The Moon Goddess offered me her protection. If I died, I'd get one chance to be reborn through the werewolf trials.

I was born with "sensory impairment."

I wasn't an Omega, but I couldn't shift into a wolf. I couldn't see or sense wolves in their lupine forms or their power.

When I appeared alongside ninety-nine other trial candidates in an ancient rainforest shrouded in thick fog and darkness, everyone assumed I wouldn't make it past the first day.

But here I was, in the terrifying rainforest nests, treating a ghostly wolf pup, drowned for its unusual coat color, as my own little cub.

And, I flirted with a bloodthirsty vampire spirit who took pleasure in killing, treating him like a lover.

I even befriended the evil twin Hexenbiest, treating them like sisters.

The first time we met, I reached out and ran my hand over the vampire's abs. "Nice body," I commented, "just a bit on the short side."

He let out a humorless laugh, reattached the head he'd been holding to his neck, and gripped my chin.

"I'm six-foot-five," he said. "Want to take another look?"

The Moon Goddess offered me her protection. If I died, I'd get one chance to be reborn through the werewolf trials.

I've had lunar sensory impairment since birth. I wasn't an Omega, but I couldn't shift into a wolf. I couldn't see or sense wolves in their lupine forms or their power.

When I appeared alongside ninety-nine other trial candidates in an ancient rainforest shrouded in thick fog and darkness, everyone assumed I wouldn't make it past the first day.

I was a burden to my Pack—useless in battle because of my sensory impairment.

When a band of rogues attacked, my pack didn't hesitate to use me as bait.

Claws tore at my skin, fangs gnawed at my bones, and in the end, I was torn apart by a dozen rogue wolves.

Before I died, I heard my former pack members muttering: "What a waste of space. couldn't even slow them down for a minute."

Until my very last breath, I was the one they despised and abandoned.

A flash of white light, and the pain from being torn apart hadn't even faded when I regained consciousness.

When I came to, I was lying on my back on damp, earthy soil that smelled of decay.

The air was thick with the scent of blood, wet earth, and something wild—like musk from some beast.

I struggled to sit up, taking a moment to adjust to my surroundings.

My sensory impairment meant I couldn't recognize wolves by their scent or power.

Unlike other werewolves, I couldn't sense the strength of auras, the flow of power, or the terrifying presence of a wolf in lupine form—a death sentence in the werewolf world.

To me, the most fearsome alpha might just look like a large, fuzzy shadow.

There were many moving figures around me, accompanied by suppressed sobs, angry growls, and confused conversations.

As time passed, more and more people gathered.

There was no sun in the sky, only a large, ominous blood-red moon, casting an eerie light through the gaps in the rainforest's towering canopy.

"Where... where is this? I want to go home!" a young Omega's voice cried, trembling with fear.

"Who's messing with me? Let me go! I was at the tavern, and I'd already paid for my drinks," another Delta growled, his voice deep and menacing.

Then, two figures stepped forward—a man and a woman.

The man was tall and muscular with a steady presence, while the woman was agile and sharp-eyed, both radiating the aura of leaders.

From the murmurs around me, I learned they were both powerful alphas.

"Quiet!" the female alpha commanded, her voice cutting clearly through to each of us.

"My name is Safiya, and this is Tyne. We're both alphas, and you'd better follow our lead. We can share some information."

Under the powerful alpha presence, the restless crowd gradually calmed down.

Tyne spoke, his voice carefully soothing: "Listen up, everyone. You're all dead. You fell in battle or some other way. The Moon Goddess has given us a second chance."

Safiya's voice grew lower: "According to legends and Alpha Council records, we believe we're in the Blood Moon Trials—controlled by the Moon Goddess. We've been brought to this ancient, cursed Grayholle Rainforest. If we can survive here for seven days, we'll earn the Moon Goddess's blessing, reshape our bodies, and return to the world of the living."

A chance to be reborn? To return to the living? I nearly held my breath.

This meant I'd have a chance... a chance to face the pack that abandoned me? No, perhaps more importantly, a chance to live for myself.

"What do we need to do to pass the trials?" I couldn't help but ask, my voice hoarse with eagerness.

"I mean, there's a price for resurrection, right? Points? Or something else?"

Safiya glanced at me, seemingly surprised that I'd speak up, but she answered anyway: "Points. Resurrection requires 9,999 Moon Goddess points. The reward for each trial depends on your 'Lunar Fear' level when you complete it."

"Lunar Fear?" someone repeated in confusion.

Tyne explained: "As the name suggests, it's your level of fear toward this cursed land and the unknown dangers of the trials. If your Lunar Fear reaches 100, you'll be immediately consumed by the blood moon, and your soul will dissipate. If you complete the trials with a Lunar Fear of 99, you'll only get a pathetic 1 point."

"What if it's 0 then?" I pressed on, calculating in my mind. "If you complete the trials with zero Lunar Fear, would you get 100 points?"

At my words, the crowd fell silent for a moment, then a few suppressed snickers rang out. Safiya and Tyne looked at me as if I were a madman who knew nothing.

Unseen by me, my "trial footage" was being watched by certain entities, countless thoughts flowing through:

"This defective one sure talks big! The Blood Moon Trials might only be S-rank, but Grayholle Rainforest has never been completed due to its twisted rules!"

"The previous Alpha King, 'Silvermane' Kaelan, failed on the sixth day and can never be resurrected."

"Only two alphas in this batch—Safiya and Tyne. Together they wouldn't even stand a chance against Kaelan's claw. Looks like no one will pass the trials this time either."

Soon, the first trial began—choosing a cave to inhabit.

Safiya stepped forward to explain the situation:

"The Alpha Council has recorded some information, and now we're willing to share it with everyone. There are over a hundred caves scattered throughout this rainforest, and each can only hold one trial candidate. The Blood Moon Trials are essentially a role-playing scenario. Each cave is home to... some 'entities.' They were once powerful werewolves, but now they're trapped souls—wolves abandoned by their packs. They'll pretend to be your family, living with you for seven days. Remember, they're lone wolves—mad and dangerous—but at the same time... they desperately crave genuine 'connection.'"

She paused for emphasis: "The location and size of the caves correspond to the rank of the 'lone wolf' that lived there. The lower, more peripheral caves are relatively safer. The entities inside might just be Deltas or ordinary feral wolves. But the higher, more central, deeper caves..."

Tyne took over, his tone grave: "...might be sleeping grounds for former Gamma warriors, or even... ancient Alpha-level spirits. Especially that 'King's Nest' directly beneath the blood moon. It's said to house a terrifying entity with the power of an Alpha King."

With that, Safiya and Tyne immediately sprang into action, each claiming a low-lying cave near the edge of the rainforest.

Their actions were the perfect signpost. The other trial candidates instantly understood the stakes and rushed to snatch up the unassuming low-ranking caves.

Because of my sensory impairment and naturally slow movements, by the time I reacted, the crowd had mostly dispersed.

I could see people fighting over caves, hear the clashes of combat, and occasionally, a scream that tore through the air like claws ripping through flesh.

By the time I made my way to the area where the caves were distributed, nearly all of the entrances had been claimed.

Only one remained, hanging high on a cliff deep in the rainforest, directly beneath the largest, blood-red moon in the sky.

The aura emanating from that place was so suffocatingly oppressive that even someone with my impairment could sense it—a pure, heavy darkness and danger.

Without a doubt, this was the "King's Nest."

I was left with only this final choice.

I took a deep breath and began the difficult climb toward the cliff.

My clumsiness drew more silent taunt:

"She's dead for sure! Actually daring to go to the King's Nest!"

"That's a death nest not even Silvermane Kaelan would dare to choose easily!"

"Don't want to watch this idiot destined for a quick death, switching to Safiya's POV."

"No, I'm staying! Let's see how she gets torn apart by whatever's inside!"

I had no idea about these comments as I struggled upward. Finally, I reached the massive cave entrance. The scent of blood was almost thick enough to touch here, mixed with the smell of sulfur and decay. Deep inside, it seemed as though countless bones were piled up, but I couldn't see the details clearly—only that the ground felt rough under my feet.

I walked to the entrance without hesitation and began pounding on the rough rock, mimicking what I remembered (or imagined) was how family members announce their return.

"Hey! whoever's in there! I'm back! Open up! I'm exhausted and starving!"

In my mind, since this was role-playing as family, coming home should be this natural, even a bit impatient.

Would you be polite and ask permission to enter your own home?

As my knocking ceased, answered only by a creepy silence.

A few seconds later, a bone-chilling wind whistled out, accompanied by the drip, drip of some liquid hitting the ground.

Two scarlet points of light ignited in the darkness. They were the vertical pupils of a beast, filled with violence, madness, and an extreme thirst for blood.

It was the look of a predator locking onto its prey.

I narrowed my eyes, making out a figure bathed in blood standing in the shadows.

In my blurry vision, it looked like a little girl in a red dress. The hem was still dripping water.

"Intruder..."

A husky, childish whisper rang out, filled with killing intent.

The next second, the red shadow lunged like lightning!

From an observer's perspective, those were claws capable of tearing steel, whistling with the sound of death, aiming straight for my throat! It wasn't a hug; it was an execution!

I bent down and scooped the lunging little cannonball into my arms.

Its claws stopped just short of my carotid artery, the sharp tips pricking my skin.

My hands met a wet, sticky sensation. It was even a bit warm.

"Oh my god, sweetie, your dress is soaked!" I said immediately, completely ignoring the intense, iron-like scent of blood. "You'll get sick like this! Take it off, I'll find you something clean and warm!"

The stiff body in my arms trembled. Those hands, which had slaughtered countless lives, froze in mid-air, seemingly unsure how to handle my unconventional form of action.

I twitched my nose, catching the ever-present coppery scent, and asked anxiously: "Are you hurt? Does it hurt? First aid kit... uh, are there any healing herbs here? I'll help you take care of it."

Unseen by me, the observers were nearly screaming:

"What is she doing?! The one she's holding is 'Bloodclaw' Lia! A ghostly pup who takes pleasure in tearing apart trial candidates! That dress isn't wet—it's soaked with the blood of the candidates she's killed! That blood smell is coming from her!"

"God, Lia's claws almost went through her neck, can't she feel it?!"

"She's done , she'll be ground to dust!"

But I knew nothing about it. Holding this Lia close, I made my way deeper into the cave while clumsily trying to get her out of the sticky "red dress."

From what I could see vaguely, in a relatively clean corner of the cave—seemingly her "nest"—I found a piece of clean, soft white pelt from some unknown animal and wrapped it around her.

"This fur is nice. Looks like you like keeping things tidy," I said, wrapping it around her.

The little hands (paws) that had been around my throat loosened without me noticing.

Sensing her stiffened posture and slight confusion, I used the corner of my shirt (I seemed to still be wearing my old clothes) to dip into some relatively clean water seeping from the cave wall and carefully wiped the dark smudges from her face.

Up close, she seemed like a pale little girl with delicate features. Her eyes were large and vertical, like a beast's.

I smiled and pointed to my cheek. "Family helps each other. But shouldn't you give me a kiss to thank me?"

The air froze for three seconds.

No one had ever dared make such a request of Lia. The skull of the last intruder who spoke to her was hanging at the cave entrance.

Lia, wrapped in the white fur, didn't explode into a murderous rage.

Instead, an unnatural blush—one belonging to a human girl—actually appeared on her cheeks.

Then, Lia squirmed a bit, then quickly pressed her face to mine, pulled away just as fast. A tiny, slightly aggrieved and confused voice sounded in my ear:

"Thank you... Mommy."

Mommy?

I... I was a mommy now?

A warmth spread through me that I couldn't describe.

In my original pack, because of my weakness and impairment, I was always at the bottom, isolated and bullied.

I had never imagined that a little life would call me Mommy.

This feeling... was amazing!

Because of my defect, the pack healer once told me I'd never be able to have pups. And now I was a mother to such an adorable little wolf.

I gently patted Lia's back and hummed a tuneless song, coaxing her to rest on the "bed" I'd made from dry grass.

Only when she seemed to be asleep did I finally relax.

Just then, a cold, mechanical voice that seemed to echo directly in my soul began to broadcast:

【Initial trial candidates: 100; current survivors: 70.】

Thirty candidates were dead just from choosing a cave.

I felt around and discovered a rough crystal fragment had appeared on my person, with faint dots of light flickering on its surface.

I brought it close to my eyes to make out the information.

It was a way for the trial candidates to communicate.

The messages were chaotic, filled with fear.

The man who had been initially furious and roaring had gotten into a fight with several other werewolves over a decent-looking cave on the third level. He had barely won and swaggered into his chosen cave.

Then, a terrifying roar echoed out, followed by the sounds of bones cracking and being devoured.

A half-man, half-wolf creature with giant, burning,crazy flames in its eyes appeared at the cave entrance, licking blood and flesh from its muzzle.

A Gamma warrior, the moment he stepped into a cave on the tenth level, seemed to see something absolutely terrifying. His Lunar Fear instantly shot to 100, and he collapsed, his body melting and dissipating under the blood moon's glow.

The other deaths were just as varied. Some were killed by silver traps, some were torn apart by the feral wolves in the caves, and others were driven mad by an intangible fear.

As I read these messages, I felt strangely calm.

Perhaps my sensory impairment protected me, keeping me from understanding those terrifying symbols.

I stood up and, while Lia slept, began to explore the cave. It was a mess. The ground was littered with things that hurt my feet (I later learned these were bones), and the stone walls were stained with dark, dried filth.

I found some tough vines and made a simple broom, starting the laborious task of cleaning. I swept all the small, uncomfortable things into a corner and covered them with dirt.

The stains on the stone walls wouldn't come off, so I found some damp moss to try and cover them.

I don't know how long I was busy—perhaps it was afternoon (though the blood moon's glow remained unchanged). I grew tired and collapsed onto the pile of dry grass next to Lia, falling into a deep sleep.

I don't know how long I was out, but the cold woke me up.

It wasn't just a chilly breeze; it was a bone-deep, cadaverous freeze that felt like my blood was turning to ice.

The crimson moonlight that had filled the cave was gone, swallowed by a thick, suffocating darkness. The air was heavy with a scent that was ancient, rotting, and sickly sweet—like cracking open a vampire's tomb that had been sealed for a millennium.

Something terrifying had arrived.

A tall silhouette blocked the entrance.

"Who are you?"

The voice rang out.

But it didn't come from where his head should be. It came from his left hand, hanging by his side.

He was holding a dripping, severed head.

The voice was deep, raspy, sounding like it crawled out of the deepest pit of hell.

He chuckled. The sound was like sandpaper grating against my eardrums.

"Interesting."

The mouth on the severed head in his hand moved. Its dark golden, slit pupils glowed with an eerie light in the dark.

"You're the first to survive that little psycho."

Immediately after, Lia's cold voice came from the corner, sharp with the tone of a young wolf, "Don't touch her. This mommy's mine. I'm keeping her to play with later."

The towering, headless body didn't even flinch.

With just an invisible blast of psychic energy, Lia was tossed aside like a rag doll.

Thud!

She slammed into the rock wall.

The sickening crunch of bones snapping echoed through the deathly silent cave.

Lia coughed up a mouthful of blood, curling into a ball in the corner, shaking uncontrollably. It was absolute bloodline suppression.

"Know your place, mongrel," the head spoke coldly, his tone dripping with undeniable cruelty. "Who gave you permission to eye my prey?"

At that moment, every single observer held their breath.

That was the legendary "Executioner," the vampire-werewolf hybrid tyrant! He was known to tear every intruder to shreds before elegantly feasting on their entrails.

I couldn't stand it. I scrambled up from the hay. "How could you do that to a child!" I said as I rushed toward the tall figure, "What kind of father does that!"

I meant to push him, but tripped over a bone and my hands flailed out, accidentally pressing against something firm and textured—it seemed to be his abdomen.

The feeling was surprisingly nice, so I instinctively gave it a couple more pats.

The violent, bloody aura surrounding the man instantly stagnated.

I quickly backtracked:"Lia's my little treasure, and you're my big treasure. We're a family!"

I paused, then added, "I'm Serina. I'm here to join the family. Seriously, dear, you've kept in great shape. Though you seem a bit... on the short side? Don't worry, I'll cook for you both every day, and I'll make sure you grow tall and strong!"

Those watching the trial began to stir again:

【She's lost her mind! Is she actually hitting on the Executioner?!】

【So this is her, the legend! He has to be the strongest being in the Blood Moon Trial, right? Even Silver-maned Kaelan died by his hand.】

【She called monster like that short? OMG, that's because he's holding his own head!】

【Wait, are the vampire-werewolf's ears turning red? Is he blushing...】

【Why did this vampire-werewolf let this trial candidate keep touching his stomach! Isn't that the most vulnerable part for werewolves?】

Everyone watching the trial in this cave was waiting for me to be torn to shreds.

According to past records, that was the fate of all who dared offend this being.

But in the next second, the man did something no one expected.

He raised a hand and pressed what looked like a round object he'd been holding back onto his neck. With a soft click, it settled into place.

He leaned toward me, the previously untouchable image completely gone, his voice even carrying a hint of unbelievable hurt:

"Short? I'm six-foot-five! Want to take a better look?"

Even legendary terrifying beings, it seemed, cared about their height when it came to men.

"Serina," he suddenly said my name, a voice so beautiful it made my heart skip a beat, "I suggest you look closely."

I grabbed the front of his leather jerkin, pulling him closer to me, while deliberately whispering in a sweet voice, "I can't see clearly. A little closer."

Facing the now-clearly visible handsome face before me, I silently rejoiced that thankfully this damn trial only monitored Lunar Fear, not heart rate. Otherwise, I'd be doomed.

Seeing the man silent as he stared at me, worried he was actually angry, I immediately switched to an admiring gaze and nodded vigorously, "Wow! Six-foot-five to my five-ten—what a perfect height difference for kissing! We really are a match made in heaven!"