"Andrew," Samuel called softly, "open your eyes. We've arrived."
Andrew did so slowly. At first, everything was a blur—his head still spinning from the sensation of being pulled through layers of existence that clearly weren't meant to be felt. He blinked once. Twice. Then his vision settled.
What lay before him stole the breath from his lungs.
"What do you see?" Samuel asked, curiosity edging his voice.
"I…" Andrew swallowed. "I don't even know what to say." His voice dropped to a near whisper. "Can this even be described?"
Before Andrew stretched an ethereal forest unlike anything he had ever known. A thin, silvery mist drifted lazily between towering trees whose trunks were as pale as moonlight. From their branches hung long vines in dazzling, shifting colors.
Strange deer-like creatures grazed peacefully among luminous grass, their coats faintly glowing, antlers adorned with motes of light that pulsed. Above them, birds of varying hues fluttered from branch to branch, their songs of melodies so soothing.
Sunlight poured down from above, warm and radiant. Filtering through the canopy in soft beams that painted the forest in gold. Every leaf shimmered.
Andrew stood there, utterly still.
"…Yeah," he finally muttered. "No. Words aren't enough."
"I know," Samuel said, releasing Andrew's hand. A faint, almost nostalgic smile tugged at his lips. "I wish I could see it the way yo do."
"What do you mean?" Andrew asked, curiosity pushing aside his unease. "You're standing right here too, aren't you?"
Samuel didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "Andrew, do you prefer lies, truths, or a mixture of both?"
"Eh?" Andrew blinked. "That's not a normal question, you know."
"Never mind." Samuel turned and began walking forward, his steps unhurried. "Just follow along—and touch nothing. No matter how alluring it may be."
The casual way he said it made Andrew more cautious, not less. He stuck close, almost too close, stepping exactly where Samuel stepped, like a shadow stitched to his heels.
Samuel clicked his tongue. "You know, you don't have to trace my footprints like—"
But Andrew froze.
Something was wrong.
The deer grazing nearby… yes, they looked like deer. Graceful. Harmless. But some of them moved wrong. Too quiet. Too aware. Their eyes lingered longer than they should have, sharp and calculating. Predators wearing the skin of prey.
And the birds.
Their songs, once soothing, now grated against Andrew's senses. No—not songs. Signals. Calls. The sound of blades scraping against one another before a clash.
Andrew felt it then.
He was prey.
His body tensed, instincts screaming. "Samuel," he whispered urgently, tugging at the hem of Samuel's garment. "Don't you find something strange?"
Samuel glanced back, then slowly scanned their surroundings.
The forest responded instantly.
The deer went back to grazing innocently. The birds' cries softened into gentle melodies. The air warmed. The danger vanished as though it had never existed.
Samuel looked back at Andrew, puzzled. "Strange how?"
Andrew's eyes narrowed. "It changed. Just now. It's acting normal again—but I know what I felt. This forest isn't right. Normally I'd love to explore something like this, but this?" He shook his head. "This is uncharted territory for me. Please take me back."
Samuel stopped walking.
Then he smiled—bright, satisfied—and placed a hand on Andrew's shoulder.
'The senses of a hunter could hardly be deceived,' he thought silently. 'You failed, bitch.'
Aloud, he said, "Don't be alarmed. That was merely a greeting. A welcome gift for new arrivals."
"A greeting?" Andrew stared at him. "That thing was trying to eat me."
"Well," Samuel shrugged lightly, "some greetings are more… enthusiastic than others." His gaze sharpened. "But I suggest you start seeing the truth before it starts seeing you."
"…Kay." Andrew let go of Samuel's clothes and straightened, forcing confidence into his posture. "I knew it. Some kind of test. Also—can you not talk in riddles? Ever? Just say what you mean."
Samuel hummed, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "That depends on the situation." Then he smirked. "But honestly? I think you're the one who'll start talking like that more."
Andrew frowned. "Why me?"
Samuel glanced at him sidelong. "Because you're an Apostle."
Andrew groaned. "Great. So riddles are part of the job description."
"Andrew, do you know what this forest is called?" Samuel said as he walked toward one of the trees. "This is the Forest of Trial, personally built and designed by your Goddess. It exists to train and test hunters, adventurers, warriors, and explorers."
"You mean… there's more to this than just the sense of danger?" Andrew's confidence wavered. He knew—he felt—that what he sensed earlier wasn't the end of it.
"Yes," Samuel replied, scrutinizing the trees as if measuring them. "The next agenda is to test your battle prowess, situational judgment, and awareness."
"…Can I leave?"
"Afraid not," Samuel answered calmly, tapping one of the trees with his knuckles.
"Okay," Andrew muttered, forcing a laugh. "So is this how the entire Divine Plane operates? Because I'm starting to seriously doubt my faith in the gods."
The deer that had returned to grazing were now slowly approaching him. This time, however, Andrew sensed no hostility—no malice at all.
"No," Samuel said, already moving on to another tree. "This is just her domain. Do not associate the entire Divine Plane with what's written in books. Think of it as a country." He moved again. "Those with power assert authority. The rest simply perform their roles."
"Heh… hehehe…" Andrew laughed weakly, but unease crept in. Samuel's movements were what truly bothered him. The deer still grazed, yet some were now closer than before, others farther away. The birds' songs sounded hollow—like several had gone silent altogether. "Please tell me the trial hasn't started yet?"
"Not yet." Samuel stopped at another tree.
"Phew."
"Found it," Samuel said suddenly. Turning to Andrew, he asked, "What weapon do you use?"
"I can use any," Andrew replied, raising a hand casually, "but I mostly prefer a Glock."
"A gun, huh?" Samuel glanced at him. "You either come from a wealthy family—or a military one."
"The latter."
"Nice," Samuel said. "Unfortunately, firearms aren't something I'm capable of providing at my level." He placed his palm against the trunk of the chosen tree. "However… other weapons—"
Samuel didn't finish his sentence. Pushing his hand against the trunk, Andrew saw invisible waves ripple out from Samuel and the tree. He couldn't tell what it was. His senses couldn't pinpoint it. This wasn't the mana he'd felt all his life, nor was it divine force. This… was something else.
"Samuel, what's that?"
"What's what?" Samuel asked, frowning in mild confusion.
"Those waves… coming from you and the tree."
"Hmmm… your body is truly special. You're already seeing the truth—even though it's not exactly… praiseworthy. Watch closely."
The waves began to interact and tangle, swirling together. Samuel gave another push. This time, the entire tree—roots and all—was uprooted and compressed into a tight, dense form. Andrew's eyes widened. The tree began to reform and transform. From it emerged a sword, a whip, daggers, a bow with arrows, a shield, and a full suit of armor. They hovered in the air for a heartbeat before falling neatly onto the ground.
"This wood is Arcacia," Samuel said. "In terms of strength, durability, and toughness, it ranks thirtieth."
"So?" Andrew asked, frowning, though deep down he could feel something stirring.
"Do you want to die?" Samuel's voice cut sharp. "I'm sure you don't. This forest and trial are shaped by someone who knows your true nature at the core. The trial hasn't started yet, because you aren't ready. However, you won't leave until you complete at least two of them. Those," Samuel gestured at the weapons and armor, "are to keep you safe. The rest depends on your… ganshin."
"Okay… okay, she's a bitch, isn't she?"
"You got that right," Samuel said, a small, amused smile playing on his lips. "She ruined my perception of this place."
"Wait," Andrew said, squinting. "You said she became a god yesterday. Then how was perception ruined? This feels like it happened years ago."
"It was two epochs ago, to be exact," Samuel said. "This forest was built in her third epoch, and in her eighth epoch, it was transferred to the Divine Plane. I think this was the first change in the loop, but because it caused no ripple effects, it was left as it is."
"Loop… Epoch… Ripple?" Andrew muttered, words he'd heard before but never in this context.
"Don't think about those—they're above you." Samuel's gaze shifted to the fully equipped Andrew. "That was fast. Are you trying to serve in the military?"
"I'm a cadet," Andrew replied, holding his stance.
"Okay." Samuel's tone sharpened. "In this trial, you have three routes: the Genocide Route, the Passive Route, and the Compassionate Route. In Genocide, you kill every creature you encounter. In Passive, you kill only those who attack you and leave the others. In Compassionate, you kill none. I suggest you take the Passive Route."
"Wait, what? These deer aren't normal, but they're still deer."
"Dude, seriously, can't you see?" Samuel sighed, exasperated. "You sensed it before. Some of these deer aren't acting like deer at all. Anyway… good luck. I'll be watching from above. And remember: see the truth before it sees you."
With that, Samuel leapt into the air, vanishing from sight and leaving Andrew alone in the forest.
"Wait! Don't leave me!" Andrew drew the sword and assumed a battle stance, a mix of fear and determination on his face. "This Goddess is a crazy bitch."
==========
At the outskirts of the Forest of Trial stood a high-walled enclosure. Smooth stone walls formed a perfect ring, enclosing the land within. At its front was a wide gated entrance, iron bars etched with patterns. Flanking its entrance were two statue-guardians: a wolf of regal majesty and a proud steed. Their carvings were masterpieces, so finely wrought that they seemed to breathe—life imbued within stone.
Beyond the gate, deep within the enclosure, sat a massive hatch embedded into the ground.
A lone flying figure descended. Samuel landed lightly.
"Of what do we owe such a visit, child of man?" the wolf asked, its voice deep and commanding.
Samuel immediately dropped to one knee. "I seek an audience with Phi."
"Of what do we owe such a visit, child of man?" the steed repeated, voice perfectly identical.
"I seek an audience with Delafies Phi," Samuel answered again, tone steady.
"Of what do we owe such a visit, child of man?"
This time, both spoke together. The authority was gone—replaced by barely contained snickering.
Seriously… these guys. Samuel cleared his throat. "I, Samuel Bein of the Bein family, of the branch family of the Phi, seek an audience with our shared ancestor—Rahemo Delafies Phi."
"Of what do we owe such a visit, child of man?"
They weren't even trying to hide it anymore.
"Are you two seriously going to keep—"
"Of what do we owe such a visit, child of man?"
"…Alright. Fine."
Samuel rose, brushing dust from his knee. His shoulders slumped. Then—against every fiber of his dignity—he adopted a painfully cute, childish tone.
"Sammy… Sammy… Sammy is here to see Grandma. Can Grandma come see Sammy?"
Second-hand embarrassment assaulted his pride, his lineage, and his very soul.
"Oh, it's you, Sammy," the statues suddenly became far more animated, their stone seeming softer, more alive. "Why are you just standing there?" the wolf said, stepping down from its pedestal. "Grandma has been waiting for you."
"Come in, come in," the steed added, swinging the gate open.
However, beyond the gate was something Samuel didn't expect.