Chapter 3: The Hunt In The Dark

When the light disappeared, Riku found himself standing in a forest covered in darkness. The towering trees covered the sky, leaving only a faint ray of light filtering through the leaves. The air was cold and damp, carrying the stench of the forest floor. Around you were countless red eyes, like small lights flashing in the night.

"Welcome to the 3rd floor: The Hunting Forest. Challenge: survive for 30 minutes and find the gate to exit. Be careful, your memories will hunt you."

The announcement from the cold voice rang out, this time accompanied by a light, velvety laugh.

Riku quickly drew the Memory Sword from its sheath. The sword glowed faintly, allowing him to see the space in front of him somewhat more clearly. But this light also made you an easier target.

"We can hunt our memories? What does that mean?" Riku gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay calm.

A whisper-like sound echoed from deep within the forest, as if hundreds of people were whispering something. Riku didn't understand the meaning, but his heart grew stronger with each syllable.

Then, a black shadow rushed from the water. It was so fast that he only had to tilt his head to avoid it. A sharp pain shot through his left shoulder as a deep scratch appeared. Blood dripped deeply onto the ground.

"Mode, I can't find it clearly..."

Riku slashed his sword, sensing the king's presence through every movement of the air. The boy closed his eyes, concentrating. His natural instincts and the skill "Danger Sense" began to activate.

A black shadow approached. This time, the boy and unleashed an equal attraction. A supportive shout rang out as his sword cut through the creature.

The light from the sword helped him see his enemy more clearly: a monster that looked like a wolf, but had no eyes. Instead, on its face was a deep vortex, like a hole leading to the deep universe.

"We don't need eyes... We hunt ourselves through memories."

Riku recalled the voice's reminder. The boy's memories were probably feeling empty through emotions, and that was how these creatures tracked their tracks.

With no time left to do the project, Riku ran deeper into the forest. He had to find the gate before the monsters gathered and froze.

As he ran, he continuously felt other creatures following closely behind. Footsteps and growling noises echoed everywhere.

He found a large tree stump with roots that formed a deep void. Riku quickly stepped in and tried to regulate his breathing.

In the darkness, he began to recall each small memory from when he entered the tower. The first floor with the ferocious monsters, the second floor with the dangerous maze. But the special thing was... these memories were no longer clear.

"We're not just hunting you... we're taking your memories."

The thought made Riku shiver. If he lost all his memories, would he still be himself?

Scratching sounds rang out from outside the hiding place. The creatures had been located by his steam.

With no other choice, Riku rushed out, swinging his sword recklessly. The light from the Memory Sword illuminated the area, temporarily forcing the monsters back. But this also made him an easier target.

He swung his sword continuously, each slash an attempt to survive. The monsters' blood reddened the ground, but it did not decrease.

Exhaustion began to set in, but Riku knew that if he stopped, death would be waiting immediately.

During the fight, a blue light suddenly appeared in the distance. It was the light of the gate.

"That's the exit!"

Riku returned his teeth, using the last of his strength to push back the monster. He rushed towards the light, ignoring the noise behind.

As he approached, a creature three times larger than the previous ones appeared in front of the gate. It was their crafting domain, with large black wings and a large bear-like mechanism.

The domain leader rose, shaking the space.

Riku knew that even if he couldn't break through it, he would continue to restrict this floor. The dragon boy's sword of memories, the light from the sword growing brighter and brighter.

"This sword is not just a weapon... it is the key to keeping my memories."

Riku rushed in, using all his accumulated skills and experience. The battle was fierce, each attack putting his life at risk.

Finally, Riku found the monster's blueprint. He jumped up, absorbing all his strength into a fatal slash. The blade searched deep into its face, and the creature made one last rumble before transforming.

Unable to respond, Riku rushed through the gate. He could basically cover himself in a blue light, bringing him to a new space.

When everything settled down, Riku found himself standing in a white room. An invisible hand reached out, Touching his eyebrow.

"Your memories have been protected. You have passed the 3rd floor. Prepare for the next floor."

Before you respond to anything, do not repeat the transformation again, leading you to the next challenge.