part1 · 030-ep30

Episode 30: Once More, to That Place

The next day. Ren woke earlier than usual.

He took up his spear. Checked his food. Prepared water, too. And looked at the map on the rock wall.

Where his gaze landed—

was the place where he'd run into the first monster that had ever given him a hard fight on this floor.

"...Let's go."

Ren stood.

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As he walked, he remembered the monsters he'd fought so far.

Fast monsters. Strong monsters. Hard monsters.

He'd fought them again and again. Been wounded again and again. And each time, his body had changed, little by little.

The Ren he was now—

was different from before.

He could believe that.

But that monster that had nearly beaten him was something else. The fear he'd felt that time, he still remembered clearly.

"...Can I really win?"

Ren stopped in his tracks. A little anxiety crept in.

But he tightened his grip on the spear.

"...Only one way to find out."

He started walking again.

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After a while, the air changed. Ren stopped.

"..."

Quiet. No sign of monsters.

But—

something was there.

Ren readied his spear. Scanned the area.

That instant.

From the shadow of the rocks, a monster showed itself.

Gray fur. Sharp fangs. A big body.

And—

those eyes.

The monster that had cornered him before.

Ren's body went rigid for an instant. He was afraid. That hadn't changed.

But—

he was different from before.

Ren took a step back and steadied his spear.

"...This time, I'm not running."

The monster gave a low growl. Kicked off the ground.

Ren's eyes went wide.

"Here it comes!"

His body reacted. He could see the monster's movements.

Forelegs. The push-off. The leap.

And—

Ren leapt sideways. Claws swept past in front of his eyes.

"...I dodged it."

Different from last time.

The monster turned. Ren readied his spear.

The next attack was coming.

This time—

he would step in himself.

"Hah!"

The spear stretched out toward the monster.

But—

—Clank!

The hard pelt stopped it.

"...Too shallow!"

The monster growled. And sank low again.

Ren readied his spear, too.

He couldn't be sure of winning yet. His body had grown stronger. He'd learned how to fight.

Even so—

the monster in front of him was strong.

Ren steadied his breathing.

"...It starts here."

The monster kicked off the ground again.

And—

their rematch began.