Surviving in the Forest (5)

...First, I needed to move.

I had to get away from the direction the bear had come from.

I still didn’t know who the lord of this forest was, but at least I’d learned one thing: whatever it was, fighting it was impossible.

blink- blink-

Since I had no idea where this bear had come flying in from, I couldn’t be sure which of those black dots was actually the forest’s ruler.

At this point, one of those five dots has to be it...

Either way, putting distance between us came first.

Thud-!

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

[01:03:13]

Three minutes until the flames of the apocalypse died out.

About thirty more minutes had passed since I’d returned to the cliff before the riverside and stared at the wall of fire while keeping an eye on the mapping.

The temporary mask was almost dry. Even though I was hiding among the trees, the ash drifting through the air still stung my eyes and nose.

Rumble——!!

“Kuaaahhh!!”

“...”

I lowered my gaze at the sound and checked the mapping.

blink- blink-

The forest’s monsters and beasts were disappearing fast.

Compared to the first time I’d received the mapping, the total was down to less than half, rough guess.

In just four hours, more than half the living things in this enormous forest had vanished.

Some had burned in the flames ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the apocalypse, sure, but the shrinking space had probably combined with berserk to make things even worse.

Every time two dots meet, one of them disappears.

Rumble——!!

Even if they weren’t meeting the forest’s lord—the one making all that awful noise and shaking the ground—they were still tearing each other apart and destroying themselves.

The remaining land was less than thirty percent of what it had been at the start.

Zoomed out on the map, the surviving creatures were packed so tightly together that there were places where hundreds of them were crowded into a single area.

Does that fire just stay where it is? Or does it disappear?

If it vanished completely, then bolting for the outer edges might not be a terrible idea.

Rather than running into more enemies in a cramped space for no reason, it might be better to wait until things thinned out a little.

blink-

Depends on the final event, I guess.

While I kept staring at the mapping, I got to my feet from where I’d been flattened against the ground.

Gripping my iron sword, I glared at the beast approaching me.

“Kuhuuuk...!!”

“...Déjà vu?”

A huge boar, easily the same size as the one I’d seen on the 10th floor of the Tower of Trials.

“Sorry, but this is my territory.”

Like the bear, this thing had scars carved into its body too.

Maybe it had already been beaten by the lord of the forest. Snorting hot breath and glaring at me, it seemed to be barely holding itself together, so I took a slow breath and steadied my nerves.

Back then, I used to tremble just from looking at one.

On the 10th floor, I’d been fighting for my life just to get away. Now I was already thinking about how to take it down.

I slid sideways, never taking my eyes off it.

Toward the edge of the cliff, where I planned to make it charge and send itself tumbling down below.

Thud!

Looking at the boar’s completely bloodshot eyes, I smiled faintly.

Running away while shouting with my back turned—it felt like it had only been yesterday, seriously.

“Kihiiiiik—!!”

Flash!

Unlike before, though, I could time this shit perfectly now.

Watching the red light gather into a ring, I narrowed my eyes.

Bang! Boom—!

As the thing came barreling at me, I tightened my grip on the sword.

Compared to when I’d first entered the 50th floor of the Tower of Trials, I was exhausted, sure—but...

“Hup—!!”

Shraaaak—!!

...at this point, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you weren’t even that scary anymore.

I cut clean through its side.

I moved aside at the perfect parry timing, and the sword traveled through the beast’s body like water.

Thud-thud-

I pulled the blade free, then performed that stylish anime move where you fling the blood off your sword like you’re too cool for reality.

Crash——!!

Hearing the beast plunge helplessly off the cliff, I lifted my head.

[1:00:02]

The time at which the third event ended.

...It’s not disappearing.

After checking the timer, I immediately looked back at the wall of fire blazing far in the distance.

I wasn’t sure whether the shrinking of the survival zone had stopped.

The duration listed in the wiki had ended, but the fire was still there.

Was that supposed to mean I wasn’t allowed to escape outside?

ding-!

Already?

I’d assumed the final event would appear when there were thirty minutes left and the event would begin once the full ten hours had passed.

But as soon as the third event ended, the wiki’s alert rang out, and I checked my phone right away.

“...Now what, there’s another abnormal event?”

I frowned at the corrupted first line.

Was Behemoth itself the abnormality?

I didn’t know. The other events had all displayed properly.

I had no idea why it was glitching now, but I read the event details first.

The final event was simple.

Run away, avoid it, escape.

If I didn’t escape in time, I would definitely die.

And it specifically said battle with Behemoth was impossible.

I don’t know if that means impossible for me, or impossible at all...

“Kaaahhhhhh!!!”

One thing I understood perfectly: I had to run from the thing making that sound and calling itself the lord of the forest.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Crack...!!

“...Ha. The event hasn’t even started yet.”

I gave a dry laugh as a thick, towering tree collapsed without warning.

“Tsk.”

There was no need to think about it. That had to be Behemoth’s doing.

I clicked my tongue at the sight of the bear, split clean in half at my feet, apparently another victim of the thing.

blink- blink-

One minute until the event began.

I’d searched every possible place where an escape route might appear, but found nothing.

Maybe it didn’t show up until the event actually started.

For now, all I could do was hope it would appear on the wiki mapping.

[00:30:00]

ding-!

In the center of the forest.

Well, that was obvious enough.

I shut my eyes briefly, then opened them again as I read the new line added to the wiki’s guide.

The wall of fire was still blazing around the outer edges, so if they wanted to make this difficult, of course they’d put it in the center.

I slid forward.

The one bit of good news was that the escape route’s location was marked on the mapping.

On top of that, the wiki was even telling me where Behemoth was, which made the whole thing feel a little less impossible.

That thing’s fucking huge.

The marker on the mapping for Behemoth.

It was absurdly massive, nowhere near comparable to the tiny dots representing the other monsters and beasts.

With Behemoth marked with an X instead of a dot, I let out a bitter laugh and lifted my head.

Behemoth’s over there. The escape route too.

The thirty-minute limit itself wasn’t much of a problem.

It would probably take about twenty minutes to reach the center. The real problem was slipping into the escape route without getting caught by that thing.

Crash-crash-crash——!!

“Kuuwooooaaaah!!”

Another tree fell.

Dust glittered in the moonlight as it spiraled high into the night sky.

“Kiiiiiiik!!!”

The beasts who’d failed to run from the forest’s lord were letting out shrill screams.

blink- blink-

Creatures that had been attacking one another on sight were now fleeing like mad from Behemoth.

“Ha... shit. I’ll make this work somehow.”

What was the point of having the wiki if not this?

Being able to pinpoint its location and the escape route was already enough of a strategy.

Tap-!!

I sprinted toward the center of the forest at full speed.

Using the mapping to check the position of nearby monsters and beasts, I ran in the direction that would avoid them as much as possible.

“Kikik...!!”

Of course, there were situations where I couldn’t avoid them entirely—

“Scram, you trash mobs—!!”

Shraaaak—!!

But after dropping even baby bears and giant boars like they were nothing, this level of thing wasn’t much of a problem anymore.

A monkey that appeared from the trees collapsed before it could even land an attack.

I frowned at the group that had been watching, whether they were its companions or family, before they all fled in a panic.

Tap!

I didn’t have time to chase anything. I didn’t even plan to finish them off with magic unless I had to.

I’m saving every last mana stone.

I intended to use all the remaining stones on Behemoth.

I still hadn’t even seen the thing, but if the wiki declared survival impossible, then that was enough for me.

I was going to spend everything I had on stunning it with lightning.

Let’s see just how incredible this bastard really is.

I ran on, ignoring the pounding of my heart as I watched the monster and the escape route inch closer and closer together.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

[00:14:06]

Gugugugung...!!

The trembling of the ground was on a completely different level from before.

This wasn’t just vibration anymore; it felt like the earth itself was screaming.

Trees that looked dozens of meters tall were toppling like toys.

“Kuuwooooooo——!!!”

Seriously, this thing is fucking terrifying.

Ghosts from the Soul Tower? The monsters that had ambushed me?

They were all child’s play. Behemoth, the thing I still hadn’t even seen properly, was dozens of times more terrifying.

I didn’t know what it was doing, but the fact that a living creature could cause an earthquake like this was even scarier.

blink- blink-

Behemoth and the escape route were both getting very close.

One minute. Two at most. I’d be face-to-face with it soon.

Since the final event began, Behemoth had been roaming within a certain range.

I didn’t know why it was doing that, or why it kept tearing trees down, but just learning that it had a pattern was enough.

I just need to run when it’s moving away from my direction.

Even if I got spotted right before reaching the escape route, I could buy a little time with mana stones.

Rustle-

With that in mind, I pushed through the forest toward the center for a while longer.

[00:11:48]

“...Ha, fuck.”

Crack...!!

Only after finally reaching the escape route did I understand why the trees had been falling all this time.

On the mapping, an escape route was blinking in the form of a cave.

Circling it, one by one, was a gigantic lifeform pulling up trees at the roots and clearing the area around it.

The five-meter-tall monster was tidying up its line of sight.

Maybe it instinctively knew this was the escape route, because it was making sure anyone who tried to approach would be spotted immediately.

Now I get why the wiki said combat was impossible.

A house-sized monster walking on two legs.

Inhuman muscle bulged all over its body.

Starting from the horn jutting out of its forehead, a line of spiky fur ran down its back and all the way to its tail.

As befit the name 『Forest’s Lord』, its eyes were stained red, and its claws and fangs were as large as my sword, which it had no doubt carved into the bodies of bears and boars alike.

...Now I know why surviving was the goal.

How was that supposed to be an avatar of the earth?

It was just calamity itself.

[00:09:58]

Less than ten minutes remained.

I had to come up with a plan, fast.

The trees around where I was hiding would be cleaned out by Behemoth soon enough too.

The longer time passed, the farther the escape route seemed to get.

If I turn back and move up onto the cliff now...

There’d be impact when I dropped down, sure, but I’d be able to move straight to the cave entrance.

“...Rejected.”

No. That wouldn’t work.

If I slipped badly on top of that cliff, I wouldn’t be able to move even a single step.

And if I fell wrong on the way down, that thing might snatch me midair. If it caught me in the air, there would be no second chance.

Shit. Is this really nothing but a head-on fight?

The distance to the escape route was only about sixty meters.

If this had been normal, I could have covered that in a few seconds.

The idea kept filling my head: if I ran at full speed the moment that giant beast turned away, I might be able to make it.

The only thing holding me back was the wiki’s warning: survival rate: 0%.

The thing was clearing trees to eliminate blind spots. Would it really not notice me running in from behind?

Bang...

...It’s coming this way.

After clearing the trees on the opposite side, it began circling around in a half-moon arc.

I took a small step back at once so I wouldn’t be seen, then watched the thing tearing trees out of the ground.

“Kuhuk...!!”

Crack...!!

The monster hugged a tree to its chest, took a breath, and then ripped it up by the roots in one motion.

I couldn’t even guess how much that thing weighed, and yet it was pulling them out and tossing them aside like they were nothing.

Gugugugung——!!

Bang! Bang!!

After uprooting several trees on my side, it turned its head and looked back toward the opposite side.

Watching it continue in another half-circle, I shut my eyes tight and opened them again.

I have to run.

The distance to the escape route only kept widening.

In the end, the only option left was to sprint with my life on the line.

Click-

I shoved a hand into my pocket and closed my fingers around a mana stone.

I had to throw everything I had at it, make it stop for three seconds... even one second.

I wasn’t trying to kill it. If I stayed alive and reached that cave, I’d win.

[00:07:36]

Swallowing hard, I watched the thing on the far side hug another tree and brace itself to rip it free.

Now...!!

I clenched my jaw so hard it felt like my teeth might shatter, then sprinted toward the escape route at full speed.

Rustle-!!

“...!!”

It stopped halfway through throwing the tree.

After hurling the tree it had been holding to the side, it turned its head.

One second.

The escape route was about sixty meters away.

The instant it spotted me, the monster’s red eyes widened.

Its dark gray skin glinted in the moonlight.

“Kuuwoooooooo—!!”

Two seconds.

About fifty meters to the escape route.

Water Rain...!!

The moment it turned its body, I hurled the intermediate mana stone I’d already been holding.

I visualized the face, exactly as it was.

I’d realized earlier that the image I pictured mattered.

Unlike before, thick rain came pouring down onto its face at once.

Three seconds.

About forty meters to the escape route.

Bang——!!

As it moved forward, shaking the earth, I threw every remaining mana stone straight at its face.

All of them as chain lightning, meant to hold it for even one second.

Crazzzzzzzzk—!!

Fzzzt...!!

Ear-splitting crackles of electricity flashed through the air, and I kept driving my feet forward.

Four seconds.

About thirty meters to the escape route.

Bang—!!

The monster took another step, completely unfazed by the magic.

With every step, it closed the distance by several meters.

Seeing the spell slam into the rain covering its face, I prayed silently.

Please, wiki...!!

Please stop it for even one second. One second was enough.

Five seconds.

About twenty meters to the escape route.

Crazzzzzzzzzzk!!!!

Blue lightning danced like a mad thing from the rain splashing off its face all the way to its upper body.

If this had been a normal monster, if it had been any ordinary beast, that surge of high-voltage current would have killed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it on the spot.

It should have. It absolutely should have.

Shit, is it magic resistance or what...!!

I widened my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes at the sight of it lowering its body and planting its feet as if the attack didn’t matter at all.

Six seconds.

About ten meters to the escape route.

I lowered my head. Avoided its gaze.

I needed to get there, even a fraction of a second faster. Even a millionth of a second faster.

Ignoring whatever the thing was doing, I ran like my life depended on it.

Seeing only the path ahead, I felt the cave’s shadow begin to cover my body—and then...

Shadow...?

Seven seconds.

About one meter to the escape route.

Thud.

Startled by the shadow looming over my head, I stumbled.

My body pitched forward as if it had been thrown.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sound of my heart pounding hammered in my ears.

I couldn’t think of anything. Not that I had to live, not that I had to move.

As my body flew through the air, the whole world seemed to slow to a crawl.

Thwack—!!

My flying body caught on the cave entrance.

I felt like I’d been hurled a great distance, but I didn’t feel any pain at all.

Just as the hazy thought Did I make it? was beginning to surface—

Clench!

“Ah...”

Something sharp hooked around my leg, the one still outside the cave.

Whoooosh——!!

In an instant, my body was yanked back out of the cave.

I floated lightly through the air and ended up upside down, staring straight into those red eyes.

A massive mouth split open, almost like it was smiling.

Inside were the dark, wet stains of blood from the other monsters and beasts it had left behind.

So this was how I died.

Really? After everything I’d done, this easily?

“You fucking—”

Crack-!