Neither wind nor light passes through the Black Forest.
-...
-...
-...
-(Strange. I feel as if I had been abandoned, and now someone decided to look at me again.)
-(I guess it's just my imagination.)
-(Aaah! Why can't I even open my eyes?!)
I'm indignant that I still can't move a single muscle.
….
…
..
.
-(What day is it today? Is it morning or night? How long have I been here? Why is the sky blue? What is the meaning of life? Why do we exist? For what purpose were we created? What is real? Why is there something instead of nothing? What is the speed of darkness?)
I want to sigh, but I can't even do that.
-(I'm going to go crazy like this.)
-...
-(What else did Eladreo say about this world?)
With nothing to do, all that's left for me is to try to recall the conversations I had with Eladreo. But, unfortunately, they grow more distant with each passing moment.
-(Come on, memories!)
Despite forgetting some things, I remember the most important points.
-(From the beginning. The Source, energy that every living being in this world possesses.)
-(Skills, a form of raw and overwhelming power, but one that brings consequences.)
-(Ancient Art, versatile and less powerful.)
-(That's more or less it.)
-...
-(Now that I think about it… I should have asked how to obtain these powers.)
I'm stuck on important questions. Beyond the basic explanations, Eladreo didn't tell me how to use or awaken these powers. My memories whisper that Eladreo had explained the reasons for not telling me. But I can't tell whether that's just intuition or certainty.
-(There's no way around it.)
-(I'll have to figure things out the hard way.)
-(Well, time isn't something I lack, since I can't move and have no external needs… so… Focus!)
I clear my mind of any unnecessary thoughts, concentrating on trying to feel the Source.
….
…
..
.
I keep my mind clear.
-...
-...
-...
A thin white line can be felt, but it disappears immediately.
-(?!?!)
-(What was that?! Was that the Source?!)
Before I overthink that sensation, I decide to simply focus again. Time passes without me noticing, until suddenly I feel that presence once more. I'm certain this is the Source.
When I realize it, I can see thin lines passing around me and within me.
-(Wow! I can actually see the Source… Some Sources are white, and others are a light gray.)
-(Look at that. Objects like the ground and my clothes really don't have a Source, but they seem capable of absorbing it or being wrapped by it.)
And finally, with a lot of effort and patience, I'm able not only to feel the Source, but also to see it, even without opening my eyes. A small achievement.
I would smile if I could move my lips.
-(All that's missing now is that screen appearing.)
-(Status! Saying I've achieved something.)
-...
I wait for something to happen, but nothing does. I sigh mentally.
-...
It was to be expected. I've realized that this so-called "status" only exists in manga and anime. In real life, there's no way to see EXP, MP, HP, or attributes like that.
It would be good and bad at the same time. Good because I could see my maximum capabilities, understand dangerous plants, animals, and levels. But bad because I'd end up dependent on it. And if that blue screen suddenly disappeared, it would be chaos for me. Still, denying that I wanted one would be a big lie.
-(Back to the topic of the Source. Even though I can see it, basically all I see is black and white… and a bit of gray.)
-(When am I going to be freed from this place? What's the point of having super regeneration if I can't even move a finger?)
I sigh mentally once more.
-(Well… I'll keep training to feel the Source, then. It's the only thing I can do.)
….
…
..
.
My lips tremble, but I don't notice it, as I'm focused and delighted by this new achievement.
-(I did it! I managed to improve!)
-(I can see the Source much more clearly now, and across a much wider field.)
After a long and patient training, I can see the Source far beyond a simple field of vision. If I concentrate, I can even see the Source behind me or beneath the ground.
….
…
..
.
Until then, suddenly, on some day or night, I manage to open my eyes and move my mouth.
-Fi…
-Finally!
-After so long, I managed to open my eyes.
-Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah! Hooray!
-I can speak and see again!!!
I'm so happy that I start crying.
-How long has it been since I last spoke? Since I last saw?
After long minutes of happiness, my spirits calm down. It's still not time to celebrate. After all, my body is still paralyzed, and I still need to think about how to get out of here.
So I set the celebration aside and assess my situation. I analyze it step by step. My condition is still paralysis. There isn't much I can do right now, so the next step is to find out where I am.
Even without being able to move my head, I can still move my eyes. I see that I'm in the forest that much I already knew, but everything is dark. Still, it's a kind of darkness where I can see, regardless of whether it's day or night.
Looking more closely, I notice those black orchids clinging to the trees. They're the ones releasing the dark pollen into the air. I remember these orchids. They're the reason for my paralysis.
I also notice that the orchids stretch from the base of the trees all the way up.
-These orchids don't seem to belong to these trees.
-They look like vines.
-There are so many…
-That must be why everything is dark here.
I breathe in through my mouth. I feel my tongue go numb, and my mouth becomes somewhat stiff.
-(It seems to paralyze anyone who breathes in or touches the pollen.)
I look around and see hundreds of recent monster corpses, others much older, and many bones scattered everywhere.
-(Looks like many creatures die here.)
-(That's right!)
-(There were those wolves.)
I strain my eyes to see if they're still there, even though I know they'd be dead. But when I look, they're gone.
-Huh…?
-(Where are they?)
I scratch my chin mentally.
-Could they have escaped?
-That can't be. They were badly injured, and I think many weeks have passed. They wouldn't have been able to flee.
-It's also unlikely another monster took them, because it would've taken me along too.
-But what if they did free themselves? They would've eaten me.
-So… where are they?
I think of more theories, but none make sense. Then I look more closely at the skeletons around me. I notice two large skulls with cracks. They look like wolf skulls. There are also some bones near me that seem to belong to quadruped creatures.
I quickly deduce what happened.
-The wolves died. And their bones are already turning to dust.
-(That explosion that pushed us here must have mortally wounded them.)
-That's it.
-Wow… how long does it take for a body to turn into dust? Months, maybe.
-Well, it doesn't matter. That answers my question.
I look around.
-Hmm… strange…
-I don't know why, but I'm talking, thinking, and explaining my situation. It's almost like I have to report to someone.
-...
I stare into the darkness, as if looking for something, but I don't see anything unusual.
-I guess it's just my imagination, right?
-Well… more than anything, I want to get out of here and see the world. How many adventures are waiting for me?
My blue irises shine faintly. I never fulfilled my dream of traveling. I always wanted to see different peoples and cultures, but I never had enough money, not even to go to a neighboring city.
My expression hardens.
-I have to get out of here!
I've been here for a long time. If I truly want to see the world, I need to move and leave this place as soon as possible. Determined, I try to move my body again and again, without stopping.
I feel the fatigue, but my regeneration renews me.
-(I don't know how long I've been trying, but I won't give up!)
My body starts to tremble.
-Oh!
-That's it! Don't stop!
-I'm almost there!
My fingers begin to move trembling, bending, stretching. After a lot of effort, I manage to move my body. Recklessly, I try to stand up all at once, but I fall. I'm still partially paralyzed. But I won't give up. Hope is right in front of me. I repeat it several times, always falling. It feels like there's an enormous weight on my back. Realizing this method won't work, I decide to get up as if I were doing push-ups.
My legs try to balance me, they wobble, but I stay standing. My body feels heavy, but I can walk.
I take one step, almost fall, but manage to steady myself.
I take another, and another. My balance improves.
I stumble, but manage to lean against a tree. I look at it. A black orchid releases pollen right into my face. My consciousness fades, my body weakens. My fingers slide along the tree trunk. I start to fall.
I wrinkle my face, clench my teeth, and my fingers bleed as they pierce the tree's bark. My eyes fill with determination.
-I will not fall!
And I walk into the darkness between the trees.
….
…
..
.
-(I've been walking for a long time now, and I can't find any way out.)
I notice that the paralysis no longer affects me as much as before. I think my body must have gotten used to it. I keep walking until, in the distance, I see a light. It looks like an exit.
Seeing the exit, I start walking a little faster, but soon I'm running like a madman. As the light grows stronger and stronger, I'm certain this nightmare ends there. In the best-case scenario, this might already be the definitive exit.
When I finally step out, I feel an absurd pain burning my skin.
-Huh?
-What?!
-It's burning!
-Aaah!
I look around and immediately understand the reason. The place I'm in can only be described as hell. Rivers of incandescent lava flow everywhere, dense black clouds cover the sky, and enormous volcanoes can be seen to the right and left.
-A volcanic park!
-(I need to get out of here!)
I urgently turn my body to go back, but the ground explodes. Magma splashes onto me. I move away as fast as I can, but the splashes still hit me, melting my body. The pain is indescribable. Fortunately, my regeneration acts quickly and restores everything to how it was.
Hot, dense smoke rises from the ground and hits my face. Immediately, breathing becomes impossible. My vision blurs. Thick black smoke surrounds me. I try to push it away with my hands, but it's useless. There's too much smoke.
Before I realize it, I fall onto a scorching ground. My feathers melt, my entire body begins to liquefy, and my blood boils before evaporating. A true hell. I feel my hands coming apart, not even wanting to look at them. An endless thermal torture. My regeneration tries to act, but I'm being burned without pause.
I can't get out of this place.
-(What the hell! Why are there volcanoes in a forest?!?!)
….
…
..
.
Strong winds knock down trees and drag stones along. Acid rain corrodes everything it touches.
I'm climbing a canyon. My hand melts under the falling rain, but thanks to the mantle, I have some protection. Even so, my body suffers severely from the acid rain.
The rocks I rely on begin to crack.
I look in horror.
-!!!
I manage to sink my fingers into the rocks before I fall.
My fingers break. The pain is indescribable. But I can't stop.
-...
I look down and see the acidic river rising. If I don't hurry, I'll be dissolved by the river, just like all the vegetation around it.
….
…
..
.
The cold hits hard. A blizzard freezes everything in its path. Snow falls in heaps, and everything becomes frozen.
At the top of one of the enormous trees, sitting on a branch, I'm curled up in leaves, trying to keep warm.
I tremble continuously. My skin is covered in goosebumps and turning pale, my whole body uncoordinated, my lips stiff. I can't even think anymore, I just stare blankly ahead.
….
…
..
.
Enormous hurricanes dominate the area. I cling desperately to the trunk of a tree so I won't be carried away, but it's useless. The trees are ripped straight out of the ground.
….
…
..
.
Several electrical discharges dominate the sky. The lightning storm is merciless, nothing remains intact, everything is burning. Even the ground suffers, with craters opening due to the force of the strikes.
I find myself sprawled on the ground, suffering a cardiac arrest. Several burn gashes cover my body, showing where the electricity passed through me.
My eyes turn completely white. I almost lose my life, but soon I regain consciousness.
I widen my eyes as I see the black clouds, lightning, and thunder ruling the sky. A terrible spectacle.
The shrill sounds from above leave me terrified.
-!!!
A bolt of lightning cuts through the sky and strikes me head-on.
….
…
..
.
I'm forced to fall to the ground.
I sob as I cry.
-(Please…)
-(... Someone…)
-(… Someone… help me…)
-(Mother… get me out of here…)
Toxins and poisons seep into my skin. My body is almost entirely purple and lifeless.
….
…
..
.
In the middle of the forest, I walk calmly. There isn't even a trace of expression on my face. My mantle has a few tears and burn marks, but it's still relatively intact.
I don't know how many places I've already passed through. I don't know how long I've been walking. Everything is always exotic. Everything changes from one moment to the next. A forest that contains the entire world, with so many different, strange, and deadly biomes.
Right now, at this very moment, I walk through volcanic lands. I move as if I were just taking a stroll.
-(This is the fifth "Volcanic Park" I've passed through.)
-I think I've already gotten used to this kind of place.
-Where will I end up if I keep going this way?
….
…
..
.
When I realize it, the scenery changes completely. I leave the Volcanic Park and enter a Frozen Forest. Giant mountains of ice surround me, and an intense blizzard almost freezes me completely. Luckily, I remain conscious.
At the top of a mountain, it collapses, and an avalanche buries me.
The cold is brutal, but my body regenerates, slowly regulating my temperature. As soon as I feel my body getting a little better, I start digging my way out. I keep moving forward. My hands freeze and tremble, but I don't intend to stop until I get out of here.
I finally feel my hand break through the surface of the snow.
A bit of happiness appears on my face.
-(I did it!)
I emerge from the snow completely, but the joy that accompanied me fades away, leaving only emptiness stamped on my face. I look to one side and all I find is an endless expanse of snow. I turn to the other and see only mountains of ice cold and silent, as if the entire world had frozen along with me.
-Where do I go?
….
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..
.