Chapter 15: "The Penalty"

The old man led Dera deep into the forest under the cover of night, the dense canopy above blotting out even the faintest hint of moonlight. The air grew colder, heavier, and more ominous with every step they took, as though the forest itself held its breath.

"Master, where is this place?" Dera asked, his voice uneasy as his eyes darted around the shadowy surroundings.

"This is the Black Forest," the old man replied, his tone uncharacteristically grim.

"The Black Forest? Why is it called that?" Dera asked, a nervous edge creeping into his voice.

"Because it's a death trap," the old man said bluntly. "I created this forest years ago to train my Observation Aura. And until now, I've never used it on any of my pupils. You're the first."

Dera froze, his stomach twisting into knots. 'Seriously!… don't tell me he's going to use this on me,' he thought, panic bubbling to the surface.

"Now," the old man continued, fixing Dera with a sharp, penetrating gaze,

"I want you to find your way back to the house on your own. Stay focused—or you'll actually die."

Dera's heart skipped a beat. The weight of the old man's words pressed down on him like a suffocating blanket.

'Damn it… I knew he was going to use this forest on me.'

But something was strange. He had never seen the old man this serious before.

"You have until sunrise," the old man said, his voice final and unyielding. "If you don't make it back by then, you'll be considered dead."

"What?! Wait, Master, I—"

VHOOM!

Before Dera could finish, the old man vanished into thin air, leaving him alone in the suffocating darkness.

Dera clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. This wasn't just any forest. It was the same forest they'd passed through earlier—but now, the traps have been activated. Every tree, every shadow, every step he took could spell his doom.

'No time to waste.'

He bolted into the dense foliage, the sound of his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of leaves and moss. His heart pounded in his chest, his breath ragged as he navigated the labyrinth of trees.

Then, without warning—

SWISH!

An arrow whizzed past him, so close it grazed his cheek. He stumbled to a halt, his hand instinctively flying to the stinging cut on his skin. His wide eyes followed the arrow's trajectory as it embedded itself in a tree behind him, still vibrating from its insane speed.

"Shit," Dera hissed under his breath, scanning his surroundings with heightened urgency. "This forest is filled with booby traps."

He crouched low, his muscles tensed, every nerve on edge. His eyes darted to the shadows, trying to predict where the next attack would come from. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig felt like a prelude to death.

'Stay calm. Focus!.'

The old man's voice echoed in his mind, but the pressure of survival drowned out the memory. In this forest, hesitation meant death.

BOOM!

A massive piece of wood shot out from the shadows, hurtling toward Dera like a battering ram. Before he could react, it slammed into his stomach, driving the air from his lungs. He stumbled back, clutching his midsection, only to be struck again—this time in his side.

CRACK!

Pain exploded through his ribs as he felt them shatter.

"KEO..KEOKS!" Dera gasped, blood spewing from his mouth as he dropped to his knees, clutching his injured side. But the forest gave no reprieve. Another wooden projectile launched out of nowhere, hitting him square in the face.

THUD!

The force sent him flying backward, his body skidding across the forest floor. His head throbbed, blood trickling down his temple and blurring his vision. He lay still for a moment, his body refusing to move, his limbs paralyzed by pain.

"Ugh… is this old man actually trying to kill me?" Dera muttered hoarsely, forcing himself onto one elbow. His vision swam, but he gritted his teeth and began to push himself upright.

This wasn't a training ground—it was a death sentence. The traps weren't designed for someone of his level. They were for the old man, a master far beyond him in skill and strength. But despite the odds, Dera clenched his fists.

"If it's a trap, then I'll outrun it. Speed is my only chance," he said, his voice filled with resolve.

SWISH!

Two arrows suddenly launched from the trees ahead, striking his shoulders with pinpoint accuracy.

"ARGH!"

Dera staggered, the searing pain stealing his breath. Before he could even process it, a third arrow hurtled toward his face. Instinct took over. He raised his arm just in time, and the arrow pierced his hand instead.

His scream tore through the silent forest as he stumbled, blood dripping from his wounds, his body battered and broken. His vision darkened at the edges, and his legs felt like they might give out. But Dera dug deep, his teeth gritted against the agony.

'I can't give up. If I can't survive this, how can I save my brother?'

"This… this is nothing compared to the hell I faced in that cursed tomb!" he roared, forcing himself to stand. His entire body screamed in protest, then he started running again, weaving through the forest with everything he had.

For a moment, luck seemed to be on his side. He managed to dodge a few traps, narrowly avoiding spikes and darts. But then he skidded to a halt, his blood running cold.

In front of him, two razor-sharp shurikens spun toward him like deadly wheels. From the left and right, arrows shot out of the darkness. Behind him, the sound of a wood trap filled with spikes resetting made his heart sink.

He was surrounded. The traps converged, locking him in the center of an inescapable death.

Time slowed. His wide eyes reflected the glint of the shurikens, the arrows, and the looming wooden spikes.

'Is...this how I'll die?' he thought, frozen in horror.

CLING!

A bright screen materialized in front of him, interrupting his despair.

[Failed to complete the daily quest.]

[Push-ups, 100 Times: 0/100, Failed.]

[Sit-ups, 100 Times: 0/100, Failed.]

[Squats, 100 Times: 0/100, Failed.]

[You will be transferred to the Penalty Zone in: 5… 4… 3…]

"Shit!" Dera cursed, panic rising. He had completely forgotten about the daily quest. His eyes darted to the traps, now mere seconds from tearing him apart.

"But will I make it?!"

The shurikens, arrows, and spikes all closed in, ready to end him.

[2… 1…]

In the blink of an eye, just as death seemed certain, Dera vanished, leaving the forest in eerie silence.

Dera opened his eyes slowly, his vision hazy. The air around him was thick and damp, the darkness pressing in from all sides.

Though it wasn't as suffocating as the Black Forest, it was still eerie. Strange candy-stick-like torches flickered weakly along the walls, casting long, jagged shadows that danced ominously in the gloom. A narrow, dark pathway stretched out before him.

"I… I managed to survive," he panted, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His body ached, but he noticed something unusual—his wounds were healing.

"What the…" Dera muttered, his eyes widening as he checked his arms and torso. The gashes and bruises were gone, the pain ebbing away.

"My body… it's healing. This is incredible!" He ran his fingers over his unscarred skin, marveling at the miraculous recovery. "It's like none of it ever happened."

His relief was short-lived. As he took in his surroundings, unease crept back into his mind. He squinted at the jagged walls of the cave and froze, his eyes widening in recognition.

"This… this can't be…" Dera whispered, his heart pounding. "Isn't this… a Venom Cave?"

Suddenly—

CLING!

A bright screen materialized before him:

[Penalty Quest: Defeat the Boss of the Venom Cave]

"What?!" Dera exclaimed, his voice echoing through the cavern. "What kind of penalty is this?!" His fists clenched as frustration bubbled inside him. "I don't even have a weapon!" he growled, grinding his teeth.

GRRR!

A low, guttural growl reverberated through the cave, sending chills down his spine. The sound was primal, a warning from something lurking in the shadows.

Dera steadied himself, taking a combat stance. "Fine… if I don't have a weapon, I'll just use my fists!" His confidence flared as he clenched his hands, his body tense and ready.

GRRR!

The growl came again, closer this time, the sound vibrating through the ground beneath his feet. His eyes darted toward the shadows, where a black, wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes emerged. Its steel-like fangs glinted in the flickering light, and its claws scraped against the ground as it advanced, its movements predatory and deliberate.

VHOOM!

The creature pounced with terrifying speed, its maw open wide to tear Dera apart.

Instinct took over. Dera rolled to the side just in time, the wolf's claws slicing through the air where he had stood.

GRRR!

The creature began circling him, its predatory gaze locked onto him, looking for an opening. Dera kept his stance firm, his eyes narrowing as he tracked its movements.

Suddenly, a glowing screen appeared above the wolf's head:

[Steel-Fanged Venom Wolf]

Dera smirked, surprising even himself. His expression wasn't one of fear—it was confidence.

'A wolf?' he thought. 'This thing doesn't know what it's up against.'

Since he was seven, he'd hunted wolves to feed his family. Every movement, every tactic of these creatures was burned into his memory. He had killed over two hundred wolves in his lifetime. This one might be a Venom Wolf, but at its core, it was still a wolf.

VHOOM!

The wolf lunged again, its iron fangs aiming for his throat. This time, Dera sidestepped with ease. He spun and delivered a devastating punch to the wolf's side, the impact so powerful it shattered its ribcage.

THUD!

The wolf hit the ground with a yelp of pain, its body convulsing as it let out a pitiful, dog-like whine. But before Dera could claim victory, he watched in disbelief as its broken ribs began to knit themselves back together.

"Shit… it's already healing!" Dera muttered, taking a cautious step back. He racked his brain, searching for a solution.

"Wait… if I remember correctly, Aura is the only way to kill a Venom for good."

Closing his eyes, Dera focused. He summoned every ounce of willpower he had, feeling the surge of energy within him. Slowly, a red aura began to envelop his body, flickering like a flame.

VHOOM!

Sensing weakness, the wolf charged at him again, its claws outstretched. But this time, Dera was ready.

His eyes snapped open, glowing with determination. In one fluid motion, he delivered an uppercut, his fist blazing with red aura.

PUFF!

The wolf's head exploded, its body collapsing to the ground in a lifeless heap. The cave fell silent, save for the sickening thud of the creature's remains.

Dera stared at his trembling hands, his heart pounding in his chest. He hadn't realized the sheer power of Aura until now.

"What… the hell?" he whispered, opening and closing his fist. "I didn't know I was this strong…"

CLING!

[You have killed a Finnless Venom. 5 points awarded.]

"Yes!" Dera grinned triumphantly. "I was awarded five points!"

His celebration was short-lived.

GRRR!

A new growl echoed from deeper within the cave. Dera turned to see another Steel-Fanged Wolf emerge, its red eyes gleaming with fear. Unlike the first, this one didn't attack. It whimpered, glancing at the remains of its companion. Then, with a sharp turn, it bolted into the shadows.

"Yeah! That's right, run away, you coward!" Dera shouted after it. But his victory cry caught in his throat as a chilling realization struck him.

'Wolves don't run from fights,' he thought, his stomach sinking.

'They regroup!'

GRRR!

GRRR!!

GRRR!!!

The sound of multiple growls filled the cavern, the vibrations making the walls tremble. From the darkness, countless glowing red eyes appeared, one by one, surrounding him.

A pack.

"Shit," Dera muttered, his fists tightening. "I knew it."