Won couldn't help but doubt the people he was walking with. The handsome man seemed to be the only gentle one among them, while the others made him carry their burdens. They were heading toward an endless hilly expanse. All Won could smell was blood. Scattered animal and human bones littered the path. The air was foul—he had wrapped a cloth around his mouth and nose, but it was still hard to breathe.
Can I really waste my time here? With them? They're all illusions, right? Won thought, shaking his head.
The stench of blood clung to them. He hadn't yet grown used to the scent of monster blood, but he could no longer tell the difference. The handsome man asked, "Are you okay?"
Won shrugged, choosing not to answer.
Why am I even stuck here? I'm not even sure this has anything to do with cleaning the Veyne. Does cleaning the veyne include them too?
As if to interrupt his thoughts, the sky suddenly roared, making everyone shiver—everyone except Won. He still didn't know much about the world inside the Veyne. He looked up, watching lightning crack across the reddish-purple sky.
In the middle of the hollowing portals, a red aura bloomed.
A Veyne inside a Veyne? What is this? Won wondered.
"That's a Drull coming! Everyone hide!" the master shouted from the front.
A towering creature, nearly 5 to 10 meters tall, descended from the sky. Its body resembled a geological monstrosity—moss, stone, and rock fused into one grotesque form.
Think of it as the fat kid who bullied you in the squalor, Won told himself, trying to stay calm.
Thanks to his light frame, he leapt behind a tall stone in time. Others weren't so lucky. Seconds passed to the sound of their screams. The drull was killing and feasting on humans. That made Won sick in stomach.
"Kid!" The villainous-looking man—who had earlier called him a snack—slid beside him, panting. "Take out the water from the bag."
"Do it yourself," Won said, tossing the bag to the man. He stood up, ignoring the curses thrown his way.
Alright. If this is a test, then I'll test it before it tests me. Death is a shallow thing—it knows nothing. I already faced it once before coming here.
I can face it again.
He drew his Sensari sword and dashed toward the Drull's massive legs. He knew the creature could crush him in a heartbeat, but he dared death to try.
If death loves me this much, I might as well dance with it before it claims me.
He slashed at the creature's heels, both Achilles tendons. From behind, he could see it swinging its colossal arms. He backflipped, slicing through its fingers.
"That kid's insane!" the villain muttered, coughing water.
"Is he for real?" another voice cut in.
The handsome man dropped down beside Won.
"I'll go for its head—try to bring it down. You aim for the heart. Got it?"
"Have it your way," Won replied through gritted teeth.
With a single leap, the man landed on the Drull's head, driving his dagger into one of its eyes. The creature roared, shaking the sky.
"Kid! Now! Jump!" he shouted, planting his sword into the other eye.
Won leapt from stone to stone and finally plunged his sword into the beast's chest just as the man fell to the ground, gasping for breath.
The Drull's torso was so dense that his blade barely pierced it. The beast swung blindly, flailing in pain. With every ounce of strength left in him, Won drove the sword deeper, screaming, "Die!!! You bastard!"
He kept pushing the sword, cursing loudly.
The Drull's movements slowed. It collapsed, bringing Won down with it. The Codex Map appeared:
[You have slain a Drull]
Boons: Sense 2
Bearing: Sensari
Bearing Rate: 3
Skills: Not used yet
Vitality: 15
Vault: Item 2
[You have received the Magic Heart from the slain Drull.]
[Proceed to view the functions of the Magic Heart]
"Later," Won muttered, panting.
"Good job, kid," the handsome man said, offering a hand.
Won ignored it and rose on his own. "I didn't come here to make friends."
"Come here?" the man echoed. "What do you mean by that?"
"Mind your business," Won said, walking ahead, drawing everyone's eyes.
I still need to figure out what Sensari actually means.
He noticed dog-like beasts and vulture-like birds already scavenging the fallen.
Pathetic, he thought.
"Master, how many did we lose?" someone asked behind him.
"Half. We'll camp soon—it's too dangerous at night."
Later, as others feasted, Won remained in the shadows. His stomach growled, but he ignored it.
I've gone a week without food. I can handle this.
"Codex Map," he whispered. A translucent screen materialized before him.
"Can you speak? I mean, do you have a voice?" he asked softly, knowing the system had a voice for communication.
A soothing female voice echoed in his mind. "Yes."
"Can you explain what Sensari means? I've never heard of it before."
"Before I answer, you should know—you don't need to speak aloud, Ashen Won."
Is that so? he asked internally.
"Yes. Like this," Codex Map replied. "Also, you may name me, if you wish."
A name? For a screen system?
"Alright," he thought for some seconds before coming up with a name, "How about Woco? Do you like it?"
"As long as you do."
"Woco, then. Now answer my question," Won said, feeling an odd pride at speaking with authority—even if only to a system.
"You were awakened with a power once limited to physical enhancement. After slaying the humanoid monster in your last Veyne, you gained a new bearing—Sensari. Your senses and sight have now improved a thousandfold beyond human limits."
"You haven't done anything notable yet using this bearing. Once you learn to harness Sensari, you'll unlock new skills."
"So Sensari is a completely new bearing? No Ashen has had it before?" Won asked, furrowing brows.
"Exactly."
"Great," Won muttered. "That means I've got no one to learn from."
"You wouldn't say that if you knew what it was capable of."
"What do you mean?"
"Focus on your senses. Nourish them. Once you do, I'll be permitted to provide further guidance."
"What about the Magic Heart functions?"
"You may sell it to the system to acquire essential items."
"Can I sell it in the real world? Once I get out?"
"That depends on whether you get out."
Even the system mocks me, he thought. Ridiculous.
Just then, a shadow approached. Won didn't react—he'd already sensed the handsome man coming.
"You're not eating?" the man asked, tossing a piece of bread at him.
Won stared at it.
"I figured you wouldn't want the meat."
"Figured? Now you've figured something about me? Haven't I been with you all this time?" Won asked, narrowing his eyes.
Something's off, he thought. Didn't he just act like I was with them all along? Did he... mistake me for someone else or….? Everyone actually acted like they knew me from before? Do I really look like the kid who was with them?
The man cleared his throat, avoiding Won's gaze. "You never liked that meat, anyway."
Who doesn't like meat? Won thought, shrugging. He could sense it now—this man didn't come just to bring food.
"Spit it out. What do you really want?"
"Sharp, aren't you?" the man chuckled. "I never asked you before, how old are you?"
"Fourteen."
He nodded silently. "When you fought the Drull... a sword appeared in your hand. How did you summon it? Do you know magic?"
So they don't know about the Codex Map. No one here else asked. No one cared about it anyway. Won mused.
"Something like that. I can't explain."
"Well, eat up. It's a long night. You can rest tonight—tomorrow, it's your turn to guard the camp," the man said, turning to leave.
Then, something wet dripped onto Won's hand. Blood.
He didn't get cut earlier, did he? Won thought, sniffing the blood and closing his eyes.
His chest tightened suddenly, making it hard to breathe.
The Codex Map's voice echoed in his mind:
[Alert! Shapeshifter Alert!]
"Stop!" Won shouted, making the handsome turn to him, confused.
"Two brothers, one being killed, the other being the next target, hiding with someone else's body. How long are you planning to keep your charm on everyone, making them believe I am actually you?" Won spoke in a lowkey voice, as he stepped closer.
"Real sharp one, aren't you?" The handsome sneered before morphing his appearance to someone else.
Won looked meeting the gaze of the person in front of him now. He didn't flinch at all.
It's me. You are me.
"What is this? I thought I had you," the shapeshifter hissed, having a smirk on his face.
"Fool me? Come on. You didn't fool me. There is no monster who doesn't know its own face."
"So you are a monster too, huh? That gives me a perfect excuse to kill you now?"
"Not a born monster like you who left his little brother and made him food for some cannibals and hid himself in disguise," Won spat, slowly drawing his sword.
The shapeshifter's expression changed to a stoic one.
"Unlike you I am a forged monster," Won grinned darkly. "Trust me, nothing is scarier than a monster who is forged."
"So, shall we dance?"