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The sun shines through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled light and shadows on the ground. As the breeze blows, the light and shadows sway gently, like dancing elves. Birds sing happily on the branches, and the melodious bird calls echo in the valley, interweaving with the gurgling sound of the stream, forming a harmonious natural sound.

Albert took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air in the valley, and tried to keep himself awake. He held the tree trunk beside him and tried to stand up, but the severe pain in his legs made him gasp, and fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead.

He gritted his teeth and tried again, and finally stood up shakily. He held the tree trunk and walked step by step in the direction where Mark left. Every step was extremely difficult, and the wound on his leg seemed to be torn apart, and the piercing pain made him almost unbearable.

He walked slowly, leaving a shallow footprint with every step. The footprints were soon covered by fallen leaves, as if they had never existed. He didn't know where Mark was going to take him, nor how long he could hold on, but he had to keep up with Mark. He couldn't stay alone in this strange forest.

After an unknown amount of time, Mark's figure appeared in Albert's sight again. He was standing under a tall tree, holding a thick branch in his hand.

Mark broke the branch, sharpened it, and made a simple wooden spear. He walked up to Albert, picked up Albert's collar with the wooden spear, and dragged him to a big tree.

Albert's body swayed with the movement of the wooden spear. He felt his wounds being torn again, and the severe pain almost made him faint.

"Mark..." Albert shouted weakly, his voice so hoarse that it was almost inaudible. Mark ignored him and tied Albert's hands to the tree trunk. The rough bark rubbed Albert's wrists, causing a stinging pain. Albert struggled to break free, but his weak body could not resist Mark's strength at all. Mark, you...what are you going to do? "Albert asked tremblingly, fear making him almost unable to breathe. Mark still did not answer, he used a knife to cut open Albert's wound. The severe pain made Albert scream, blood flowed down the tree trunk to the ground, spread in the soil, forming an enchanting blood flower. Albert trembled with pain, cold sweat soaked his clothes. He clenched his teeth to prevent himself from making more groans, but his trembling body exposed his pain.

Mark cut off a piece of his own flesh with a knife, and a strange rune was engraved on the flesh. Albert thought it was the rune on the fake fragment, the copy rune. Mark stuffed the meat into Albert's mouth. Albert wanted to spit it out, but found that his mouth had been tightly pinched by Mark.

"Swallow it. "Mark's cold voice rang in Albert's ears.

Albert was powerless to resist and could only swallow the meat with difficulty. The fishy smell of the meat spread in his mouth, making him feel nauseous.

Mark stood up and turned away without looking back, and his figure disappeared into the depths of the woods again.

Albert leaned against the tree trunk weakly, a bloody smell spread in his mouth, he didn't know what Mark was going to do, nor did he know what he would face.

"Why..." Albert leaned against the tree trunk weakly, the rough bark rubbing against his back, bringing a stinging pain. He rolled his eyeballs with difficulty, and his sight swept across the dense woods around him. The sunlight fell through the gaps in the leaves, forming mottled light and shadows on the ground. The woods were quiet, with only a few unknown birds singing on the branches. Albert felt a chill, and although the sun was warm, he felt cold all over. The bitter taste of the pills still lingered in his mouth, making him feel nauseous.

"Water... water..." Albert moaned weakly, his throat was so dry that it seemed to be cracked. A squirrel jumped down from a branch and landed not far in front of Albert. It tilted its head and looked at the human tied to the tree with curiosity. Albert raised his hands weakly, trying to drive the small animal away, but found that his hands were tied tightly to the tree trunk and he couldn't move at all. He could only watch the squirrel jumping in front of him and chewing the fruits that fell from the tree. Albert's eyes fell on the fruit that the squirrel was chewing, a red wild fruit that looked fresh and juicy. His throat became even drier and his stomach began to growl. He licked his cracked lips and closed his eyes weakly.