Life Beyond End

It had been a week since I entered the forest.

The book I'd been following? Utter garbage. Whoever wrote it clearly didn't have to deal with how massive and confusing this place actually was. I mean, sure, the diagrams were pretty, and the sketches of edible plants were nice, but what good was that when I'd already walked miles past where the book claimed the forest should end?

Still, I was pretty sure I was finally nearing the edge. At least, that's what I told myself to stay sane.

Around mid-morning, I stumbled across a river. The water was clear enough to see the pebbles at the bottom. No signs of weird colors, floating carcasses, or anything suspicious. Seemed safe enough. I decided it was time for a break.

I stripped down and waded in, letting the cold water wash over me.

"Ahhh," I groaned. This? This was heaven. After days of sweating under the same clothes and being covered in dirt, this river might as well have been a luxury spa.

I stayed in for a while, just soaking in the refreshing chill.

Eventually, though, reality called. I dragged myself out, shook off the water, and threw on my still-dirty cloak. Yeah, it smelled. And yeah, it felt like putting wet socks on dry feet, but I didn't have any other options. Once I was dressed and packed, I got back on the move.

The forest was stunning in a surreal, almost magical way. Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy above, creating patterns on the forest floor that shifted as the wind blew. Some plants glowed faintly, and I swear I saw mushrooms that sparkled like gemstones.

Then there were the animals.

I stopped when I saw something hopping through the brush. A... chicken? No, it had rabbit ears. Big floppy ones.

"Of course," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "A chicken-rabbit."

The word popped into my head: Érāflöyd. That's what it was called. Who named these things? And why did they hate vowels?

I was admiring the scenery when I heard it.

A scream.

High-pitched, raw, and full of terror.

I froze, every nerve in my body on edge. Then, instinct took over, and I scrambled up a nearby tree, perching on a thick branch to get a better view.

In a small clearing below, I spotted the source of the scream. A girl, struggling against a man twice her size, who was roughly tying her hands together.

"N-NO! LET GO OF ME!" she cried, twisting and kicking.

"Shut the hell up!" the man barked, jerking the ropes tight. "You're gonna get us caught!"

My stomach twisted.

A kidnapping? Really?

For a second, I considered walking away. It wasn't my problem, right? But the thought made me sick. I couldn't just leave her.

The man knocked the girl out with a sharp blow to the back of her head and hoisted her over his shoulder.

I followed them, keeping low and quiet as they trudged through the forest. My boots sank into the moss, muffling my steps, but my heart pounded in my chest.

Eventually, they reached their hideout—a dilapidated farmyard. The place was falling apart. The roof of the barn sagged, and the walls were overgrown with ivy.

There were five of them. Three inside, sitting around a fire, and two outside, keeping watch. The girl was tied to a pole in the middle of the yard, still unconscious.

Five against one.

I crouched behind a hay bale, my mind racing. I needed a plan.

Step one: Lure one of the guards away. Take him out quietly.

Step two: Hope the second guard checks on his buddy. Take him out too.

Step three: Lock the barn doors and torch the place.

It was simple. Too simple. But it was all I had.

I grabbed a piece of steel from my pack and tossed it across the yard. Clang.

The nearest guard perked up, his head snapping toward the sound. He walked over cautiously, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Perfect.

As soon as he was close enough, I yanked him into the hay bale. He didn't even have time to shout before my blade plunged into his side. Blood seeped into the straw, and his body went limp.

One down.

The second guard didn't take the bait. He stayed where he was, looking around nervously but not moving.

Great. Just great.

I needed a distraction.

Stepping out from behind the hay bale, I raised a hand in an awkward wave. "Uh... hey, mister. What're you guys doing here?"

He jumped, his hand flying to his sword, but he relaxed when he saw me. Just a kid.

"Whoo, you scared me there for a second," he said, lowering his guard.

I didn't let him finish. My blade slashed across his throat, and he crumpled to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

"Oi! What the hell's going on out here?!" a third bandit yelled, stepping out of the barn.

Before I could react, he charged, his blade aimed straight at me. I tried to dodge, but I wasn't fast enough.

Pain exploded in my side as his knife plunged into me.

I staggered back, clutching the wound.

But then... something strange happened.

A bright light enveloped me, and the pain vanished. The wound closed as if it had never been there.

"What the—?!" the bandit stumbled back, staring at me in horror.

[Nexus Point Created.]

The voice rang in my head, calm and emotionless.

The bandit lunged again, but his knife stopped mid-air, frozen inches from my skin.

[Rule of the Universe 1: Do Not Harm Thy Creator. Broken.]

The knife burst into flames, disintegrating in his hands.

"What are you?!" he screamed, his voice trembling.

I didn't know how to answer. I didn't even know what was happening.

[Inserting Knowledge to "The Creator."]

My mind flooded with information. Words, spells, commands—it was overwhelming.

One word stood out.

"Alvrjön."

The moment I spoke it, my arm transformed into a blade of red flame.

The bandit's eyes widened in terror. "A demon! You're a demon!"

I didn't hesitate. One swing, and his head hit the ground.

The swing's force obliterated half the barn, leaving the rest of the farmyard exposed.

The remaining bandits stumbled out, shouting in confusion.

"A DEMON!" one of them yelled.

[Rule of the Universe 2: Never Enter Thy Creator's Restricted Space. Broken.]

The bandit burst into flames, his screams echoing in the night.

The last one dropped his weapon and bolted, disappearing into the forest.

I turned back to the girl. She was awake now, staring at me with wide, tear-filled eyes.

I held up a hand. "Hey, hey. It's okay. I'm not a demon."

She didn't seem convinced, but she nodded.

I knelt down and untied her ropes. The moment she was free, she threw her arms around me, sobbing.

"Th-thank you! I—I thought I was gonna die!"

I froze, unsure of what to do. Then I awkwardly patted her back. "Uh... it's okay. You're safe now."

[New Name Assigned to Thy Creator: The Crimson Lord.]