⚠️ Warning: This chapter contains graphic violence, sexual assault, drug use, and other disturbing themes. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
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The rain never stopped.
Danir didn't move.
He remained beneath the tree— Where they once camped.
Where laughter once lived.
Now— Only cold remained.
The rain soaked through his clothes…
His skin…
His bones…
But he didn't care.
Didn't even try to move.
And eventually— His body gave in.
He slept.
Not peacefully.
Not comfortably.
But out of sheer exhaustion.
As if his body forced him to shut down— Just to survive.
Morning came quietly.
The rain had passed.
Leaving behind a damp, silent forest.
Danir lay there— Half-buried in mud.
Clothes soaked.
Hair clinging to his face.
The cold morning mist rose from the grass—
Clinging to him like a second skin.
His eyes slowly opened.
"…Ah…" Everything hurt.
His head throbbed.
His limbs felt heavy.
His body weak.
Then— A faint glow.
His grimoire...
Still open.
Still watching.
His eyes drifted toward it— And froze.
HP— Half… And still dropping.
"…I'm bleeding…" He stared at his hand.
The dried blood.
The torn skin.
Drip.
A single drop fell to the ground.
"…Heh…"
Silence.
Then— He moved.
Slowly.
He pushed himself up.
Knees shaking.
Body unsteady.
But he stood.
And then— He smiled.
A quiet smile.
Not warm.
Not joyful.
Empty.
"…Hah…"
A faint laugh escaped him.
Not because anything was funny— But because… He didn't know what else to do.
"…What am I even doing…?"
His fingers trembled slightly.
His eyes— Still dull— Still tired— Still broken— But his lips remained curved.
A smile that didn't belong.
A smile worn— Like armor.
"…Yeah…"
He let out a slow breath.
"I'm still alive…"
The words felt strange.
Unfitting.
But real.
And for now— That was enough reason to keep moving...
Danir exhaled slowly.
Then he moved.
He brushed the dried mud off his clothes— Dust falling from him like fragments of yesterday.
Without a word— He walked toward the river.
Step by step— Until the cold water touched his feet.
He didn't hesitate.
He stripped everything off— Letting the soaked, dirtied clothes fall onto the grass—And stepped in.
The river embraced him.
Cold.
Flowing.
Unforgiving.
Danir walked deeper— Until the water reached his chest…
His shoulders…
Then— He let himself fall forward.
Splash!
His body submerged beneath the current.
Silence...
For a moment— There was nothing...
No pain.
No thoughts.
No memories.
Only the sound of water— Flowing past him.
As if it was trying to take everything away—
The dirt.
The blood.
The guilt.
"…Just stay right there…"
He thought.
"…Take it all…"
Bubbles escaped his lips as he remained underwater— Letting the current press against him— As if he wanted to disappear with it.
But his lungs burned.
And instinct— Refused.
He rose.
Gasp!
Air rushed back into him.
"…Heh…"
A faint, crooked smile formed again.
"Guess I'm not dying yet…"
He raised his hand— A soft green glow flickered.
"Nature's Touch."
Light wrapped around his wounds— Closing them.
Slowly.
Gently.
The bleeding stopped.
The pain dulled.
But something inside— Remained untouched.
After a while— He stepped out of the river.
Water dripping from his body— Tracing down like the last remnants of what he lost.
He picked up his clothes— Washed them carefully in the river— Scrubbing away dirt and stains in silence.
Then— He dressed himself in a clean set—
White long sleeves.
Simple pants.
Plain.
Unremarkable.
Like he was trying to become… no one.
He hung the wet clothes on a branch— Facing the heat of the morning sun.
Golden light filtered through the trees— Drying them slowly.
Danir sat by the fire.
No rush.
No emotion.
Just movement.
He took out the preserved deer meat—Prepared it.
Cooked it.
The familiar rhythm of cooking returned— Hands moving on their own.
Precise.
Efficient.
Like nothing ever changed.
The scent of cooked meat filled the air.
He ate.
Quietly.
No thoughts.
No appreciation.
Just… eating.
Fueling...
When he finished— The clothes were dry.
He stood up.
Body steadier now.
Breathing even.
Strength—returned.
At least on the surface.
"…Alright."
That same smile returned.
Light.
Casual.
Almost normal.
"Let's keep going."
As if nothing happened.
But deep inside— Something had changed.
And it wasn't going back.
Danir moved without hesitation.
Not because he had a plan— But because standing still…
Felt worse.
His feet carried him back toward the roads— Toward the kingdom— Toward noise.
Like instinct was dragging him forward.
He entered Valoria's marketplace.
Voices.
Crowds.
Normal life.
It all felt distant.
Muted.
He bought what he needed.
Simple things—
Carrots.
Cabbages.
A few essentials.
Nothing more.
No conversation.
No lingering.
Then— He left.
And this time— His path was clear.
Back.... To where it ended.
The forest welcomed him again— Silent.
Unchanged.
As if nothing had happened.
As if no life was lost here.
Danir stopped.
In front of it.
A small mound of earth.
A single stone— Rigor's grave.
For a moment— He said nothing.
The wind passed quietly through the trees.
"…Hey."
His voice was soft.
"I'm back."
He stepped closer— Kneeling in front of the grave.
"I guess… I have to keep going now."
His hand rested on the soil.
"…I won't waste what you did."
His grip tightened slightly.
"I'll get stronger."
A pause.
"Strong enough… to fix this kind of world."
His voice didn't rise.
Didn't break.
But something in it— Hardened.
"We started this together…"
"…so I'll finish it."
"No matter what it costs."
Silence...
His eyes glistened— Moist.
Heavy.
But the tears— Didn't fall.
They stayed there— Trapped.
His teeth clenched.
His fist tightened.
Then— Slowly— He exhaled.
And smiled.
That same smile.
Soft.
Gentle.
Wrong.
"…You'd probably laugh at me right now."
He let out a faint breath— Almost like a chuckle.
Then— He placed the carrots and cabbages carefully on the grave.
"Your favorite."
A quiet pause.
"…Eat well."
He picked up his dagger.
And carved into the stone.
Each stroke— Slow.
Deliberate.
Until words formed—
"Rigor."
"Rest in Peace."
He stared at it for a moment.
Memorizing it.
Burning it into himself.
"…See you."
He stood up.
"…when it's my turn."
No hesitation.
No looking back.
Danir turned— And walked forward.
Continued his solo hunt...
Deeper... Into Hunterwood Forest.
The trees closed behind him.
Swallowing him whole.
And somewhere within— That quiet, smiling boy… Began to change into something else.
Danir stepped closer to the border— Where life ended— And something else began.
The wind turned dry.
Heavy.
Then—
Crack!
Crunch!
A wet tearing sound followed.
Danir froze!
"…What the…"
Again— Bones breaking!
Flesh being devoured!
He lowered his stance.
Moved silently.
Until a massive boulder came into view.
He pressed himself against it— Peeking just enough— And saw them.
Six figures.
Small.
Crooked.
Humanoid— But wrong.
Scaled bodies.
Jagged teeth.
Hungry eyes.
Kobolds!
They surrounded a corpse— Tearing into it like starving animals.
Blood soaked the riverbank— Slowly drifting into the current.
Danir's Amulet flickered— Green!
Intermediate!
"…So these are them…"
He observed.
Calm.
Cold.
Then— Something shifted in his gaze.
"…Disgusting."
He moved.
—CRACK!
He landed in front of them.
The kobolds snarled— Raising their stone axes— Too late!
"Ice Shards Daggers!"
SHHK! SHHK! SHHK!
The shards struck— But shattered.
"…Tch."
Scales.
Thick.
Danir smiled.
"…Good."
A quiet, unsettling laugh slipped out.
"I like it when you fight back."
They charged.
He stepped back— Attacking— Observing— Adapting.
"…Not the body…"
Then— A moment.
A shift in stance.
"—There."
SHHK!
A shard pierced a kobold's foot.
It dropped instantly.
"…Found it."
The others followed.
One by one— Pierced.
Frozen.
Immobilized.
Their screeches echoed— Panicked!
Desperate.
Danir walked forward slowly.
"…Now…"
He raised his hand again—
"…let's—"
He stopped.
A sound.
Faint.
"…please…"
Danir turned.
Toward the river.
And saw her.
An elven girl.
Collapsed against the dirt.
Her body trembled.
Her skin pale— Bruised— Marked— Her eyes… Empty.
Not crying.
Not even moving.
Just… Gone.
Danir didn't breathe.
For a moment— The world stilled.
Then— Her body convulsed.
A weak, broken sound escaped her throat.
She clutched at herself— Shaking— And something unnatural followed.
Something that should never exist.
Small.
Twisted.
Moving.
Danir's eyes widened.
"…No…"
More.
One after another— Born not from life— But from something stolen.
Something defiled!
The creatures writhed— Letting out faint, animalistic cries— Kobold offspring!
Danir stood frozen.
Watching.
Unable to move.
Unable to look away.
"…What… did they do…?!"
His voice trembled— Not from fear— But from something breaking.
The girl didn't scream.
Didn't resist.
She just… Layed there.
As if whatever made her her—Was already gone.
And then— Silence...
The small creatures moved weakly beside her.
Alive.
Proof.
Danir's breathing grew heavier.
His hands trembled.
Not from hesitation— From rage.
Something inside him— Snapped.
Slowly— He turned his head.
Back— To the immobilized kobolds.
They struggled!
Screamed!
For the first time— They were afraid.
Danir stepped toward them.
One step.
Then another.
The smile on his face returned— But now— it was wrong.
Twisted.
Empty.
"…So this…"
"…is your nature."
His voice was quiet.
Too quiet...
"…Then I'll return it to you."
The air around him dropped.
Cold.
Killing intent— Thick enough to suffocate.
The forest held its breath.
And Danir— Walked forward.
Danir staggered back a step— "…Lust… monsters…"
His stomach twisted— And he vomited.
The taste of bile burned his throat— But it didn't matter.
Nothing did.
"Help… me…"
A voice.
Weak.
Shaking.
Danir looked.
The elven girl— Barely breathing— Her body trembling violently— "Kill me… please…"
Her voice cracked— Breaking with every word.
"Please… end it…"
Danir froze.
His fingers tightened around his dagger—
But he didn't move.
"…No…"
His voice was low.
Uncertain.
"You can still—"
"NO!"
She screamed— What little strength she had left— Burned into that one cry.
"Please!"
Tears streamed down her face—
"Don't let me live like this!"
Her body shook— Not from pain alone— But from something far worse.
Fear.
Despair.
Disgust.
Danir's chest tightened.
His thoughts clashed— Violently.
"She's too young."
"She doesn't deserve this."
"But if she lives—"
That thought didn't even finish.
He saw it.
Not her body— but her eyes.
Broken.
Gone.
"…Damn it…"
His hand trembled.
"…Why…"
"Why did it have to be her?"
"Why now?"
The dagger felt heavier than ever.
"Please…"
Her voice softened.
Fading.
"I'm begging you…"
Silence.
Danir closed his eyes.
One breath.
Two...
Then—
"…I'm sorry."
A single motion.
Quick.
Clean.
The dagger pierced her heart.
Her body stilled.
And just like that— It was over.
Danir pulled his hand back— Staring—Then—
He turned away— And vomited again!
His body shook.
Danir also killed those offsprings that disgust him watching it... Juvenile skulls crushed!
"…Damn it…"
His voice cracked.
"…Damn it…!"
Then— A sound.
Behind him.
Struggling.
The kobolds.
Still alive.
Still breathing.
Still… existing.
Danir slowly turned...
The ice binding them began to crack—
Melting— They tried to crawl.
To escape.
Too late!
"Ice Shards Daggers!"
SHHK!
The ice reinforced.
Stronger.
Unbreakable.
Danir walked toward them.
Step.
Step.
Step.
No hesitation now.
No conflict.
Only— Judgment.
"…Do you think…"
His voice was low.
"…you deserve an easy death?"
The kobolds shrieked— Struggling— Begging in their own broken sounds.
Danir didn't stop.
Didn't listen.
Didn't care.
"…No."
Time passed...
The forest heard everything.
But did not interfere.
Not the wind.
Not the trees.
Not even the creatures hiding far away.
Because what stood there— Was no longer just a boy.
And what happened next— Was not mercy.
Nor was it justice.
It was something in between.
Something darker.
When it finally ended— Silence returned.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
The bodies stood as a warning— Twisted remnants of what once hunted the weak.
Danir stood before them.
Breathing slowly.
His face— Empty.
No satisfaction.
No regret.
Nothing.
"…This is what I've become…"
A faint smile formed— Not of happiness— But acceptance.
He raised his hand.
"Grimoire… open."
The pages revealed themselves— Numbers rising.
Power increasing.
But for the first time— They felt meaningless...
Grimoire's 1st page:
Danir Granger — Level 48+5=53 BladeMagus:
BP: 8,570+500=9,070
MP: 14,295+500=14,795
STR: 7,054+250=7,304
SPD: 6,727+250=6,977
END: 16,625+250=16,875
INT: 12,480+250=12,730
Grimoire's 2nd page: Ice Shards Daggers.
Grimoire's 3rd page: Water-Cannon & Fever-Moist
Grimoire's 4th page: "Nature's Touch. Low-heal." (Can only heal minor wounds).
"Nature's Touch. High-heal." (Can heal deeper wounds.) And, (Will be unlock after reaching level 50).
Grimoire's 5th page: Grimclaw Venombrand (Newly Acquired Skill!— weapon buffed with venom.)
Grimoire's 6th page and 7th page: (Still empty)
The forest fell silent once more.
No screams.
No movement.
Only the faint rustling of leaves— And the lingering scent of blood.
Danir stood there— Still...
Grimoire was still open.
The pages revealed themselves before his eyes— Numbers rising.
Levels gained— Five levels.
"…Five…"
His voice was flat.
"No magic skills…"
He stared at the empty slots— Then slowly closed it.
"…Just common monsters."
A pause...
Then— A smile.
It came back again.
Not wide.
Not loud.
Just… there.
"…Still…"
"…progress is progress."
His fingers tightened slightly.
"…I should be grateful."
He looked back.
At what remained.
The stillness.
The aftermath.
"…They deserved it."
His voice carried no doubt.
No hesitation.
"They deserved worse."
Images flashed in his mind— The broken bodies.
The hollow eyes.
The girl's final plea.
"…Yeah…"
"…they deserved it."
He repeated it— Quieter this time.
As if convincing himself.
But then— A thought slipped in.
Uninvited.
"…Then why…"
His smile didn't fade.
"…did I enjoy it?"
Silence...
The wind passed through the trees— Cold.
Danir stood there— Frozen.
His chest tightened.
Not from guilt.
Not from regret.
Something else.
"…What's wrong with me…?"
He lifted his hand— Looking at it.
The same hand— That saved.
That healed.
And— That killed.
That… took its time.
A faint tremor ran through his fingers.
"…No…"
His smile widened slightly— But his eyes—
Didn't follow.
"…There's nothing wrong."
"…They were monsters."
"…I just did what had to be done."
A step forward.
"…That's all."
Another step.
"…That's all…"
But the thought remained.
Quiet.
Persistent.
Waiting.
Danir walked away from the scene— Carrying with him— Not just strength.
Not just levels.
But something far more dangerous...
A part of himself— He no longer understood.
And deep within— Buried beneath reason— That feeling lingered.
Warm.
Satisfying.
And— somehow addictive that made him felt better...