Alfie trudged deeper into the forest, his thoughts spinning restlessly. I can't believe Master is trusting that Sasaki guy. The way she sounded… it really was Master. But why? Why would she do something like that?
He muttered to himself while pushing through the trees, until suddenly—he stopped. His eyes widened.
"This… is strange. This whole forest was nearly destroyed by Master and that Sasaki guy. So why… why does everything look brand new?"
He turned sharply to look back. The path he had taken was gone, swallowed by greenery. A creeping unease tightened his chest.
"What the hell…? The forest—it's back to normal! This isn't right!"
Panic flared, and Alfie bolted, running back the way he thought he came. But the forest kept shifting, twisting into something denser. Trees multiplied, stretching high like a rainforest, blotting out the sky.
"MASTER! REBEKAH!" Alfie's voice cracked as he ran. "Where the hell are you guys?!"
Then—he skidded to a halt. A river carved its way below a mountain ridge in front of him. His eyes darted left and right in confusion.
"This… isn't the same forest. Where am I?"
Before he could move again, the ground beneath his feet erupted.
A monstrous caterpillar, enormous and grotesque, burst upward with razor-like teeth snapping toward him. Alfie leapt back just in time, landing hard, his breath caught in his throat.
"What the—! A monster?! I've seen Darkside Spirits, but creatures like this… I didn't even know they existed!"
The beast screeched, charging at him with terrifying speed. Alfie braced himself and vaulted upward, dodging the first lunge. But the caterpillar swung its massive body like a tail, smashing into him midair.
"Ughhh!" Alfie hit the ground, pain ripping through his back. He gritted his teeth.
"Stronger… than a beta Darkside Spirit?! What the hell is this thing?!"
The monster's six legs stretched, doubling in length, muscle fibers bulging. It pounded forward, faster, deadlier. Alfie scrambled to his feet as its legs slashed toward him in a relentless barrage.
He twisted, ducked, rolled—barely avoiding strike after strike. But he could feel himself slowing.
"Damn it! My Renshi—why can't I use it?! Is it because of the second seal? Or… is this place messing with me?!"
His frustration mounted as the beast's attacks began to connect, claws scraping, blows slamming him back.
Then—the mountain trembled. Cracks spidered through the ground beneath him, the ridge splitting apart. Alfie leapt desperately from one collapsing slab of rock to another as they plummeted into the roaring river below.
The caterpillar lunged from within the falling debris, jaws snapping. Alfie reacted in a flash, springing away at the last moment. The beast shattered the boulder he had just abandoned.
"Not this time!" Alfie snarled, launching himself onto its back. He pounded his fists down with raw fury. "I won't let you have your way with me!"
They crashed together into the river. The impact sent shockwaves through the current, dragging them deep under. Alfie struggled against the crushing water, thrashing upward toward the surface. But the caterpillar was right behind him, slicing through the current with terrifying speed.
He broke the surface at last, gasping. The river carried him violently, pulling him toward the distant roar of a waterfall. The caterpillar burst up from the water, its legs slicing down like blades.
Alfie scrambled onto a floating tree trunk, only to dive back into the river to avoid another crushing strike. He fought to swim faster, but the current was merciless, dragging him closer and closer to the falls.
The beast closed in, jaws gaping. Its teeth clamped down, sinking into Alfie's arms as he held its mouth apart with sheer desperation.
"GAHHHHH!" Pain tore through him as its teeth pierced flesh and bone, blood clouding the water.
"Damn it—just a little longer… if the current is this strong… then there must be a waterfall ahead. I can… use it… to my advantage!" His thoughts staggered between agony and determination.
But then his eyes sharpened, his grimace curling into a grin despite the blood dripping from his wounds.
"No… I won't even need that. I can't—I won't—be beaten by some low-life monster!"
Alfie roared, forcing both hands deep into the caterpillar's gaping maw. His arms trembled violently as he pulled with every shred of strength he had left.
"AAAHHHH!"
With a sickening rip, the monster's mouth split in two. Purple blood gushed like a waterfall, splattering across Alfie's face as the creature spasmed, twitched, then collapsed lifeless. The carcass and Alfie were swept by the current, crashing down with the waterfall into the depths below.
The impact knocked the air from his lungs. Blood trailed from his shredded palms as he fought to keep himself afloat. After a desperate struggle, he dragged his battered body onto the riverbank.
Ahead, a towering forest loomed, silent and ominous.
Alfie staggered forward, leaning against the nearest tree before sliding down to the ground. His chest heaved. His vision blurred.
"I've never felt pain like that before… wait… it doesn't hurt? Impossible… am I… dying?"
He stared at his torn hands, trembling as he touched each wound. Then—like a miracle—the bleeding halted. Flesh knit back together before his eyes.
"The hell…?" he gasped, his voice cracking. "I'm… healing? Just like that Sasaki guy.....… Am I becoming a monster too?"
His mind reeled. He forced himself upright.
"Master Lu! Rebekah! Is anyone here?!" His voice echoed into the empty forest. No reply. Only silence.
Fog seeped through the trees, thick and suffocating, swallowing the path ahead. Alfie cursed under his breath and pushed forward.
"This fog… not good. Why can't I use Renshi here? In a world blessed by the Father of Renshi, how is it even possible? Something's wrong with this place…"
A sound broke the silence. A sharp rush of air—an attack.
Instinct kicked in. Alfie dropped low as a blade whistled past his ear. A shadow darted in the mist.
"Tch! Can't see a damn thing!" he spat, springing back. Footsteps circled him, fast, unpredictable. His grip tightened on the air as his heart hammered.
"That sword strike… no mistake. A darkside spirit. But how the hell is one here without Renshi?"
The enemy lunged. This time from above. Alfie misread the footsteps. The blade tore across his chest.
"GAAHHHH!"
He hit the ground, rolling, as strike after strike carved into him. Blood sprayed—but the pain felt strange, unreal.
"Hah… hah… wait… this… doesn't hurt?" His body screamed, but his nerves didn't. "Why… why am I shouting?"
Realization struck. His lips curled into a crazed grin.
"Just an my imagination, huh? Now I get it."
The next slash came down. Alfie caught the blade with his bare hand, blood dripping between his fingers. The darkside spirit swung with its second sword—he didn't even flinch. The blade sank into his chest.
Alfie leaned forward, smiling through the blow.
"Sorry, moron," he said coldly. "I'm done dodging."
He rammed his forehead into the creature's face. CRACK! The darkside spirit flew across the fog, crashing into the unseen distance.
Alfie dropped to one knee, breathing hard. His chest rose and fell as the mist began to dissolve. Slowly, the forest returned to view.
"…Gone? Just like that?" he muttered, scanning the trees. "Fake darkside spirits. Fake pain. Fake wounds… this whole damn place is unreal."
He clenched his fist, staring at his unscarred hands.
"Papa once told me about hallucinations. A dream world where nothing is real. Back then, I thought it was just a fairy tale…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…But now, I understand."