[The exhausted breaths of those returning from the forest]
[The wind moving through distant leaves]
[The sound of weary footsteps]
The moment Arjun crossed the outer boundary of the forest, he finally felt the full weight of exhaustion settling onto his shoulders.
The battle was over.
Captain Bloodshadow had fallen.
And the mysterious presence associated with the red shoes had disappeared into the mist.
Yet the strange coldness remained buried deep within Arjun.
It was not the kind of cold that came from the body.
It came from memories.
Behind him walked Commander Veerbhadra—weak and injured, but still alive.
Ahead lay the camp, their destination.
And as they continued along the path, Arjun began to understand something for the first time.
Victory did not always mean celebration.
Sometimes, victory simply meant bringing someone home alive.
[The sound of slow footsteps]
Aarav, Cross, and Apex Raptor were traveling with them as well.
The other people they had rescued along the way had gradually gone their separate ways.
Arjun had not tried to stop them.
In this world, everyone was responsible for their own survival.
Cross supported Veerbhadra’s weight.
“Slowly,” he said.
“Don’t force your breathing.”
Apex Raptor’s eyes kept turning toward the forest.
She remained cautious, the tension in her posture unmistakable.
Arjun studied their expressions.
Both of them were afraid.
But their fear was for Veerbhadra, not for themselves.
As they walked, Aarav quietly asked,
“Is anyone still following us?”
Arjun shook his head.
“No.”
Aarav released a long breath, though he did not seem entirely relieved.
“Good.”
After a while, they reached the path from which the distant outline of the camp could be seen between the trees.
Tall wooden fences.
Guards.
Smoke rising in the distance.
And the small signs of life that surrounded the settlement.
The sight created an unfamiliar warmth inside Arjun.
It was not quite like home.
But it felt like returning somewhere.
The guards standing outside the camp noticed them.
Their expressions immediately changed.
“They’re back!”
“Commander Veerbhadra!”
“Are they all alive?”
[The growing noise of a crowd]
Within moments, several people had gathered outside the entrance.
Some stared at Arjun in astonishment.
Others looked at Veerbhadra’s condition.
And some, after seeing the two of them together, immediately understood that this was no ordinary return.
Cross tightened his grip on Veerbhadra.
“He needs to see the healer immediately.”
Apex Raptor suddenly turned toward Arjun.
“Where is Savage Ghost?”
Arjun remained silent for a moment.
His eyes settled on a distant point.
“Dead,” he answered calmly.
“He died in the battle.”
Cross and Apex Raptor both stopped moving.
For several moments, nobody spoke.
Then a flicker of grief appeared in Apex Raptor’s eyes.
She did not break down or burst into tears.
But her expression carried the pain of someone who had just lost a part of her world.
Cross spoke quietly. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“Then Squad Bloodshadow…”
Arjun answered without emotion.
“They won’t be operating anymore.”
The expressions on both their faces grew even more serious.
But Arjun did not stop there.
He continued,
“They attacked us and surrounded Veerbhadra.
If we had delayed any longer, he wouldn’t have survived.”
Apex Raptor looked at him.
There was no suspicion in her eyes anymore.
Only respect.
The kind of respect that arose from an uncomfortable truth.
“You did all of that yourself?” she asked.
Arjun nodded.
Cross studied him from head to toe.
His gaze was no longer the same as before.
There was less disbelief in it now.
And much more understanding.
“You’re a strange boy,” he muttered.
Arjun did not answer.
Because, at times, he had thought the same thing about himself.
[The growing sounds of activity within the camp]
As they moved farther inside, the news spread rapidly.
Someone ran to inform others.
Someone else leaned out to take a look.
Another person went searching for someone who needed to hear the news immediately.
Within a short time, a large part of the camp knew that Veerbhadra had returned injured—and that Arjun had returned with him.
By the time they reached the medical area, the healer’s tent was already prepared.
Veerbhadra was carefully carried inside and laid down.
The Great Healer understood his condition at a glance.
“He needs medicine immediately,” he said.
“The corruption has penetrated deeply into his body.”
Arjun remained silent, but his fists tightened slightly.
The Great Healer then looked at him.
“You’ve returned again?”
Arjun simply replied,
“I had to bring him here.”
The Great Healer studied him for a few moments before giving a slight nod.
“You both did the right thing.”
Outside the tent, people were gathering.
And among them, someone quietly remarked,
“That boy…”
“He doesn’t just pass trials.”
“He can bring people back alive.”
The words spread quickly.
When Arjun stepped outside, he faced a strange situation.
People were no longer looking at him the way they had before.
He was no longer the newcomer.
Now, he was the boy who had challenged a squad like Bloodshadow and returned alive.
Some people bowed their heads slightly when he passed.
Others silently stepped aside.
A few still watched him carefully, trying to judge his true abilities.
But the contempt that had once surrounded him had begun to fade.
Aarav came to stand beside him.
“See that?” he whispered.
“Everyone is going to talk about you now.”
Arjun replied coldly,
“Let them.”
Aarav laughed a little.
“You really are made of something different.”
Arjun looked at him.
“Made of what?”
Aarav had no answer. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
By evening, a new tension had spread throughout the camp.
The name Bloodshadow was no longer being spoken with fear alone.
It had become a symbol of failure.
And Veerbhadra’s name—which people had previously associated mainly with a stern hunter—was now being spoken with greater respect.
But Arjun’s thoughts were elsewhere.
He kept returning to that final moment.
The red shoes.
The mist.
And the woman’s voice that only Veerbhadra had recognized.
When night fell, Arjun quietly made his way toward the healer’s tent.
Veerbhadra appeared to be in slightly better condition.
His eyes were open.
But his face was still exhausted.
Arjun stood beside him.
“How are you feeling?”
Veerbhadra gave a faint smile.
“Still alive.”
Arjun nodded.
“That song…”
Veerbhadra’s gaze drifted toward the distance.
“Don’t ask about it yet.”
Arjun paused.
Veerbhadra spoke quietly.
“Sometimes, certain memories are so heavy that they cannot be carried all at once.”
Arjun silently accepted his words.
Then Veerbhadra looked at him carefully.
“You did well today.”
Arjun offered no reply.
Veerbhadra’s voice grew more serious.
“But things are going to change inside the camp now.”
“People will watch you.”
“Some will test you.”
“Some will try to get close to you.”
“And others…”
He paused.
“Others will try to break you.”
Arjun met his eyes.
“I know.”
Veerbhadra gave a slight nod.
“Good.”
“But knowing isn’t enough.”
“You also have to understand.”
[The quiet night breeze]
Arjun stepped outside.
The camp was peaceful that night, but it no longer seemed as innocent as it once had.
Every corner now held a new sign for him to interpret.
It was almost as though the camp itself had begun to recognize him.
He looked up at the night sky.
Until yesterday, he had simply been surviving.
Today, people knew who he was.
And tomorrow…
Perhaps he would have to make choices.
A new thought emerged in his mind.
If he wanted to survive here, repay his debt to Veerbhadra, and eventually reach the Life Flower, he would have to understand every layer of this camp.
He slowly placed a hand on his bag.
The Blue Jade Stone felt slightly warm.
As though it were telling him—
Move forward.
Arjun took a step into the darkness of the night.
Chapter CliffhangerWho will be the first person in the camp to challenge Arjun?
Who is the woman connected to Veerbhadra’s memories of the red shoes?
Will the people of the camp begin treating Arjun as an ally—or as a threat?
And will the Blue Jade Stone guide Arjun toward a new destination the following morning?