March 9th, 2027 — The Realm of Exodus (Hour 30)
The jungle had changed.
The longer Min-Jae and Yu-Ri stayed in the Tutorial Forest, the more unnatural it became. Trees pulsed faintly at night. The stars above had started moving, forming new constellations each time they looked. Gravity fluctuated slightly. Shadows sometimes moved in the opposite direction of light.
Min-Jae was starting to realize something terrifying.
This world wasn't stable. It was… watching them. Reacting. Evolving.
---
The Camp
The group of six survivors had grown to nine. Two new people joined them the night before—a Japanese girl with foxlike reflexes named Kana, and a tall, silent man called Do-Hyun.
Min-Jae didn't trust him.
There was something too calm about the man. He moved with precision, said little, and seemed to observe everyone, especially Min-Jae. His weapon of choice: a curved black blade with etchings that looked like they had been carved by fire itself.
Yu-Ri, however, seemed drawn to him.
She had started talking to Do-Hyun during cooking shifts. Nothing suspicious. Not yet. But the way her smile reached her eyes when she spoke to him—it made Min-Jae feel like a small crack had formed somewhere in their bond.
He didn't say anything.
But he noticed.
---
March 10th, 2027 — Deep Forest, Forbidden Zone
That morning, while on patrol with Kana and Do-Hyun, the group came across an unnatural ruin.
It wasn't part of the jungle. It was made of black obsidian—so smooth it reflected the warped sky like a mirror. Floating glyphs pulsed in the air above a massive door sealed with chains.
> [Divine Lock Detected]
Danger Level: S
Entry Restricted. Requires: Divine Key Fragment (1 of 4)
Min-Jae touched the door. His spear hummed softly.
> Warning: You are not yet qualified. Attempting to enter will result in soul destruction.
Kana stepped back. "I've seen something like this before… weeks ago, near the Crimson Gate. These doors… they're not for us. Not yet."
Do-Hyun, silent as always, placed his hand over the rune. "But someone… will be able to open them soon."
Min-Jae frowned.
He didn't like the way Do-Hyun said that.
---
That Night
As they returned to camp, a new message appeared in everyone's system interface.
> [Global Notice: A Divine Fragment has emerged.]
Location: Hidden Crypt of Serith, 3 kilometers east of the Tutorial Forest.
Danger Level: S
Reward: Divine Item – The Heart of Eternal Return.
The camp exploded into arguments.
"Divine item? That's suicide!"
"If we don't go, someone else will get it first!"
"It's too soon—we're barely Soul Level 8!"
Min-Jae stayed quiet. His fingers trembled as he stared at the message.
Heart of Eternal Return.
He didn't know why… but something deep in his soul ached at the words.
He dreamed that night.
And in the dream, he was standing in a golden hall—surrounded by mirrors of himself, dying over and over. Stabbed. Burned. Crushed. Poisoned. Betrayed.
Then a voice whispered from the shadows.
> "Take it. And you will never die again."
He woke up in a cold sweat.
---
March 11th, 2027 — The Crypt Expedition
The group split into two.
Min-Jae, Yu-Ri, Do-Hyun, Kana, and two others formed the expedition party heading east toward the Crypt of Serith. The others would remain at base camp.
For hours, they moved through unstable terrain—roots rising like tentacles, trees shifting places, air that thickened the deeper they went.
Eventually, they reached a hidden ravine.
At the base of it stood a spiraling obsidian door with seven ancient symbols, each one pulsing faintly.
> [Crypt of Serith: Sealed]
> Insert 3 Soul Cores to proceed.
They had three, taken from previous boss-level beasts.
When the door opened, a wave of cold air slammed into them—air that wasn't from this world. It smelled of stone, blood, and timelessness.
They entered.
---
Inside the Crypt
The inside of the crypt was massive—a winding labyrinth of mirrors and bone pillars. Sounds echoed strangely, as if bounced between dimensions. Each chamber held traps. Some triggered illusions. Others summoned monsters twisted by divine energy—creatures that fought without logic or fear.
Yu-Ri nearly died to a spiked illusion trap. Min-Jae saved her at the last second, pulling her back with raw force.
Do-Hyun remained calm through it all.
Almost… too calm.
At the final chamber, they saw it:
A floating crystal orb, shaped like a beating heart.
> [Divine Item: Heart of Eternal Return]
Description: Grants soul-based immortality. Once bound, death no longer ends the journey.
Warning: Only one soul may bind to it. Others will perish if they attempt to claim it after.
Do you wish to bind?
Everyone froze.
Min-Jae stepped forward, stunned. "It's real…"
His hand reached for it.
Yu-Ri whispered, "Oppa, wait—"
But before he could touch it, Do-Hyun grabbed Yu-Ri's wrist.
His voice was low. "He's not strong enough to hold it. He'll die."
Yu-Ri hesitated.
Min-Jae's hand was inches from the orb.
And then—
A sharp pain bloomed in his back.
He stumbled forward, confused, eyes wide.
Behind him… was Yu-Ri.
Her dagger was red.
Her expression… blank.
Then came Do-Hyun's blade.
Min-Jae collapsed, mouth open in disbelief as he hit the cold stone floor.
Yu-Ri's whisper rang in his ears:
> "I'm sorry… I just didn't want to die."
Do-Hyun stepped past him and reached for the orb.
---
End of Chapter 4