Kall stepped cautiously beneath the thick canopy of the forest, the red grass giving way to towering trees with bark like blackened steel and leaves that shimmered faintly with a ghostly light. Shadows danced and flickered in the dim glow, but the forest felt alive—almost sentient—as if it were watching his every move.
He slowed his breath, eyes darting across the undergrowth. Every rustle of leaves, every crack of a twig, made his heart thump faster. His muscles tensed, ready for a fight. This place is far from any ordinary forest, he thought. The spirits here... the beasts—they aren't like those weak monsters outside. They have power.
The Grimgore's lessons echoed in his mind: the West of Hell was guarded by spirits and beasts, some so ancient and strong that no ordinary being could survive their wrath. The fruit he had gathered were said to grant stamina and endurance, but they were no replacement for battle skills.
After an hour of silent, careful movement, Kall spotted a clearing bathed in soft light. There, growing amid the stones and ash, were the very trees described in The Grimgore—fruits glowing with an ethereal aura, hanging heavy on twisted branches.
He knelt, plucking a few fruits and tucking them into his pack. The fruits pulsed faintly with mana, promising vitality and power.
"I've found the spot," Kall muttered to himself. "Now, it's time to move forward—to fight the spirit beasts and survive."
His thoughts churned with questions as he resumed walking. Why could he pass the barrier that no other soul could cross? Was it his Body Revolution skill, or something deeper?
The cool air shifted suddenly, and a chill ran down his spine. The hairs on his neck stood on end. Something's coming... something powerful.
He scanned the shadows and caught sight of movement—a flash of red and brown among the trees.
"Hunters," he breathed. Through a break in the foliage, Kall saw a group of people armed with bows and spears surrounding a majestic red deer. The beast's coat shimmered like flames, its eyes wide with fear.
People? Here? Kall frowned. "Is this even possible?"
The hunters moved with calculated precision, their muscles taut with tension. Kall's instincts told him not to interfere, but his curiosity gnawed at him. "I think I have to follow them," he whispered, creeping silently behind the hunters.
Suddenly, an icy hand seemed to grip the back of his neck. He spun his head—but he couldn't. His neck was frozen, held firm by unseen force.
A low voice hissed into his ear, "Don't move. Or I'll kill you."
The voice was soft but razor-sharp, stabbing into his mind like a dagger. Kall's blood ran cold.
He forced himself to stay calm and not panic. Slowly, he felt the pressure loosen, and he was able to turn his head.
In front of him stood a woman—a striking figure draped in dark robes that seemed to shift like smoke. Her eyes were sharp and wary, yet something else flickered in their depths: curiosity.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "Why are you here? How did you come in? Didn't you come through the Black Door?"
Kall's heart pounded. Why do I have to answer her? he thought, irritated. I don't even know what the Black Door is. But the tone of her voice left no room for refusal.
He swallowed and wove a story, hoping it sounded plausible enough.
"I was once the king of Heaven," he said, voice low and steady. "But my own troops betrayed me and stripped me of all power. I was forced into a long slumber."
He took a breath. "When I awoke, I sought help from my friend in Hell—the Ninth Prince, Sun. So I teleported here, to the area where his aura remains."
The woman's eyes widened. "So the king isn't dead? He's alive?"
"What do you mean, dead?" Kall shot back.
"Two hundred years ago, when the Holy War began, the king vanished."
Kall's mind raced. "So which king do you mean? The Black or the Golden?"
"The Black ones."
He nodded slowly, digesting the information.
The woman's expression softened, then she said quietly, "I think… maybe you could help us find the king."
Kall hesitated, weighing the offer. He needed answers, and allies. "Okay, I'll help you. But you have to help me too."
She nodded. "Deal."
"Go home for now," she instructed. "I'll call you when I need you. By the way, what's your name?"
"Dipti," she answered. "And yours?"
Kall exhaled, knowing this moment was inevitable. "Hireon."
The woman nodded as if accepting his name was part of the pact. Then she turned and walked back along the path the hunters had taken.
---
Kall was left alone again, his mind swirling with possibilities and half-truths.
"King of Heaven… Ninth Prince… Black King…" The pieces of the puzzle rattled in his head, but no matter how much he tried, the edges refused to fit.
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing shout broke the forest's quiet.
"Ahhh!"
Without hesitation, Kall sprinted toward the source of the cry. His heart pounded with urgency—someone was in trouble.
He crashed through the thick undergrowth, branches scratching his arms and face. The cries repeated, closer now, desperate and raw.
He burst into a clearing and saw a group of hunters surrounded by a pack of shadowy beasts—hulking creatures with eyes glowing like embers and teeth sharp as razors.
One hunter was pinned beneath a beast's heavy paw, struggling to break free.
Kall didn't pause to think.
"Come on!" he shouted, summoning all his strength.
He launched himself at the nearest beast, his fist glowing with the power of Body Revolution. The punch landed squarely on the creature's snout, sending it reeling back with a roar.
The other hunters looked up, surprise and hope flooding their eyes.
Kall's sudden intervention had bought them precious time.
He darted through the battle, dodging claws and snapping jaws, delivering blows wherever he could. His training, his skill levels—they all came into play as he fought for survival and for the lives of those around him.
Finally, the beasts retreated into the shadows with snarls and curses, vanishing as quickly as they'd appeared.
The hunters gathered around Kall, breathing hard, faces flushed with adrenaline.
Dipti stepped forward, her expression inscrutable. "You have strength… and skill. Maybe you are more than just a lost king."
Kall wiped sweat from his brow, smiling grimly. "Maybe. But I'm still figuring out who I really am."
Dipti studied him for a moment, then said quietly, "You should come with us. There is much to tell you. And the forest is not safe for lone travelers."
Kall nodded. For now, he would follow her.
Together, they walked deeper into the forest—the secrets of Hell's West waiting just beyond the next shadow.
---
What will Kall discover next? What truths lurk behind the Black Door?