The skull chose to remain silent, offering no response to its master—because it knew all too well: its owner was a hunter, a cruel one. Ruthlessly addicted to blood hunts. And yet, he was born within a human soul. At times, the skull itself felt pity for the master's body, forced to endure endless torment, a fate carved in permanence until the universe itself bore witness to his agony.
His body was dragged forward by the will of his mind, steered by his soul, driven by raw ambition—pushed by the last remnants of strength that felt like jagged stones stabbing into and nesting deep inside his muscles. That painful scene was seasoned by the blistering sting of sand, his skin peeling under the sun's wrath. It was as though fragments of hell's iron had scattered all around him. The corners of his mouth twitched upward, forming a faint, pained smile—one born from torment at the horizon's edge.
"You think I'm suffering?"
The hunter's gaze had transformed—no longer human, but beast. His body inched forward, millimeter by millimeter, despite the wounds carving forbidden art into his flesh. Ivory bone jutted out from his kneecap, stained in red and white—a vivid contrast. Red, symbol of the courage that pulsed thick in the veins of Northern Hunters. White, the symbol of purity. Yet purity of desire could be interpreted in many ways. Zhen would uncover and claim them, one by one.
[Warning!!! Your body has reached maximum exhaustion limit.]
[System suggestion: Stop or consume Blood Prey!]
"Damn it all!!"
The system spoke again, but its message rang hollow—empty, detached. It didn't offer a target. No mission. No aid. Just a trap in disguise: endure unbearable pain with no hope, or trade away a soul that always had a price.
Zhen stared straight at the giant stone known as the "Stone Tree," as Dono called it. Now, the stone seemed to beat. Yes—beat—like the heart of a living creature.
"Thirteen berries…" His lips were torn, and dry blood had hardened at the corners. "I'll steal just one."
At the very least, hope still followed him. Judging by his current state, it seemed impossible to reach the Stone Tree. But his heart always believed in the universe. After everything—his journey, his survival—he was now more certain than ever that he was destined to become the Blood Hunter of the Northern Clan.
The surface of the sand had already taken the shape of his silhouette, painted in blood that had seeped deep into each grain.
"The Fire Berry must be in my grasp—no matter what!!!"
He dragged his crawling body forward, inching toward the Stone Tree that stood thirty meters to his left. His flesh was screaming in pain, but his soul blazed with unshakable conviction.
"I'll reach it… I'll lean on that Stone Tree first!"
A light laugh accompanied his agony.
When that fragile laughter faded, a bitter gulp rose and fell in his throat. And then—right then—the black roots began to slither out from the heart of the Stone Tree, racing toward him like a predator who had already marked its prey.
The black roots touched Zhen's skin, then coiled around him tightly, binding him in an intricate grip—trapping him—before yanking him toward the tree.
"Aaarghhh!!!"
His scream was swallowed whole. The Horizon seemed to devour sound itself, and the tree's purpose… was to orchestrate this trap—a personal hell laid bare.
The black roots loosened their hold and gently laid his battered body beside the Stone Tree. His eyelids—heavy, drained—surrendered to a wave of exhaustion crashing over him like a great flood. And then, they closed… completely. Unconscious.
'Master… wake up.'
Dono's voice returned, this time laced with worry.
A gust of wind brushed against his face, carrying the iron scent of blood—almost as if the air itself was trying to wake the man who had fallen.
Those sticky eyelids reluctantly peeled open, dragging his awareness back to the surface. The eyes of the clever hunter now stared blankly at Horizon's ceiling above.
'I was… pulled by those black roots, and then…'
Zhen abruptly sat up, shaken, instinctively reaching behind his back to check—
But the sword… It was gone.
A sharp throb pulsed through his head. His vision blurred as he tried to recall what had happened—how the black roots had taken hold of him… and what they had stolen.
He realized there was no other way—at least, not by relying on himself alone. Not right now.
So, he would have to try another path: one that relied on someone else.
"Speak, Dono."
He lowered his head in surrender, committing fully to the role he now had to play.
But the reality was clear—his pet skull was stalling. All he could do was wait for its answer.
"Master… you can open the Stone Tree using the Blood Rager bracelet."
The long-awaited voice finally arrived, carrying with it a sliver of hope—one Zhen had already begun to suspect. He immediately glanced at the bracelet fastened around his left wrist.
"Sohei's bracelet—soul number 786. That's what you mean, isn't it? Why would it open with this thing?"
His fingers unclasped the bracelet, and now it rested in his palm.
"I don't know exactly either," Dono admitted. "But Official Blood Hunters are allowed to take the Fire Berries. It's because… it's nearly impossible for them to enter this part of the Horizon."
"Impossible?"
"Only a rare few can. They fall under the highest tier of soul numbers—those who master magic, or those granted access by the System itself. It's a secret... even I don't fully understand how it works."
Zhen felt as if bitter truths were beginning to resurface—truths that might endlessly stand in the way of his hunting system.
"I understand."
But the truth was—he didn't. He had no idea what to do with the bracelet. The skull had gone quiet again. That silence—it was the most infuriating thing of all. He was powerless. His sword was gone. His companion could only help if he sacrificed a soul. His physical strength, his magic—both had hit rock bottom. At the very least, his soul and mind were still intact. He was grateful for that.
'I'll eat that damn Fire Berry if this bracelet is really the key to opening you!'
His patience had run dry. He was tired of guessing, tired of overthinking. Without another word, he hurled the Blood Rager bracelet straight at the Stone Tree's surface.
Moments later, the bracelet was sucked into it.
Cracks began to spider across the stone's surface, slowly breaking it apart.
He watched as the black roots emerged once again—this time forming two woven arms, each holding a strange fruit in its open palm.
Now, the two hands stretched forward—right before his face—offering the fruits as if urging him to choose.
Suddenly, the skull whispered in his right ear:
"Choose the Fire Berry in its left hand, Master!"