After several relentless days of navigating the forest—fighting, running, and enduring the unyielding pressure of Floor 29—we finally stumbled upon what felt like a miracle: a cave nestled deep in the corner of the forest, shielded by overgrown vines and jagged roots.
It was oddly quiet around it. No tracks. No howls. No monstrous mana signatures lingering in the air.
Almost like a safe zone.
My body was battered with exhaustion. The constant skirmishes had drained me more than I cared to admit. Sleep had become a luxury, usually interrupted by the howls of dire wolves or the rumble of territorial beasts. I'd barely managed more than a few hours of rest between each wave of combat. And even then, I'd slept with one eye open, my mana senses on high alert.
