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]

Two minutes of rest turned into about thirty seconds, because of course my life was unfamiliar with the concept of healthy recovery. 

The ground shook again. The Colossus on the other side of the chasm still hadn't given up. The monster slammed against the cliff repeatedly, trying to find another way out. A true hater, I stood there with a deep sigh.

"Okay."

“It seems the universe is rejecting the balance of life.”

Nara had already started, which was no surprise. We continued along the narrow, rocky path, the area was higher, cooler, a thick fog was beginning to descend, and the trees were becoming sparser. 

The good thing is there are fewer places for monsters to hide. The bad thing? There are also fewer places for us to hide. 

The quest countdown continues.

Time remaining:

08:13:44

Finally a single digit of motivation increased slightly, I stared at that number like an investor looks at a green or hopeful graph. 

We kept moving until night fell and the sky was completely dark, the faint stars were visible through the mist for the first time in days, the atmosphere felt... calm, truly calm, no monsters, no cult followers, no dungeons collapsing, it was refreshing. 

I sat on a large rock, my completely exhausted body was slowly recovering thanks to Nature Assimilation, Nara was sitting not far from me, strangely quiet but not bad, I glanced at him.

“Are you always like this?”

Nara turned around slightly.

"Like what?"

"Quiet type."

He thought for a moment.

“Yes.”

That makes sense, I nodded then asked,

"Why enter the Forbidden Forest?"

Nara was silent longer this time, I thought she wouldn't answer but finally she spoke.

“Looking for something.”

Cryptic? Of course. I smiled slightly.

“Everyone in this world is allergic to complete answers.”

Nara stared at the small fire in front.

"If you know too much, you usually die faster."

Hmm, fair, very fair, I looked up at the sky. Maybe he was right—since coming into this world, the more I learned, the bigger my problems became. The development and consequences were balanced.

The countdown continues.

03:22:18

As we got closer I started to feel a little emotional, seven whole days felt like seven years. I closed my eyes for a moment then

notification appears.

Quest nearly complete.

Prepare for reward synchronization.

Oh? Interesting, I sat up straight. 

Reward synchronization, I open the quest details.

Quest:

Survive 7 days in the Forbidden Forest

Reward:

Blessing upgrade

Random skill

Hidden title

I read the gift twice. Okay, it was worth it, the trauma was partially repaid, I smiled.

“Maybe all this suffering is worth it.”

Nara looked at me like I had just said something incredibly naive, a natural reaction. Time passed very slowly, each minute felt like an eternity, but eventually

final notification appears.

Quest completed.

Survive 7 days in Forbidden Forest.

Reward distribution starting.

YES. FINALLY.

I almost stood up and applauded. A green light appeared in my body. It was warm, not painful, a rare experience. Thank you very much.

Notifications appear in succession.

Blessing upgraded.

New blessing:

Blessing of the Withered World Tree

New skill acquired:

Predator Sense

Title obtained:

The Forsaken Survivor

Effect:

Fear resistance +

Survival instinct +

Level bonus:

+1

Current level: 19

I read it all with a big smile.

"Good."

"Very good."

Finally reward without evolution nearing the death of character development, I read the new blessing.

Blessing of the Withered World Tree:

Increases compatibility with fragments, nature energy, corruption resistance, and adaptive growth.

Sounds broken, I agree.

New skills:

Predator Sense:

Detects killing intent and hidden dangers around.

Oh, that's very useful, especially for someone with an above-average level of betrayal. I'm very satisfied. Nara noticed the notification on my face.

“Got something good?”

I nodded.

“Premium trauma package.”

Nara tilted her head, I sighed.

“That means yes.”

He nodded slightly, the conversation successful, but after the gift was finished, the ground beneath us began to glow, and I froze. Oh no, please no, not again. A large magic circle appeared around my feet.

New notification.

Exit protocol activated.

Returning participant to spawn region.

I blinked, waiting. Teleporting out? Automatically? I looked at Nara, she was also looking at the circle, her expression slightly changed for the first time, looking... unprepared.

“So this is an automatic goodbye?” I asked.

Nara was silent for a few seconds then nodded, I guess yes. The light grew brighter, meaning the teleport would activate. I stared at her.

“I don't even know your real goal yet.”

Nara looked back at me, her gaze calm as usual but this time a little softer.

"Live longer," he said.

“That would help.”

I chuckled.

“Advice that really suits your brand.”

The corners of Nara's lips lifted slightly, almost into a smile. The light grew stronger, and my body began to feel lighter. I raised one hand.

“See you, Nara.”

He nodded.

"See you later, Raka."

The next second light engulfed my vision the world changed, teleport activated and when my consciousness returned I was no longer in the Forbidden Forest but in a large, crowded and noisy stone hall filled with people. 

Humans, Armor, Mages, Knights, and all those very familiar faces. Yes, those were my classmates, and I froze them too. 

Silence suddenly filled the hall, their gazes fixed on me at my tattered clothes, the black sword in my hand the aura now far different and the level above my head.

19

I saw their expressions of shock, disbelief, a little fear, good, a small smile appeared on my face, finally we meet again.

[END CHAPTER 18]

The stone hall was silent, a strange silence, a silence that was too full of emotion. Hundreds of people were in this large room—adventurers, guards, priests, knights, mages—but not a single one spoke because all eyes were on me, standing in the center of the teleportation circle, my clothes tattered, my body covered in scars.

The Sword of Thorns in the World was clutched in my hand, a faint aura of corruption still lingering around me and before me was my old classroom. The people who once stood with me in the classroom, the people who talked about exams, assignments, and the future, the people who also decided to kill me.

It's amazing how life works, I scanned their faces one by one. Most of them looked completely different: better armor, adventurer's attire, higher-quality weapons, and more stable mana auras; they were clearly developing.

Good will be more satisfying later, I recognize some faces like Bima his body is big, used to be a school basketball athlete now wearing dark red heavy armor probably tank class stable aura Level 14, not bad.

Beside him was Dimas, a man with glasses who used to be the class president, now wearing a white and blue robe, an attractive Level 15 mage class.

And my eyes stopped on one person, a long-haired woman standing in the front row. Mira, my former classmate, now wearing white armor with a golden staff with a strong holy aura, a Level 16 Saint Healer.

I still remember his expression when he decided I should be dumped so clearly. His expression now? Shock.

“Raka…” he muttered softly.

As if seeing a ghost quite close, I smiled faintly.

"Hi everybody."

No one answered, no awkward reunion snacks, finally someone spoke Bima took a step forward, his face tense.

"You…"

He seemed to be having trouble processing my presence.

“How are you still alive?”

Good question, I thought for a moment.

“With hatred, trauma, and very bad life decisions.”

No one laughed at the difficult audience, Dimas moved forward a little with his gaze at my level, at my sword, at my aura analyzing as usual.

"It's impossible." he said.

“No one can survive seven days in the Forbidden Forest.”

I shrugged.

“Skills problem.”

Bima looked offended.

A knight at the side of the hall finally approached not an adult student silver armor with the symbol of the kingdom.

A small notification appears.

Target identified:

Royal Knight

Threat: Moderate

The knight looked at me seriously.

“Are you a newly returned participant?”

I nodded.

“I guess so.”

He seemed to judge my appearance very normally I did look like someone who was raised by trauma and roots.

“Identity,” he said.

I blinked, oh right administrative procedures.

“Inter-world transfer student?” I said.

Knight doesn't seem amused by the complicated bureaucracy, Dimas is quick to speak.

“He's part of our group.”

Group? Interesting choice of words I glanced at him didn't deny maybe not yet, Knight nodded.

"Good."

He signaled to the other guards.

“Participants returning from the ritual will be processed in the east hall.”

Ritual? So that's what they call a forced survival fantasy. I started walking out of the circle and as I passed my class group, I deliberately stopped right in front of Mira, our distance was only a meter. I looked into her eyes, she stiffened.

“Nice to meet you again,” I said quietly.

My tone was flat enough to make him even paler, and I walked on. Bima gritted his teeth, clearly wanting to say something but holding back. Smart, progress, at least a little.

I followed the knight into the side hall but before I could actually leave I heard panicked whispers behind me.

“How can he be alive?”

“Level 19? That doesn't make sense.”

“That's what trash class should be”

They stopped talking when I turned around, and a brief silence fell again. We entered the eastern hall, a smaller room with several desks, officers, and evaluation crystals. "The fantasy administration office," Knight pointed to a chair.

“Sit down.”

I sat down as a grey-robed officer approached carrying a crystal tablet.

“Name?”

“Cancer.”

“Class?”

I paused for two seconds, a good question. Should I be honest? Maybe too much information isn't the ideal choice.

“Nature-based class,” I replied.

Technically correct, the officer nodded as he wrote.

“Level?”

“19.”

His hand stopped he looked at me.

"Repeat."

“19.”

He seemed to dislike the data, understandably so.

“Blessing?”

I think.

"Still alive."

The officer stared at me for a long time, the Knight beside him starting to look spiritually exhausted. Oops, finally the officer sighed.

"Good."

He handed me a small crystal.

“This is temporary identification.”

I received the item.

A notification appears.

Item acquired:

Adventurer Temporary Pass

Region access unlocked:

City of Lumeria

Oh, new city, new arc, potential new problems. Very good, Knight looked at me.

“You are free to move around for the time being but do not leave the city without permission.”

I nodded.

"Of course."

Maybe I'll ignore it later, I left the room, the corridor was now quieter but footsteps could be heard from behind.

I stopped, no need to look back. Predator Sense was active, there was no killing intent, only anxiety. I turned to Mira, standing at the end of the corridor alone, her hands tightly gripping her staff. Her expression was complicated, there were guilt, fear, doubt, and a mess of emotions. She approached slowly.

“Cancer…”

I looked at him calmly.

"What?"

Mira swallowed hard.

“I… want to talk.”

I almost laughed of course after trying to kill someone there was always a desire for conversation, I crossed my arms.

"Talk?"

A faint smile appeared on my face.

"Good."

“Start with the part where you guys decided I was better off dead.”

Mira's expression froze and the corridor suddenly felt much colder.

[END CHAPTER 19]