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!"

The man in the black leather armor's face clearly flushed red.

Just as he was about to speak, Lia, who had just finished resetting her own bones, rushed over and kicked him straight into the cave ceiling with such force that he got temporarily embedded in the rock.

Then, the little wolf cub turned to me, nuzzling my face with her wet nose. Her golden vertical eyes looked at me pleadingly, "Mommy, Lia's hungry. Need food."

Who could resist that?

I immediately started searching through the cave, squinting carefully to identify the stored food, and excitedly went to prepare dinner for Lia—and for my "husband" hanging from the ceiling.

My cooking skills are no joke.

After I'd stewed a thick pot of soup with the wild pork, tubers, and herbs I found, the father and daughter pair licked the stone pot clean, not a drop of broth left.

When I went to the back of the cave to wash at the water pool, I could overhear their "harmonious" conversation:

"Lia, keeping this woman might not be such a bad idea. She cooks really well."

"But Daddy, tomorrow those corpse witch twins will be back. They'll get mad if they find out we didn't eat their food."

"Call that food? If they've got a problem with it, I'll take care of them first."

"Okay, I'll keep watch."

After washing up, I naturally claimed the deepest, softest pile of hay in the cave—clearly the master bedroom. I peeked out from the fur blanket, watching the dark figure still sitting motionless on the stone bench.

So, I used the sweetest, most considerate voice to show off my wifely skills:

"Dear, do you need me to help you clean your wolf? It looks like you've just been hunting."

I pointed to where I'd been cooking, where there was a large pool of water.

To my surprise, the man actually agreed. He silently walked to the side of the pool and sat down, shifting into his wolf form.

Those watching the trial went wild again:

【What the hell is she talking about?! Offering to clean a vampire-werewolf?!】

【Has this woman been kicked in the head by a rogue?】

【The vampire-wolf's fangs are longer than her thigh!】

【There's blood dripping from its mouth! And chunks of some unknown creature on its teeth!】

Facing the ferocious wolf with terrifying vampire fangs, I felt no fear at all.

In my eyes, he was just a big, fluffy dog.

I happily scooped up warm water and started washing the blood-splattered wolf.

"You know," I said as I worked through the tangled fur, "in my old pack, only family members help clean each other's wolves. It means we're close."

As I gently wet his fur, I unconsciously increased the pressure of my strokes.

I could feel the wolf under my hands tremble slightly, but he didn't resist.

Lia came over, resting her head on my lap. "The other trial runners see his fangs and run," she whispered. "Why aren't you afraid of us?"

I gently scratched her chin, thinking for a moment. "Because we're family now. What's there to be afraid of between family?"

Lia's voice turned low. "We're not what you think we are. What if we're monsters?"

"As long as you don't do anything to hurt me, you're my family. So what if you're monsters? My old pack wasn't monsters, but they abandoned me. You, at least, have given me a home for now."

I started scrubbing his fur, like washing a soft, black blanket.

【She's washing the vampire-werewolf's mane! He hates it when anyone touches his wolf! The last trial candidate who just brushed up against him lost all his teeth and fingers and was thrown into the crocodile pond in the rainforest!】

【What's wrong with this woman? She's even humming! Is she really not afraid at all?】

【That vampire-werewolf is actually closing his eyes in comfort? Can her massage skills be that good?】

"You're in a good mood?" The wolf under my hands spoke.

I finished washing and found a large, dry leaf. As I dried the remaining water from his fur, I said, "This is the first time I've ever had a family. I'm an orphan, and now I have a lovely daughter like Lia and such a strong mate. I'm so happy."

I could've sworn the wolf's temperature rose, like he was getting shy.

After I finished drying the wolf, I leaned my entire body against his smooth, fluffy fur, my voice muffled, "I still don't know your name."

He seemed to think of something unpleasant and quickly shifted back to his tall human form.

"The Werewolf Council stripped me of my name, declaring me a cursed being."

He paused, then added, "Maybe you could give me one. A name that belongs only to you."

After speaking, he turned and left in a huff.

Looking at his retreating figure and his words, I felt a little shy myself.

"Eros," I said. "That's the name I've chosen for you."

"Do as you wish." He was already far away, but I still heard his consenting reply.

By the first night, I was a little hopeful that Eros would sleep with me in the same hay pile. After all, he hadn't refused my request to join this home.

Plus, I kind of missed that the feeling of his strong muscle.

But I miscalculated. By midnight, he still hadn't shown up.

But Lia came. Her small body suddenly appeared in my bedding, her eyes glowing with an eerie light.

A true ghost wolf cub.

Her cold arms wrapped around me. "Mommy, will you wash me like that too?"

"Of course," I hugged her, trying to warm her little body. "Not only will I wash you, but I'll make you pretty little clothes. Dress up our little Lia."

Lia looked at me, puzzled. "Why dress me up?"

"Because our Lia is the most beautiful and lovely little wolf cub, of course?" I answered gently.

"But... when I was alive, people called me a monster. And that vampire... he's a monster too. His wolf could swallow a whole werewolf in one bite."