between the trees.
“Don’t you find it... strange?”
Amit glanced back at her while walking.
“Strange how?”
“I an...” She swallowed. “It’s been a while since the first battle. But we haven’t seen a single monster since then.”
Her gaze shifted left. Then right.
“It feels exactly like when we first entered this place.”
Amit frowned slightly, then shrugged.
“Oh, that?”
He waved a hand casually.
“Relax. We already figured out their weakness. Even if they ambush us, we can handle—”
Sagor’s voice cut off.
Mid-word.
Sothing flashed.
Slice.
Sagor’s head separated from his body and dropped to the ground.
Thud.
For a split second, his body remained standing.
Then—
Blood erupted from the severed neck, splattering across the blackened soil as the body collapsed forward.
Silence.
Pure, paralyzing silence.
“Wha—”
Navin didn’t finish.
Another flash.
Slice.
His head fell beside Sagor’s.
Blood followed.
“RUN! EVERYONE—RUN!”
Mohin scread at the top of his lungs and turned—
Too late.
Slice.
His head was severed mid-step.
It hit the ground and rolled.
Mohin’s headless body staggered forward, took two more steps—
Then collapsed.
The ground darkened, soaked in blood.
The remaining three—
Richika and the others—
Their legs gave out.
They dropped to their knees, eyes wide, mouths open, unable to scream.
“What... the... hell... is going on...”
They never got an answer.
Three flashes.
Three clean cuts.
And in the blink of an eye—
The remaining three heads fell from their bodies.
Silence returned to the dead forest.
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