Tatata.
Tia raced through the dungeon.
His body moved with a speed he never thought possible.
The ants were only inches behind him.
Survive.
That was the only thought left in his mind.
Then—
he saw it.
Finally.
Five separate paths.
Dark.
Silent.
Cold.
Not a trace of warmth.
After countless wrong turns.
Countless deaths.
Countless screams.
He had found them.
For the first time since the trial began—
Tia smiled.
A genuine smile.
"...Finally."
He stepped toward the first passage.
Then—
something changed.
The ants stopped.
None of them dared move any farther.
Tia noticed it immediately.
The monsters...
were trembling.
They remained frozen for several seconds.
Then—
they turned around.
And left.
Tia frowned.
"...What?"
Their behavior made no sense.
But he continued anyway.
The moment he entered—
two enormous emerald-green eyes opened in the darkness.
Hiss.
A massive monster slowly emerged.
[Abyssal Black Serpent]
Its body filled the entire passage.
Its scales reflected the faint crystal light.
Its gaze never left Tia.
Tia's pupils shrank.
His thoughts froze.
His body refused to move.
He turned to run.
Too late.
The serpent had already blocked the only exit.
It hissed once more.
Then lunged.
Fast.
Certain.
Tia trembled.
The monster was only seconds away from swallowing him whole.
At the very last moment—
one thought surfaced.
Survive.
He tried to move.
Darkness.
Ding.
[First Path Explored.]
...
[Incorrect Path.]
[Penalty: Ongoing.]
[Death Count: 295]
[Remaining Paths: 4]
Death Count: 296.
The second path.
A giant armored beast.
Darkness.
Death Count: 297.
The third path.
A crimson giant.
Darkness.
Death Count: 298.
The fourth path.
Darkness.
Tia opened his eyes once more.
The cave.
The same cold air.
The same silence.
Only one path remained.
One.
A weak laugh escaped him.
"...Finally."
"The end of this loop."
For the first time—
hope returned.
He walked.
Past shattered stone.
Past the cold walls.
Until—
the corridor ended.
Tia stepped into a vast chamber.
Then stopped.
His smile disappeared.
There was no treasure.
No exit.
No reward.
Nothing.
Only a single figure.
An old sculpture.
Standing silently at the center of the chamber.
Tall.
Dark.
Pale.
Waiting.
Its face was completely blank.
Featureless.
A rusted axe rested in its hand.
Black armor covered its body—
so dark it was almost invisible unless viewed closely.
It didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't speak.
It simply stood there.
Watching.
Cold sweat rolled down Tia's face.
Goosebumps spread across his skin.
One minute passed.
Nothing happened.
Not even a system message.
Slowly...
Tia relaxed.
He sat against the cold stone floor.
Staring at the silent sculpture.
Then—
his heartbeat skipped.
Something moved.
".. what".
Impossible.
Ding.
The system appeared.
[Correct Path Confirmed.]
Tia stared at the message.
Instead of relief—
his chest grew heavier.
Then—
another notification appeared.
Ding.
[Final Obstacle Detected.]
Silence.
Tia's fingers tightened.
"...Seriously?"
A dry laugh escaped him.
"...Am going insane."
[The Forgotten Hunter.]