Adam woke up, frustrated by the remnants of the dream still clinging to him. For a moment he wondered if he should just leave—abandon everything, this world included. This world will freeze anyway if I leave… that's not a lie.
"Everything's gonna be fine," he muttered. "I just have to do the things I have to."
"Duck… I'm so sympathetic."
A soft shimmer of light gathered beside him. [Your empathetic Adam] Rehan finally materialized, sitting next to him with her usual serene smile. Her white research uniform, pristine and untouched by dirt or weather, contrasted sharply against Adam's stained clothes.
He sighed. I should probably change this hoodie… Then he realized she was right there."Wait—wait a minute, Rehan."
His fist tightened. If Rehan was here, she could instantly trace his thoughts, reactions, his senses—move before he even realized he needed her to.
[Forgive me…] She lowered her head, a shadow of regret crossing her blank, almost expressionless face. [I can't explain it to you… but—]
She embraced him.[I can be your friend… your foe. I can be a sinner, or I can be a saint. We can go to hell or to heaven—your choice. You're the one who decides, and that's all I need to know.]
Adam looked away, guilt biting at him… but he felt none of the warmth of her hug.
[Don't trust anyone. Not the system… not even me.]
Adam stared, confused. Why is she saying this? What is she pointing at?He scratched his head, annoyed and overwhelmed. "I—!" His voice cracked. He didn't even know what he was trying to say.
[It's fine. I don't know everything either. But this time… you have to do this on your own. I'll be with you, though.]
A tap rattled the caravan's wooden frame. Adam snapped back to his senses and saw a soldier standing there. Embarrassed, he looked away. The soldier—gray‑haired, anxious, both hands nervously gripping his sword—was the same one who had given Adam a weapon earlier.
Adam shrugged slightly. Maybe this was as good a time as any to talk to someone. Maybe even be… friendly?
He smiled. "First time?"
The soldier stuttered, clutching his axe tighter, a whip hanging at his side. Adam eyed the weapon curiously—three weapons? it wasn't one he'd seen often.
"Well, yeah… one or two missions, but I'm kind of a new soldier." He scratched his head and coughed awkwardly.
"Nice weapon," Adam said.
The soldier's expression softened. "Yeah. My sister gave it to me."
Adam settled down against the caravan wall. "That's something." He remembered that back home, weapons were restricted—women weren't even allowed to receive them officially or even be a soldier?.. I mean its not like a man can get weapons also. But this place? Maybe the rules were different.
"I want to be like her," the soldier continued. "A hunter."
Adam frowned. "And what's that supposed to be?"
The soldier laughed. "Like a mercenary—but organized. A whole hub with ranks: bronze, iron, gold,platinum,emerald, silver,master and all that. The highest is the Challenger." He clenched his fist, eyes shining. "Higher perks mean higher benefits—jobs, money, and harder missions."
Adam blinked. Okay? All he could think of was an online game he used to play—Hall of Legends. People rising through ranks, admired like heroes. He liked the idea of the top… but only because of what he could get from it.
The soldier sighed at his blank face. "I don't know about you, friend… but honestly?" He covered his mouth as he coughed. "I'd think you were from another world. You don't know anything about this place."
Adam forced a laugh. "Ha… yeah. Funny."
Footsteps echoed. Karrin yanked open the curtain with a grin."Hey, Adam! Have you heard of an arena?"
Adam recognized the word. "Yeah?"
"Man, I heard you can earn a ton of money fighting challengers there!"
Adam remembered all-too-well what arenas were—bloody, brutal. Karrin's eyes sparkled with excitement, competitive as always. Adam wondered if he could win without killing someone.
A sudden sound—like heavy drops of liquid—hit the caravan roof. Soldiers stiffened. Spears and swords scraped free of their sheaths. Adam jumped out of the caravan. He looked at the gray‑haired soldier.
"What's your name?"
"Me? I'm Garfield." He pointed to himself, expression blank.
Adam smirked remembering a certain cat. With Garfield brightened smiled."Garfield, huh? I'm Adam."
Soldiers moved into tight formations on both sides of the caravan. The rain fell thick and red, turning the mud beneath them sticky and slick. Officers shouted commands.
"Stay in position! Alpha! Beta!"
From the tops and sides of the caravan, soldiers with staves, crossbows, and bows aimed outward as they rolled into an open area.
Then… everything grew unnaturally calm.Adam and Karrin walked side by side. Karrin held a spear—probably grabbed from the caravan—his hands trembling. Adam nudged him.
Karrin coughed. "I don't like this horror stuff."Adam glanced toward the towering oak trees on either side. The lanterns were the only things pushing back the creeping darkness toward the graveyard path.
Figures appeared. Cloaked silhouettes moving through the mist.
[Adam… be careful. I guess they're the reason it's been so quiet.]
Dozens—no, hundreds—of dark‑red and black cloaked people emerged. Their hair streaked with black and red.
One stepped forward, pulling back his hood. His smile stretched too wide, too wrong—madness in human shape.
"Hello! I am Shin… and I'm here too!" he sang, spinning and hopping in circles. His mouth was ink-black, his eyes nothing but narrow strips.
"You have been chosen!" He threw his arms up. "YES—CHOSEN AS A SACRIFICE!"
The cultists around him lifted their heads, their eyes marked with jagged Xs.
Soldiers hesitated. An officer—sharp hair, captain's uniform—strode toward them.
"Unknown individuals," he warned. "Step aside, or we will use force."
Shin pranced closer, mocking. "Ohh? Someone wants to be a hotshot? Hot… shot!" He leaned toward the captain, tapping his cheek faster than the eye could follow. "Over the Cult of Blood, all of you will be sacrificed."
The captain swung his blade—but Shin was already gone, swallowed by the dark. He clapped once.
Then Adam's eyes widened—The soldiers' magic fire was sucked downward, devoured by a swirling purple aura.
Karrin and Adam lunged forward instantly, bodies moving like wind. Cultists dodged—hovered—slipping through the air with unnatural grace. Rage surged through Adam's veins. He swung his sword at Shin.
Shin only smiled wider.Adam drove the blade through him—cut clean through his neck.
Shin's head rolled—and his laughter didn't stop.
"Hahaha—another special person!"Strings of red extended from the cultists, streaking toward Adam, trying to bind him. Karrin's claws flared red as he slashed them apart, dragging Adam back with him.
To be Continued