The forest was alive with the sounds of birds, their calls echoing through the towering trees. I kept walking along the same path where that bear had come from earlier.
Still, I hadn't found anything and I also feel like a hours is also pass.
Then suddenly, I heard it — the sound of splashing.
I froze.
I knew that sound.
Finally…Finally I'd found it.
Without thinking, I started running — faster than before. My heartbeat echoed in my ears as I followed the sound through the thick forest. But just as I was getting close, my instincts screamed a warning.
I dropped flat to the ground.
Something shot out from above, tearing through the air where I had been standing a second ago. The sheer speed of the attack made me crash into a nearby tree, the impact rattling my bones — but I wasn't hurt.
Staggering to my feet, I scanned the trees. Nothing. Just silence.
But then… rustling. Something was moving above me — fast, almost invisible among the branches.
I tightened my grip on the broken sword.
What the hell is that…?
Again, my senses flared — danger! I dove to the right, rolled, and came up in a crouch.
Nothing. The forest was still.
"Whatever this thing is, it's fast… and damn good at hiding," I muttered under my breath.
Then, a faint shift in the air. My instincts screamed again — from above.
I swung the sword upward.
There was a shriek — high-pitched and savage.
A creature fell from the tree, blood spraying across the roots. It was a monkey — but not an ordinary one. Its eyes glowed faintly red, and its claws were long, sharp, and black like obsidian.
It screamed again, but I didn't hesitate. One swift motion — and I cut it down.
After the fight with that bear earlier, my senses had become sharper. Almost supernatural. It feels like I've got spider-sense or something, I thought grimly.
But the forest went quiet for only a moment — then came the rustling. Many rustlings.
I looked up and saw several of glowing red eyes in the dark canopy.
They were surrounding me.
"System," I said quickly. "Tell me what these things are."
[It is Wood Monkey F rank — a species that hunts in groups.]
A grin tugged at my lips. "Ha! F-rank? Come at me, you damn monkeys!"
Maybe it was my taunt — or maybe their instinct — but their eyes glowed brighter, and their snarls filled the air. I realized too late that there weren't just three or four… there were dozens.
"I can't fight this many," I muttered. "I need to run."
I turned — but one monkey leapt at me with incredible speed. Its claws gleamed as they sliced down toward my neck. My senses screamed again — move or die!
I twisted, shoved it away, and swung my sword in a wide arc. Its body hit the ground, lifeless.
"They're fast… but not strong," I thought.
No time to celebrate. I sprinted toward the direction of the splashing sound — the waterfall yeah i know it is the sound of watefall. The monkeys gave chase, screeching wildly.
One after another lunged at me — I cut down three more as I ran. But there were more ahead, dozens more. My breath came hard and fast.
If only I had power…
Then it hit me — I have the power.
Of course! But… how do I use them?
Two monkeys appeared ahead, blocking my path, their claws raised to shred me apart. I panicked — no idea how to activate anything.
Death was only a second away. I shut my eyes and think of Shadow step —
And then everything changed.
My body… dissolved. Like I melted into the ground.
I opened my eyes — and found myself behind them.
Before they could even react, my sword flashed twice. Their heads fell to the ground.
"What the hell— I used a skill! But how?"
The more monkey attack me.
Again, I felt that strange pull — my body fading into shadow — and I emerged beside another monkey, slicing it down before it could even turn.
"I can move through shadows… in an instant." I grinned, excitement rushing through me. "This is awesome I feel like cheat skill."
But my celebration didn't last. I looked up — and saw the rest of them. Dozens of red eyes glaring down. The entire forest seemed to tremble.
"Oh, would you look at that," I muttered, a bead of sweat running down my face. "Guess it's time for my second skill… Dark Pressure."
The words had barely left my mouth before a dark wave pulsed outward.
The air thickened. Heavy. Oppressive.
The monkeys froze. Their claws trembled. Their knees bent under the sudden invisible weight. The ground seemed to drag them down. Their minds screamed run — but their bodies wouldn't move.
Even the smarter ones hesitated before bolting into the trees. The rest followed, panic spreading like wildfire. Within a minute, they were gone.
I let out a shaky laugh. "What a broken skill… This'll be perfect for fighting large groups."
Then suddenly I feel pain.
A sharp, throbbing pain in my head.
"System… what's happening?it is a some kind of Side effects?"
[Yes. Side effects of Dark pressure skill]
– Throbbing migraines after prolonged use
– Mana dizziness (temporary loss of balance or focus)
– Minor nose or ear bleeding in extreme cases
– Temporary mana turbulence: weakened control for several minutes
I touch my nose a I feel blood.
I wiped my nose .
"So you're telling me that in a fight to the death, this skill not just weakens my opponent it will weaken me too? Why even give me something that have so many side effects it could kill me if I use in serious situation?" I snapped, irritated.
[Side effects lessen with repeated use]
[System advise the host to increase the rank of Endurance.]
"Fine. I'll just have to get stronger to fully functional all my skills," I muttered, steadying myself.
I now kept walking and following the sound of rushing water until finally, I found it.
A waterfall.
I run to it .
I knelt beside the pool, cupped the cold water in my hands, and drank deeply.
As I leaned forward, I caught the reflection in the water — a boy, not older than fourteen, stared back.
Blood-red eyes. Abyss-black hair. Sharp features.
"I… I'm an Uchiha," I whispered, stunned. "A damn fucking Uchiha…"
A grin spread across my face. "I got good face in this life , in my last life i have decent face.
Then — splash.
Something fell from the waterfall into the pool beside me.
A body.
I froze. Slowly, I turned my gaze.
It was a boy — around my age — lying lifeless in the water.
As I looked around, I realized there were more. Dozens of them. Boys and girls, all about my age, scattered near the rocks, their bodies still and pale.
The joy drained from my face.
"What… what the hell happened here?" I whispered.
The forest that once felt alive now felt suffocatingly silent. The air hung heavy with the smell of blood and decay.
For the first time that day, a chill ran down my spine.
Something far darker or dangerous was waiting beyond that waterfall.