DEATH REALM — THE FOREST
Four months had passed since Nakid lost consciousness.
The shelter hidden deep within the forest had become eerily quiet.
Gone were the voices of the children.
Gone were the arguments, the laughter, and the constant movement that once filled the refuge with life.
Only two people remained.
Nakid.
And Yoreru.
A sudden breath escaped Nakid's mouth as his eyes opened.
His vision was blurry at first. The wooden ceiling above him seemed unfamiliar, as if he had been gone for years rather than months.
He slowly sat up.
His body felt heavy.
Weak.
But alive.
Yoreru, seated near the entrance, glanced toward him and smirked.
— So. You're finally awake.
Nakid rubbed his eyes.
— Yoreru...?
The memories came flooding back.
The poisonous mist.
The laughter.
The strange city.
The collapse.
He instantly stood up.
— Where is everyone?!
His voice echoed through the shelter.
— Where are the others? Where's Ysabella?
Yoreru remained calm.
— Relax.
Nakid grabbed his shoulders.
— How long was I unconscious?
— Around four months.
Silence.
Nakid stared at him.
His mind refused to process the answer.
— Four... months?
Yoreru nodded.
— You survived the Labyrinth.
Another nod.
— You survived the poison.
A third.
— But surviving doesn't mean recovering.
Nakid's hands slowly loosened.
— You never stopped pushing yourself. Hunting. Training. Using your healing ability. You exhausted your aura and your body.
Nakid looked away.
Four months.
Four entire months.
Everything had changed.
— Where are they? he asked quietly.
Yoreru sighed.
— They left.
The answer struck harder than any punch.
Nakid froze.
— ...What?
— They joined clans.
The words felt unreal.
— No.
—It's the truth.
— No.
— They needed protection.
Nakid clenched his fists.
— You let them leave?
Yoreru raised an eyebrow.
— What was I supposed to do? Keep them prisoners?
— They were our friends !
— And they still are.
The answer surprised Nakid.
Yoreru continued.
— But friendship doesn't feed people. It doesn't protect them from monsters.
He stood up.
— This is the Death Realm.
His expression darkened.
— People survive by adapting.
Nakid lowered his gaze.
The shelter suddenly felt empty.
Far emptier than before.
— Ysabella left too?
— Yes.
A painful silence followed.
Nakid sat back down.
For the first time since waking up, he truly felt alone.
Yoreru watched him carefully.
— Your goal hasn't changed, has it?
Nakid remained silent.
— Your mother.
At those words, his eyes sharpened.
Leslie.
Everything had started with her.
Everything.
— If I save her... Nakid whispered.
Yoreru nodded.
— What then?
Nakid didn't answer.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Elsewhere in the Death Realm
The world continued moving forward.
Louis had become a member of the Buccaneer Clan.
A faction famous throughout the Death Realm for reconnaissance, exploration, and long-range combat.
Its scouts traveled farther than anyone else.
Its archers and marksmen were feared even by powerful monsters.
Louis followed his superior through a rocky canyon.
— Can you explain the clan hierarchy again?
Kelly sighed dramatically.
— You already asked yesterday.
— I forgot.
Kelly laughed.
— At the top is the Clan Leader.
He raised one finger.
— Below him are the Generals.
A second finger.
— Then the Admirals.
A third.
— And finally the Lieutenants.
Louis nodded seriously.
— And us?
Kelly grinned.
— We're nobodies.
Louis saluted.
— Understood, Chief!
Kelly groaned.
— Please stop calling me that.
Meanwhile
Miya and Ryan had joined the Twilight Clan.
A feared organization of assassins and bounty hunters.
Its members specialized in stealth, information gathering, and elimination missions.
Miya's hearing ability made her incredibly useful.
Ryan...
was still struggling.
— How are you holding up? Miya whispered.
Ryan looked around nervously.
— You shouldn't be here.
— Oh come on.
— If the Lieutenant sees us talking, I'll get punished again.
Miya blinked.
— Again?
Ryan sighed.
— I refused to clean the toilets.
Miya burst out laughing.
Before Ryan could respond, she suddenly stopped.
Her enhanced hearing had detected footsteps.
— Someone's coming.
She immediately jumped away.
Ryan shook his head.
— At least we're still alive.
Far from them
Shiyo and Pips had joined the Princess Clan.
Unlike the dangerous reputation surrounding its members, Shiyo's daily life was surprisingly peaceful.
She spent most of her time cooking.
However, her aura continued growing rapidly.
Several officers had already begun paying attention to her potential.
As for Pips...
The loyal dog remained by her side at all times.
Ysabella's situation was different.
She had joined the Imperial Clan.
One of the most respected organizations in the entire Death Realm.
Its structure differed from every other clan.
One Leader.
One General.
One Admiral.
One Lieutenant.
Everyone else shared the same rank.
Advancement was simple.
Challenge your superior.
Defeat them.
Take their place.
Simple in theory.
Impossible in practice.
For centuries, nobody had managed to defeat even the Imperial Lieutenant.
Back at the Shelter
Yoreru suddenly tossed a folded piece of paper toward Nakid.
Nakid caught it.
— A tournament?
Yoreru smiled.
— Training time is over.
Nakid examined the invitation.
Participants from various clans.
Promising recruits.
Rewards.
Recognition.
Opportunities.
— Why should I enter?
Yoreru crossed his arms.
— You'll meet people.
Nakid remained unconvinced.
— You'll learn how strong you've become.
Still nothing.
Finally Yoreru laughed.
— And you'll probably get recruited.
That earned a reaction.
Nakid immediately shook his head.
— I don't need a clan.
— You do.
— No.
— You'll die.
Nakid stood up.
His aura trembled slightly.
— My goal hasn't changed.
Yoreru remained silent.
— I don't care about ranks.
Silence.
— I don't care about status.
More silence.
Nakid looked toward the distant horizon.
The vast unknown world beyond the forest.
The place where answers waited.
The place where stronger enemies lurked.
The place where his mother's fate might finally be revealed.
— I need information.
His voice became firm.
— I need power.
He tightened his fists.
— And most importantly...
His eyes hardened.
— I need to save my mother.
For a moment, Yoreru said nothing.
Then he smiled.
A genuine smile.
— Good.
Nakid blinked.
Yoreru pointed toward the forest's edge.
— Go.
The young skeleton took his first step.
Then another.
Months ago, he had been a frightened farmer.
Then a survivor.
Then a victim.
Now...
He was something else.
Someone willing to walk forward regardless of the cost.
The forest that had once been his entire world now felt small.
Beyond it lay cities.
Clans.
Monsters.
Secrets.
And perhaps...
A way to bring Leslie back.
Nakid did not look back.
The deeper regions of the Death Realm awaited him.
And his true journey was only beginning.