A few weeks had passed since he began preparing for the long journey ahead.
Early signs of autumn had begun to creep into the forest—the leaves along the riverbank tinged with the faintest amber, the air carrying a crisp edge that hinted at cooler nights.
Each morning felt sharper, each breeze more purposeful, as if the world itself was nudging him toward what lay ahead.
His days were a blur of preparation.
Kagen, ever patient and watchful, guided him through more intense training sessions. Strike, parry, maneuver—each movement honed to perfection.
Blaze, the crimson manticore, moved alongside them with ease, muscles rippling beneath its glowing fur, eyes gleaming with alert intelligence. He had given it a name—to call it easily.
Beyond training, he prepared for the journey in earnest.
Meat and fish were carefully dried over smoky fires; provisions were stacked neatly and safely. Following Elias's example, he wrote down instructions, advice for any reincarnator who might stumble into this wilderness after him: which paths were safe, which to avoid, where food and herbs could be scrounged, and—most importantly—never linger too long. Winter would not forgive the complacent.
He planted markers along the trails, simple signage carved into wood, guiding the way from the starting point to Elias's hideout and his own treehouse.
Each sign was a small act of foresight… a lifeline for whoever came next.
The treehouse itself had been reinforced, shoring up weak beams and ensuring it would endure for months—or perhaps years. He even removed the illusory wall around Elias's hideout, leaving it open for future explorers, hoping they would benefit as he had.
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(One early morning)
Below the treehouse, the morning buzzed with quiet activity.
He and Kagen moved with practiced efficiency, packing provisions and materials into baskets woven from reeds and reinforced with boar pelts, the seams stitched carefully using small bones and thin vines. Every knot mattered; every bundle had to survive the journey ahead.
Blaze, the crimson manticore, lay nearby, tearing into its morning catch, muscles flexing beneath its glowing crimson fur as it refueled itself for the journey ahead. Its low, satisfied growls mingled with the rustling of leaves, a grounding rhythm in the otherwise tense preparation.
When the packing was complete, they carefully secured the baskets to Blaze's back. Two hung on either side, swaying gently with the manticore's powerful frame. A third, heavier basket—packed with Lumenite ores—was placed behind his seat, with his satchel filled with mithril ores resting atop it.
He considered adding more, imagining the extra weight he could carry, but practicality won.
Overburdening Blaze would slow them down—that could mean failing to escape this wilderness before winter's true bite.
Traveling fast, light, and efficiently was the only way forward.
When everything was in place, he looked up at the treehouse one last time.
It stood there quietly among the autumn-tinged trees—a fortress of memories. Every beam, every corner, every creaking floorboard had been a witness to his survival, his growth, and the fleeting comforts of home in a place that offered little of it.
For a moment, he let himself feel it—the lingering affection, the pang of nostalgia, the faint ache of leaving something behind that had given him safety and solace. Then he shook it off, setting his jaw.
Home was no longer here. Now, it existed only in memory—and in the lessons he carried forward.
He climbed onto Blaze's broad back, settling into the familiar rhythm of the manticore's movement. A light tap on its shoulder sent a silent signal.
"Let's go, buddy," he murmured.
Blaze rose slowly, muscles flexing under crimson fur, stepping into the shadowed forest.
The treehouse gradually faded behind them.
He stole a glance over his shoulder—just in time to see the place he had called home vanish completely, hidden among the trees.
The forest stretched endlessly ahead.
Blaze's gait shifted, first to a steady trot, then to a powerful gallop, the ground blurring beneath them. Above, Kagen moved fluidly, scouting the path, guiding them safely toward the massive tree that loomed in the distance like a silent sentinel.
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(A week later.)
They settled in a small cavern not far from the massive tree, the soft glow of a newly lit campfire painting shadows on jagged walls. The warmth cut through the chill of the forest night, offering temporary comfort in a wilderness that tested every step of their journey.
It had taken them a full week to reach this point.
They could have traveled faster, but repeated detours were necessary—zones teeming with monsters far stronger than anything they had faced before.
For reasons he still didn't fully understand, monsters grew stronger the closer they drew to the massive tree. The Class-S Black Serpent—the most formidable creature they had encountered so far—was proof of that.
Luckily, most of these monsters were territorial. Most of them weren't fast enough to catch up.
They could evade them, outpace them… most of the time.
There was one exception:
The agile Sablemane, a Class-A predator resembling a sleek black leopard.
It had tested their limits, forcing a tense 3-on-1 confrontation. But using strategy, strength, and numerical advantage, they had knocked it unconscious, leaving it sprawled in the underbrush, a silent reminder of the dangers that lurked around every bend.
He exhaled slowly, watching the firelight flicker across Blaze's massive form.
This journey had only just begun, and the forest ahead promised even greater trials. But for tonight, they could rest, gather strength, and prepare for the challenges waiting just beyond the cavern's mouth.
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(The next morning)
After a night of rest, the forest felt different—lighter yet carrying an undercurrent of anticipation. He and Kagen moved out to scout the area around the massive tree, leaving Blaze behind to guard the camp, provisions, and the ores.
Even with the illusory wall he had crafted at the cavern's entrance using the Pendant of Illusion—an inheritance from Elias—he couldn't be completely sure what might happen if an unexpected intruder appeared.
Better safe than sorry.
They moved above ground, leaping and swinging from branch to branch, until they finally came to a halt on a sturdy limb not far from their destination. Below them stretched a breathtaking sight: a vast lake of flowers, petals shimmering in the morning light, with the massive tree rising at its center like a throne for the sky itself.
At the foot of the colossal tree, a creature stirred—a white serpent. Its immense body coiled around the trunk, hugging it with an almost reverent grip. Sunlight glinted across its silver scales, casting sparks of light that danced like liquid metal.
The sheer beauty of it made his breath catch.
Cautious as always, he activated his ultimate skill, Eye of Providence, and appraised the creature. A translucent screen flickered into view before his eyes:
Name: White Serpent
Class: Unknown
Description: Unknown
He studied the creature, analyzing every subtle movement, every glint of its scales. Its size, its calm demeanor, its grace—it was unlike anything he had encountered before.
After a long moment, he made a decision.
Curiosity burned within him, but prudence demanded patience. They would retreat for now and return under the cover of night, when shadows could hide their approach.
His eyes shifted upward to the massive tree. Then appraised it, revealing its name: Yggdrasil—the World Tree.
The tree's enormity and aura of ancient power were humbling. So close… yet so untouchable.
His breath steadied, a mix of awe and determination.
Tonight, they would uncover its secrets.
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(Later that night)
The night was cool, the air carrying a gentle whisper of wind that rustled through the treetops. Shadows stretched long across the flower-strewn ground, now shimmering faintly under the soft glow of the moon.
They went back to check the place once more.
This time, they took Blaze with them.
The plan was for Kagen and Blaze to lure the Serpent away while he sneaks in to inspect the tree.
There must be something special about it considering its name.
But the scene that greeted them was not what they had expected.
The flowers, once ordinary and subdued under the morning sun, now radiated an ethereal luminescence, each petal glowing with a soft, greenish light as if the moon itself had been captured within them. The air was thick with their gentle fragrance, intoxicating yet calming, and the ground seemed to pulse with a quiet life.
In the place where the White Serpent had rested, coiled around the tree's trunk in the morning, there was only emptiness. The serpent was gone.
And in its place… a beautiful maiden.
She moved with the grace of water, each step deliberate, yet as fluid as the wind brushing over the flowers. Moonlight clung to her like a halo, illuminating her flowing hair and delicate features.
Her presence was otherworldly, luminous, impossible to ignore.
Caution flared within him, so he decided to appraise her.
She can't be an ordinary maiden, not in this dangerous place.
The translucent screen appeared in front of him.
Error.
It was the only thing written on the screen.
The same error. The same one he saw when appraising the Guide of Soul back in the celestial realm.
He was right.
She was not an ordinary human; if anything, she could be similar to the Guide of Soul.
He stayed still for a long while. Hidden under the shadow of the night.
Watching. Observing.
Unwilling to risk his life, he decided to give up inspecting the tree.
He would rather leave this place as soon as possible.
But just as he was about to flee, several balls of green light appeared around him, swirling, circling him.
That's when he finally realized the scary truth: His presence was known all this time.