Only I Can See The End

45  Night Chase

[You Have Died]

<Dream Sequence Has Ended>

{Based On Exclusive Skill: <Dream>; your recent experiences have been dissolved into a dream}

<You Will Now Be Returned To The Preset Save Point>

[You Will Now Wake Up]

... And just like that, I died.

*********

[00 Months: 00 Days: 00 Hours]

"What...?"

I blinked and found myself back on the same hill as before, experiencing that familiar sensation from when I first arrived in this strange new world. The air carried an otherworldly scent, a blend of flora and the unknown.

'I... I died.'

Gradually, my memories returned, and oddly enough, I took it all in stride. It felt strangely natural, as expected.

'But... how did I die?'

I recalled drifting into sleep, then the System mentioned something about a Demon.

Before I could react, I was already dead. My last moments were a haze of confusion, shock, and surprise.

'My Life Force was so low; it's not surprising it happened instantly since I wasn't prepared.'

'But where did this Demon come from? How could it catch me so off guard and finish the job before I could even react?'

'The worst part is, I was asleep, so I can't pinpoint when it happened.' My musings led me to a frustrating dead end,

After thinking for a while, I decided to stop dwelling on the mystery. Based on my past experiences, I knew I'd get nowhere by obsessing over it.

~DING~

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

<Welcome To The Ground Floor Of The Tower Of Trials!>

{Congratulations! You're among the select few who have made it this far. In addition to your regular 500 Currency monthly allowance, you will receive an extra 300 Currency for securing Rank 6 in the final Leaderboard Rankings.}

~Make sure to use <Shop> at your convenience, so as to obtain items and abilities that will aid you on your journey~

[GOOD LUCK!]

'Oh crap! I forgot!'

Everything had been reset, including my spending and resources.

Currently, I have 2,950 Currency.

'Well, at least something good came from my death,' I chuckled, finding a silver lining in the otherwise grim situation.

Unfortunately, this also meant I no longer had my Spatial Pouch.

'I can't even remember the exact time I got it from the Lucky Draw,' I mused, a tinge of frustration in my voice.

Without a functioning watch, I had to rely on the timer in the corner of my vision, which showed the month, day, and hour, but no mention of minutes or seconds.

 'So, I can't accurately tell the time yet,' I sighed.

At least not until I got what I needed.

'With my Currency reset, I can buy some things from the Shop.' I began to formulate a plan, a list of essentials to rebuild my arsenal.

I had five items in mind.

First, a functioning watch for this world was essential because my powers depended on knowing the exact time. It was the glue that held my abilities together.

Second, a blanket, just like before. The comfort it offered was invaluable in the wilderness, a small piece of normalcy amidst the chaos.

Food was a must, and I could always get water from the stream.

The fourth item on my list was a map, compass, or navigation device as I planned to explore the Lyma Region's Wild Lands today. This world was vast and ever-changing, and I couldn't rely solely on my memory.

The final item would help me uncover the culprit responsible for my death, the mysterious Demon that had cut my previous life short.

'Alright, let's get started!'

*********

[00 Months: 00 Days: 15 Hours]

"Phew, I'm so tired."

I slumped onto the ground, leaning my back against the sturdy tree that had become my companion on this hill.

With a soft smile, I gazed up at the night sky. When I first arrived in this world, it had been daytime. Now, 15 hours later, I marveled at the beauty of the night sky, adorned with stars and three moons that bathed it in soft, silver light. The beauty of the environment felt surreal.

"Honestly..." A warm smile spread across my face as I felt my body relax.

I had managed to buy a 'Navigator' item to assist with my travels, as well as everything else I needed for a good night's rest.

Wrapped snugly in my warm blanket, I took one last look at the night sky and then closed my eyes. Whether it was exhaustion or simply the call of nature, I fell asleep quickly.

... And then...

[SYSTEM WARNING]

<You Have Encountered A Demon>

'... Hmm?'

~WHAM!~

A sudden impact echoed, jerking me from my sleep, and I quickly opened my eyes to see what had happened.

 It appeared that the enemy had finally taken action, and I had a chance to confront it.

"W-what? Is this...?" My eyes widened as I beheld the astonishing sight before me. What I saw was beyond my wildest expectations.

The forest, once serene, had transformed into a nightmarish battleground.

What I witnessed defied my expectations.

'N-no way...'

"GRRRRRRRRRR...."

The Demon that had ended my life, the very one I had been actively pursuing... It turned out to be the tree itself!

Its bark-like skin stretched and twisted, forming grotesque, gnarled features reminiscent of a twisted oak tree.

Enormous roots extended from its feet, entwining with the forest floor, firmly anchoring it in place. The earth quivered under its immense presence as it emitted a guttural, otherworldly growl that sent shivers down my spine.

Its limbs, thick and gnarled, branched out like ancient boughs, covered in moss and adorned with clusters of vibrant, swaying leaves. Each leaf appeared to possess a life of its own, rustling softly as if sharing secrets with the wind.

Its eyes, mesmerizing and radiant, glowed with an otherworldly green light, filled with nothing but malevolence. Vines dangled from its elongated fingers, moving with eerie grace, poised to ensnare any unsuspecting prey.

"GRRAAAAUGGGHHH!!!"

The terrible roar of the tree monster sent me flying backward a little, though I controlled myself so as not to lose my footing on the hill.

'Oh boy, I wasn't expecting this!'

I had purchased a one-time-use protective bracelet, which would generate a barrier if it sensed an attack. However, its effect had already expired, so if those enormous branches struck me again, the consequences would be dire.

I was going to die very badly.

There was only one thing I could do now.

'Run!'

~WHOOSHH~

Instantly using <Sprint>, I darted away from the rooted monstrosity, putting a substantial distance between us before launching my Energy Rock at it, giving it all the power I could muster.

The crackling energy surged toward the tree demon, striking it with a brilliant explosion of light and force.

~WHAM!~

~BAM!~

'It's a big target, and since it's still a tree monster, it should be quite slow.'

 Compared to my projectile, which moved at breakneck speed, the monster didn't stand a chance.

'The best part is that it is restricted in movement!'

I could maintain my distance and keep hitting it while it helplessly flailed its branches around in a futile attempt to reach me.

 'All in all, the one with the advantage is m—'

~BOOOOOMMMM!!!~

In a surprising twist, the tree monster leaped from its position on the hill, instantly detaching itself from the earth.

"What?!"

It lunged toward me, its eyes gleaming with malevolence as it growled in its unintelligible monster language.

'Fuck! Why did I have to jinx it?'

I activated <Sprint> again, using the effects of my Invisibility Cloak to hide myself from the tree monster's view.

 I ran, creating more distance between us, and changed my direction to try and confuse it.

Unfortunately...

"GROAAAGHHH!!!"

... It was onto me like crazy!

'Shit! Could it have some kind of Skill that lets it sense my movements?'

 After all, it was still a tree.

 The ground shook as the Tree Demon pursued me with its root-like legs, swiping its branches at me while groaning in pain with every strike my Energy Rock landed.

'It's faster than it looks!' I thought, watching how it managed to keep up somewhat despite my use of <Sprint>.

It wasn't unbelievably fast, though, and it wasn't gaining ground on me either. Besides, the System didn't classify it as a <Dangerous Demon>, so I felt like I could handle it.

It likely had more durability than anything else, so I didn't think I was in serious trouble with this creature.

'I just had to hold out for a little longer!'

*****

[A Little Longer Later...]

"What in the world? It's still chasing me? How?" My thoughts echoed loudly as I gasped for breath, my energy waning. Despite taking damage, it continued its relentless pursuit.

'Why won't it just die?' I wondered, frustrated by the incredible vitality of this Demon.

Perhaps it had some sort of Skill that allowed it to heal from injuries?

'Maybe it's healing faster than I can damage it?'

That would make it very dangerous...

My suspicion was that, while I was indeed hurting it, a portion of its health was still being restored. It was a tricky situation, but if that were the case, there was only one solution.

'I just have to damage it faster!'

"Let's go!"

I pushed my body using <Sprint> and activated <Visualize>, altering my course and roaring with determination as I charged toward the monster.

"While rapidly firing Energy Rock..." I clenched my teeth and balled my fist in unwavering resolve.

"...I'll hit you with everything I've got!"

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[A/N]

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