A gentle breeze drifted across a crystal-clear lake, creating delicate ripples that shimmered beneath the sunlight.
The water was so transparent that the smooth stones resting at the bottom were clearly visible.
Its gentle current produced a peaceful melody as it flowed through the surrounding wilderness.
Encircling the lake stood a dense forest of towering emerald trees, their branches swaying softly in the wind. Vibrant wildflowers bloomed across the lush grass, filling the air with a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Above...
The sky stretched endlessly, a brilliant shade of blue without a single cloud to interrupt its serenity.
It was a place untouched by war.
Untouched by monsters.
Untouched by chaos.
Lying unconscious upon the soft grass beside the lake was a young man with snow-white hair.
Noah.
His fingers twitched slightly. A moment later his eyelids slowly opened.
Brilliant blue eyes reflected the clear sky overhead. For several seconds, he simply lay there, silently staring upward.
"..."
Then
"Argh...!"
A sharp wave of pain surged through his entire body. Every muscle protested. His ribs ached. His shoulders burned. His head throbbed.
Even breathing sent dull pain through his chest. He instinctively clenched his teeth as memories flooded back into his mind.
The battle. The giant guardian. The mysterious portal. How he was sucked into that portal.
"...Damn it..."
His voice was hoarse.
"Where am I?"
He slowly looked around, confusion filling his expression. "The portal... Where did it bring me?"
With considerable effort, Noah planted one hand against the ground and pushed himself into a sitting position.
The movement alone caused another jolt of pain to shoot through his body. "...Tch."
He examined himself. Most of his wounds had begun closing naturally. The cuts were no longer bleeding heavily.
The bruises had faded slightly. It wasn’t complete healing. But it was enough that he could still move.
He gently pressed against his ribs. A sharp pain immediately answered him. "...Did I break something?"
He frowned.
"I can’t tell."
Without proper medical equipment—or healing magic—there was no way to know for certain. After resting for another minute, Noah slowly stood up.
His legs wobbled slightly before regaining their balance. His throat suddenly felt unbearably dry. Only then did he notice the crystal-clear lake a short distance away.
He slowly walked toward it, careful not to aggravate his injuries.
Kneeling at the water’s edge. He leaned forward and cupped both hands together. Cool water filled his palms. He brought it to his lips.
The refreshing water slid gently down his throat, washing away the dryness that had lingered since the battle.
"...Ah..."
He let out a quiet sigh of relief. It tasted remarkably pure. Unlike ordinary river water, it carried an almost refreshing sweetness.
He scooped up another handful before splashing it across his face. The cool sensation instantly washed away the remaining dizziness.
His mind became noticeably clearer. For a while he simply sat beside the peaceful lake. Listening to the gentle sound of flowing water.
Trying to organize his thoughts. "...Am I still inside the labyrinth? Did I enter some new floor?"
He looked toward the surrounding forest. "...Or did that portal send me somewhere else entirely?"
There was only one way to find out. Waiting here wouldn’t give him any answers.
Noah slowly rose to his feet once more. "...Let’s have a look around."
Taking careful, measured steps, he entered the forest. His body remained weak, forcing him to walk much slower than usual.
Even so the scenery around him gradually eased his tense mind.
"...This place is beautiful."
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy above, painting shifting patterns across the forest floor. The air felt incredibly fresh.
Birds chirped peacefully among the branches. Leaves rustled gently with every passing breeze.
There was no smell of blood. No distant roars. No signs of destruction.
It felt alive.
As Noah continued walking, something caught his attention. A white rabbit suddenly darted across the path before disappearing into a patch of bushes.
He blinked. "A rabbit?"
Moments later... A small family of deer cautiously emerged from between the trees. They quietly drank from a nearby stream before disappearing deeper into the forest.
Noah stood frozen for a moment. "...Actual animals..."
His surprise was genuine.
Ever since entering the labyrinth, every living creature he had encountered had been some form of magical beast or monster.
But these these were ordinary wildlife.
They carried no trace of mana. No hostility. Just peaceful animals living their lives.
A faint smile appeared on Noah’s face. "At least food won’t be a problem."
His gaze wandered deeper into the seemingly endless forest.
"...But where exactly am I?"
The question remained unanswered.
For now there was little he could do except continue exploring. Perhaps somewhere within this mysterious land. He would eventually discover the truth behind where the portal had brought him.
Noah continued deeper into the mysterious forest.
The gentle breeze rustled the emerald leaves overhead, while rays of sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, painting shifting patterns across the ground.
His footsteps remained slow. Every movement still caused a dull ache to spread through his battered body.
"...I really overdid it."
He pressed a hand against his ribs before letting out a small sigh. Although the pain hadn’t disappeared, it had become manageable.
His mana had also recovered considerably while resting beside the lake. Not enough for a prolonged battle. But enough to defend himself if necessary.
After walking for nearly half an hour, his stomach growled loudly.
"...Right. I haven’t eaten since before entering the labyrinth."
Only then did he realize just how hungry he was. Fortunately, nature seemed surprisingly generous. Ahead stood a tall tree covered in clusters of bright crimson fruit.
The fruits resembled oversized apples, their skins smooth and glistening beneath the sunlight.
Noah stopped beneath the tree and observed them carefully.
"No signs of poison..."
At least none that he could recognize. Plucking one from a low branch, he inspected it for a few moments before taking a cautious bite.
Crunch.
Sweet juice filled his mouth instantly.
His eyes widened.
"...Not bad."
In fact it was delicious. The fruit carried a refreshing sweetness with a faint citrus-like aftertaste. After eating several of them, the emptiness in his stomach finally eased.
He gathered a few more into his storage ring before continuing onward.
Hours passed.
Whenever the pain in his body became too much, Noah would stop beneath a tree, rest for several minutes, and then continue walking.
As time went on the tension in his shoulders gradually faded.
At first, he’d expected monsters to leap from every shadow.
But nothing happened. Instead he encountered only peaceful wildlife.
Rabbits darted between bushes. Colorful birds flew overhead.
Small foxes watched him curiously before disappearing into the undergrowth.
It was almost difficult to believe this place had anything to do with the terrifying labyrinth.
"...Maybe this really isn’t a dungeon."
The thought crossed his mind more than once.
Eventually the forest opened.
A wide river stretched before him, its crystal-clear water flowing steadily from north to south. The opposite bank was visible, though noticeably darker. The trees there were much taller.
Much older.
Their dense canopies blocked out most of the sunlight.
"Hm..."
Noah had no desire to swim with his injuries. Instead, pale-blue mana gathered beneath his feet.
A thin sheet of ice spread across the river’s surface. The frozen path extended steadily toward the opposite shore.
Satisfied, Noah stepped onto it.
Each footstep caused another layer of ice to form ahead of him, creating a stable bridge across the flowing water.
Within moments, he reached the other side. The instant he entered the darker forest...
Something felt different.
He frowned.
"...It’s quiet."
Too quiet.
The cheerful chirping of birds had vanished. There were no animals here. It was silent.
His hand slowly rested on the hilt of his sword. The vegetation here was unlike anything he had seen before.
Leaves were broader. Flowers were enormous. Some stood taller than a person. Others resembled strange blossoms with thick, fleshy petals.
One flower directly ahead reached nearly twice Noah’s height. Its crimson petals were folded neatly together around a bulb-like center.
"...What kind of plant is that?"
Curiosity overcame caution for a brief moment.
He stepped closer. Its surface appeared strangely smooth..
Noah slowly turned his head.Only then did he notice that similar giant plants were scattered throughout the forest.
Some resembled flowers. Others looked more like enormous vines rooted deep into the earth.
"This place..."
His instincts suddenly screamed.
Without thinking he threw himself sideways.
BOOM!
The giant flower exploded open where he had been standing moments earlier. Its petals unfolded into a grotesque, circular maw lined with rows of thorn-like spikes. The enormous bloom slammed shut with tremendous force, narrowly missing him.
"What the—?!"
Noah rolled across the ground before pushing himself back to his feet. The giant flower swayed violently. Though rooted firmly to the earth, it twisted its stem as if searching for another chance to strike.
"So it can’t move..."
He had barely finished the thought.
Rustle.
Movement erupted from his left. Another massive plant unfurled.
Then another. Thick green vines shot through the air like whips.
"Damn it!"
Noah reached into his storage ring. His sword appeared instantly in his hand. Blue mana flowed along the blade, sharpening its edge with a thin layer of ice.
The first vine reached him.
Slash!
The blade cut cleanly through it. A second attacked from behind. He pivoted despite the pain in his ribs and severed it with another swing.
More vines burst from every direction. There were too many.
Noah abandoned the idea of fighting.
Instead, he sprinted through the forest, weaving between towering trees while cutting away every vine that threatened to entangle him.
His battered body protested with every step. Pain shot through his chest. His breathing became heavier.
Yet he couldn’t afford to slow down. Behind him the strange forest had awakened. And it clearly had no intention of letting him leave.
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