The wind rushed against his clothes as he fell on his back.
'Again… I've been abandoned… again.'
For a moment, his thoughts darkened. A faint, bitter smile crossed his face.
He turned midair, feeling the wind brush against his skin.
Little by little, the trees below became clearer, and a damp scent filled the air.
He covered his face slightly and closed his eyes.
Branches snapped around him, scratching his body as he fell.
Then—
He hit the ground.
Slowly opening his eyes, Jay froze.
The sight before him was… beautiful.
And unsettling.
The forest was completely green. No blood. No signs of battle. Just endless grass and towering trees.
It felt more like a paradise than a place of danger.
He pushed himself up, only to feel a sharp discomfort in his injured arm.
'I must've hurt it more when I fell…'
Holding his arm, he began walking.
After a few steps, his foot hit something.
It rolled across the grass.
He leaned forward to look—
"A… skull?"
There were still traces of decayed flesh, and its sharp teeth resembled a wolf's, though its shape was unfamiliar.
He stepped back instinctively.
Then—
The ground trembled.
Heavy footsteps echoed nearby.
Quickly hiding in the bushes, Jay saw it.
A giant.
Its clothes were stained with fresh blood.
Jay swallowed. He was injured, alone, and tired.
Fighting… wasn't ideal.
But he had no choice.
Slowly, he drew his sword.
The giant moved—and then noticed him.
Jay's body tensed.
'No way…'
He quickly stepped back as the giant's movement shook the ground.
Its empty eyes locked onto him.
A faint, unsettling smile formed on its face.
Jay tightened his grip.
The giant swung its blade.
A loud impact sent dust flying.
Through the dust, the giant heard movement.
Jay stepped out.
This time, his eyes were different.
More focused.
Ignoring the discomfort in his body, he moved, circling the giant as it attacked again.
'Is it… testing me?'
His breathing grew heavier as he accelerated.
The giant raised its weapon again.
Jay reacted.
A quick shift—
He blocked the incoming strike, teeth clenched.
Then—
A massive hand reached him.
He couldn't react in time.
It grabbed him and lifted him into the air.
Jay struggled, his expression hardening.
The giant tightened its grip.
Pressure built around his body.
He let out a strained cry.
The creature opened its mouth, its breath heavy.
'So… this is it?'
Memories flashed through his mind.
'No… not yet.'
His eyes sharpened.
Then—
The giant suddenly paused.
It looked at its hand.
Ice.
Jay coughed, struggling to breathe as he hit the ground.
His body ached, but he forced himself up.
He grabbed his sword—
And noticed it felt… lighter.
Too light.
It was broken.
Jay's heart pounded.
'Am I… going to die again?'
He shook his head.
Then he felt it.
A cold sensation spreading through his hand.
Looking down, he saw ice forming along his fingers.
His eyes steadied.
Taking a slow breath, he extended his arm.
The ice spread, reaching his sword and reshaping it into a blue blade.
The pain in his body dulled slightly…
But the cold continued creeping up his arm.
Quietly.
Jay exhaled—
And moved.
The giant, distracted, attacked again.
Jay dodged more smoothly this time.
His body felt lighter.
More responsive.
Even so, his breathing remained uneven.
The giant tried to pull its weapon free from the ground—
It wouldn't budge.
Again.
Nothing.
It looked around—
And found Jay.
Standing still.
Ice covering his arm.
Blade ready.
For a moment—
The giant hesitated.
Jay stepped forward.
Then dashed.
A single clean strike—
The giant's body split.
Silence followed.
Jay dropped his sword.
His breathing was heavy, but steady.
Sitting down, he looked at his hands.
Still there.
Still moving.
'I'm… alive.'
A small laugh escaped him.
Standing up, he walked toward the body.
Then paused.
His right arm was still covered in ice.
Except for the shoulder.
Jay sighed.
'Something good… something bad right after.'
"That's just how it is, Jay."
The familiar voice echoed again.
Roh.
'More like one good thing and two bad ones.'
"Hey," Roh complained.
Jay ignored him.
Instead, he focused on the giant.
After a while, he prepared some of the meat.
It wasn't great…
But it worked.
'Needs salt.'
He ate quietly—
Until the bushes nearby moved.
Jay grabbed his sword again, ice forming along the blade.
A large black wolf stepped out.
Red eyes. Sharp claws.
It was dangerous.
Jay watched it carefully—
Then relaxed slightly.
He threw some meat toward it.
The wolf accepted it.
'Good… no need to fight.'
After finishing, Jay stood up.
'Climbing back up isn't an option… not now.'
So he moved forward.
His arm was still frozen—
But strangely, it didn't hurt.
The ground became damp.
The air felt heavier.
No birds.
Only distant sounds of conflict.
Strange.
Beautiful… and dangerous.
Mist covered the area ahead.
Jay continued walking.
Then—
She appeared.
A woman with a faint purple aura.
Black dress. Silver hair.
She gently lifted his chin.
"It's been a while, my contractor. How have you been?" she asked softly.
Jay smiled.
"Since when do you call me that, Lillith? Have you been reading too many fantasy novels?"
She smiled.
"Yes. Especially the ones you recommended."
They walked together, talking quietly.
As night fell, Jay set up a small camp.
The cold was stronger here.
Lying beside the fire, he stared at the sky.
Sleep didn't come.
"Jay… something is coming," Lillith said.