The forest didn't move.
That was the first thing Jeong Min noticed.
Back in the real world, forests were full of life. Wind through leaves. Insects buzzing. Small animals running somewhere in the distance.
Here?
Nothing.
Just silence.
The kind of silence that presses on your ears until it starts to hurt.
Jeong Min leaned his back against the cold rock wall inside the narrow passage between the cliffs. His breathing slowly started to calm down, but his body was still tense.
Outside, the shadow beast circled the entrance like a hungry dog waiting for its meal.
Its claws scraped the stone.
Again.
And again.
"Yeah… keep trying," Jeong Min muttered under his breath.
The creature growled in response, as if it understood him.
A faint blue screen appeared in front of his eyes.
[Trial Status]
Location: Shadow ForestObjective: SurviveTime Remaining: 21:34
Jeong Min wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Twenty minutes left…"
It sounded simple.
Just survive.
But looking at the monster outside… he knew it wouldn't be that easy.
The beast stopped pacing.
Its glowing red eyes stared straight into the narrow gap.
Waiting.
Jeong Min frowned.
"…That's weird."
Most animals would have left by now.
But this one didn't.
It was patient.
Too patient.
And then it clicked.
"It knows," Jeong Min whispered.
The beast wasn't stupid.
It understood the situation.
Jeong Min was trapped inside.
Eventually… he would have to come out.
The monster simply needed to wait.
"Damn."
Jeong Min rubbed the back of his neck.
"That's not good."
The system window flickered again.
[Observation:]
Shadow Beast – Hunting Behavior Detected.
Jeong Min stared at the message.
"Yeah thanks… very helpful."
Another message appeared.
[Host survival probability updated.]
A number appeared.
3%
"…Hey!"
That was even worse than before.
Jeong Min clicked his tongue.
"Real motivating system you are."
He peeked through the gap again.
The beast hadn't moved far.
Still waiting.
Still watching.
And slowly… a small smile appeared on Jeong Min's face.
"Alright."
"If you want to wait…"
"Then let's see who gets tired first."
He sat down on the rocky ground.
Minutes passed.
The forest remained quiet.
The beast growled occasionally, pacing around the entrance, sometimes scratching at the rocks again.
But the narrow passage still protected him.
Time passed slowly.
The system timer ticked down.
18:52
Jeong Min tilted his head back against the stone.
His mind wasn't focused on the monster anymore.
He was thinking.
About the system.
About the trial.
About the rule.
Survive.
That word kept echoing in his mind.
If the goal was survival…
Then the forest itself was the battlefield.
And everything inside it…
Was a weapon.
Jeong Min slowly leaned forward again.
His eyes scanned the ground.
Small rocks.
Loose dirt.
Sharp stones.
Then he looked toward the entrance again.
The shadow beast was still there.
But now it had moved closer.
Too close.
Jeong Min picked up a rock quietly.
Not too big.
Just enough to throw.
He waited.
The beast moved again.
Closer.
Closer.
Its head pushed into the narrow entrance slightly, sniffing the air.
Perfect.
Jeong Min threw the rock.
Not at the beast.
At the cliff wall above it.
CRACK.
The rock struck the stone, breaking a small chunk loose.
The falling stone hit the beast's shoulder.
The creature snarled violently.
It lunged forward instinctively.
But the gap was still too narrow.
Its body slammed against the rock wall.
The entire passage shook.
Dust rained down.
Jeong Min quickly grabbed another stone.
This one sharper.
He waited for the beast to pull back.
Then—
He threw again.
This time directly at its eye.
THUD.
The beast roared.
The stone didn't blind it.
But it hurt.
The creature backed away from the entrance, shaking its head angrily.
Jeong Min didn't smile.
He didn't celebrate.
He just watched carefully.
The monster was angry now.
And angry creatures made mistakes.
The system window flickered again.
[Host Behavior Analysis]
A pause.
Then another line appeared.
[Tactical harassment detected.]
Jeong Min snorted.
"…Harassment huh."
He leaned against the wall again.
Time continued ticking down.
14:10
The beast hadn't left.
But it was pacing more aggressively now.
Its patience was running out.
And that meant something important.
Soon…
It would attack recklessly.
Jeong Min stood up slowly.
"Good."
He cracked his neck.
"That's what I'm waiting for."
Outside, the beast suddenly stopped moving.
Its red eyes locked onto him again.
Then something strange happened.
Another sound echoed through the forest.
Footsteps.
Human footsteps.
Jeong Min froze.
"…What?"
The shadow beast also turned its head.
A group of figures appeared between the trees.
Three people.
Hunters.
Their armor was scratched and dirty.
Their weapons were covered in dried blood.
One of them noticed the beast immediately.
"Hey… look at that."
Another hunter grinned.
"A shadow beast."
The third one laughed.
"That thing's worth money."
Jeong Min narrowed his eyes from inside the passage.
"…Hunters."
The shadow beast growled at them.
But it didn't attack immediately.
It was confused.
Three hunters instead of one prey.
One of the hunters stepped forward confidently.
"Easy kill."
He raised his sword.
The other two spread out.
The beast roared and lunged.
The battle exploded instantly.
Steel clashed against claws.
Dark mist burst into the air.
Jeong Min watched silently.
His brain was already calculating.
Three hunters.
One beast.
Both sides dangerous.
Both sides enemies.
But only one rule mattered.
Survive.
The fight outside grew chaotic.
The beast was strong.
Stronger than Jeong Min expected.
One hunter was thrown into a tree.
Another nearly lost his arm.
But the hunters had numbers.
And experience.
One of them stabbed the beast's side.
Black mist sprayed across the ground.
The monster howled.
Jeong Min watched carefully.
And then…
He noticed something.
The beast was slowly backing toward the passage again.
Toward him.
"…Not good."
If the fight moved here, he would be trapped between both sides.
Jeong Min quickly moved deeper into the passage.
Thinking.
Fast.
Very fast.
Then an idea appeared.
Crazy.
But possible.
He grabbed a sharp stone from the ground.
Waited.
Watched the fight.
One hunter got too close to the beast.
The creature slashed his chest.
Blood spilled across the ground.
The man screamed.
The other two hunters attacked desperately.
Chaos.
Confusion.
Perfect timing.
Jeong Min stepped out of the passage suddenly.
"HEY!"
All three hunters turned toward him.
Even the beast paused.
Jeong Min pointed toward the wounded hunter.
"Behind you!"
Instinctively, the wounded man turned.
At that exact moment—
Jeong Min threw the sharp stone.
It struck the man's leg.
He stumbled.
And the shadow beast took the opportunity.
The monster lunged.
Claws tore through the hunter's body.
Blood exploded across the forest floor.
The other hunters shouted in shock.
Jeong Min was already running.
He disappeared between the trees instantly.
Behind him, the battle turned even more violent.
The system screen appeared again.
[Time Remaining: 03:41]
Jeong Min didn't slow down.
His heart pounded in his chest.
But his mind remained calm.
Cold.
Focused.
"…Sorry," he muttered quietly.
"But survival comes first."
Far behind him, the sounds of battle faded.
And somewhere deep in the forest…
The system continued watching.
Silently evaluating its unworthy host