Along Ice's warnings, they all kept their eyes tightly shut, yet still felt a burning sting behind their eyelids as their eyes slowly adjusted to the light.
The pain was especially intense for Ray. Had he opened his eyes too quickly after spending so long in total darkness, he likely would have gone blind.
"Ray?" Ice called out, his voice trembling with worry.
"I'm still here" Ray replied through gritted teeth.
Ice Breathed a sigh of relief.
He knew Ray had probably taken a serious hit from the beast during the last confrontation. He might even be badly injured, but for now, they were all relieved; Ray had made it out alive. After all he had done to help them, it would've been devastating to lose him at the very end.
They were all eager to open their eyes, but the lingering discomfort reminded them to wait a little longer. Yet even with their eyes closed, they could feel a world of difference. The darkness was gone. They could sense it, feel it on their skin.
The cool breeze brushing against their faces. The air no longer choking and thin, but crisp and breathable. The faint scent of vegetation carried on the wind. And above them, a single sun now cast its warmth, replacing the oppressive glow of the paradoxical double moon.
In the end, only Ice and Celestia those who had spent the least time in the abyss who managed to open their eyes first.
Ice glanced quickly toward Ray before taking in the landscape. Ray was holding his side with one hand but appeared to be in decent condition.
Ice scanned the area. There was no sign of the double moon. No trace of that haunting glow, as if it belonged to another reality. Even the bell he had expected to find on this side was nowhere to be seen.
They stood atop a hill. Below, a vast green forest stretched far into the horizon; dense and endless. For a brief moment, Ice almost forgot they were still trapped in a deadly prison. A prison no one had ever escaped for millennia.
"Are we still in the prison?" Celestia asked softly, her eyes wide, taken aback by the view.
Ice crossed his arms. "Don't let your guard down. We're still far from freedom" he said, turning toward Ray, who was slowly beginning to open his eyes.
"So... are you ready, Ray? Let's move. We don't have time to waste."
Ray gave a faint nod, steadying himself as he took in the forest before them. Everything looked unfamiliar. His knowledge of this world didn't extend beyond the place they had just escaped.
"We need water," Ray said, removing his hand from his side.
''Yes; and quickly," he said, his voice strained.
He had no real concept of how much time had passed under the paradoxical moon, but he guessed it had been at least forty-eight hours since he'd awakened. He could endure hunger a while longer, but dehydration was catching up fast. The water Ray had shared with them earlier had only bought them a bit of time.
Fortunately, they spotted a water source not far from their position. Without hesitation, they began their descent from the hill and entered the forest.
At first, Ice was amazed. Could there really be a place this... normal within the prison? But the illusion didn't last long. The deeper they went, the more he sensed that this forest, too, held its secrets.
All the trees were eerily similar. Not just similar, but identical. It was strange, almost unnatural, especially given their vast numbers. More curious still, there were no other signs of vegetation. Only those uniform trees, differing only in size, some towering tens of meters above them.
But now wasn't the time to question it. Ice's throat was parched, his vision flickering, his hands trembling. Ray wasn't faring much better, though he masked it well. Only Celestia, who'd had access to slightly more water, seemed a little steadier. But even she was nearing her limit.
They were just about to reach the river. Relief washed over them.
"There's one near the river," Celestia said abruptly, frowning.
At her words, Ice and Ray's expressions darkened.
Even outside the darkness, they still relied on Celestia's acute hearing to detect danger. Ice had expected they'd eventually run into another threat, but not so soon. Not here. Not now. The timing couldn't have been worse.
"Stay here. We'll check it out," Ice ordered, casting a sharp glance at Celestia.
She wanted to object, but held back. She knew the truth; she wasn't ready to fight. Not yet. For now, her role was to stay alert and keep watch.
Ice and Ray drew their swords and crept toward the river, moving silently and cautiously. Each step was calculated, every breath unsteady.
"It's about time you told me more about this House of Madness you mentioned," Ice muttered without turning his head.
He hadn't brought it up earlier, given everything that had happened, but ever since Ray mentioned the creature that hadn't yet climbed the House of Madness, Ice had been intrigued, waiting for the right moment to learn more.
"It's not like I don't want to explain," Ray murmured, his voice low, vision blurring slightly. "But I barely understand it myself. It's complicated."
"Try."
"Just think of it as... a mental construct. A house we have to ascend on the path to perfection."
Ice accepted the vague answer for now and shifted his focus back to the task at hand. He could hear the gentle trickle of water close now. The river was within reach.
Each step from here on mattered. A single broken twig, a single careless noise, and the beast might detect them first.
Then, as they rounded a final tree, the river came into view. And so did the creature.
They immediately ducked behind the nearest trunk, peeking cautiously to assess the threat.
"It's following us," Ice thought bitterly.
It was the same type of creature they had barely avoided in Zone 2. Now he could see it more clearly in daylight; long, curved fangs, unnaturally thin legs for its size, and a body covered in thick, scale-like armor. It sat by the riverbank, seemingly at rest, with no intention of leaving.
"You confident?" Ice whispered, eyes locked on the beast.
"No," Ray replied, his gaze fierce. "But does it really matter?"
"Not really," Ice admitted.
The two exchanged a brief, knowing smile; tense but resolute before beginning to plan their next move.
Running was no longer an option. This time, they would face the monster that had haunted them in the dark. But now, with weapons drawn and bathed in sunlight, they would fight. And the battle would be brutal.