DEATH REALM — Beyond the Forest
Following Yoreru's guidance, the children began venturing deeper into the Death Realm.
Cautiously.
Step by step.
Some explored the forest—
A forest filled with the corpses of boars.
Almost all of them hunted by Nakid… before the labyrinth incident.
The trials ahead would be harsh.
They all knew it.
Which is why they had to be patient.
And grow stronger.
But Nakid…
Was different.
This forest had become his domain.
He knew every inch of it.
From the smallest death-flower…
To the strange, twisted fruits…
To every type of boar he once hunted effortlessly.
He was no longer the same.
No longer weak.
No longer the boy who cried.
At least…
That's what he told Ysabella.
He took a step back.
Looking at the forest one last time.
A hint of nostalgia crossed his eyes.
Then—
He turned around.
And walked back to where everything had begun.
The battlefield.
From a distance, he observed.
Just like Yoreru once did.
People were still fighting.
Endlessly.
Meaninglessly.
Nakid's eyes darkened.
— They're so weak…
A pause.
— Pitiful.
He couldn't ignore it.
Not anymore.
He stepped forward.
Into the battlefield.
Not to fight.
But to stop it.
He stood between two fighters—
Just as they were about to kill each other.
— Have you lost your minds?!
His voice echoed.
— Why are you doing this?!
They both turned toward him.
— No one asked for your help, kid!
— Get lost!
They attacked him.
Together.
Nakid didn't even flinch.
His body moved naturally.
Effortlessly.
He disarmed them in seconds.
But then—
A tear fell.
On one of them.
Silence.
The man froze.
His wounds…
Closed.
Instantly.
— What…?
He touched his body.
— How… am I healed?
His eyes widened.
— Was that you?!
Nakid stepped back.
His expression shifted.
He understood.
He had made a mistake.
He should have never come back.
These people…
Were beyond saving.
But then—
A thought crossed his mind.
His mother.
If he could heal like this…
Then maybe—
Just maybe—
Hope ignited inside him.
He moved.
Fast.
Dodging everything.
Attacks.
Blades.
Chaos.
Like a child dancing among giants.
He searched.
Everywhere.
But found nothing.
Only lifeless bodies.
His mother…
Was gone.
He questioned the fighters.
— How long have you been here?!
— Have you seen someone like this?!
— How did you even get here?!
No answers.
None.
They didn't even understand aura.
This place…
Was empty.
Of knowledge.
Nakid clenched his fists.
A realization hit him.
The weak know nothing.
The strong know everything.
A cruel truth.
— I won't find anything here…
He turned away.
— I need to move forward.
A pause.
Then—
— But I've improved…
He looked at his hands.
— I'm stronger now.
A faint smile.
— I'm not weak.
— There are people weaker than me.
For the first time…
He acknowledged it.
When he returned—
Ysabella looked at him differently.
— Are you okay?
He nodded.
Cold.
Distant.
Then walked past them.
Deeper into the forest.
The others returned as well.
Exhausted.
Carrying their hunt.
— What's wrong with him? Chiyo asked.
Yoreru watched silently.
— That look…
— It's important.
— He's more motivated than ever.
— He's not ready yet…
— But his mindset is finally right.
Ryan dropped the carcasses.
— We brought enough food for months.
— Perfect. I'll boost your auras even more!
Louis stretched.
— I'll try to explore outside after resting.
— Same, said Miya.
Ysabella lowered her head.
— I'm worried about Nakid…
— He hasn't been himself lately…
Yoreru smiled faintly.
— He's still just a teenager.
— Let him grow.
— He'll be fine.
Meanwhile—
Nakid kept going.
He wiped out the forest entirely.
Every corner.
Every creature.
Then he stopped.
At the edge.
Should he go further?
Before—
He would have hesitated.
Now—
He didn't.
A smile returned.
Faint.
But real.
He stepped forward.
Beyond the forest.
And froze.
A city.
Alive.
People.
Movement.
Life.
— That's… impossible…
He stepped back—
Trying to return to the forest.
But—
A hooded figure pushed him forward.
— You… again?!
— Wait!
Nakid stumbled into the city.
Lost.
Confused.
A trap?
Of course it was.
Someone like MazeBoy could easily create something like this.
An old merchant approached him.
— Young man… would you like to trade some fruits for aura?
Nakid blinked.
— What…?
— You can trade aura?
— And what do your fruits do?
The old man grinned.
— My fruits are exceptional.
— They multiply your aura efficiency by twenty.
A pause.
— For about ten years.
Nakid's eyes widened.
— Ten years?!
— How do I even trade my aura?
The merchant laughed.
— Here. Take one.
— You don't look very rich anyway.
Nakid frowned.
— How do you know that?
The merchant showed him a device.
— Survival rate: 0.01%.
He laughed loudly.
— You don't have enough aura.
— You would've died during the exchange!
Nakid laughed.
Nervously.
So this was it.
He thought he had grown stronger.
Improved.
Progressed.
But in reality—
He was nothing.
— A survival world, huh…?
He clenched his fists.
— The law of the strongest?
He smiled.
— I'll see for myself.
— The Death Realm…
— Is my world.
He put the fruit in his pocket.
And returned.
To the forest.
To the others.
— You won't believe this!
He laughed.
— There's a whole city out there!
Silence.
— Nakid! We were worried sick! Ysabella shouted.
Louis sighed.
— He's lost it.
— Definitely ate something toxic.
Ryan shrugged.
— Yeah… he's hallucinating.
— No one can heal him anyway.
— Just cry it out.
Nakid kept laughing.
Uncontrollably.
The truth—
The area beyond the forest was filled with toxic illusion gas.
His aura was contaminated.
Too weak to resist it.
And the fruit?
A useless golden beetle.
Chiyo rushed forward.
— Move!
— He needs my potion!
Nakid drank.
Barely.
Still laughing.
Still choking.
Slowly—
The poison faded.
— You're amazing! Miya said.
But the damage was done.
According to Yoreru—
Nakid would be bedridden.
For at least six months.
His growth—
Stopped.
— What an idiot… Ysabella muttered.
— Exploring alone like that…
Yoreru laughed.
— At least he's alive.
Then—
— While he's unconscious…
— You should join a clan.
Silence.
— Already?! Ryan asked.
— Are we even ready?
— Yes.
— All of you are.
— Even for basic missions.
Miya frowned.
— Why wait until Nakid got hurt to tell us?
Yoreru's gaze softened.
— Because he wouldn't let you go.
— And that would hold him back.
A pause.
— I know what I'm talking about.
— You all need to grow.
— On your own.
Ysabella stepped forward.
— Don't worry.
— I'll stay with Nakid.
— I'll watch over him.
And so—
For the first time—
Their paths…
Were about to split.