His heavy footsteps echoed through the oppressive silence of the abyss. He had been walking for hours—perhaps days—relentlessly, guided only by instinct and the newfound tenacity pulsing within his transformed body. He felt neither hunger nor thirst, as though his body had been freed from human needs.
Then he saw it.
Half-hidden behind a curtain of vines and collapsed stones, a narrow, irregularly-shaped tunnel snaked into the darkness. He didn't know why, but his heart quickened. Was it an exit? A trap? A forgotten remnant?
He didn't hesitate.
Stepping into the passage, the ground grew softer, damper. Though the tunnel appeared natural, ancient symbols occasionally adorned its walls. Fragments of bone lay scattered here and there—silent witnesses of the past. He quickened his pace, then began to run. The air grew lighter, a cool breeze now brushing against his skin.
At last… light.
He emerged from the tunnel, arms raised to shield himself from the blinding sun. But what he saw left him speechless.
Before him stretched a colossal forest, with trees so tall they seemed to pierce the sky. The leaves shimmered with energy, and the air was so saturated with mana that he felt it deep within his core. Strange animal cries echoed in the distance. He was no longer in the desert. No longer in the abyss.
He was somewhere else. Free.
He fell to his knees.
The cool wind kissed his cheeks. For the first time in ages, he managed a faint smile.
"I'm alive..."
His gaze fell upon the mask clinging to his face like a second skin. He still remembered the aura it had released the moment he put it on. He was no longer who he had once been.
He rose slowly, lifted his head to the sky, and whispered:
"The me of yesterday is dead... The one who stands today is called Void."
The name echoed in the air—like a promise… or a threat.
The wind caressed his face with an almost supernatural gentleness. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he felt free air fill his lungs—not the stale air of the abyss, nor the stench of cages, but pure, wild air, rich with floral scents, sap, and mystery.
Void stood there, at the edge of the tunnel, his bare feet sinking into the damp moss. The ground was warm, welcoming—almost alive. There were no bars, no guards' shouts, no chains. Just him… and the world.
Suddenly, he dashed into the forest, like a child breaking free from his shackles. He ran full speed between the titanic trees, silently laughing, a wild smile on his lips. His steps were light, powerful. He leapt over roots, slid down mossy slopes, climbed twisted trunks. Muscles once weak and emaciated now responded with almost beastly ease.
He climbed to a high branch, and from there, he gazed out at the horizon. Distant mountains pierced the sky, lakes sparkled like jewels, and the forest stretched endlessly in all directions. He screamed—not in pain, but a cry of triumph.
Then he jumped, rolled in the fallen leaves, and began to explore. He found a tree bearing golden fruits—round and gleaming. Without hesitation, he picked one and bit into it. The sweet juice ran down his chin, a burst of flavor exploding in his mouth. He laughed again, like a madman set free.
He spent a long while climbing trees, running from branch to branch like a monkey, watching the multicolored birds scatter at his approach. He amused himself by leaping just to startle them, making them chirp and swirl through the air. Sometimes he mimicked their calls, other times he tried to follow them, forgetting everything except the present moment.
He discovered a small river deep in the forest. The water was clear—so clear he could see the pebbles sparkling at the bottom. He dropped to his knees and drank in greedy gulps. Every drop felt like it was cleansing his body and soul, washing away memories of pain. Then, unable to resist, he plunged headfirst into the water, shouting from the icy shock—but laughing again.
He stayed there, swimming, diving, floating on his back and staring at the sky. For the first time in his life, he wasn't a prisoner. Not a tool. Not trash.
He was Void. He was alive.
Animals passed nearby: horned foxes, stags with radiant antlers, rabbits with scarlet fur. He amused himself by startling them, leaping into bushes to make them flee. He laughed like never before. Every moment felt like a gift.
Then he lay down in the grass, arms spread wide, gazing up at the sky through the shifting leaves. He breathed. He listened. The birds sang, the leaves whispered, and his heart pounded in his chest.
"I'm free…"
He closed his eyes. For an hour, for a day… he wanted to forget the screams, the pain, the blood. Just to feel. Just to exist.
This was the first moment of peace. But he knew… the world would not forget him for long.
Void awoke with a start, gasping.
The sound had been powerful—so loud it seemed to have shaken the trees themselves.
He lay still for a moment, mind caught between dream and reality.
But the metallic scent of blood in the air, the sudden silence of the birds, and the lingering tremor beneath his feet confirmed it was no dream.
He rose reluctantly.
His weary body begged for more rest after everything he had been through, but instinct had already taken over.
Silently, he slipped between the trees, his steps light despite the tension in his muscles.
He moved slowly, his breath controlled, eyes scanning for the slightest sign.
The ground bore strange marks: deep claw scratches, fresh splashes of blood, torn vegetation.
And then... he saw it.
A monster. Massive. Dead.
Lying there, its throat gaping open, a residual aura of mana still hanging around its corpse.
Void narrowed his eyes.
He hadn't heard any battle—just one loud noise.
A single strike?
A chill ran down his spine.
"What kind of creature could kill that in one blow?"
He approached the corpse slowly, cautiously.
The monster's scales were thick, its body covered in old scars—signs of a veteran from the depths.
And yet, it lay there, defeated in an instant.
As he bent down to examine it more closely...
"Hm... strange."
Void instinctively leapt back, spinning in a swirl of energy.
An old man stood there, hands clasped behind his back, calmly observing the scene.
He had a long white beard, a deep blue robe embroidered with gold, and eyes of unfathomable depth.
There was no sign of hostility.
And yet his presence... it radiated overwhelming pressure.
"Why do you carry draconic mana within you?" he asked, his voice calm but piercing.
"Are you… a dragon?"
Void froze.
Every sense was on high alert.
He could feel it—this man was no mere traveler or forest hermit.
That mana… that gaze…
He was far more than he appeared.