Chapter 13: A Fractured Sanctuary

A Few Days Later...

I'd say it's been a day or two since I fought the Revenants, but honestly? I can't be sure anymore. Time here doesn't just pass; it slips through your fingers like sand, mocking you as it goes. Day bleeds into night, night into day, all without a single ounce of rhythm or mercy.

And the world itself? Yeah, that's worse. Instead of a comforting blue sky, the daylight here is painted in this grotesque pink hue that makes your stomach churn if you look at it too long. It's like the sky is sick, infected with whatever disease this place seems to carry. At night, there are two moons, not one—twin sentinels that hang in the sky like ghostly eyes, watching, judging, and waiting.

I sat on a rotting wooden log, its surface damp and alive with tiny, wriggling insects burrowing and gnawing away at its insides. The faint vibrations of their movements traveled through the wood, reminding me just how thoroughly this place thrived on decay. My spear rested beside me, battered and worn, the poor thing barely holding itself together after everything it's been through

The Revenant's parting words were still gnawing at the back of my mind: "Head west." So, west is where I went. Not because I wanted to, but because I didn't really have a choice. The truth is, every direction here looks like a death trap. Heading west was as good—or as bad—as any other option.

"This is probably the worst situation I could be in," I muttered to myself, kicking at a rock with the tip of my boot. "Lost in some godforsaken forest that wants to kill me, with nothing but this half-dead spear and a system that hates my guts. Great. Just great." I sighed, the weight of it all pressing down harder than ever.

The forest stretched endlessly around me, a twisted maze of blackened trunks and unnaturally vibrant foliage. The leaves shimmered in every color of the rainbow, beautiful and poisonous in equal measure. Every step forward felt like walking into a trap.

I quickly learned the rules of survival here: the plants are your enemy. Most of the fruit, no matter how inviting, is laced with enough poison to kill you in seconds. The edible stuff? Herbs. Ugly, deformed things that look like they've been pulled straight out of someone's nightmare. They taste as bad as they look—bitter, slimy, and wrong—but they'll keep you alive. Barely.

I had learned caution the hard way, observing insects to discern safe foods. Too many horror films had taught me the fate of the foolhardy.

At night, the forest came alive in a way that made my skin crawl. I could hear them out there, just beyond the edge of my vision—creatures, their claws scratching against the bark of trees, their guttural growls reverberating through the darkness. They were circling me, their glowing red eyes flickering like dying embers.

None of them ever came close enough for me to get a good look. They just lingered, watching, waiting. It was like they were testing me, seeing how far they could push before I broke.

Sometimes, the system chimed in, its voice as cold and unfeeling as ever.

[Warning: Sensing multiple entities nearby.]

Yeah, no kidding. I gripped my spear tighter, my knuckles whitening as I scanned the shadows. But before anything could happen, I'd hear them retreat, their footsteps fading into the night.

[Entities Retreated. Fear invoked.]

[It seems they retreat because you defeated the Revenant: (Glathanya)]

[They fear you.]

I couldn't help but scoff. "Fear me? Yeah, sure. Let's see how long that lasts."

Glathanya. Whatever that thing was, it had clearly been something of a big deal around here. Its death had sent a message, though I wasn't sure if it was a warning or an invitation for something worse to come after me.

"Times like this," I muttered, staring into the darkness, "I actually miss talking to myself in store windows. At least the mannequins didn't look like they wanted to eat me alive."

The system pulled me back to reality with a sharp chime.

[Name: Lance]

[Level: 1]

[Mana: None]

[Skills: Truepoint Thrust]

[Special Talent: Weapon Mastery]

[Class: Spearman]

[Titles: Survivor, The Unyielding]

That last one was new. I hadn't had the chance—or the energy—to check it out until now. With nothing better to do, I tapped on it, and the details unfolded before me.

[The Unyielding]

A title gained when, despite insurmountable odds and overwhelming challenges, the player continues to defy expectations and accomplish the impossible.

[Buffs]

[Mental Resistance: Increased resistance to fear, confusion, and other negative effects.

Physical Recovery: Enhanced stamina regeneration.

Survival of the Fittest: Minor stat boosts that grow stronger with each improbable victory.]

[Debuffs]

[Cracking Resolve: Effectiveness decreases when morale drops below a certain level.]

"Survival of the Fittest," I murmured, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of my lips. For most people, this title would probably seem useless. But for someone like me—hated by fate, cursed with no mana—it was a lifeline.

Still, the debuff gnawed at me. Cracking Resolve. It was a reminder that even this meager shred of hope could be ripped away if I let myself falter. "Because that's exactly what I need right now," I said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "A title that kicks me when I'm already down. Thanks, system. You're a real pal."

I glanced at my spear, the once-sturdy weapon now little more than a splintered stick with a dulled blade. The fight with Glathanya had left it in shambles.

"That thing's skin was like hitting an armored tank," I muttered, running my fingers along the jagged edge. "This spear's not going to last much longer."

And that wasn't even the worst of it. The better my mastery got, the more I realized how badly I needed a proper weapon—something that could actually keep up with me. A mundane wooden spear wasn't going to cut it anymore.

But that was a problem for tomorrow. For now, I needed rest. Even if the night was alive with monsters and the air itself felt like it was trying to suffocate me, I had to sleep. Tomorrow would bring more horrors, and I needed whatever strength I could muster to face them.

As I lay down on the damp, uneven ground, the system chimed one last time.

[Reminder: You cannot rest. Danger is always present.]

I let out a bitter laugh, closing my eyes against the darkness. "Yeah, I got it. Thanks for nothing, as usual."

The forest whispered around me, its sinister song lulling me into a restless sleep. In my dreams, the red eyes watched, unblinking.