"...It really exists..."
After forty days of darkness and twenty days of wandering far from home, they had finally welcomed the light again—after having eaten the last of their food and drunk the last of their water yesterday...
Was this... the Sanctuary?
Everyone greedily breathed in the sweet, fresh air, gazing at the peaceful greenery before them and its vibrant life. Most importantly, there was sunlight here—the kind that did not exist in the outside world.
That long-lost warmth brought tears to many people's eyes...
At the very front, Luke and Bondi stared blankly ahead, looking somewhat dazed. Along the way, they had seen nothing but a world without light, twisted and deformed tree trunks, and rotting soil that reeked. The disgusting stench of Rotten Flesh had filled the air everywhere.
After so many days of such scenery, it had felt as though the world had already become hell. Now, seeing this landscape, they could only feel as if they had entered heaven...
"...Can we drink this water?"
A man beside them licked his cracked lips and asked cautiously.
Everyone looked at the water. It was so clear that merely seeing it made them feel cool all over, and they could not help licking their lips.
Before setting out yesterday, everyone had consumed every last bit of food and water. Today, they had trekked all day without a single drop passing their lips...
Luke hesitated at the question. In the past, when danger lurked everywhere, he had acted decisively. Now that they had arrived at such a peaceful place, however, he found himself strangely timid...
As he hesitated, the forest ahead suddenly began to shake, as if something were about to emerge.
Luke instinctively took a step back and placed his hand on the sword at his waist. His first