The wind slammed straight into his face—it was no longer mere wind, but an overwhelming pressure, as if the very air were trying to crush him.
Nolan was falling at terrifying speed, and this time—there was nothing to break his fall.
"AAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
His scream tore through the unfamiliar sky. His black hair was whipped into chaos, his cloak flaring wildly as the ground rushed up toward him at a horrifying pace.
"…Calm down… stay calm…"
Nolan tried to breathe, though it was nearly impossible under these conditions.
"Calm down… analyze the situation…"
"I'm falling fast from a height that is, without exaggeration, fatal."
"No parachute. Mana depleted. Just perfect."
He looked down.
What awaited him wasn't rock, nor water—
but a dense forest, packed with towering trees and thick canopies.
"…Good. There's a chance."
Nolan narrowed his eyes, as if snapping back to life.
"If I hit the treetops…"
"I might reduce the impact."
"Or break every bone in my body."
"…Well, that still counts as surviving."
He twisted his body midair, adjusting his posture—arms raised to shield his head, body curled tightly in preparation.
BOOOOOOM!!!
He crashed through the first canopy, branches snapping violently.
BAM!
The second.
CRASH!
The third.
"KH—!!"
At last, his body slammed into the ground. He rolled several times before coming to a halt, the impact leaving him completely still for a long moment.
Silence.
A bird took flight somewhere in the distance.
Then, once again—stillness.
A finger twitched.
"…Alive?"
His voice came out hoarse. Nolan lay flat on his back, staring up at a sky that felt entirely foreign.
"…I'm… actually alive?"
He blinked, then grimaced as pain surged through his body.
"Pain."
"Pain means I'm alive."
"Alive means I'm not dead."
"…Flawless logic."
Slowly, Nolan pushed himself upright. His entire body ached, but fortunately, nothing seemed broken.
At least… he hoped so.
"…Lucky."
He looked around.
This forest—was unlike anything he had ever seen.
The trees were twice the normal size, their trunks thick and rugged like stone. The air itself felt heavy, saturated with something unfamiliar.
"…Mana?"
Nolan frowned.
"No… not just ordinary mana."
It was so dense it felt almost tangible. With each breath, he could feel the energy seeping into his body.
"…Where the hell am I…"
He stood up, brushing off the dirt and checking his weapon.
Thankfully, his sword was still intact.
"Alright."
Nolan took a deep breath.
"Basic survival principles."
"Step one: Find water."
"Step two: Find shelter."
"Step three—"
GRRRRRRRRRR.
Nolan froze.
"…I hate step three."
A low growl echoed from behind him—not loud, but enough to send a chill down his spine.
Slowly, he turned.
And then—he saw it.
A wolf.
But not a normal one.
It stood nearly two meters tall, its fur black as shadow, its eyes glowing crimson. Hot breath steamed from its mouth, as if it were ready to devour him whole.
"…Ah."
Nolan nodded.
"Alright."
"New world."
"New monsters."
"Same damn logic."
The wolf growled and lunged like an arrow.
Nolan drew his sword in an instant—
CLANG!
Its claws collided with his blade, a monstrous force traveling through his arms, making them tremble.
"Damn it—!"
He was pushed back several meters, skidding across the ground.
"…That strength—"
"At least C-rank."
The wolf didn't stop. It lunged again with terrifying speed.
Nolan gritted his teeth and dodged to the side—
SLASH!
The claws grazed his shoulder, tearing through his luthium armor. Blood began to seep out.
"Shit…"
He leapt back, widening the distance, forcing himself to breathe and refocus.
"…Alright."
"No more playing around."
Mana gathered along the blade, a faint glow flickering to life.
"Basic skill…"
"WIND CLEAVE."
Nolan surged forward, his speed spiking instantly.
SLASH!!!
A sharp arc tore through the air—
The wolf dodged with blinding speed.
"Not enough—!"
It counterattacked immediately. Its claws shot toward his throat—
Nolan ducked low, rotating his blade horizontally—
STAB!!!
The sword pierced into the wolf's flank, blood bursting out.
The wolf roared—
"…What—?!"
It opened its jaws—
And bit straight into Nolan's shoulder.
"KH—!!"
Pain exploded through him—excruciating, overwhelming.
But Nolan gritted his teeth, enduring it as he drove his blade deeper toward the wolf's neck.
"…Your mistake…"
He forced the sword in further.
"…was getting close to me."
STAB!!!
The blade pierced through its heart.
The wolf convulsed—then slowly collapsed.
Silence returned.
Nolan stood there, breathing heavily, blood dripping from his shoulder.
"…Alright."
He exhaled.
"Welcome to the new world."
But—
It wasn't over.
GRRRRRRRRRRR.
Another growl.
Then another.
Then—many.
Slowly, Nolan turned his head.
In the darkness of the forest—
Red eyes began to appear.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
"…Yeah."
He fell silent for a moment.
"…I miss home."
The pack emerged, slowly surrounding him.
They weren't rushing.
They weren't panicking.
They were calm.
Calculating.
"…Alright…"
Nolan tightened his grip on his sword.
"Going big, huh."
Blood dripped down his arm. His body was exhausted. His mana nearly depleted.
"…This is bad…"
One lunged.
Nolan swung—
SLASH!
One fell.
But another was already behind him.
STAB!!!
Claws sank into his back.
"KH—!!"
Nolan dropped to one knee.
"…Damn it…"
His vision blurred.
His body grew heavy.
"…Is this… really the end…"
The wolves closed in, step by step.
And then—
A faint voice echoed.
"…Echo…"
Nolan froze.
"…Again?"
A strange energy surged within his body.
Not mana.
Something heavier.
Deeper.
Calling to him.
"…Dragon… Echo…"
Nolan's eyes widened.
A violent surge of invisible force erupted—
BOOOOOOM!!!
The wolves were blasted away.
Nolan slowly rose to his feet.
"…What…"
His body felt lighter.
Stronger.
"…This is—"
A wolf lunged at him.
Nolan moved.
Faster than before.
SLASH!!!
One strike.
The wolf was cut clean in half.
"…Oh."
He looked at his hand.
"…Interesting."