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The forest did not forget.
Even after the clash had ended…
even after the intruder vanished into nothing—
Something remained.
Watching.
Waiting.
---
The camp had doubled its guards that night.
Torches burned brighter.
Patrols moved faster.
No one dared to relax.
But tension still lingered.
Because this wasn't a victory.
It was a warning.
---
Rosy stood at the edge of the camp, her gaze fixed on the dark forest beyond.
Her armor was still on.
Untouched.
As if she hadn't moved since the fight.
---
"…He knew something."
Her voice was low.
Barely above a whisper.
---
Behind her—
Footsteps approached.
Familiar.
Unhurried.
---
"You're thinking about him."
---
She didn't turn.
"…The masked man," she corrected.
A pause.
Then—
"And what he said."
---
A soft chuckle.
"You mean the part where he confirmed you're not as lost as you pretend to be?"
---
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"I'm not pretending."
---
"Mm."
---
That sound again.
Doubtful.
Amused.
Annoying.
---
Rosy exhaled slowly.
"Stop speaking like you understand something I don't."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
"Because I do."
---
This time—
She turned.
---
His expression wasn't playful.
Not teasing.
Not mocking.
---
Serious.
---
And that—
Was new.
---
"…Then explain," she said.
---
A long pause followed.
The wind shifted slightly, brushing past them.
---
But instead of answering—
He asked:
---
"What did you feel?"
---
Rosy blinked.
"…What?"
---
"In that moment," he continued. "When you fought. When you moved."
His eyes locked onto hers.
"What did it feel like?"
---
Her lips parted slightly—
Then closed again.
---
Because the answer wasn't simple.
---
"…Familiar," she admitted slowly.
---
His gaze sharpened.
---
"Not learned," she added. "Not instinct."
A pause.
"…Remembered."
---
Silence fell.
Heavy.
---
Then—
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
---
"There it is."
---
Rosy frowned.
"That's not normal."
---
"No," he agreed.
---
Another step closer.
---
"It's not."
---
Her heartbeat picked up slightly.
Not from fear.
Not entirely.
---
"…Then what is it?" she asked.
---
He stopped just in front of her.
Close enough that she could feel his presence clearly now.
---
"It's you," he said quietly.
---
Her breath hitched.
---
"No," she shook her head immediately. "That's Isle."
---
"And you are in her body."
---
"That doesn't mean—"
---
"It does."
---
The words were firm this time.
Unmoving.
---
"You think you replaced her," he continued.
"You think you're controlling something that belonged to someone else."
---
A pause.
---
"You're wrong."
---
Rosy's eyes narrowed slightly.
---
"…Then say it clearly."
---
He leaned in slightly—
Not enough to touch.
Just enough to make the distance feel intentional.
---
"You didn't take her place."
---
A beat.
---
"You woke up as her."
---
Silence.
---
The wind stilled.
---
Everything slowed—
Just for a second.
---
"…That doesn't make sense," Rosy said quietly.
---
"It will."
---
Her expression hardened slightly.
"I don't accept vague answers."
---
A soft smile.
---
"Then find the truth."
---
She stared at him.
Unimpressed.
---
"You're really useless sometimes."
---
A laugh escaped him.
Low.
Genuine.
---
"And yet," he said, "you keep asking me questions."
---
She looked away.
"…Because you keep appearing."
---
A pause.
---
"And you don't seem surprised by anything happening."
---
His gaze softened—
Just slightly.
---
"Because I've seen it before."
---
Her head snapped back toward him.
---
"…What?"
---
But before he could answer—
---
A sudden tremor shook the ground.
---
Not violent.
But enough.
---
Enough to make the soldiers nearby react instantly.
---
"What was that?!"
"Earthquake?"
"No—something's wrong—"
---
Rosy's expression changed immediately.
Focused.
---
"Stay alert," she ordered.
---
Her eyes scanned the forest again.
This time—
More carefully.
---
Because something had changed.
---
The air felt heavier.
---
Colder.
---
And then—
---
A sound.
---
Low.
---
Deep.
---
Not human.
---
The soldiers froze.
---
"…Did you hear that?"
---
Rosy didn't answer.
---
Because she did.
---
And she recognized it.
---
Not from memory.
---
From instinct.
---
"…It's not an ambush," she said quietly.
---
The man beside her watched her closely.
---
"…Then what is it?" he asked.
---
Rosy's grip on her sword tightened.
---
"…Something worse."
---
---
The ground trembled again.
---
This time—
Stronger.
---
Branches cracked in the distance.
Birds scattered into the sky.
---
And from the darkness—
---
Something moved.
---
Huge.
---
Unnatural.
---
The soldiers stepped back instinctively.
---
"What is that—?!"
---
A shape emerged slowly from the forest.
---
Towering.
---
Massive.
---
Eyes glowing faintly in the dark.
---
"…A beast?" someone whispered.
---
No.
---
Rosy's eyes narrowed.
---
"…Not just a beast."
---
It stepped forward—
Fully revealing itself.
---
Black.
Twisted.
Covered in scars that didn't look natural.
---
And its eyes—
---
Were wrong.
---
Too aware.
---
Too intelligent.
---
"…It's been altered," she said quietly.
---
The man beside her smiled faintly.
---
"Now this is interesting."
---
Rosy shot him a look.
"This isn't entertainment."
---
"No," he agreed.
---
His gaze darkened slightly.
---
"It's a message."
---
---
The creature let out a low growl—
---
And charged.
---
"FORM RANKS!" a soldier shouted.
---
But Rosy—
---
Didn't wait.
---
She stepped forward.
---
Alone.
---
"Stay back," she said.
---
The soldiers froze.
---
"B-But—"
---
"That's an order."
---
Her voice didn't rise.
---
But it carried absolute authority.
---
No one moved.
---
Because they couldn't.
---
Not when she stood like that.
---
Calm.
---
Unshaken.
---
Facing something that should have terrified her—
---
And not backing down.
---
---
The creature lunged.
---
Fast.
---
Far too fast for its size.
---
Rosy moved.
---
Not back.
---
Forward.
---
Steel clashed against claw—
---
The impact echoed sharply through the air.
---
But she didn't fall.
---
Didn't falter.
---
Her feet held firm.
---
"…You're not normal either," she murmured.
---
The creature roared—
---
And attacked again.
---
---
Behind her—
---
The man watched silently.
---
His expression unreadable.
---
But his eyes—
---
Focused.
---
Sharp.
---
Almost… proud.
---
"…Yes," he whispered.
---
"So show me."
---
---
Rosy's eyes darkened.
---
The purple within them gleamed faintly.
---
Not fear.
---
Not hesitation.
---
Something else.
---
Something deeper.
---
"…Fine."
---
Her grip tightened.
---
Her stance shifted.
---
And for the first time—
---
She stopped holding back.
---
---
Because if this world wanted a monster—
---
She would show them one.
---
---
End of Chapter 8