Chains

Light had never ventured into the forest before. He had heard enough stories about its dangers to know better than to try his luck. 

The Forest of Ruin was a hauntingly beautiful expanse of twisted trees and crumbling remnants of a forgotten era. Towering, gnarled oaks and blackened pines stretched toward the sky, their branches clawing at the ever-present mist that weaved through the undergrowth. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying wood, a testament to the long-lost grandeur that once thrived here.

The deeper one ventured, the heavier the air became, and the higher the chances of encountering the Fallen were.

Of course, he knew the dangers of the forest. Everyone did. That was precisely why merchants from his hometown paid mercenaries to make the perilous trip through the forest to deliver their goods to the City of Ruin. And that was why he had decided to join them this time around.

At first, everything had been going well. He was enjoying the cool air of the forest while experiencing new things. He was with a well-refined group of warriors, so his tasks were mostly menial.

"Need me to replenish the group's water supply? Sure, no problem! Can I check the cargo? You bet I can! Want me to collect edible plants while traversing the forest? You got it, boss!"

It was a system he was content with. He helped the mercenary group with mundane tasks while practicing with his newly acquired blessing, and he would even get paid when the mission was over. It was a win-win situation. As an added bonus, he would get to visit the City of Ruin for the first time. He was elated, to say the least.

But that relaxed nature of his led him to forget where he really was. The forest wasn't a forgiving place in the slightest. It was cruel and punishing.

**

The first three days of their five-day expedition went smoothly. The mercenary group trekked vast distances with little to no issues. Meanwhile, he ran his daily tasks and spent the rest of his time practicing his blessing while marveling at the strange and eerie beauty of the forest.

He was almost certain that his blessing had a second ability. After all, its full name was Soul Chains. The first part allowed him to see the soul of things, a rectangular box appearing in front of him whenever he focused mana into his eyes. But the Chains part? That remained a mystery.

So for the first three days, he experimented, feeling the ebb and flow of mana within him.

Mana… It felt like a deep, soothing warmth, radiating from within. Like a gentle flame that never burned out. It was akin to sunlight on your skin on a crisp afternoon or slipping into a warm bath after a long day. Every movement felt more fluid, more natural. Emotionally, it brought a sense of clarity, as though he was in perfect harmony with himself and the world.

It was in this clarity that he had his breakthrough.

He had been stubbornly believing that his second ability had to do with his body, just like the first ability. But what if it had nothing to do with himself, but with actual chains?

On the fourth day, he changed his approach.

He hadn't tried manifesting his mana into a physical object yet. He wasn't even sure it was possible. But there was this constant feeling that he was missing an extension of himself.

So, as he walked near the rear of the group, he started circulating mana from his body to his hands. And then—it finally happened.

The energy coursed through his body—raw, vibrant, humming with potential. It was as if his very blood had become liquid power, pulsing in time with his heartbeat. With a focused breath, he extended his hand, willing the energy outward.

The mana shifted, condensed, solidified.

A flicker of shimmering light gave way to cold, hard steel. Links formed in rapid succession, materializing from nothingness, clinking together as gravity took hold.

And then—a four-foot metal chain dangled from his hand, weighty and tangible, yet still thrumming with the essence of the energy that had summoned it.

He had done it.

He had been right.

His blessing had a second ability all along.

He was content, happy, excited—

For about one second.

Then, the consequences came.

Summoning the chains had drained a huge chunk of his mana reserves in an instant. The drastic depletion made his body falter for a split second—

And in that moment, as he stumbled forward.

A soft thump sounded next to him.

Followed by a low growl.

His blood ran cold.

Catching his balance, his gaze darted toward the noise. And then, he saw it.

A Fallen.

A wolf-like creature stood just a few feet away. It was about the size of a large hunting dog, its lean frame covered in coarse, dark-gray fur that bristled with every subtle movement. Though it resembled a wolf, its proportions were slightly off—its limbs a touch too long, its shoulders hunched as if ready to pounce.

Its piercing yellow eyes gleamed with a feral cunning. Its obsidian claws, unnaturally long and curved, glistened under the dim forest light.

And by sheer luck, he had just survived its ambush unscathed.

Or so he had thought.

A sharp, searing pain bloomed across his forearm. Then came the unmistakable warmth of blood welling up from the gash.

The pain was raw, burning, like a fresh brand seared into his skin. But then, it deepened. A relentless, throbbing ache, pulsing with every beat of his heart.

His knees buckled, a sharp cry tearing from his throat.

The mercenaries, a few meters ahead, turned at once.

Two of them sprinted toward him, weapons drawn. Steel clashed against claw, the Fallen snarling as it was forced back. And then, the captain arrived.

Light didn't care.

By now, a small puddle of red had formed beneath him. He gasped for air, the pain unlike anything he had ever experienced.

With a shaky hand, he ripped cloth from his travel sack and wrapped his arm, staunching the bleeding as best he could. He could hear shouts and steel meeting flesh, and then.

Silence.

The battle lasted less than two minutes.

He barely noticed when heavy footsteps approached. Looking up, he met the sharp gaze of the captain. But the man wasn't looking at him.

His eyes were locked onto the metallic chain sprawled next to Light.

With a raised brow, he glanced between Light and the chain. Then, understanding dawned on his face.

With a sigh, he knelt beside him, their gazes' level.

"Kid, you should have told me you had awakened." He gestured to the fallen creature. "This is a Dormant Claw Stalker. They hunt alone. Not powerful, but they can sense mana. Now tell me, have you been using mana these past few days?"

Light, weak and exhausted, nodded. "Yes, Captain. Ever since we entered the forest, I've been practicing with my Blessing."

The captain exhaled. "Then you're lucky to be alive."

He stood. "I'm not sure how you survived its ambush. Stick closer to the front from now on. That is… if you want to stay alive."

Light didn't need to be told twice.

Shaking dirt from his pants, he clutched his wounded arm and hurried to rejoin the group.