Consumed by darkness, Vale felt a chill run down his spine.
He had grown accustomed to the warm glow of the torch, feeling safe in its embrace, but now, swallowed by endless black, unease crept into his mind.
The eerie embrace of darkness coiled around him, its presence suffocating and deathly cold. It seeped into his very bones, an unnatural chill that no warmth could dispel. A violent shiver ran down his spine as his instincts flared wildly. He could not fight in total darkness—lingering here any longer meant certain death.
It wasn't until his vision adjusted that he noticed something in the distance—a faint ray of light. It was barely visible, so distant and dim that it could almost be an illusion.
And yet, it was real.
He moved toward it, his steps slow and cautious. Keeping a hand against the cave wall for guidance, he pressed forward, his eyes locked onto the light.
Gradually, it grew larger, the darkness became less suffocating with each step, the frigid air less biting—or perhaps he had simply just adjusted to it all.
Soon, the path came to an abrupt halt. The tunnel ended in a sheer rock face. Before him, a cliff stretched downward into an abyss, and at the very bottom, the source of the light shone brilliantly. Warmth radiated from it, far stronger than the one from his torch.
Vale lingered for a moment, staring down at the radiating light.
A faint smile crossed his lips at the sight.
He had no way of knowing what lay at the bottom, but with the passage behind him blocked, there was no other choice.
Without hesitation, he began his descent.
It wasn't until he was dangling over the edge that doubt crept in. The cliffside, though rough and jagged, was slick with humidity, making it treacherously difficult to grip.
His fingers slipped more than once, his body jerking as he barely clung to the rock. His heart pounded, sweat slicking his pale face—not from exertion, but from the razor-sharp focus the task demanded.
One mistake, and he would fall.
And if he did fall… he could only hope it would be instant. A quick death would be merciful compared to the alternative—shattering his legs or back, left helpless at the mercy of whatever creatures lurked below.
The mere thought sent a shiver down his spine, but he forced it away.
Minutes passed, and Vale made steady progress. His arms ached, fingers raw from gripping the harsh stone. But with only a third of the descent remaining, the light grew brighter, wrapping him in its familiar warmth.
Then—at last—the sound of feet striking solid ground echoed through the cave.
Vale exhaled sharply. He had made it down.
But before he could savour the moment, his eyes widened as he took in his surroundings.
He stood in a massive cavern, its vast, dome-like ceiling shimmering with clusters of glowing stones—the same kind that had powered his torch. They varied in size, some no larger than pebbles, others as big as his head, but all pulsed with radiant light.
Scattered across the cave floor, massive boulders lay in uneven formations, their shadows shifting under the flickering light. The air was thick with something that felt almost tangible. An energy that sent a faint hum through his bones.
But none of that compared to what stood at the far end of the cavern.
A towering pillar of light stretched skyward, nearly reaching the ceiling. Its shape was unmistakable—it resembled a tree, if a tree could be woven from pure radiance. From its branches hung numerous circular, fruit-like orbs, each glowing with the same ethereal light.
Vale's breath caught in his throat. His pulse pounded in his ears, drowning out all other sounds.
"W-what? Is that…"
But he already knew.
There was only one type of tree like this in existence.
The Tree of Life.
Vale had never expected to find one so soon—especially not inside a cave. To his knowledge, they only grew on the surface of the Demon Realm, and even then, they were exceedingly rare.
For a fleeting moment, he wondered if he had already died—if this was some kind of dream. But a sharp pinch to his forearm confirmed otherwise.
This was real.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
If he consumed the fruit, he could finally leave this damned place and return to the world of the living.
Determined, he strode forward, weaving swiftly between the scattered boulders, his gaze locked onto the tree.
Then—a deep, thunderous sound echoed through the cavern.
The ground trembled beneath him, nearly knocking him off balance.
"What the hell?!"
The sound came again. Louder and closer than before. The earth quaked with each deafening thump.
Then, something massive loomed ahead.
Vale's gaze snapped toward the source of the noise.
A towering, six-legged figure emerged from the shadows, standing at least seven meters tall. Its body was covered in dense, black hairs that resembled razor-sharp needles. Each of its legs was as thick as a tree trunk. Eight gleaming eyes, one as large as a football, locked onto him.
Vale barely had time to process what he was seeing before one of its massive legs rose high above him.
Instincts kicked in as he subconsciously dashed forward.
A split second later, the creature's leg came crashing down, sending dirt and debris flying. The impact shook the cave, Vale managed to avoid the direct hit but the tremor sent him stumbling forward. He hit the rocky floor hard, the impact knocking the air from his lungs.
For a moment, he lay still, dazed from the impact. The scent of dust and damp stone filled his nostrils. But something surged through him—adrenaline, or perhaps the sight of the Tree of Life. His exhaustion evaporated, his body humming with newfound energy.
In the corner of his eye, the radiant tree pulsed with light. His goal was clear, burning itself into his mind.
Only one thought remained.
"Win"