Over the course of several hours, William repeated the same tactic again and again—luring the giant centipede and four-armed ape golem into attacking each other, then using the chaos to escape.
Luckily for him, the golems didn't seem to have any self-learning or adaptive capabilities, allowing him to pull off the same trick repeatedly.
Still, there were complications.
Timing the baiting process wasn't always smooth—sometimes, the two monsters wouldn't arrive together, and other times, the terrain would interfere.
But despite the risks, William survived a full day in the Terra Forest.
He now hid inside a different boulder, the first one having been destroyed by the dragon centipede.
Fortunately, it hadn't discovered him. He had somehow survived another round of the alpha golems' relentless hunt.
Right now, William looked utterly miserable.
He hadn't slept at all—too afraid he might pass out for more than five hours.
He needed to stay alert, constantly watching for threats. There was no time to rest.
His mana reserves were nearly depleted. He had overexerted his body far beyond its limits—digging tunnels, running, hiding, constantly straining himself.
The physical exhaustion was only matched by the mental toll: the stress of failure, the fear of being hunted, and the pain of pushing himself again and again.
His eyes had hollowed out, void of emotion. His uniform was torn to shreds, caked in mud and dried blood.
Dirt clung to every inch of his skin. He sat curled up inside the boulder, staring blankly at his ID bracelet, watching the seconds tick by.
Every tear had already been shed. Every emotion had been numbed. Even the reason he began all this—the reason he chose to suffer—felt distant and faded.
The only thought keeping him together was this:
"I have to pass the test."
And so William sat, motionless, staring at the passing time. Minute by minute. Second by second.
At last, the clock hit 10 p.m.—the time he was supposed to be retrieved.
Nothing happened.
He waited. A few minutes passed.
Still, no one came.
But William didn't react. He just continued sitting and watching the time pass.
He remained like that until midnight.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through his hiding spot, followed by a loud slicing noise.
The boulder he hid in was split cleanly in half.
***
At General Isaac's Office
"Hmmm… I feel like I'm forgetting something," General Isaac muttered.
He sat behind his desk, surrounded by layered holographic screens forming a wide arc. His hair was disheveled, and his uniform wrinkled.
Dark circles framed his bloodshot eyes—clear signs he had been working nonstop.
Then, after a moment of thought, he snapped his fingers. "Ah, right. I need to pick that kid up."
Tapping an intercom on his desk, he spoke aloud. "Jacob, go pick someone up for me. Sector A, Zone 7: Terra Forest."
Without another word, Isaac stretched and dove back into his work.
***
With his eyes already adjusted to the darkness, William clearly saw the figure standing before him as the boulder split open.
The man stepped forward, wearing a military uniform and holding a sword.
"Are you here to take me away?" William asked in a dull, flat voice—completely devoid of excitement or relief.
"Yes," the soldier replied.
Without another word, he motioned for William to follow. They took off in a flying vehicle.
Back at Isaac's Office
"What? He actually survived a whole day?" Isaac asked, wide-eyed.
"Yes, sir. When I found him, he was hiding inside a boulder," Jacob reported.
"Well, I'll be damned. That kid's got potential after all. Where is he now?"
"At the hospital, receiving treatment."
"And his condition?"
"Physically, he's not in danger—just extreme exhaustion, mana strain, and minor internal damage from constant trauma."
"But... I believe his physical state is the least of our concerns."
"Oh? Go on."
"The moment I saw him, I knew something was wrong. He looked hollow—completely lifeless. I later discovered he encountered an Aethorn Elk, which trapped him in a torturous dream."
Jacob paused, then continued.
"From what I've seen so far, William is suffering from severe trauma."
"His physical condition is fine, but mentally… he's starting to shut everything out—pain, fear, even hope. He's operating purely on survival instinct now."
Isaac stayed silent for a few seconds.
"You know why he's doing all this, don't you?" he asked. "What's your opinion—what should we do next?"
Jacob took a moment before answering.
"Sir, truthfully, he never should've been deployed. His training is far too lacking."
"And yet, with barely over a month of preparation, he managed to survive Terra Forest alone—even if only for a day."
"If he continues this growth trajectory, he could become a valuable asset to the city. That's why I believe you should honor your promise... and allow him to be deployed."
"Even his mental state might degrade further?"
After a respectful bow, Jacob added, "I'm simply doing what I believe is best for the city."
Isaac smirked.
"Cold-blooded as ever, Jacob. No pity for the kid?"
"There's no pity on the frontlines, sir. This is a chance to turn him into someone exceptional."
Isaac chuckled softly to himself, then leaned back in his chair.
"A chance, huh? Well, throwing him straight into the frontlines would be boring without a proper test..."
Thinking to himself, General Isaac let out a small smile as he considered William's circumstances.
***
Back to William—
After a quick check-up and minor healing, the hospital cleared William for discharge.
There was nothing severely wrong with him—just extreme exhaustion. What he truly needed was rest.
As he stepped outside, he was greeted by a landscape of green.
His dull eyes scanned the surroundings.
He had entered the hospital park.
It was calm, quiet, peaceful—everything the Zone 7: Terra Forest had not been. The stark contrast made it feel almost unreal.
Wandering aimlessly, William eventually found a bench and sat down.
From there, he observed patients in hospital gowns walking slowly along the garden paths, chatting softly or simply enjoying the breeze.
The sight created a scene of serene tranquility—something William had grown estranged from.
He sat still for hours, staring blankly at the peaceful scene, the soft rustle of trees and murmurs of laughter slowly filling the silence around him.
It wasn't until sunset that someone approached him.
"General Isaac wants to see you."
***
The moment William entered the office, General Isaac looked up and smiled.
Having already groomed himself before William's arrival, Isaac now looked like a dignified and seasoned general.
"Your performance far exceeded my expectations, William. Consider me genuinely impressed."
He pushed aside the paperwork on his desk and stood, locking eyes with the boy.
"Let's be honest—I never expected anything from you," Isaac said plainly.
"You were the infamous playboy from the capital. Barely trained. Privileged. You didn't even know what the word 'suffering' meant."
With his hands clasped behind his back, Isaac began to pace the room.
"That's why I made the test as hard as possible. You had too little time to train.
You lacked stamina, strength, and even the mental fortitude of an average recruit. I never intended to deploy you.
You would've only been a burden to your squad."
He paused—letting the silence stretch, watching for a reaction.
"But despite all of that… you survived. You endured Terra Forest alone for a full day."
Isaac turned and looked directly at William.
"Do you know what that means, William? What it says about you?"
"…"
"You have potential," Isaac said with emphasis. "Incredible potential. With the right training, you could become one of the strongest soldiers in the entire army."
His tone shifted from grim to animated, a spark of enthusiasm showing.
"It would be a terrible waste if you died on some random mission. That's why I'm making you an offer."
He stepped closer.
"Join Unit 0, the special unit. You'll receive elite training and superior resources—and you'll regain your lost status."
"In return, you'll forgo deployment. I'll also make sure Captain Jack never bothers you again."
He smiled faintly.
"You don't have to suffer anymore, William."
For the first time, something inside William stirred. The words echoed in his mind.
"You don't have to suffer anymore."
'Should I accept?' he wondered. 'If I do, Captain Jack won't come after me... I could get back the status I lost.'
"I... don't have to suffer anymore?"
His body began to shake slightly. The offer was tempting—more than he wanted to admit. The phrase kept looping in his mind.
"Don't have to suffer anymore…"
"I…" William began, struggling to find his answer.
Then—her face appeared in his mind. Zenith.
"What about Zenith?" he murmured, barely audible.
"Sorry, what?" Isaac asked.
"What about the Toxcarver cure?" William repeated, more clearly this time.
Isaac crossed his arms.
"Our department is still working on it. The scientists are doing everything they can to find a cure. But there's nothing you can do to speed up the process."
William lowered his head, torn and uncertain. He didn't notice the small grin that crept onto Isaac's face.
"I've heard you're doing all this for a girl—Zenith, was it?"
"Yes."
"Give up."
"…"
"I've seen her medical reports from Dr. Lenny. That level of poisoning… even if we find a cure, she'll likely end up in a vegetative state for life."
"It would be more merciful to let her go. I'm sure that's what she would have wanted."
William clenched his fists.
He stayed silent for a minute.
Then two.
Then five.
Finally, in a voice filled with quiet conviction, he spoke:
"No. You're wrong, sir."
Isaac blinked, surprised.
"If Zenith wanted to die… she would've done so a long time ago. If she feared pain, she would've given up before any of this even started."
"You don't know her. You don't know what she's been through just to stay alive."
His voice grew firmer.
"Sorry, sir. But I can't accept your offer."
William raised his head, eyes burning with resolve.
"Please honor your deal and deploy me to the monster-hunting unit!"
The last words came out like a shout. Then, he bowed at a full ninety degrees.
Isaac stared at him in silence for a moment.
Then sighed.
"…Alright, sure. But my offer only stands if you choose not to join the monster unit. Think it over carefully, okay?"
His tone was suddenly casual again, all enthusiasm gone.
"Yes, sir!"
William saluted crisply, then turned and left the room.
"..."
Now alone, Isaac stared silently at the door William had just walked through.
"Ahahah—HAHAHAHA!"
Bursting from a side door, a man laughed uncontrollably, clutching his sides.
"Oh my god, I can't believe it—you fumbled it so hard at the last second! Hahaha!"
It was Dr. Lenny, laughing hysterically until tears streamed down his face.
Isaac could only scowl, visibly annoyed.
"You never told me she was fighting that hard to live!" Isaac snapped.
"You only asked about her condition," Lenny said smugly, wiping a tear. "Not about how she was doing."
"Damn it. I almost had him."
"Of course, of course," Lenny said in a mock-saintly tone. "But in the end, only the result matters—not the process."
Isaac didn't respond, but his face twisted with frustration.
"Hah… Anyway, why did you tell William he wouldn't have to suffer anymore? You and I both know Unit 0 would be hell for him."
"I lied, obviously," Isaac said with a shrug. "If he accepted the offer, that would've meant he failed my test."
"He would've been punished with even harsher training. And even if he found out I lied—what's he going to do about it?"
"Wow. Spoken like a true devil," Lenny chuckled. "You sure you're not better suited for soldier recruitment than monster hunting?"
"Tch. No, thank you. Now get out of here and let me work."
"Haha, alright, alright," Lenny said with a grin as he walked off.
After leaving Isaac's office, William wandered aimlessly, his mind filled with complicated thoughts.
Along the way, he came face-to-face with Dr. Lenny.
"You look troubled, William," Lenny said. "Do you want to talk about it?"
William didn't answer right away. But they eventually found a bench and sat down in silence.
"I… have no idea what I'm doing anymore, Doctor."
"What do you mean?"
"I... I..." William tried to answer, but even he didn't know what he meant. His thoughts were too jumbled.
Lenny gave him a side glance, then leaned back on the bench with a gentle smile.
"Let me guess—you're having second thoughts about getting deployed?"
After a pause, William whispered, "...Dr. Lenny, do you think Zenith can be saved?"
Lenny was quiet for a moment before answering.
"I… don't have an answer to that."
"She was sprayed in the head by the poison. By the time she arrived, she was already in critical condition. Realistically, she should've died on the frontlines."
"And yet—she held on long enough to be admitted and outlasted even our expectations."
"But… everything has its limits. Her will alone won't keep her alive much longer. She needs a cure. Fast."
"I don't know what you've gone through in the past few days, William. So I can't tell you what you should do."
"But let me pass on some advice I got a long time ago: try fighting for someone else's sake."
He gave William a pat on the shoulder, then stood up.
"I hope that helps you make your decision."
And with that, he walked off—leaving William alone with unanswered questions and an uncertain future.
With no clear path in mind, William returned to the barracks and finally rested, just as the doctors had recommended.
***
Next Morning – At the Barracks
"HEY, WAKE UP, DUMBASS!"
A sudden punch to the gut shocked William awake.
Opening his eyes, he was greeted by the familiar short and stout figure of a dwarf.
"Drakna...? What are you doing?"
"What am I doing?! I should be asking you that, you lazy idiot!"
"We're about to be deployed and here you are, snoozing like it's a vacation! You've got guts, I'll give you that!"
"Wait, Drakna, this—"
Before William could finish, Drakna grabbed him by the collar and dragged him off without mercy.
At the gathering point where Cain's squad was assembled, William arrived awkwardly—being hauled along by the grumbling dwarf.
"There! I found him asleep in the barracks. Now can we finally move on with briefing ?" Drakna huffed.
Arms crossed, he muttered under his breath, "Unbelievable…"
"Enough." Cain cut in, his tone sharp. "We're already running late. William—suit up. Now."
Without room to protest, William nodded and hurried off to prepare.
***
Deployment Briefing – Training Field
Several squads of soldiers had gathered on a wide field.
Standing on the podium above them was General Isaac, head of the monster-hunting division.
"ATTENTION!"
Everyone snapped to attention instantly.
"Tomorrow at dawn, you will be deployed to the frontlines. I know most of you already understand your mission, but let me make this crystal clear."
He paused, scanning the crowd.
"The Toxcarver's poison has already taken hundreds of our comrades. Hundreds more are at risk."
"Do you want to stand by and watch our brothers fall?!"
"NO!" the soldiers shouted in unison, their voices full of fire.
"Those vile monsters dared to breach our walls—killed our families, destroyed our homes. What did we say to them?!"
"DESTROY THEM ALL!"
Isaac raised his fist, rallying them like a war priest.
"So listen well, soldiers of Gorgon City! Hunt those who threaten our people. Destroy those who defy us. BURY OUR ENEMIES!"
"AHHHHHHH!" The crowd roared with fanatic fervor, their energy overwhelming.
"Now, let me brief you one last time."
A holographic screen lit up behind him, displaying a giant scorpion-like creature—the Toxcarver.
"In teams of five to six, your mission is to hunt and capture as many Toxcarvers alive as possible. If capture fails, harvest their poison sacs."
The screen zoomed in on the Toxcarver's anatomy, highlighting the location of the poison gland.
The display shifted to an image of hilly terrain filled with small mounds and holes.
"This will be the battlefield. These creatures are called 'Mountain Eaters' for a reason. They specialize in burrowing and sensing vibrations. Always be on guard."
He continued the briefing, listing the traits of various related monsters. The details went on for several long minutes.
"SOLDIERS! Tomorrow at dawn, we march! Tonight—sharpen your swords. Rest your minds. Tomorrow... WE GO TO WAR!"
"RAHHHHH!!"
The soldiers roared again, a wave of rage and conviction sweeping through them.
As the cheers echoed across the field, Isaac scanned the crowd.
His eyes lingered on William a moment longer than the rest—before he turned and stepped down from the podium.
***
At the canteen, William sat with the rest of the squad as they eagerly discussed their deployment scheduled for tomorrow.
While the others talked animatedly, William sat in silence, doubts swirling in his mind.
He simply listened, his thoughts distant.
Drakna eventually turned to him. "Hey, kid. Why the long face? Don't tell me you're regretting joining now that we're about to be deployed?"
With that, all eyes turned to William.
"!!"
Caught off guard, William froze, unable to form a proper response.
Aeris, the elven ranger, narrowed her eyes. "Seriously? After everything you've trained for, you're going to back out now?"
William said nothing. He simply lowered his head in guilt.
"Wait a minute," Lina the beast tamer said. "Can he even do that? Just join and leave whenever he feels like it? What about protocol?"
"Who knows? He did kind of show up out of nowhere," another added.
As the conversation shifted to speculation about William, he kept his head down, unable to say a word.
Cain, who hadn't spoken until now, sat watching him quietly.
Finally, Cain stood up. "Give us a moment. I want to talk to William alone."
"Yeah, sure."
Cain walked off, motioning for William to follow.
They stopped at a quiet spot away from the others. Cain turned and asked calmly, "Mind telling me what's going on?"
William hesitated. But seeing Cain's serious expression, he knew he couldn't hide anymore.
"It's not that I want to quit… I got offered a position in another department. They said I'd be better suited there. That I have potential. That I shouldn't waste it…"
He trailed off, his voice uncertain.
"They told me I could have a brighter future elsewhere."
Cain stared at him, expression unreadable.
"So," Cain finally said, his voice cool, "you're saying you're willing to abandon the person you're trying to save—for power and status?"
The words hit William like ice water.
"No, that's not what I meant!" he protested, panic rising in his voice. "I— That's not it at all—!"
But Cain's eyes remained calm. Unmoved.
"Then what do you mean?"
William's resistance crumbled. He looked down, ashamed.
"I… I just don't want to suffer anymore," he said, his voice barely a whisper.
"It hurts. Every single day. Every moment. And I don't even know if all this pain will amount to anything. I don't know if I can even save her…"
His words tumbled out faster now, spilling from the dam in his chest.
"Why did I even come this far? Why did I put myself through two weeks of hell—just for the chance to maybe, maybe help her? What if she never wakes up?"
His knees buckled as he collapsed onto the ground, tears streaming down his face.
"Why do I even try, when there's no guarantee at all...?"
He wept openly, overwhelmed by everything he had bottled up.
Only after several minutes passed did Cain speak again—his voice cold, nearly cruel.
"…I see."
William looked up, confused. "What?"
"You should quit being a soldier, then."
"…"
"In this line of work, death is part of the job. I don't know what that person means to you, but the truth is… soldiers die. "
"Every day. Sometimes it's the friend you just made. Sometimes it's the brother you grew up with."
"And those so-called invincible elite squads? Even they can be wiped out by something stronger."
Cain's gaze didn't soften. "Death is constant. If you can't carry that burden, you don't belong in this life."
After hearing those words, William stopped crying and sank to the ground, his head bowed and fists trembling.
Cain turned to leave. But before walking away, he paused.
"...One more thing. My brother used to say this: 'If they're still breathing, you fight with everything you've got for their lives.'"
***
The Next Day
"Haha! Alright, place your bets—I'm saying the kid's not showing up," Drakna laughed.
"Come on, Drakna," Lina groaned. "That's not something to joke about."
"Why not? What's he gonna do—punch me?" Drakna cackled.
"Haaaah…" Lina rubbed her temples in frustration.
"Hey Cain, wanna bet?" Drakna asked.
"We'll see soon enough," Cain replied flatly.
"Ugh, you're no fun. Anyone else?"
"I'll bet he does show up," Aeris said confidently.
"Hah! Deal!"
"Gosh, Aeris…"
Just then, General Isaac arrived on stage, facing the assembled soldiers.
"Attention, soldiers!"
The crowd snapped to attention.
"Today is the day we go to war! Today, we bring the hunt to them! For too long, our brothers and sisters have suffered at the hands of the Toxcarvers.
For too long, they've terrorized our ranks. Today, we put an end to it! DO YOU HEAR ME?!"
"AHHHH!" the soldiers roared in unison.
Isaac continue his fervent speech for minutes.
Drakna sighed. "Isn't this kind of redundant? Just let us deploy already. Why do we still have to sit through all these speeches?"
"This is important for maintaining morale," Cain replied.
"It's better to go into war with high spirits rather than fear, isn't it?"
"…And William could use the morale boost too."
"William? What are you talking about?" Drakna turned around—and his jaw dropped.
William stood among them, dressed and fully geared.
"What the hell?! What are you doing here?"
William gave an awkward smile. "Sorry. I overslept… got here a bit late."
"You—?!"
Aeris smirked and tapped Drakna's shoulder. "Pay up. You lost the bet."
With a smug grin, she held out her hand.
Drakna turned red. "You knew! You totally cheated!"
"I didn't see any rule against it. A bet's a bet," Aeris said.
"Hey, quiet down. The General's still talking," someone from another squad snapped.
"Yeah, sorry~" Aeris replied, unbothered.
Grumbling, Drakna reluctantly paid up while William stood awkwardly beside them, unsure of what was happening.
The squad quieted down and turned their attention back to General Isaac, who was finishing his speech.
"I've kept you long enough. Now go. Rain hell upon our enemies."
"ROARRRRR!! RAIN HELL!" the crowd chanted in unison.
Moments later, squads of soldiers marched in formation into massive cargo planes, fully suited in tactical gear.
William wore light but durable clothing, a camo coat draped over his shoulders. A one-handed staff was gripped in his right hand, and a pouch filled with mana crystals hung at his side.
As he strapped into his seat inside the roaring aircraft, he looked out at the rising sun through the open cargo ramp.
'There's no turning back now,' he thought, just as the ramp began to close.