The large root carried a powerful current of wind, screaming as it plummeted.

Terror momentarily eclipsed everything else in Akhil's mind as the root descended. He had always been close to death, but he was never more certain of it than he was now.

Just as impact seemed inevitable, the root paused, suddenly rigid and unable to move further.

Akhil tilted his head, seeing the Gordian knot the roots had managed to tie themselves into during the chase.

"It worked," Akhil breathed, letting out a heavy sigh of relief as he fell onto his back. He lay there, gasping, desperately trying to catch his breath.

He hadn't felt this depth of relief since the apocalypse of a game started. Among all the near-death experiences he'd ever had, after the wolf, this was the second time he had entered a situation with absolutely no planned escape. If the root had hit him, he was certain he'd be flattened into meat paste.

Skin Hardening wasn't active, his Air Walk ability was depleted, and to make matters worse, he was in the weakest state possible. Even the simple act of moving felt like a monumental chore. His plan had been his only lifeline.

Akhil rested on the cold ground, letting the sensation seep into his aching skin. He felt as though he had pulled a double shift of manual labor. All his muscles were screaming, and his legs felt as though they might buckle at any moment. His eyes were foggy, and his head heavy.

For this brief moment, he didn't care about the noise from the struggling roots, nor did he care about the crystal. All he wanted was to recover from the sheer physical and mental strain he had endured.

After a few minutes of rest, Akhil let out a sigh.

'I don't think I have much time,'

Akhil glanced to the side; he could already see the massive roots beginning to untangle.

Pulling himself off the ground, he used his hands for support before slowly pushing up onto his feet.

He fixed his gaze back onto the ancient behemoth tree.

With slow, deliberate steps, he began to walk toward the trunk.

A fine mist of crimson blood swirled around his hand, coalescing into a short, sharp dagger.

Some of the smaller roots instantly converged on him as he approached the tree, but they stood no chance. With one clean, sweeping motion, Akhil sliced them off.

More and more converged toward him with a desperate, frantic need to stop him, but none could breach his defense. Akhil mercilessly carved his way through every single one until he finally reached the glowing core.

He peered into the hole and saw the young girl.

This time, being so close, he could observe her features clearly: her pale white skin and her broken lips.

At first glance, she looked to be in a peaceful sleep, but her sunken eyes, shivering lips, and the silent tears leaking from her eyes told a story of profound agony.

Even now, standing directly in front of her, dagger in hand, Akhil just couldn't bring himself to hurt the little girl. He could see her suffering—she was already in so much pain, and he didn't want to add to it.

While he was still deliberating, the roots had almost finished untangling.

But Akhil was lost, staring at the beautiful girl. If not for her condition, he was certain she would have been a peerless beauty.

"S-so much... Pain," the girl winced, her lips quivering. She was still trapped in the horrific nightmare her incomplete transformation had left her in.

Akhil slowly placed his hand on her face, his expression one of profound pity.

Behind him, the roots were finally free, towering and ready to strike.

They moved straight at him with desperate velocity; he was already too close, and they knew it.

Akhil let out a quiet, resigned breath.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "From now on, you won't feel any pain again." He drove the dagger straight into the soft region of her chest, simultaneously pulling her into a tight, comforting embrace, as if to absorb her final anguish.

The massive roots, terribly close and closing in, froze instantly.

A deafening silence swallowed the entire cavern. For a moment, the entire world seemed to go still.

Following the silence was a loud rumble, and instantly, everything began to fall apart. All the roots collapsed to the ground, drying up and shriveling almost instantly. Samxon and Hale were dropped unceremoniously. The mouth-like roots convulsed once before going slack.

Akhil felt the entire behemoth tree melt and dissolve beneath him.

The silence returned, cold and absolute. All that was left were the two of them in the center of the devastated cavern floor.

Akhil let out a deep sigh and gently laid the girl down.

To his surprise, her eyelids fluttered slightly.

'She's alive?' he thought, watching her.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, revealing enchanting bright green orbs. She turned her head toward Akhil, and a small, genuine smile formed across her face.

Akhil stared at the young girl, stunned.

"T-thank you... N-now I won't feel pain again and I can't hurt o—" Her labored breath hitched, slowly fading, and the small flicker of life left in her was gone.

Her eyes remained open, staring peacefully at Akhil.

A single, hot tear tracked down Akhil's cheek as he looked at the girl.

"I didn't even know her," he muttered, tightening his fist until his knuckles were white.

Just then, a loud, triumphant trumpet sound went off.

{BOOYAH!}

{The Southern Coast Has Cleared The Second Scenario}

{Major Contributor: Player Nexus}

{Support: Player Hale | Player Samxon}

The notification appeared to everyone. Then, directly in front of him, another notification popped up.

{You Have Done The Impossible!}

{The Gods Have Recognised You!}

{Here are you—}

Akhil didn't bother reading the rest of the notification.

He fixed his gaze on the young girl. Anger, cold and sharp, boiled within him. To the others, he had won a massive feat and cleared the scenario.

But for Akhil, this was a dreadful message and a brutal reminder. The game had only just begun, and his enemies weren't side characters or simple monsters; they were actual people. Winning this time had meant killing. And not just any killing... this was real blood.

{End of first volume}

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