After repairing the monastery roof with one effortless spell from Mizuki, the two of them headed toward their final destination.
Crimsonwood Forest.
The same forest Renji had entered earlier that morning.
"Stay close," Mizuki warned.
"This forest is filled with dangerous monsters."
The trees grew denser as they walked deeper.
They quickly gathered the poisonous mushrooms.
But the medical herbs were located much further inside.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Renji asked.
"No tension," Mizuki replied calmly.
"I'm here."
But after walking for several minutes, Renji noticed something strange.
The scenery wasn't changing.
The same trees.
The same rocks.
Over and over again.
"…Mizuki?"
She had noticed it too.
Both of them stopped.
Then Renji saw someone standing in the distance.
A tall figure with long white hair.
Their eyes were completely hidden beneath it.
A dark mark rested on their cheek.
Mizuki's hands began trembling.
Renji whispered,
"…Is that a woman?"
"N–No…"
Her voice shook.
"That can't be…"
Suddenly—
The ground melted.
Trees sank into the earth like wax.
The sky turned crimson.
Three demon wolves appeared.
They charged toward Renji.
He froze in terror.
But the wolves ran straight through him.
Like illusions.
The mysterious figure suddenly appeared right in front of him.
Before Renji could react—
A hand pierced straight through his abdomen.
Renji screamed.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
The world around him turned into a nightmare.
Lava erupted from the ground.
Skeletons surrounded him from every direction.
All of them radiated overwhelming power.
SS-Rank monsters.
Renji collapsed.
When Renji opened his eyes again, he was lying on Mizuki's lap.
She was desperately casting healing magic.
"Mizuki… what happened…?"
Her face was pale.
"I'm not sure… but that thing…"
"…it's a demon."
Renji blinked weakly.
"A Hell General, maybe." Mizuki mumbled.
A voice suddenly echoed through the forest.
"Not just a Hell General."
The figure appeared once again.
"I am an Elite Hell General."
Mizuki stood immediately.
"We need to run."
But the demon moved faster.
His hand pierced Renji's abdomen again.
Blood splashed across the ground.
"This is pointless," he said coldly.
"I don't understand what Lord Drazeth saw in you."
"You're not even worth killing a mosquito."
He punched forward.
Mizuki barely blocked the attack.
"Oh?"
The demon tilted his head.
"A spirit user."
"How amusing."
His eyes glowed.
"Let's see where your spirit core is hiding."
A moment later he smiled.
"…Inside your heart."
He cast a spell.
Mizuki's body began fading.
"Renji!"
"RUN!"
Her body dissolved into light and was pulled into Renji's chest.
Renji screamed.
"Mizuki!"
The demon laughed quietly.
"Relax. I only sealed her."
Then he stabbed a wooden spike through Renji's side.
Another strike shattered his leg.
Renji collapsed.
The demon leaned closer.
"Remember this name, Ozyrith. Today's game is over."
With that, he vanished.
The forest returned to normal.
Renji tried to crawl toward the exit.
But his body finally gave out.
And he collapsed into the dirt.