The hard substance wasn't a soul core, but rather a small shard of rock.
I continued my search but found no core.
Every spawn had a core. How was this one coreless?
Since it was a beast, its core should have been a faint, transparent sphere—warm to the touch, dense with raw energy.
But this one had nothing.
I frowned, swinging my palm to get rid of the sticky blood clinging to my skin. That's when I found myself staring at the lake again.
The black lake.
I walked over, crouched at its edge, and dipped the bloody flesh into the still water. It didn't sizzle. No smell of rot. The surface just rippled quietly. At least it wasn't poisonous—lucky, maybe—but I didn't dare drink it.
Sooner or later, I'd have to leave. If I stayed too long, thirst would get me. And dying of thirst... didn't sound painful, but I didn't want to experience it either.
I gathered twigs, dried bark, and leaves, then crouched down with two rocks. Sparks flew uselessly at first—until one finally caught. A tiny flame danced to life, and I carefully fed it, letting the warmth spread.
I slid the carved meat closer, letting it roast over the fire.
The smell was... awful. Bitter, iron-rich, with a sour edge that clung to my nose.
And yet, it was great.
No spices. No herbs. No softness.
Just flesh and flame.
But after hours of walking, running, and fighting—I didn't care.
I bit into it. It was tough and dry. The kind of taste that clung to the back of your throat.
Still... it was warm. It was real.
That was enough.
Faintly, a sound broke the moment—so soft I almost missed it. But it deepened the silence that surrounded me like a weight.
I stood, blade in hand, and moved forward. Slowly. Carefully.
The forest around me didn't look like anything from the outside world. Trees twisted like bones. The air was thick, laced with something sharp and earthy. Every step crunched underfoot, the ground layered in dead leaves and brittle roots.
Hours passed.
No monsters. No signs of life. No paths. No light.
Just me, and the weight of something unseen pressing from all directions.
Every direction I took… eventually led me back.
The lake.
The cursed, black lake.
No matter how far I walked, how many turns I made, the path curved on itself like a loop. A trap. The forest was toying with me. I could feel it now—bending reality just enough to wear me down.
I stood at the edge again, staring into the still surface. No reflection. Just depthless dark.
Then it happened.
A screech. Not like before.
This one had weight.
It rattled in my bones. A sound born of hatred and hunger. Something old.
Before I could react, a figure shot from the trees—claws flashing, limbs unnaturally long, a twisted body warped beyond reason.
Another spawn.
Faster than the last.
I raised my blade just in time, the blow sending pain through my arms. It snarled, glowing eyes locked onto me. And then, it attacked again.
Faster. Stronger.
I swung back, fighting to keep up.
But I knew—
This one was different.
Instinct kicked in.
I raised my blade, just in time.
The clash sent a shock up my arms—numb, heavy.
The creature lunged again.
Hollow eyes locked on mine. No thoughts. Just killing intent.
It didn't breathe. It didn't stop.
It just kept attacking.
I stepped back. Swung. Steel met air.
Another slash came—fast. I blocked, but my footing slipped.
I couldn't keep up.
Left. Right. Claws. Blade.
Each of my strikes felt like they hit stone.
Each of its hits almost broke my grip.
My arms burned.
Chest tight. I could barely catch my breath.
It didn't care.
I swung wide—too slow. It ducked. Claws grazed my side.
Fabric tore. Skin burned.
I twisted. Parried the next strike.
It snarled, low and sharp. I didn't respond. I couldn't.
I was being pushed back.
My heels scraped across the stone. Every inch mattered.
I stepped in.
Cut across.
It jumped. Above me.
Too late to dodge—
I braced.
It landed hard, claws slamming down.
My blade blocked it, barely. The force rattled my bones.
My knees buckled.
Vision blurred for half a second.
I couldn't win like this.
But I wasn't planning to lose.