I was hesitant to step onto those glowing stones. They gave off an unsettling feeling,
but I had no other choice... either this, or they would kill me.
And that made the choice seem easy — to some extent.
I didn't go first; I waited until the sleeping deer and the foul boar started moving.
But after a few moments, I frowned as I looked at them.
Their expressions changed with every step they took.
And when I directed my gaze downward, I could see their feet burning under the effect of the glowing stones.
I stepped back unconsciously. This is madness...
Are they walking over real fire?
I... I will never do that.
But that thought was driven out of my head as quickly as it came.
"Move, you insect... or would you prefer immediate execution?"
Upon hearing those words, I swallowed hard and closed my eyes for a moment.
"Don't worry, it's not painful... it's only comfortable.
You have to try it again. You do this every time you lose that memory. You'll get used to it, trust me." Doodah Al-Wahl said, smiling, as he prepared to move.
"To be or not to be... there is no other choice. I will do it. I will do it... I will do it." I encouraged myself, and with a little hesitation, I rushed toward the black stones, starting to step over them as fast as I could.
"Painful... painful... painful...!"
The pain ignited in my legs like a lightning flash, and I felt as if my skin was being burned alive. The pain was unbearable.
And the worst part... the path was still long.
But that wasn't the only challenge.
I also had to avoid those giant axes swinging mercilessly from side to side.
"I need to stop a little. No, I can't. Damn... what should I do? If I stop, I'll die from the pain. And if I keep running without thinking... my body will be cut in half."
"Ah..." I slowed down a bit after noticing — and luckily — a small gap between the moving axes.
Passing through it was difficult, but I had no choice but to take the risk. So I dashed toward it directly.
And as I approached the axe, I jumped quickly and grabbed its edge with all the strength I had.
It was painful... but not as much as the burning pain in my feet.
I pulled myself quickly, swinging my body through the air.
The distance between the axes was relatively short, so I needed to generate more force for what I would do next.
At that moment, I saw Doodah Al-Wahl sliding down, tilting his body to the side, then placing his hand on the glowing stones and lifting himself lightly, before jumping over the next axe smoothly.
I was truly surprised by his movement. But I didn't have time to think.
After I gathered enough strength, I let go of the edge of the axe I was holding and launched into the air toward the second axe.
I stretched my hands in front of me, hoping — with all my heart — that I wouldn't regret this step.
Painful.
The moment I touched the edge, the pain shot through my body like a burning spark.
I tried to ignore it as much as I could, but I almost lost my balance.
Driven by the instinct to survive, I gripped the edge tightly and raised my body violently, rushing toward the third axe... but the axe was about to split me in half, while I had misjudged the timing of the leap, and here I was to pay for my foolishness. I felt a sharp sting of regret, and at that moment I thought I would die.
But before I was split in half, I felt something soft hit me from behind — a strong push that propelled me forward.
Boom
I shot through the air. As I floated there, I began thinking quickly of a way to land straight.
I didn't want my body to burn completely upon falling. So I tried to twist in the air and adjust my position as best as I could.
"Faster... you damn piece of crap!"
And fortunately... I succeeded at the right moment. But as soon as I landed on the ground — the pain returned again, stronger than before.
"Ugh... it's literally hell." I muttered, looking back. I frowned a little when I saw the fat bear, who had saved my life just a little while ago.
"Why?" I felt a little curious, but this was not the time to think.
"Ah... not the time to think about that. Faster, before you become a roasted human." I scolded myself for a moment, while resuming running immediately, my eyes fixed on the rocks that fell from above and then rose again.
I started watching them carefully, silently counting the interval between them.
One...
Two...
Three...
Boom!
The rock landed forcefully, and I smiled unconsciously, praising myself for my precise timing.
"Polished intelligence from poverty... better than the intelligence of the rich."
I muttered empty words, I knew that,
but I just wanted to praise myself a little, while I paused for a moment, then dashed forward quickly.
And at that same moment, the rocks fell again behind me.
They were about to kill me, my skin slowly roasting over the glowing stones. And as the rocks began to rise again, I ran immediately with all the strength I had.
I didn't count this time. I was close to the last rock, so I thought the matter would end quickly since it was still rising, while I was very close to crossing. I smiled unconsciously.
But suddenly... my body hair stood on end. I heard a sound I never wanted to hear, the sound of the rocks falling, which happened without any warning. So, without thinking, I pushed my body forward with all I had.
Boom!
I came out safe... almost. But even so, I landed directly on glowing stones. I couldn't comprehend what had happened at that moment—until a loud scream erupted from my throat.
"Haahhhhhhh! Painful... painful! I can't bear this!"
The right half of my face had quickly turned a charred black, and I could feel it... melting.
I stood up quickly, feeling my face in confusion.
But as soon as I touched it, I felt my skin falling into my hands. I froze in place.
Panic surged inside me terrifyingly. My facial expression changed; one eyebrow rose up, while the other lowered, in a mixture of shock and horror.
"Hah..." The pain was unbearable. And worse, the longer I stayed standing, the stronger it became.
So, as my chest rose and fell violently,
I forced myself to keep running forward.
I approached the slime that was stretching ahead of me, blocking the path.
I saw Doodah Al-Wahl, the sleeping deer, and the foul boar entering it. I didn't understand what was happening to them. They were dragging themselves with difficulty, as if trying to get out of a sticky swamp.
"Hah..." My breaths were broken. Nevertheless, I pushed myself inside. My body entered the slime.
At that very moment — I felt as if I could no longer breathe, as if the air had been pulled from my lungs in one forceful tug. A blue liquid began seeping into my body.
And every time it entered, the pain exploded in my nerves. It made me feel as if my body was being slowly crushed, then returning to normal, while the process repeated.
"U... ugh..." I couldn't even scream.
The pain kept increasing more and more, devouring me from the inside.
Why am I still alive? Why don't I just die?
After all... no one would mourn me.
And is life worth all this pain?
What did I do to deserve all this? I know I killed some people... but am I being punished for that now? Hmm, I don't think so, so then why not just rest and die and let it end forever.
I stayed silent for a moment, while the pain raged through my body, and I pulled myself out of the slime, then the answer appeared clearly in my mind.
Because I... still want to live. Yes. I know the answer after all.
I don't want to die. I want to live. I want to explore this damn world. After all... I've spent a very long time reading about it. And I deserve that prize.
Then, after what seemed like an eternal struggle, I finally managed to get out of the slime.
It threw me out violently, while I struggled to catch my breath. My body rolled forward unconsciously, completely sticky from the blue substance covering me.
I was about to stand up — but suddenly, a blue light filled my vision, and before I could understand what was happening...
Thraaaak!
My body trembled violently, and I felt it char from the inside.
I had been struck by lightning, and worse... it wasn't the only one. It hit me again.
I even felt as if I could no longer move a single cell in my body, while my consciousness began to fade.
"Am I going to die... just like that? Even after that heroic speech I said like a fool?" I laughed a faint, broken laugh. "Hehe... I deserve this.
After all, I am... a cripple no matter how I change the world I am in, and no matter what happens... I will remain li—" Suddenly, my thoughts were cut off, and my vision went dark, while my body stopped moving. I had died.