Alex stirred, shifting slightly against the sturdy tree trunk he had leaned against.
This was still only a few hours after the trio had arrived back at the village after reaching the seventh floor of the tower.
The quiet hum of the [Fox Tribe Village] at night, accompanied by the gentle rustle of leaves, filled the air.
The girls were still inside of Alera’s home, enjoying themselves, while he had asked them he needed to take a break.
For some strange reason, Alex had a bad feeling about all of this.
It was not like a feeling of despair because he thought he would never be able to get all the items he needed, nor of fear of these powerful enemies waiting for him.
Instead… it was almost as if his brain was telling him something was off.
He closed his eyes for a few minutes to think about what he would need to do next.
But as once he opened them again, the world around him disappeared.
“Huh?”
Alex found himself suspended in a black void. It was silent, eerily so.
The endless expanse of darkness stretched in every direction, as if he had been swallowed by the void itself.
[You are going to die.]
A deep, guttural voice echoed through the emptiness.
Alex tensed, his head darting around in search of the source. “…?”
In the distance, something began to take shape, stepping forward with an unnerving grace.
A figure emerged, its form glowing faintly with crimson energy.
Its wide, unsettling grin revealed rows of sharp, shadowy teeth, and its body pulsated with a malevolent aura.
Alex’s breath caught in his throat.
There was no mistaking it. Even from this distance, he recognized the figure immediately.
The [Hatred Demon].
[My power is unstoppable, child. Give up.]
The voice reverberated in Alex’s mind, carrying a weight that seemed to crush the air around him.
“You…” Alex whispered, his fists clenching instinctively.
His mind raced, but he couldn’t make sense of the situation.
Where was he? How did he get here? Everything about this place felt off, like he wasn’t in the real world anymore.
Before Alex could speak again, the demon’s form flickered.
In an instant, it appeared right in front of him, towering over him like an executioner delivering judgment.
[Your time has come.]
Without warning, the demon raised its claws, black as night and dripping with crimson energy.
Slash!
The motion was swift, a blur of red and black.
Alex’s body was torn apart, slashed into countless pieces before he could even react.
“…!” Alex gasped, his eyes snapping open.
His chest heaved as he sucked in air, his heart pounding violently against his ribs.
He blinked several times, trying to shake off the disorienting fog in his mind.
The cool night air of the [Fox Tribe Village] surrounded him once more, the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the canopy above.
For a moment, he just sat there, leaning against the tree, struggling to calm his racing thoughts.
“A dream?” Alex muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.
No, it felt far too real to be just a dream.
Instead, it felt more like his instincts were warning him of something.
The voice, the demon, the pain of being torn apart… it lingered in his mind like a shadow he couldn’t shake.
“Alex!”
A voice called out, followed by another.
“Is he sleeping?”
“Wait!”
He looked up and saw them, Alice, Aurelia, Lilith, Alera, and even Eleonora, the dragon, all gathered before him.
Their expressions were a mix of concern and curiosity.
“My bad,” he scratched his head as he stood.
But as his gaze swept over the group, the warm glow of the village behind them, a sudden vision overtook him.
The scene shifted in an instant.
The girls lay lifeless on the ground, their bodies motionless and bloodied.
The village was engulfed in flames, the acrid stench of smoke and blood filling the air.
Crimson splatters painted the earth, and the sound of distant, haunting wails echoed faintly.
“Argh-!” Alex clutched his right eye, doubling over as the vision dissolved, leaving him gasping for breath.
“Alex, are you okay?” Alice’s worried voice broke through the haze as she rushed to his side, “Alera, help him!” she called out.
“On it!” The Fox Queen moved quickly, retrieving a [Max Health Potion] and pressing it into Alex’s hands.
“Drink this,” Alera said firmly.
Alex obeyed, downing the potion in one go.
Though he wasn’t physically injured, the potion’s warmth spread through his body, soothing the storm within him.
At this point, he couldn’t deny it: something was happening.
The [Hatred Demon], it had to be connected to this.
Its power was growing, and its influence was spreading rapidly as well.
Alex’s jaw tightened as realization struck. This village, its people, the foxes, they were all in danger.
And in this world, NPCs didn’t revive. If the foxes fell, it would be over. Completely and utterly game over.
As if to confirm his fears, a new system panel appeared before him:
[The Heart of Calamity has decided to show you a distant vision.]
Alex stared at the words, confused but resolute.
He didn’t have time to dwell on their meaning or question how this was even possible. He needed to act fast.
Turning toward Aurelia, he spoke, his voice low but firm.
“Aurelia, I need you to contact your father. See if he’s willing to speak with me, and be cautious of Daniel. I have a bad feeling he’s plotting something.”
Aurelia nodded and opened her [Friends Panel], reaching out to her father.
He had only logged in into the game to add her and be able to speak whenever.
[Aurelia: Dad? Is Daniel home?]
[Mike Thunder: No, he’s not. He should be in the game or something. Before he left, he said he wasn’t planning on coming back for a while. That kid’s got issues.]
[Aurelia: Okay, thanks.]
Closing the panel, she turned back to Alex.
“He’s not home, but my dad said Daniel mentioned not returning for a while. Sounds suspicious.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed.
Hatred Demon. Danger. Fox Tribe Village. Death.
“I need to talk to your dad,” Alex said. “Tell him it’s urgent.”
Aurelia hesitated but complied, reopening the panel.
[Aurelia: Someone wants to talk to you. Is it possible?]
[Mike Thunder: Boyfriend?]
[Aurelia: No! Just a friend!]
[Mike Thunder: Alright, bring him tomorrow if it’s that important.]
She relayed the response, and Alex nodded, his expression resolute.
Whatever Daniel was planning, Alex was determined to intervene before it was too late.
“Though… I doubt he could find this village,” Alex mused aloud, more to himself than Aurelia. “And he shouldn’t be strong enough to reach the forest’s center.”
But deep down, he couldn’t shake the unease.
He knew the [Hatred Demon] was growing stronger, but he hadn’t considered the possibility that it had already connected to another human.
To Alex, this was about preparing Mike and Aurelia for the worst: the possibility that Daniel could come after them.
In his previous life, Daniel had murdered his family, not because of some task, but because they were obstacles in his quest for power.
Sooner or later, Daniel would act.
What Alex didn’t realize was how far Daniel had progressed.
He was now nearly as strong as Alex thanks to the [Hatred Demon], with the terrifying ability to deliver instant and permanent death.
No matter what, Alex had to warn Mike and prepare for the [Golden Star Festival].
It was only a matter of time before the pieces on the board began to move.