The sun hung high in the sky... scattering its rays everywhere—lighting the world beneath.
But darkness lurked on the surface beneath the towering trees—unknown, dangerous, and unwanted.
The scent of blood was thick in the air, shrouding a place near the river.
A werewolf clicked its tongue with amusement as it closed in on the terrified man before him.
The man, shaking while gripping the sharp spear in his hand, pointed it toward the bloodstained beast's forefront and quavered—
"Stay away from me!!!"
Directing the spear toward the werewolf, the frightened man took some steps back. In contrast, the werewolf shortened the gap.
I assessed the development while concealing myself behind a tree, pondering how to proceed next, as I considered all possibilities.
Whilst I contemplated, the werewolf lost it and lunged toward the man. Noticing this, I also moved silently from the bushes, witnessing the werewolf draw near the man moment by moment.
The man continued backing off until he realized that if he took another step back, he would fall into the river.
The man was caught in a deadlock, only telling the monster to back off in a horrified tone. In distinction, the werewolf smiled sinisterly and drew near the man.
Just when the man felt hopeless and was about to submit, footsteps were heard. Detecting my presence, the werewolf suddenly diverted his attention toward the bushes behind, and I screamed—
"NOW'S THE CHANCE!! STAB HIM!!!"
Heeding my words, the man pierced the werewolf in the chest with all his strength.
The spear went ten inches deep into the werewolf's body... blood dripping down... and the werewolf stopped in his tracks, focusing again on the man.
He stared at the spear lodged in his chest… and at the pool of his blood.
Enraged, the monster howled loudly—
"Woooooooooooo."
And swung his large, sharp claws toward the man. Witnessing this, the man wanted to avoid it, but… His feet refused to move.
With fearful eyes, he peered at the deadly claw closing in on him… Unable to dodge, his body tensed up, and the man shut his eyes.
He could feel the claw rushing toward him, tearing through the air…
He felt the air pressing on his face and clenched his fists tightly… But the claw stopped right before it struck him… and a loud howl was heard—
"WOOOOOOO."
Just before the claw landed on the man... I emerged from the bushes behind, holding Nocterite in my hands.
The werewolf had all his attention on the man. I appeared behind it… With my lips curving into a rather crazed smile… my face, that of a maniac…
I leaped and struck the werewolf on the back of the head with Nocterite, thrusting it fully inside. Drops of blood splattered on my face, making it more menacing.
Just as I thought the werewolf was done… I felt a stark pain on the left side of my chest—
As I flew a dozen meters before crashing into a tree…
It was the werewolf, who, with his claw, used the last bit of his remaining strength in that blow to get back at me.
Because I let my guard down for a second, I was unable to avoid it. And after getting hit by it… I could feel the broken ribs and bones in my body… gasping loudly… I felt a heavy pressure on my chest... unable to move or do anything…
My whole body was in pain… Blood gushed out and made a pond around me… Not even able to speak… I felt my eyes getting heavy… darkening… Just before I was about to collapse, I saw a shadow-like figure nearing me...
Before my eyes finally closed...
Though my world remained unseen... I could vaguely feel someone lifting me... and saying—
"Don't worry... I won't let you die..."
Unknowingly, this made me feel at ease and comforted… And inadvertently, I let myself feel relieved...
Yet, I suddenly found myself shrouded in darkness... tangled, unable to move… I just stared into the void before a red moon finally unveiled itself, glinting brilliantly in the darkened sky.
A night filled with the moon's fullest bloom… illuminating everything with striking moonlight.
Meanwhile—some silhouettes emerged from the shadows on a jagged horizon... blood-red eyes shining in the darkness... blue fur, human-like builds, and facial canvases of wolves.
Upon closer inspection, I found—it was a herd of werewolves. Howling in the full moon night… As their fur grew longer, their claws and teeth became sharper and more ominous.
Their wolf features overpowered their human ones… While their bodies enlarged by a meter in size...
Under the full moon's light, werewolves go insane, and their power rises exponentially.
I was surrounded by them... confused as to why I was here… I looked at my hands, only to find blue fur and claws...
Not only that, but I observed and realized—I had also transformed into a werewolf. But I couldn't move my body...
Which meant I was either in an illusion... or something else entirely.
As I was thinking this... the moonlight of the full moon touched my skin. I looked up at it… and bizarrely, I found it very attractive.
"Wooooooooooooo."
And merely that notion made me howl at it...
My body tensed up... it started heating… I began to undergo a series of pains… My bones started cracking, one by one… and began to widen…
My entire bone structure began to reforge… Blood gushed out from everywhere… And bit by bit, I lost my reasoning...
Only the pain remained—beyond words… And darkness flickered in my eyes… As I fell into slumber again...
I thought it was over… Until I woke up again...
This time, I was in an unfamiliar place... filled with soaring trees… Everything cloaked in darkness… My legs are moving… and faint pain all over my body...
I was chasing someone in this darkness... unable to discern who it was… Just leaping through trees and over rocks to chase it...
And surprisingly—I was listening and sensing every minor sound and activity around me… From birds chirping to the person's heartbeat and fear, I was able to hear and sense everything...
And while chasing, I also heard the flow of water...
That's when I understood what these illusion-like things were that I was experiencing… And rage filled my mind...
"No wonder this illusion felt so real... It wasn't an illusion after all... These are the werewolf's memories that I'm going through... So this is how that skill works..."
"That bastard wants me to undergo more unpleasant memories and make me suffer… Like I already didn't have enough to care about..."
"That douchebag even dares to call himself a god… Isn't the demon king better than him at this point..."
While I was bickering in my head, I was suddenly out in the sunlight.
It made my vision blurry for a moment... before regaining it again… And I saw the terrified man whom I saved before...
As expected, this is a memory… And it's also the scene where the werewolf dies by my hand… And as predicted, it played out just as it did before...
But knowing that wouldn't save me from misery… Just as that thought appeared in my mind… A sharp and stark pain rushed through my body...
My body tensed up... my head became dizzy… The pain made me almost black out… I wasn't even able to scream... because it wasn't my body...
Only trying to endure… Until—the final blow struck my neck… Making me feel pain comparable to real death...
I was just like a doll played in someone else's hands—torn apart… Not able to express it... just endure… And just before I was about to pass out...
I saw the crazed and malevolent expression… The one I made when killing this werewolf...
My mind was filled with many different emotions... I never thought I'd make that kind of expression when taking lives...
I was incapable of looking at it again…
Hoping it would be over...
I fell into slumber again...
The day began its retreat... the golden light dimmed.
And the red light began to take its place...
The forest also remained silent...
Meanwhile... not far from the river where I killed the werewolf... a village lay nestled...
The village was situated at the outskirts of the forest, beneath the crimson sky...
Far from the lurking danger.
Walls made of earthen shards and logs encircled the village, guarding it from external threats...
Small wooden houses, their rooftops weathered by countless seasons… People moved about, their eyes filled with purpose… Children chattered and laughter echoed faintly... brewing the village full of life...
People appeared to be chatting about something among themselves...
Two burly-looking men were discussing something while walking home from work...
"Did you hear what happened to Paul in the Red Forest?"
"You mean the time he was attacked by a werewolf and got saved by a young man?"
"Uh-huh. It's already a miracle he survived after encountering a werewolf."
"Yeah! I saw Paul carrying him to the healer, all covered in blood."
"Yep! I caught the young man screaming while being carried to the healer's place."
"Word is, Paul was slightly injured when he was chased to death by the werewolf, and the young man sacrificed himself like a hero to save a stranger like Paul.
In the end, he killed the beast...
But in the process, he was gravely injured..."
"Uh-huh..."
It looks like the rumors about me killing the werewolf have already spread...
Meanwhile, not far from where the men were chatting...
A brown-haired man was pacing back and forth relentlessly...
With grave eyes, he glanced at the wooden house beside him every few seconds...
He appeared to be waiting for someone...
Suddenly, his steps halted—
And a man wearing a green robe emerged from the house…
The green-robed man said to the other one with grave eyes...
"Paul, the young man's state is horrible... How did he get such grave injuries?"
"His ribs, shoulders, arms—even his spinal cord—are all broken...
He has lost too much blood...
And his body has no energy left to recover itself."
"At this point... I don't even know if he'll ever wake up... even after my treatment..."
Paul, upon hearing this, wore a perturbed expression...
Clenching his fists tightly, he said...
"Rex, you're the finest—and the only—healer in this village...
Can't you do anything for him?
Shifting him to Necropolis would take days..."
"This young man is my savior... He risked his life to save mine..."
"I can't let him die now..."
"Paul... I understand your concern.
But there's nothing more we can do..."
"We can only have faith in him..."
"You should go and recover, too... You were also injured..."
"I know you consider him your responsibility...
But have some trust in me..."
Saying this, Rex forcefully sent Paul on his way...
Even though he was quite stubborn about it…
After sending Paul back to his home... Rex entered his house.
It was wrapped in the scent of various drugs...
Rex's house was the only clinic and medicine shop in the village.
He was a kind healer—someone who treated everyone with compassion.
He was also a good friend of Paul. The house's interior was verdant, giving it a warm and peaceful look.
Upon entering, Rex draped aside his green robe and walked into a room...
This room had an oculus, from which a crisp breath of wind meandered in— Gently playing with my dark hair as I lay in deep slumber...
The quiet undulation of my chest marked life's persistence.
Rex sank onto the stool with a sigh...
"Paul is worried to death about you... and you're not showing any signs of waking up..."
"He'll be heartbroken if you don't wake soon..."
"Hah... What's happening to me?
I'm now even talking to someone who's stuck between life and death..."
After saying this, he walked out of the room...
And just a moment after Rex left...
My fingertips made a slight tremor...
Somewhere, deep within, life stirred.
Was this the beginning... or the end?