Belle leaned back, allowing herself a little bit more moment of indulgence. The worries that had gnawed at her mind felt distant here, muffled by the steady rhythm of the tree's energy. The glowing leaves above cast shifting patterns across the water, their light reminiscent of a sky filled with stars.
Belle wasn't sure how long she remained in the pool, but when she finally stepped out, she felt… renewed. Not just physically, but mentally. Stronger. More focused. And healed.
She sat beneath the tree, letting the cool night air dry her skin, before dressing once more. Hunger gnawed at her, but unlike before, it no longer felt like a desperate need. Her sharpened senses picked up a faintly sweet scent nearby, drawing her to a low-hanging branch bearing clusters of luminescent berries. They pulsed with the same faint energy as the tree, their glow soft and inviting.
Belle plucked one and examined it carefully. The warmth against her fingers was unusual, but something deep inside told her it was safe. She took a tentative bite, and a rush of flavor exploded on her tongue—sweet, slightly tangy, with a cooling sensation that spread down her throat. Almost instantly, a surge of energy coursed through her, as if the berry was replenishing not just her hunger but her very essence.
She exhaled. "Alright… this world isn't all bad."
Gathering a handful of the berries for later, she leaned against the tree's massive roots, her body sinking into the soft moss. The steady hum of energy lulled her into a state of tranquility. The danger that lurked beyond the World Tree's reach still remained, but for now, she allowed herself this moment of rest.
She perched herself on a smooth, moss-covered rock near the glowing pool, her body still tense with lingering wariness. She had survived too much to take unnecessary risks now. Folding her arms, she focused inward, carefully assessing every sensation within her body.
Her breath was steady. Her heartbeat, calm. No nausea, no dizziness, no burning in her throat—only a faint warmth spreading through her limbs, as if the fruit was gently reinvigorating her from within. The exhaustion that had been weighing her down earlier felt… lighter, as though a hidden reservoir of energy had been unlocked.
Still, she wasn't about to lower her guard just yet. She tapped her fingers against her wrist, counting her pulse, ensuring no irregularities. Her sharp eyes scanned her skin for any unusual markings or discoloration, half-expecting some delayed reaction. Minutes passed, yet nothing changed.
She exhaled slowly, allowing herself a brief moment of relief. At least for now, they seem safe.
Even so, she couldn't afford to be reckless. Just because they didn't harm her immediately didn't mean they wouldn't have long-term effects. Would they alter her body in some way? Heighten her already unstable powers?
Her gaze drifted back to the strange berries still clutched in her hand, their faint luminescence pulsating like tiny living hearts. She would have to be cautious—especially in a world where even the air itself felt unnatural.
But for now, with her strength returning and the eerie silence of the forest pressing in, she allowed herself one small comfort—she would make it through the night.
With her hunger and thirst satisfied, Belle turned her attention to another pressing concern—shelter. The Forbidden Forest was far too dangerous for her to simply sleep out in the open. She had no way of knowing what lurked in the darkness beyond the faint glow of the bioluminescent plants. Even with her newfound strength, she wasn't foolish enough to let her guard down completely.
Her gaze drifted toward the massive tree towering over the clearing. Unlike the rest of the forest, which seemed to pulse with an eerie, almost hostile presence, this place felt… different. The oppressive weight that had pressed down on her since she first woke up in this world had lightened the moment she entered the clearing. The thick miasma that choked the deeper parts of the forest didn't seem to exist here, replaced by an air of purity that made it easier to breathe. The soft, ambient hum of magic in the air felt almost like a gentle lullaby.
Belle hesitated, her instincts warring with her logic. Could she truly trust this place? Was the sense of safety just an illusion?
But as she took a cautious step forward, she felt it—a warmth beneath her feet, a comforting presence in the air, as if the very earth itself welcomed her. The runes carved into the tree's bark pulsed with a slow, rhythmic glow, matching the steady beat of her own heart. It was unlike anything she had encountered before.
After a moment of hesitation, she made her decision.
Using the thick, soft moss that grew abundantly around the tree's roots, she crafted a makeshift bed, layering it with fallen leaves and branches to provide extra cushioning. It wasn't much, but it was far better than sleeping on the cold, hard ground. As she settled in, she leaned back against the massive root structure, letting out a slow breath.
For the first time since her arrival, she wasn't just surviving—she was resting.
Her gaze drifted upward, tracing the intricate patterns of the tree's glowing leaves. The way they shimmered reminded her of stars, distant and untouchable, yet somehow familiar. A strange sense of nostalgia tugged at her, though she couldn't place why.
Maybe it was the exhaustion finally catching up with her, or maybe it was the comforting aura of the tree, but her eyelids grew heavier. Her muscles, tense from hours of constant vigilance, slowly began to relax.
But just as sleep threatened to claim her, the whispers returned.
Soft, indistinct, yet undeniably present.
Unlike before, they weren't malicious or eerie. There was no sense of danger, no threat lurking within the hushed voices. Instead, they were… curious. Gentle. Almost as if something—or someone—was watching her, studying her.
Belle swallowed hard, fighting the lingering unease that crept up her spine.
"What do you want from me…?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
The whispers didn't answer. Instead, they wove around her like a breeze, stirring the leaves above. The faint hum of magic in the air deepened, resonating within her very core.
Whatever this place was, it was more than just a sanctuary.
As exhaustion finally claimed her, her last conscious thought was a quiet realization—she wasn't alone.
Time had passed since she last rested.
Belle stirred, her body aching as consciousness pulled her back from the depths of exhaustion. The rustling of leaves reached her ears, soft yet unsettling, as if something unseen lurked just beyond her field of vision. She blinked, her silver eyes adjusting to the dim glow of the bioluminescent plants scattered throughout the clearing. Their eerie, pulsing light cast twisting shadows over the uneven forest floor.
Her sharpened senses prickled. Something wasn't right.
The whispers had returned.
Faint at first, like distant echoes carried on the wind, but they grew stronger with each passing moment. This time, they weren't merely lingering voices in the background. They were loud, insistent, overlapping in a chaotic chorus.
"You cannot leave… you cannot leave…"
Belle tensed. The oppressive energy that had haunted her since waking in this forsaken forest thickened around her. The very air seemed to hum with an unnatural force, weighing down on her shoulders like an invisible shackle.
Then, out of the suffocating darkness, she saw it.
A faint glimmer of light in the distance. Barely visible through the dense trees, yet unmistakable. Unlike the eerie glow of the plants or the pulsing runes etched into the ancient trees, this light was warm, golden, and… familiar.
Her breath caught.
"Sunlight?"
For the first time since awakening in this world, something inside her stirred—hope. If there was sunlight, there was an exit.
Her heart pounded as she rose unsteadily to her feet, her exhaustion momentarily pushed aside. Without a second thought, she moved toward the light. At first, her steps were careful, wary of the forest's unnatural stillness. But as the golden glow flickered tantalizingly ahead, her pace quickened.
That was when the forest retaliated.
The air grew heavier, pressing against her like an unseen hand trying to drag her back. The twisted trees loomed closer together, their gnarled branches intertwining unnaturally, forming a barrier. The whispers swelled into a deafening roar.
"Stay… stay… stay…"
A sudden jolt of pain shot through her ankle. Belle gasped and looked down—vines, thick and pulsating with a sickly green light, had coiled around her leg. Before she could react, more of them slithered out from the underbrush, winding up her arms, her torso—pulling her back.
Belle struggled, her pulse racing. Her draconic aura flared instinctively, faint embers crackling around her fingertips. She gritted her teeth, forcing her body to move.
"I will not stay here!"
A surge of energy exploded outward from her body, her aura briefly illuminating the darkness with a flash of silver-blue light. The vines recoiled, shriveling where they touched her power. Belle wasted no time—she tore herself free and lunged forward, barely avoiding another set of vines snapping at her heels.
The forest trembled in protest.
The trees groaned, their trunks splitting open with sickening cracks. From within the bark, gaping maws lined with jagged, splintered teeth emerged, their hollow mouths opening wide in silent screams. The ground beneath her shuddered, cracking apart as writhing roots burst forth, clawing at her legs.
Belle leaped over a chasm that had suddenly opened beneath her, the earth crumbling away as though trying to swallow her whole. She landed in a crouch, her fingers digging into the dirt as she skidded forward.
The golden light was closer now, flickering like a beacon just beyond the trees.
She pushed herself forward, her lungs burning, her body protesting with each step. But the forest wasn't done with her yet.
A powerful gust of wind howled through the trees, thick fog curling around her like a living thing. The temperature plummeted, and the weight of the oppressive magic pressed down harder. Her limbs felt sluggish, as though the very air was thickening around her, slowing her escape.
Then came the final blow.
The ground beneath her shifted. The mossy earth, which had once cushioned her steps, suddenly hardened—then shattered.
Time seemed to slow as Belle realized she was falling.
A deep, black abyss had opened beneath her, a jagged pit of twisting roots and shadows stretching endlessly downward. A fall from this height would be fatal—if not for her enhanced body, then for the sheer, crushing force of whatever unnatural presence lurked below.
Instinct took over.
Belle twisted in midair, forcing every ounce of strength into her legs. At the last possible moment, she kicked off a jagged rock protruding from the crumbling earth, propelling herself toward the nearest stable ground.
She hit the ground hard, rolling across the dirt before slamming into the base of a thick tree. A sharp pain shot through her shoulder, but she had no time to dwell on it. The abyss was still widening behind her, consuming everything in its path.
Gritting her teeth, Belle forced herself to her feet. The light—she had to reach the light.
She ran.
The whispers screamed now, their voices overlapping in a chaotic, maddening cacophony. The forest was alive with fury. Branches lashed out like whips, roots tore through the ground in an attempt to ensnare her once more.
"You cannot leave!"
Her vision blurred. Her breaths came in ragged gasps. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest, exhaustion clawing at her limbs.
But she refused to stop.
She had survived the cyber dragon. She had fought through the pain, the fear, the isolation of this wretched place. She would not die here.
With one final, desperate lunge, Belle threw herself forward—
And burst through.
The light engulfed her.
Blinding. Warm. Overwhelming.
For a single moment, she felt weightless, suspended in a void of golden radiance. The oppressive presence of the forest vanished in an instant, replaced by a new sensation—one she had almost forgotten.
Fresh air.
Her feet hit solid ground. She stumbled forward, her vision swimming, her chest heaving. The suffocating energy of the cursed forest was gone.
She had escaped.
Belle gasped, taking in the stark contrast around her. The sky above was no longer a void of darkness but a brilliant blue, the sun shining down from above. The air was crisp and clean, carrying the scent of pine and blooming flowers. Birds chirped in the distance, and the wind hummed through the towering trees—normal trees, untouched by whatever nightmare had ruled the forest behind her.
Slowly, she turned back.
The edge of the cursed forest loomed just behind her, an impenetrable wall of shadows and gnarled branches. The mist within still writhed, but it no longer reached for her. It had let her go.
Or… it had allowed her to leave.
A shiver ran down her spine as a final whisper drifted through the air, barely more than a breath carried by the wind.
"This is not the end..."
Belle exhaled sharply, gripping her arms to still the lingering tremors in her body.
No, it wasn't the end.
But she was finally free.
End of Chapter 5