Trees fell one by one the sound of breaking wood echoed like giant dominoes.

ALL.

ALL.

ALL.

The ground shook every few seconds, as something was approaching, something very large. I stood, gripping the World Thorn Sword even tighter, my body still exhausted from running out of the collapsed dungeon and still not fully recovered. 

The enemy's timing was either absolutely terrible or perfectly consistent with my life. The fog ahead began to shift, the trees parted, and finally, the creature appeared. 

I automatically tensed. Its shape resembled a deer, if a deer were experiencing an evolutionary nightmare. Its body was nearly five meters tall, its antlers branched like dead tree roots. Its skin was greenish-black, its eyes glowed red, living roots sprouted from its legs and back, and its aura of corruption was so thick that the air felt heavy.

A notification appears.

Guardian Beast — Cervaros

Level: 22

Status: Corrupted

Threat: Extreme

I stared at the number.

"Twenty two?"

I'm level 16, and the difference isn't funny at all. Nara also seems more serious than usual, which is a really bad sign. 

Cervaros lifted his head to take a breath of air then his eyes locked on me specifically me, I pointed at myself.

"Why is it always me?"

Cervaros roared, a low, distorted roar that moved the surrounding roots. Oh, and he was also a plant-themed, large, natural boss fight. 

Cervaros attacked without warning, no warm-up, the monster immediately shot forward for its size, its speed was strange, I barely had time to avoid its horns sweeping the area where I was standing.

BOOM!

The ground exploded, I rolled to the side, and dust flew up covering the area. Nara came in from the left, slashing the monster's hind leg with her dagger.

CLANG!

The sparks that came out didn't penetrate the natural armor too hard.

“Good,” I said. 

“Even this deer's legs have plot armor.”

Nara didn't respond to focus mode. Cervaros swung his tail, a large root sweeping the area. Nara jumped back and I advanced. 

Root Domain activated, the surrounding roots responding to my call, holding Cervaros's front legs for a split second, stopping the monster. Good enough, I jumped, the World Thorn Sword blazing. Ember Slash, I slashed at its neck.

SHRAK!

The incoming attack caused a small amount of black blood to flow out, Cervaros roared angrily. The damage had been confirmed, and I landed with a faint smile.

“Very much.”

“It can still be hurt.” Important information,

The monster stepped on the hard ground black roots burst from under the attack area, I jumped back but was a little too late one of the roots whipped my thigh.

BUK!

I was thrown, it hurt so bad.

“UGH!”

I rolled on the ground almost losing my grip on the sword, Nara appeared in front of me blocking the next root attack.

"Wake up." he said shortly.

I stood up grimacing.

“I'm doing it.”

Cervaros attacks again, this time his mouth opening, dark mana gathering. Oh no, a projectile attack.

“Get down!” Nara shouted.

We both jumped to the side, the next second a burst of black energy hit the center area.

BOOOOM!

The ground melted, I stared at the crater.

"No."

To avoid getting hit by the attack, I activated Minor Mana Sense. Focusing on analyzing the flow of mana, I saw the strongest corruption energy pattern gathered in the center of his chest. "Core? Most likely," I shouted.

“Nara!”

“Her chest!”

He immediately understood good cooperation, Cervaros attacked me again on purpose, I attracted perfect attention.

“Yeah, yeah, I don't like my face either.”

I ran in a circle, the monster chasing me, while Nara disappeared from view in stealth mode. Cervaros slammed into the ground, his roots chasing me, and I dodged as best I could, my mana dwindling. 

Too bad, I need bait now, Cervaros jumped his giant body down towards me, I stopped suddenly raising my hand.

Root Domain — Full Release

All the roots in the surrounding area rose up, dozens of roots wrapped around Cervaros' legs holding his body in the air for a split second.

“Now!” I shouted.

Nara appeared from above, I don't even know how long she's been there, she's kind of scary. She jumped from the tree branch, her two daggers blazing, stabbing straight into Cervaros' chest.

CRACK.

The sound of breaking. 

Good, the monster's cracked core roared loudly, but it wasn't dead yet. Damn, I ran forward, the last of my mana gathered, the World Thorn Sword vibrated, and the new skill activated automatically.

World Root Devour activated.

Compatible corrupted target detected.

Oh? Interesting, I stabbed straight into the crack in the sword core, Cervaros froze, his roar stopped, the roots on his body shook wildly, then the greenish black energy began to be sucked into my sword, I widened my eyes.

“Whoa.”

Cervaros struggled unexpectedly, but the process was already underway. The mana corruption flowing through my body was painful once again—of course, everything always hurts. The monster slowly weakened, its massive body beginning to crack and then collapse.

BOOOOM.

Dust rose into the silent air, I still held the sword stuck in the last of the energy absorbed.

Notifications appear in succession.

Guardian Beast defeated.

Corrupted essence absorbed.

Level 17 reached.

Level 18 reached.

New trait acquired:

Beast Vitality

New skill:

Corrupted Burst

I pulled out my sword, breathing heavily, my body trembling, but somehow still alive. Nara landed lightly beside me, looking at Cervaros's now motionless body.

“It worked,” he said.

I let out a short laugh.

“Yes.”

“A little overdramatic, but it works.”

Nara looked at me then at my sword, her expression changing to a faint trace of worry.

“The energy of corruption earlier,” he said quietly.

“You absorbed it all?”

I looked at my hand, and a thin black root line appeared on my wrist and then disappeared. Hmm, a bit of a bad omen.

“I think so,” I replied.

Nara didn't look like she could understand, I opened the status.

Name: Lock

Class:

World Tree Trunk Fragment

Level: 18

Condition:

Stable (?)

I stared at the question mark.

…

Your system is not helpful at all, I close the status then the quest notification appears.

Quest progress updated.

Day 5/7

Reward condition nearly complete.

The fifth day is only two days away, almost here, I took a deep breath.

“Maybe we can finally get out of this place alive.”

A sentence I shouldn't have said because the next second the ground shook again, not because of a monster, not from below but from the sky. 

Nara and I both looked up and saw something descending from the clouds, a large, winged, humanoid silhouette with a very terrifying aura.

A notification appears.

Emergency event triggered.

Executor descending

I stared at the screen then the sky, then my life and came to one conclusion: I was simply not allowed to rest.

[END CHAPTER 15]

The sky above the Forbidden Forest was torn apart by wildly moving clouds, the wind swirled into a massive vortex, and a silhouette slowly descended in the air—a winged humanoid wearing silvery-white armor with gold details on its shoulders and chest. The aura emanating from it was so heavy that my breath hitched, every instinct in my body screaming one thing:  run, immediately , now.

A notification appears.

Target identified:

Executioner Seraphiel

Affiliation: White Council

Level: unreadable

Threat: Disaster

I read the last word twice, disaster. Oh good, now the system is even starting to use new vocabulary to scare me, I looked at Nara.

“Do we have diplomatic options?”

Nara looked up at the sky.

“No.” The quickest answer in history.

Seraphiel landed slowly a few meters in front of us his feet touching the ground without a sound, large white wings folded behind his back, his face handsome too handsome. 

The handsome type that usually comes with an overconfidence in one's own greatness and a high casualty count, his eyes are a pale gold, cold and devoid of emotion. 

He looked at Cervaros's dead body, then his gaze shifted to me, a look that sent a chill down my spine. Another confession of tired popularity.

“So this is the container,” he said.

His voice was calm too calm, I raised an eyebrow.

“Can you stop calling me like an object?”

Seraphiel ignored me the rude trend continued, she raised one hand a golden magic circle appeared in the air the mana around immediately vibrated, Nara and I reflexively stepped back.

“Hand over the fragment,” he said.

I held the World Thorn Sword tighter.

"No."

Simple, classic, reliable. Seraphiel stared at me for a few seconds as if giving me a last chance, then let out a thin sigh.

“It's a shame.”

The next second he disappeared, my eyes widened quickly my instincts screamed, I raised my sword reflexively.

CLAY!

The impact hit my entire body as Seraphiel appeared right in front of me. The lightsaber in her hand pressed against my weapon, sending me flying dozens of meters, hitting a tree trunk.

BUK!

“UGHH—!”

My lungs felt empty, sore, and aching. The difference in power was absurd, I barely even saw her move. Seraphiel was gone again. Oh no! I rolled away quickly, the lightsaber hitting my spot.

BOOM.

The ground split open completely senseless, Nara thrust his dagger in from Seraphiel's blind spot blocking casually with just two fingers.

THING.

He blocked the knife attack with his fingers, which should have been illegal. Seraphiel pushed Nara away, sending a small shockwave flying. Nara was thrown backward, landing with difficulty, even he had difficulty. 

Too bad, I stood there panting, thinking quickly. There was no way to win head-on, no way. I needed tricks, not bullshit. 

Requiring protagonist privileges, I activated Root Domain full of roots all over the area moving, dozens of roots attacked Seraphiel from various directions, she stood still only the light sword spinning.

SWISH.

All roots are cut in one motion.

…

It was emotionally devastating, Seraphiel looked at me.

“Interesting toy.”

I was a little offended; it wasn't a toy, it was a skill derived from trauma. He slowly approached, very confident. His aura pressed down on the surrounding area, and I gritted my teeth.

Notifications appear small.

Warning.

Mental pressure detected.

Corruption Resistance active.

Good at least something helps, I raised my mana sword flowing new skill Corrupted Burst never tried before. 

Ideal testing time? No. 

Do I have a choice? Also no. 

I activated a skill, a greenish-black energy enveloping the World Thorn Sword. A corruption aura exploded out. Seraphiel paused for the first time, her expression slightly amused. Good, I dashed forward and slashed. Seraphiel blocked with her lightsaber.

CLANG!

The energy wave exploded Corruption and light clashed for a split second he was pushed back half a step.

HALF A STEP.

I almost cried with emotion, small progress but still progress, Seraphiel looked at my sword.

“The fragment is growing faster than predicted.”

Okay that sounds important in the context of the story, Nara shouted.

“Straight, focus!”

Okay, no celebration, Seraphiel attacked again, I blocked it, the impact was even heavier, my body almost collapsed. Damn, Corrupted Burst increased power but consumed a brutal amount of mana, I couldn't sustain it for long, I needed an exit strategy. 

Now I glance at the quest

Day 5/7

No help, thank you system. Suddenly Nara appeared beside me and whispered quickly.

“There is a way out.”

I looked at him.

“Why only now?”

"Because I just saw an opportunity."

In that case, okay.

“What's the plan?”

Nara pointed at Cervaros's dead body. I followed his finger. The monster's core was cracked, but it wasn't completely destroyed. There was still some corruption energy left. Oh, I'm starting to understand. It's dangerous, but I like it.

“Blow it up?” I whispered.

Nara nodded, a fine piece of destructive improvisation. Seraphiel attacked again, and I held back as best I could as our swords collided.

CLANG.

CLANG.

CLANG.

Every impact made my hands numb, I almost lost my grip. The difference was ridiculous, I needed a few more seconds just a few.

“Nara!” I shouted.

He was already moving towards the core of Cervaros. Seraphiel realized he was about to give chase, so I forced Root Domain out completely, all the remaining roots wrapped around his legs for half a second, enough.

“Go away,” I muttered.

Nara stabbed her dagger into the remaining unstable mana core, and the corruption reacted immediately. Oh, that looks explosive, I shouted:

"Run!"

We both ran away, Seraphiel cut the roots and turned around, too late.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

A giant corruption explosion shook the entire area, a greenish black wave swept through the forest, the ground was lifted, trees were uprooted, an aura of chaos exploded everywhere. 

Nara and I were thrown by the shockwave, my body rolled over several times, my vision was spinning, dust filled the air, my ears were ringing. 

I coughed hard, trying to get up, trying to stay alive. It was impossible. I looked towards the explosion, the area covered in black smoke, but nothing was visible. 

Seraphiel? Unknown. 

Dead? No way. 

Disturbed? Sure. 

Nara pulled my arm.

“Now!” he said firmly.

There was no argument we immediately fled deeper into the forest because it seemed my life now was: fighting cosmic forces and then escaping with a thin timing. 

After several minutes of non-stop running, we finally stopped in a rocky area far from the explosion site. Breathing heavily, my body completely exhausted, I sat down, still trembling.

"That…"

I catch my breath.

“It was a very unpleasant experience.”

Nara leaned against the rock, panting slightly as well, the first time I'd seen her truly tired. It was nice to know she was human too.

"We managed to escape," he said.

I chuckled.

“Our standards for success are very low.”

Nara almost looked like she wanted to smile, almost. The quest appeared again.

Quest progress updated.

Day 6/7

One more day, just one more day, I looked up at the night sky that was starting to descend, my body tired, my mana almost gone. 

The enemy of the elite organization, the executor is probably still alive but somehow I smile because I am still alive, still growing, still moving forward and that is enough for now.

[END CHAPTER 16]

I woke up with pain all over my body, my back ached, my hands were sore, my body felt almost empty and my head felt like it had been hit by reality over and over again. 

Technically that wasn't far from the truth, I sat down slowly our hiding area this time was in a narrow rock crevice quite hidden by roots and wild bushes. 

It wasn't comfortable but compared to almost being killed by the Winged Executioner yesterday my comfort standards had dropped drastically, a small fire was burning in front of Nara who was sitting cleaning her dagger again. 

I'm starting to think he has a very healthy emotional relationship with guns.

“Morning,” I said hoarsely.

Nara glanced at me.

“You sleep like a corpse.”

I nodded.

“Professional experience.”

He ignored the joke rudely, I saw the status.

Name: Lock

Class:

World Tree Trunk Fragment

Level 18

Weapon:

World Thorn Sword

Condition:

Fatigue,

mild Mana depletion

Skill:

World Root Devour

Ember Slash

Root Snare

Nature Assimilation

Root Domain

Corrupted Burst

Corruption Resistance

Beast Vitality

Still alive, still intact, mostly pretty good.

Quest appears automatically.

Quest:

Survive 7 days in the Forbidden Forest

Progress:

Day 6/7

Time remaining:

18:42:11

Reward pending.

The last day finally, I stared at the countdown like a thirsty person watching a slightly emotional drink advertisement.

“I’m almost free,” I muttered.

Nara looked at me.

“Don't speak too fast.”

The universe seemed to have a hobby of punishing my optimism, I stood up slowly and stretched.

“Plans for today?”

Nara put her dagger back in.

"Endure."

Simple, elegant, traumatic we left the hideout after a simple breakfast of some wild fruit and water, a survival menu. 

The forest felt quieter today, unlike the usual sounds of monsters, roars, movement or at least an air of threat. 

Now? Almost nothing, I frowned.

“It's too quiet.”

Nara nodded.

“Monsters stay away.”

“From what?”

He didn't answer right away, which was a very bad omen. A few minutes later, I got my answer. We arrived at a small cliff overlooking the lower forest area, where the monsters were gathered. 

Dozens? No, hundreds. 

Various types of monsters moved in one direction like migrating or fleeing, I stared at the scene.

“Oh.”

I don't like oh like this.

“They're running away from something,” I said.

Nara nodded.

“Yes.”

“Executioner?” I asked.

“No,” he replied.

Worse was incredible, I stared at him.

“How could there be a worse answer than the Executioner?”

Nara pointed into the distance, I followed her finger and saw on the horizon the silhouette of a giant black tree. 

No, not a tree, but something resembling a walking tree with roots like enormous legs, much larger than a normal monster. I could feel its aura of corruption even from here.

A notification appears.

Regional threat detected.

Corrupted Colossus

Threat level: Disaster

Recommendation:

Avoid contact.

Thank you for the very sensible suggestion system. The problem is that the giant monster is moving towards us, of course I'm watching the countdown.

17:58:03

It's still too long. Why does one day feel like a century? I rubbed my face.

"Okay."

“I have a question.”

Nara looked at me.

“Was my life always like this?”

“I guess.” A painfully honest answer.

We move immediately. 

The goal is simple: get as far away from the Colossus as possible. 

Execution? Probably a bummer. 

We jumped from rock to rock, heading deeper into the hilly area, but the ground shook again. The monster was moving too fast for something the size of a building to move, I looked back. 

A very bad decision Colossus was getting closer now its shape was clearer its huge body like a combination of tree trunk, rotting flesh, and black roots, dozens of red eyes glowing on its main trunk.

“Why do the appearance of monsters in this world always attack mental health?” I muttered.

Nara stopped suddenly I almost hit her.

"What?"

Before us was a deep, wide ravine, impassable by normal traffic. The map's design was incredibly hostile, and I could see no paths left or right.

Countdown:

16:41:29

The Colossus was getting closer, Nara stared at the abyss while thinking quickly then at me.

"Can you build a bridge?"

I blinked.

"With what?"

He saw my sword. 

Oh yes the power of plants, I breathed.

“No pressure.”

I advanced to the edge of the cliff raising the World Thorn Sword mana flowed out, Root Domain activated to its maximum all the roots in the area responded. 

A large root emerged from the side of the ravine, extending to connect the two sides, forming a crude, inelegant, but functional root bridge. I nearly fainted after the brutal mana drain.

“Go!” I said.

We immediately ran across the bridge, and halfway there, the Colossus arrived. The monster swung its giant root at us, and I turned around, feeling very cinematic and uncomfortable. 

The roots hit the side of the bridge cliff, it shook violently then cracked, we ran faster almost there

CRAAACK!

The back of the bridge broke, and I jumped off Nara as well. We landed hard on the other side, and the next second the entire bridge collapsed into the abyss. 

The Colossus stopped on the other side an angry roar echoed, the monster was too large to cross directly. 

Thank God for everything, I lay on the ground laughing tiredly back to life, of course.

Countdown appears.

15:57:12

Still fifteen hours, I wanted to protest formally then Nara sat beside me.

“We have to keep moving,” he said.

I covered my face with my hands.

“Can we at least pretend to take a five minute break?”

Nara thought.

“Two minutes.”

Negotiations were successful, I smiled a little. 

The sky was starting to turn orange. The final day wasn't over yet, it was still so long, and for some reason, I had a bad feeling. It wasn't about the Colossus, it wasn't about the monsters, but about what awaited me after this quest was over. 

Because I know one thing: once I leave the Forbidden Forest… the real trouble may just begin.

[END CHAPTER 17]