The trek had been long, but when Kairo finally pushed through the collapsed stone archway, his chest tightened with relief.
"Finally…" he whispered.
Before him stretched a narrow basin surrounded by broken walls and overgrowth. The soil here was darker than the gray ash around the ruins, patches of green breaking through. At the center, a trickle of water flowed from a cracked stone channel, filling what remained of an old irrigation system. The stream glittered faintly in the sun, proof that life had once thrived here.
And there—he spotted them.
"Potatoes?" Kairo dropped to a crouch, brushing dirt aside. A cluster of tubers peeked out from the soil, rough but unmistakable. He laughed softly, shaking his head in disbelief. "Of all things… potatoes. I'll take it. I'll definitely take it."
The scavenger ghouls lurked nearby, silent but watchful.
"Collect a few. Just a few," Kairo ordered, pointing at the patch. "Leave the rest in the ground. This spot… we'll make it a farm."
The ghouls obeyed, their clawed fingers surprisingly gentle as they plucked the crop.
Kairo took out a crude leather bottle he'd fashioned earlier from monster hide. The seams were uneven, the stitching clumsy, but it worked. He crouched near the water source and filled it slowly, then raised it to his lips.
The first swallow burned like fire down his throat.
"…God, that's good." He drank deeply, savoring it. "I almost forgot what clean water tastes like."
For the first time since waking in this world, his body felt human again—not just a desperate survivor.
The sense of peace didn't last.
From the corner of his eye, Kairo saw the ghouls shift, their stances sharpening. A shadow moved at the treeline—silent, deliberate. Then it emerged.
A deer-like monster stepped into the open, its body tall and lean, its movements unnervingly graceful. Where antlers should have been, twisted branches jutted upward, curling like a crown. Nestled in the branches was a glowing gem that pulsed with faint light. Its eyes fixed on the ghouls, unblinking.
The Command Nexus flickered before Kairo's vision.
[Crownstag]
Tier: 2
Description: A beast bound to ancient forests, its branches drink the lifeblood of the earth. Drawn to fertile soil and water sources.
Kairo's throat went dry. "Tier two…"
He hadn't expected one so soon. The scavenger ghouls growled low, spreading out.
"This isn't good," Kairo muttered, hand hovering over the interface. Yet despite the fear gnawing at him, a thrill shot through his veins. "No… wait. With the right formation, we can kill it."
The stag lowered its head, gem flickering. The air seemed to thrum with restrained energy.
"Form up! Iron Crescent!" Kairo barked. Six ghouls surged forward, curving into the crescent formation. Four more slipped behind, ready to snap shut when the prey was caught.
The stag struck first. Its hooves pounded the ground, and in a blur, it rammed one ghoul aside. The impact shattered the creature's ribcage, sending it tumbling into rubble. The ghoul twitched once, then went still—its form already breaking down into dark motes.
Kairo's jaw clenched. "Hold the line!"
Two ghouls leapt onto the stag's flank, claws raking deep. Black blood splattered across the soil. The stag bucked violently, tossing one aside, but the other clung, tearing through muscle.
"Now! Rear flank—close!"
The back four ghouls surged in, jaws gnashing. They tore at the stag's legs, forcing it to stumble. The crescent formation folded shut, trapping the beast in a ring of claw and fang.
The stag's gem blazed with light. The branches crackled, and thorn-like projectiles shot outward. Two ghouls were impaled, their bodies dissolving into ash before Kairo's horrified eyes.
"Damn it!" His fists tightened. "Stay on it! Don't let up!"
The remaining ghouls obeyed without hesitation. They latched onto the stag, dragging it down by sheer weight. One sank its teeth into the glowing gem, cracking it.
A high-pitched shriek tore from the beast as the gem shattered, spilling its light into the air. The stag convulsed once, then collapsed, lifeless.
Kairo exhaled shakily, heart hammering.
The Nexus flickered again.
Monster defeated: Crownstag (Tier 2).
Energy Harvested: +20
Experience: 24/100
Kairo dropped to his knees, staring at the fallen corpse. "We… actually won."
But his victory was hollow as he glanced at the remains of his ghouls. Out of ten, only seven stood now.
"…You did well," he murmured, bowing his head slightly. "Rest."
The ghouls gave no sign of recognition, only stood ready for his next command. Yet he swore, just for a moment, he saw a flicker of pride in their eyeless stares.
Later, Kairo cut some of the potatoes into small pieces and carefully planted them back into the fertile soil. He patted the dirt down, a farmer's gesture in a place that had forgotten what farming was.
"Grow," he whispered. "Grow, so we don't have to starve."
By the time he returned to the ruins, the sun was falling low. The ghouls had carried the water and gathered wood. A fire crackled to life—the same ghoul from before rubbing sticks furiously until sparks caught. The creature let out a guttural sigh and collapsed to its knees as if exhausted, though Kairo knew it wasn't supposed to feel tired.
Kairo burst out laughing. "You again? Guess you're officially my firekeeper now." He pointed playfully. "From now on, it's your job."
The ghoul blinked slowly, tilting its head, as if almost… resigned.
Kairo chuckled again, shaking his head. He placed the harvested potatoes on the fire, watching them roast slowly. When they were ready, he peeled one open, steam rising.
"…Here goes nothing." He bit in.
The taste shocked him. Simple, earthy, slightly smoky—but warm, filling, real. For the first time since arriving, the food didn't feel like survival—it felt like a meal.
He leaned back, savoring it.
"Grandma…" His voice softened. "You always told me to live happily. You made me promise. Guess I'm… trying."
His chest tightened at the memory of her wrinkled hands, her faint smile before she passed. He closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the fire and the food wash over him. For once, the endless weight of fear lifted, just slightly.
That night, Kairo fell asleep with a rare smile tugging at his lips.
Far away, the night was anything but peaceful.
The young naga warrior's scream pierced the air as he fell to the ground, his body slashed open. His hands reached desperately toward the blacksmith naga.
"Sir! Help! Please!"
The blacksmith turned, horror flashing in his crimson eyes. Around him lay carnage. Every naga of the caravan—slain. The great scaled beasts that had pulled their wagons—torn apart. And standing amidst the ruin, its body lit by the flames of destruction, was the monster.
A hulking creature, lizardlike but wrong, its scales glistening as if wet with oil. Its claws dripped crimson, its eyes glowed with a searching hunger.
The blacksmith gripped his hammer tight, knuckles pale. But before he could act, the creature struck.
A claw swept out, sending the young naga flying. He hit the ground once, then didn't rise again.
"NO!" The blacksmith roared. Rage drowned his fear, and he swung his hammer with all his strength. Steel rang against scale, sparks flying.
The monster barely flinched. With a flick of its claw, it knocked the hammer from his grip, sending it skidding across the dirt.
Panic flooded him. He had no weapon. No army. No caravan.
Survive.
The thought blazed in his mind. His serpent's tail coiled, then snapped outward, launching him away at incredible speed. He fled into the ruins, heart pounding, breath ragged.
Behind him, the monster did not chase.
Instead, it turned back toward the village, its massive head lowering as it continued its search. It was not done. Not yet.
The blacksmith, chest heaving, swore under his breath as he raced into the dark.
"I'll live. I'll get stronger. And I'll kill you for this."
Unknowingly, his path bent westward—toward the growing camp of one human named Kairo.