Road pathways to the woods, Outside of Willowrest.
Shanz, not forgetting the trait he carried from earlier, felt his strength slowly return after devouring that piece of flesh.
His body, once heavy and drained, began to recover. He scanned his surroundings carefully—everything around him now felt different.
This situation was far more serious than any before.
His hands trembled, slick with sweat. It wasn't fear—no, not anymore. It was tension. His mind was adapting, forcing itself to stay calm in an environment that had thrown him nothing but horror.
So much had happened, one thing after another, and even though his body was recovering, his mind struggled to keep up.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling slowly through his nose, then exhaled through his mouth.
The foul stench of burning bodies filled his lungs, but he pushed it aside. The cries of the wounded woman, the crackling of fire—all of it began to fade away.
He focused.
Everything became silent.
Then—thump. His heartbeat steadied. His breathing calmed. His vision sharpened.
Now he was in the zone. His eyes, once uncertain and tired, burned with focus. He was ready.
Shanz opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings again—forward, left, right, and behind him.
The illusion barrier was gone. The forest now stood wide and exposed. All that mattered was finding water. A river, fast.
He clenched his fists.
"Focus. In this situation, all I can do is find a river as fast as I can. Then… take her there."
He took one last look at the woman lying by the burnt remains, her faint breathing barely audible. Then, without hesitation, he turned and sprinted toward the open area to his right.
At first, his pace was slow—steady, measured. But within seconds, his steps grew lighter, faster, and sharper. His newly trained agility kicked in, and his speed began to surge.
The ground beneath him blurred. His feet tore across the forest floor faster than a racing horse.
The wind whipped against his face, leaves scattered in his wake.
The trees became streaks of color around him. His focus locked forward—he couldn't afford to look around too much, or risk tripping, losing speed, or worse.
"Alright… alright, where is it?!" he muttered between breaths, eyes darting through the forest.
"The river! Where is it?! Quick!!"
Then—he heard it.
A faint rush of water echoed in his right ear. His eyes widened, and he instantly veered left, sprinting toward the sound.
His feet slammed into the dirt, scattering leaves as he broke through the dense undergrowth. Branches whipped at his arms and face, but he didn't stop.
The sound grew louder—the roar of water splashing against stone.
He broke through a curtain of leaves, and there it was—a small waterfall tumbling into a clear pool surrounded by rocks and moss.
Shanz skidded to a stop, panting heavily as the cool air brushed his face. The sunlight reflected off the water, casting ripples of light across the trees.
He exhaled, steadying himself.
Finally… he had found it.
It wasn't time to relax yet. Even if he finally found the river, there was no time to breathe or rest. Feeling a faint relief, Shanz immediately rushed back, following his previous footsteps marked in the dirt.
Luckily, the soil was a bit soft and wet—it made his path easy to track.
He sprinted fast, not thinking of anything else. Every second counted. If he wasted even a moment, that girl would die.
Shanz didn't waste any movement, didn't hesitate—he moved purely on instinct, pure focus.
As he ran through the trees, the wind whipped past him.
The smell of burning wood and flesh grew stronger with every step, stinging his nose. The smoke was thick again.
When he reached the burning field, the same pile of bodies lay scattered in front of him, and the girl was still lying there motionless.
Shanz didn't think—he dashed in and lifted her up.
"Damn… she's heavy! But I can do this! I don't know how old she is—older? younger? Doesn't matter!"
he muttered under his breath, forcing a strained grin.
The air was hot, the flames still licking around the edges. His body began to give out.
His legs trembled, his shoulders burned, but he didn't stop.
"Shit! No, no, no—I can do this!"
He pushed forward, gritting his teeth, though his body screamed in pain. He could feel his limits coming closer. His body—still that of a child—wasn't strong enough to carry this much weight for long.
His mind was tough, but his physical form hadn't caught up. His skin was scorched in patches, and his arms bore cuts and bruises from earlier.
Panting, he began to think again—but his thoughts turned messy.
"No… no… it can't b—"
Then he snapped.
"Oh, shut up. This ain't some damn mid-isekai drama bullshit. Sick of those plot-armored goofball main characters,"
he grumbled aloud, rolling his eyes despite the exhaustion. "I ain't forgetting what I've got. I ain't some dumbass one."
Even in this chaos, his awareness was sharp—different from most. He had always been observant, the type who thought too much. Back then, he didn't even go to college.
He was lazy, yes, but self-aware—always conscious of what he was doing, what he was feeling. He just never cared enough.
Now, in this world… it finally mattered. Things were finally interesting.
He set the girl down carefully, ran back toward the burning pile, grabbed another chunk of flesh, and bit into it. His body instantly surged with energy again. The taste was vile, disgusting—but it worked.
"Ugh, gross!" he gagged, making a twisted face as he chewed. "Looks like a rotten steak with attitude…"
Still, he swallowed it, feeling the familiar rush. Energy burst through his limbs, and with new strength, he picked the girl back up—this time with no trouble—and started running again.
He retraced his steps through the forest, feet thudding across leaves and dirt. The trees blurred past, wind rushing through his ears.
He was moving fast—faster than before, even while carrying her. Occasionally, he took another bite of the meat, then spat some out just to keep his stamina steady.
Soon, the faint sound of rushing water reached his ears again. He veered left, breaking through the last curtain of leaves—and there it was. The river.
He rushed in and gently laid the girl into the shallow water. The current was calm, cool. Perfect. Carefully, he scooped water with his palms and poured it into her mouth.
She started drinking instinctively, her eyes still closed.
"Good… good, keep drinking," he murmured.
The water washed over her burned skin, cooling it, cleansing the ash and soot. Her breathing steadied.
"Dropping her here might've been smart," Shanz thought aloud. "After all that heat and smoke, her body needs this…"
He looked at her more closely now—realizing she had no clothes. He frowned, averting his eyes for a moment.
"Can you sit?" he asked softly.
The girl nodded weakly, still lying half in the water as the waterfall splashed nearby.
The sound of running water mixed with the gentle songs of birds—it was peaceful for a moment. Her tears began to roll down her cheeks, maybe from pain, maybe relief.
"No… don't cry in peace yet,"
Shanz said firmly, eyes serious.
"You're still in danger. We both are."
He stood, scanning their surroundings—the waterfall, the trees, the wind brushing through the leaves. Everything seemed calm, but he didn't trust it.
"I'll make sure that psycho doesn't come back,"
he muttered, fists tightening. His hands were trembling again.
Turning away from the river, he began walking back toward the burned area. Before leaving, he looked back at her one last time.
"Heal yourself. Make sure you can stand soon. We'll need to move fast if that freak shows up again."
He followed his trail back through the forest, moving carefully but quickly, eyes scanning every shadow. His nerves were on edge.
Then, suddenly—his stomach dropped.
His katana.
He reached for his back—but nothing. It was gone.
His eyes widened. He froze for a second, pulse rising, but he forced himself to calm down.
"Not now," he muttered.
"Freaking out won't help. Gotta focus."
When he arrived, the air was quieter now. The flames had died, leaving only smoke and the dark, charred remains of bodies. Everything smelled of ash and death. Pools of blood had already started drying.
He scanned the area thoroughly—checking trees, leaves, shadows. Nothing moved. No strange sounds.
Shanz exhaled slowly, still alert but slightly relieved. The illusion barrier was gone for good. The place was… empty.
He turned back toward the river, following his own trail once again. Leaves crunched under his boots as he moved carefully through the brush.
His nerves still buzzed with tension—any sound could be that man coming back.
But when he stepped through the last patch of leaves, his breath eased.
The girl was standing near the waterfall, the water glimmering around her. She had cleaned herself off and turned when she heard the rustle of leaves. Seeing Shanz, she let out a small sigh of relief.
Shanz sat by the riverside, the sound of rushing water echoing softly beside him. He could finally breathe, yet his chest still felt tight.
His mind refused to calm. His heart drummed like a ticking clock inside his ribs. Even though he'd escaped the horror from before, his gut screamed otherwise—something was wrong. Something still lingered in the air.
He stared at the river, at his reflection rippling on its surface. Sweat mixed with the cold mist. His thoughts circled back again and again to that man—the robed one, the killer.
Back in the old world, he thought grimly, murder scenes don't vanish like that. A real killer always makes sure the area's clean—no prints, no tracks, no witnesses.
The image of that burning cart returned to his head. Every movement of that man was deliberate. Calculated. A perfectionist in destruction.
And the second visit—checking if it's "clear"—that's the key point. After confirming the scene was silent, after the ashes cooled, he'd disappear for good. But this world wasn't the same.
Here, death could happen in a single blink. Power, magic, curses—any of it could erase evidence in one word or gesture.
The thought gnawed at him.
His eyes drifted to the girl by the waterfall.
She was standing quietly, her body trembling slightly, yet her breathing was steady. When she turned her gaze toward him, her expression softened, her lips parting.
"W-who are you?" she asked in a clear, calm voice.
Shanz blinked, snapping from his thoughts. His heart gave a small jolt.
Her tone didn't sound threatening, but something about it—it had a strange balance of fear and control.
"I'm… Shanz," he replied slowly, voice low. "I live in the nearby town."
"Nearby town?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly, a thoughtful look crossing her face.
That small pause… it felt off. Like she was recalling something—something she shouldn't have known.
As Shanz looked closer, he froze.
Her skin—what was burned and bruised before—was now perfectly smooth.
The deep cuts had faded, the bruises gone. Even the swelling around her arms disappeared. She looked fully healed.
Wait—what the hell…?
His pulse climbed again. He didn't say a word, but inside, his instincts began screaming louder than ever. His eyes darted subtly around, scanning the treeline, the shadows, anything moving.
He could feel it. That invisible weight in the air, that pressure crawling down his spine like cold hands.
Then—
[SYSTEM]
Notice Warning:
Enemy Detected.
Danger Level: Risky.
The faint text flickered in his mind's vision, and everything inside him dropped cold.
No… no, no, no—don't tell me…
His eyes snapped back to the girl. The one who was just on the brink of death a few minutes ago.
The one who somehow healed instantly.
His thoughts spiraled—clicking together, forming something horrifying.
In his old world, killers always had partners—someone to clean up the mess, remove suspicion, make sure there were no loose ends.
And right now, standing in front of him, smiling softly with innocent eyes…
She's the cleaner.
The realization stabbed him through the chest. His breathing went shallow, his throat dry. He kept still—too still. His heart wanted to sprint before his legs even moved.
Oh hell no. She's gonna dispose of me… I'm the witness.
Panic crawled under his skin like fire ants.
What do I do? What the hell do I do?! I can't beat someone like that—she's probably stronger, maybe magic or something!
His brain scattered, searching for any plan, any dumb excuse, anything that could get him out alive.
Think, Shanz. Think. Okay… maybe—maybe I say I'll check the area, make sure that guy's gone. Then I can run. Just run. No second thoughts. That's it. That's the only damn plan I've got.
He swallowed hard and forced his voice steady.
"Sorry," he said, pretending calm, forcing a weak smile. "I don't… have any clothes to give you. I should check the area again—see if that psycho left something behind."
He met her eyes—cold, direct, emotionless—and waited.
She stared at him for a long second. Then she nodded slowly.
That was enough.
He stood carefully, his steps calm, unhurried, his back turned toward her. But the moment he stepped into the trees—his body switched. His pace doubled, tripled. Then he broke into a sprint.
Leaves slapped his face, branches snapped under his shoes, and his breath came ragged but fast. He didn't look back once. He refused to. He knew if he did—he'd freeze.
His heart pounded violently in his chest, the adrenaline flooding through him like fire. The deeper he went, the faster his feet moved.
Keep going. Don't stop. Don't think.
Light began to pierce through the trees ahead—sunlight cutting through the canopy like hope itself. He squinted but didn't slow down.
The brightness hit him, warm, real. He burst out of the forest, stumbling into the open road. His knees almost gave out as he gasped for air.
He made it. He actually made it out.
He bent down, hands on his knees, breathing heavily. The air felt cleaner here, free from the choking smoke.
He lifted his head, finally allowing himself a shaky laugh of relief.
Then—
"See? I told you he'd escape."
The voice was familiar. Calm. Deep. Grinning.
Shanz froze. The blood drained from his face. Slowly, he turned around—his body stiff.
There he was.
The man from before. The same robe, the same burning eyes. His smile stretched wider, teeth showing like he'd been waiting for this moment.
Before Shanz could speak, another voice echoed from the treeline.
Soft. Feminine. Mocking.
"Well, he's too smart to run from me. Should've killed him before he even stepped out," the voice purred. Footsteps followed—slow, confident.
"But I didn't want to raise suspicion… didn't think he'd figure it out. That you, Fellus, were my partner in crime."
Shanz's eyes widened again as the girl stepped from the forest's shadow. The same one he saved. Now fully awake, fully healed—and fully twisted.
She smiled sweetly, waving at him like an old friend before vanishing from sight in a blink.
But Shanz's eyes were sharp now—he caught it. The faint blur of her movement appearing right beside the robed man.
A chill crawled down his spine.
He was right. All of it.
They stood together—the same madness in both of their eyes.
Fellus grinned, his tone playful yet terrifying.
"Hey, kid. Who are you, exactly?"
Shanz didn't respond. His muscles tightened, ready to move at the slightest twitch.
The girl—Herra—giggled softly.
"It's Shanz. From the nearby town,"
she said, her voice dripping with mock innocence.
The air thickened.
Two predators. One prey.
Shanz clenched his fists, eyes darting between them. His mind raced, his chest burned with panic—but not despair.
I'm not dying here. Not like this.
He thought fast. His chances of fighting were zero—but he had something else, instinct. Pure survival instinct.
What, you think I'm gonna awaken my powers like some protagonist now? Nah. I ain't one of them.
I'm just a dude who knows when to run.
He spun on his heel, exploding into motion before they could blink.
Herra's hand shot out, fingers grazing his shoulder—but Shanz ducked, twisted, and bolted into the trees, his breath sharp, his heartbeat like thunder.
"Hmm? Now that's interesting," Herra hissed, her grin stretching unnaturally. "Oh, what's this I feel… this sting… it feels so good!"
Her voice warped, breath heavy, as her eyes rolled back with excitement. "Someone's caught my attention again~!"
Fellus chuckled darkly beside her. "You always say that," he said casually. "Still, that's twice now someone's escaped you, Herra. Weird, isn't it?"
She laughed, a low, twisted giggle that echoed through the forest. "Oh, he won't run forever… I'll make sure of that."