The sound of flowing water became Aiden Valen’s companion.
For two weeks, he followed the river that cut through the endless forest.
Every day was a battle.
Every night was a test of survival.
But unlike when he first arrived…
Aiden was no longer afraid of the forest.
He respected it.
That was the difference.
The Forbidden Forest was not simply a place filled with monsters.
It was an ecosystem.
Every creature had its own territory.
Every monster had its own habits.
The weak survived by hiding.
The strong survived by hunting.
And Aiden was slowly becoming a hunter.
Early in the morning, Aiden stood beside the river, washing his face.
He looked different from the person who had been thrown into the forest.
His body had become stronger from constant battles.
His movements had become more efficient.
His eyes had become sharper.
A month ago, he depended on luck.
Now, he depended on experience.
Aiden opened his Hero Status.
**Hero Status**
Name: Aiden Valen
Level: 12
Class: Unknown
Ability: Nothingness
Skills:
* Survival Instinct
* Basic Swordsmanship
* Monster Detection (Limited)
Inventory:
* Monster Cores
* Materials
* Herbs
He stared at the status screen.
The system was simple.
But useful.
The other heroes probably had the same system.
The thought crossed his mind.
Haruto.
Li Wei.
Daniel.
Maya.
Seo Ji-ah.
For a moment, he wondered what happened to them.
Were they safe?
Were they still in the kingdom?
Did they think about him?
Aiden quickly pushed those thoughts away.
Thinking about people who abandoned him would not help him survive.
Right now…
He needed to become stronger.
A rustling sound interrupted his thoughts.
Aiden immediately closed his status.
His hand moved toward his sword.
Three monsters appeared from the trees.
Different from the wolves he had fought before.
These creatures were larger.
Their bodies were covered with thick scales.
Forest Claw Lizards.
Three enemies.
One was injured.
Two were healthy.
The injured one was the easiest target.
He moved first.
The lizards noticed him and charged.
Aiden stepped to the side.
The first creature passed him.
He turned and struck its leg.
The monster fell.
Before it could recover, Aiden placed his hand on its body.
Black energy appeared.
Nothingness activated.
The creature disappeared.
The remaining two became aggressive.
One attacked with its claws.
Aiden blocked with his sword.
The impact pushed him several meters backward.
“Strong…”
He tightened his grip.
These monsters were stronger than the ones before.
The second lizard attacked from behind.
Aiden noticed at the last moment.
He moved his body away.
The claws scratched his shoulder.
Pain spread through him.
But he ignored it.
Pain was something he had become familiar with.
Aiden jumped backward and created distance.
He could erase them instantly.
But he wanted to improve.
If he only relied on Nothingness…
He would never become truly strong.
He rushed forward.
The battle continued for several minutes.
The monsters were faster.
Stronger.
More experienced.
But Aiden had something they did not.
Intelligence.
He learned.
Adapted.
Improved.
Finally, he found an opening.
The monster exposed its neck.
Aiden moved.
One strike.
The creature collapsed.
The final lizard roared and charged.
Aiden raised his right hand.
The black energy appeared.
This time, he controlled it better.
Not wild.
Not desperate.
Controlled.
The monster disappeared.
Silence returned.
Aiden stood there, breathing heavily.
Then messages appeared.
**[Monster Defeated]**
**[Experience gained]**
**[Level increased]** This story is hosted at g.com.
Aiden looked at his status.
Level: 14
He smiled slightly.
“Slowly…”
“But I’m getting stronger.”
He collected the monster cores and placed them into his storage.
After several weeks, he understood their value.
Monster cores contained magical energy.
Adventurers probably sold them.
That meant they could become his first source of money once he reached civilization.
The days continued.
Aiden explored more of the river.
He discovered hidden caves.
Ancient ruins covered by plants.
Strange magical areas where normal creatures refused to enter.
The deeper he traveled…
The stronger the monsters became.
But he also discovered more about Nothingness.
At first, he believed it only erased things.
But that was incomplete.
Nothingness was not simply destruction.
It was absence.
The ability to remove something from existence.
Aiden could erase a monster.
A weapon.
A barrier.
But his control was still limited.
Sometimes the ability activated slower.
Sometimes it consumed too much energy.
He needed more training.
One night, Aiden sat beside a small fire.
The river flowed peacefully nearby.
He looked at his reflection.
The person staring back was different.
The weak hero who was thrown away by the kingdom was gone.
In his place was someone who had survived a place where countless people died.
Aiden placed another monster core into his storage.
He now had dozens.
Enough to prove he was no longer powerless.
Suddenly…
The forest became quiet.
Aiden noticed immediately.
The insects stopped.
The birds disappeared.
Even the river seemed strangely calm.
His instincts warned him.
Danger.
Something was nearby.
Something powerful.
Aiden slowly stood.
His hand moved toward his sword.
From deep within the forest…
A heavy presence approached.
The trees began shaking.
A massive shadow moved between them.
Aiden stared into the darkness.
For the first time in weeks…
He felt something close to fear.
Whatever was coming…
It was not a normal monster.
And it was heading straight toward him.