Noah let out a scream of pain, his soul separated from his body, and his body was desecrated and fell to the ground, his upper body cut into ribbons. He stared down at the horrific scene, and though he could no longer feel the pain, the fading pain still echoed in his memory.

"Well, damn it," Noah muttered, his eyes helpless, "that's fast." “

Invisible energy tugged at his chest and pulled him out of this world. He sighed deeply, knowing that this journey had begun.

"Well," he muttered to himself, "I already know what to expect if there are other places to resurrect." What's the point of waiting a few thousand years? “

However, there was a strand around his throat. Noah's ghostly eyes bulged out and he felt suffocated—something that shouldn't have been possible for the soul. A black ribbon wrapped around his neck and led to the void.

When the black ribbon pulled him back into the world, the force that had pulled him away from the world was gone. The pain swept through his body again, and he snapped open his eyes suddenly, gasping for breath sharply, one hand clutching his thunderous heart. He was trapped in his body again.

His head slammed into each other, as if the entire orchestra was trapped inside. Noah groaned in pain and couldn't even move immediately. After a few minutes, he mustered up the courage to stand up.

Without a single vestment, he was naked. Noah staggered to his feet, a thick fog enveloping his mind, as the pain receded. He found himself still standing in the clearing.

The poison gourd he had placed earlier was still in place, too close for him to hear it creaking in the direction he was running. Noah swallowed hard and crawled to the edge of the pool, staring at the surface of the water.

The face of the man who had been robbed of his body turned to look at him. For some reason, he kept the face. However, the items did not appear to be part of the transaction.

"I'm resurrected?" Noah muttered to himself, touching his face with his hand, just to make sure it was still there. A roar came from the forest behind him, and his face turned pale instantly, and he jumped into the lake. He swam desperately into the depths, clinging to a rock at the bottom, trying to stay alive.

He didn't know how long he had to wait. In his past life, time had lost much of its meaning. He resisted the urge to release the stone until his lungs burned so much that he couldn't feel it, and the shadows shook before his eyes.

His body barely pushed him to the surface. He gasped for air and sat down from the edge, his lungs desperately inhaling oxygen. He forced a moan, flipped over, and looked around.

The clearing was empty. His head still felt a little messy, but it was much better than if he had been cut into a ribbon again. Noah dragged the remnants of his clothes toward the land, standing up straight.

He examined his hands and displayed them in front of him. The strange pattern was still etched in his mind. He tried to imagine how the patterns would form in front of him, but the fog above his head grew thicker. Suddenly, a sharp pain came down his spine, and Noah lowered his hands and made a painful expression.

The cold wind passed by him, and he shivered, tilting his head to one side, trying to listen. However, he could no longer hear the monkey's voice. Still, that doesn't mean it's not there – he remembers well that it could approach without a sound when it wanted to.

Are the pants still there? Or is life more important?

Noah stepped into the charred woods. His previous attempts to escape had failed. He found the bottom half of his body lying in the dirt between several trees. There was no upper body in sight, and there was no sign of a monkey.

He crept up to his lap and hurriedly took off his pants and belt. Then, he put them on, barely curling the corners of his mouth in the face of the still-warm bloodstains. When he put on his belt, there was a pamphlet in it, and it slammed into his side. Noah walked through the hole in his belt, fastened it to his waist with numb, groping fingers, and staggered into the woods, one step at a time.

Despite his best efforts, though with little effect, the sound of each branch breaking still terrified him. Every few feet, he would turn back, and with every breeze blowing, he would take to the air.

He lasted so long, the sky was getting darker, and the night was beginning to fall, that he gradually calmed himself down. Noah leaned against the trunk of a charred tree and sat down completely tired.

"My afterlife shouldn't be like this," he muttered under his breath. He shivered as the cold wind swept across his bare chest like cold fingers. The fog that had shrouded his mind had only begun to dissipate a few minutes earlier.

Stocks. I'll have to see what's left. Look what else I have.

He searched his pockets carefully, but they were empty.

That's right. There was only a book, a badge, and some torn pants. That's it. Considering that I didn't have any body at all yesterday, that's not bad.

Noah took the book out of his pants and opened it. Densely packed with detailed notes in a compact and fluid handwriting, each page dedicated to a unique and complex symbol, as he had drawn in the air hours earlier.

A series of runes.

The words naturally popped into his mind. Noah frowned, of course, "runes" were indeed the correct way to describe the marks, but he was pretty sure that the idea didn't come from himself. He retains memories of his past lives, but he can't seem to consciously access them.

At least I can still read.

Noah flipped through the pages of the book, looking for the particular rune he had in mind when he fought the monkey. His efforts finally paid off, and there was an additional page on the last page of the book. Above were dozens of sketches of plants and animals he didn't recognize, each with detailed descriptions.

"Runes of the wind," Noah muttered, mimicking the pattern with his fingers. He lifted his hand and tried to sketch the symbol in the air. A thin blade of wind leaped out of his palm and carved deep into the fragile trunk of the tree in front of him. A feeling of tiredness hit his shoulders.

Noah stood up and looked around, looking for something that would respond to his voice. He stood still for a few seconds, and nothing happened. He climbed to the edge of the tree and carefully examined his "masterpiece". The deep scars of the magic were etched into the bark of the tree.

He imagined the rune again, and this time he pointed his finger at the ground. Another wind blade leaped out of his palm, carved deep into the ground. The exhaustion intensified, but the fog in his mind did not interfere with his mind again.

Very good. That fog is associated with death. While the fog is present, magic cannot be cast. So the conclusion is: don't die.

Noah looked up at the night sky, and the distant stars were twinkling, emitting a faint golden glow. Despite the dire situation, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of awe. The universe used to be so beautiful. There was nothing more wonderful than the dark, smoky starry sky he saw on Earth through his apartment window.

He looked down at the book in his hand, determined to leave a deep mark on his face.

"I need to go out into the civilized world."

Noah didn't sleep that night. He just walked, trying to walk in a straight line. It's a good direction, and the last thing he wants to do is stand still.

The creaking of dead and charred leaves beneath his feet was the only sound in the silent night. The wind swept through the trees, and despite the biting cold, they had almost no soul. There are no leaves on the tree that can rustle.

Noah suddenly stops as he walks around a charred woods and finds himself facing a monkey. His breath got stuck in his throat, and a slight cry slipped out of his mouth before he managed to silence the voice. The monster's eyes were closed and it fell asleep. It hung upside down on a blackened branch on its hind legs.

He swallowed heavily and slowly took a step back. The monkey was about the same size as the one that died in the clearing when he came into this world, but that didn't make its claws and teeth less lethal.

A branch breaks under Noah's heel. The monkey snapped open his eyes and saw him at once. It screamed, fell from the tree, and landed on all fours. Noah cursed, stepped back, and held out a hand.

The wind blew through his fingertips, and a thin blade of white magic carved into the monkey's chest. It screamed in pain, blood splattering from its deep wounds on the ground. The monster pounced on Noah, and Noah fell to the ground.

It flew over his head and crashed into a tree behind him, powerful enough to blast the wood apart. He jerked to his feet and rushed as fast as he could, in the opposite direction of the monster. A loud shout came from behind Noah, getting closer and closer at an alarming speed.

Noah spun, raised his hands, and fired another arc of wind at the monster. He's already had a good lead in that regard, so he's pretty sure there's still plenty of room to go -

Its face was only an inch away from him. Noah screamed, and his magic arrow slashed across the monster's shoulder, and the monster's claws plunged into his throat, ripping it out. There was a sharp pain in the wound, and he choked, gasping for air, but the air could not be extracted.

The monkey let out a scream of victory. Recently. A final arc of wind leaped from Noah's numb fingertips and grabbed Noah's throat, separating the monster's head from its body. A weak smile flashed across Noah's lips, even as blood poured out behind them.

"Well deserved," he whispered.

A strange feeling of warmth flooded into his body. For a moment, he felt greater than before—but Noah didn't have time to appreciate it.

On that day, death took his life for the second time. Noah's soul slipped out of his body. He hovered over the corpse for a moment, but within seconds a familiar force began to pull him away.

Noah narrowed his eyes, remembering his surroundings as much as he could. The pull grew stronger, and he galloped through the forest. Noah concentrated, tracking the trees that whizzed past him and jotted down any markers that could be used to point him in the right direction.

A few seconds later, reality struck him fiercely. The cold, damp dirt pressed against his bare back, and his eyes snapped open. A thick fog hung over his mind. His lips felt sticky and dry. Noah grimaced and stood up.

He was naked. Again.

At least the open space is empty. Noah shivered in the cold night wind. The empty gourd was placed at his feet, right where he had placed it. His lips furrowed slightly as a thought welled up from his chaotic mind.

"Why do I keep coming back to this clearing?"

He slowly circled around, trying to see if there was something that might prompt him to reform here and not elsewhere in the world. Nothing but dead monkeys and empty gourds at their feet.

Calabash.

Noah's eyes narrowed. He carefully picked up the gourd. It shook slightly, and there was still a little liquid left in it. He studied it for a while. The gourd really doesn't look like anything special.

He scanned the ground until he found the wax seal. He picked it up and carefully pushed it back into place. Noah would now love to have a pair of pants to hang the gourd.

"Right. Come with me. Noah whispered. He looked up at the sky, then determined the direction he was coming from. Then he set off again. There was a pair of pants waiting for him.

He crossed the forest faster the second time than the first. He hadn't been able to remember everything perfectly, but he had mastered enough direction to retrace his steps. A few hours later, he found his body lying on the ground, opposite an equally dead monkey.

Despite the bitter cold, Noah smiled. He trotted over to his body, stripped naked, put his pants back on, and tucked the gourd into a ring on his belt. He made a full circle again. The fog in his mind finally cleared, and he started thinking again.

Unfortunately, the Forest of Death stretches in all directions, as far as the eye can see. Rows of charred dead trees stood silently, waiting for a general who would never come.

What the hell is this Vermil guy doing here? Does he have the heart to die? He had to find a way to get out. When I killed that monkey, I had a feeling. What is that?

There is no answer. Noah pursed his lips, then shrugged. Standing still, he felt even more chilly, so he set off again.

Noah continued for a few more hours, but he soon realized that there was a bigger problem. Although he didn't seem to be getting hungrier, tiredness was already starting to show up. It took longer than Noah expected, but it approached relentlessly.

Noah first realized that he was tired for less than a few minutes before he found himself barely able to shuffle his feet on dry ground. He staggered to a large tree, glanced around curbly to make sure no one was watching him behind him, and then he curled up in a ball and fell into a restless sleep.

Noah wasn't sure how long he had been asleep. When he opened his eyes again, the sun was hanging above his head. He grimaced, blinked vigorously, wiped the scabs from the corners of his eyes, and slowly stood up. His mouth was dry and his stomach was growling.

At least no one attacked me this time.

He adjusted his direction and strode away, looking for anything but the endless trees.

Time flies. Noah wasn't quite sure how many. The sun moves overhead, but he doesn't know if the days on this planet are as long as they are on Earth. With each step, the burning sensation in Noah's stomach intensified, but he could only ignore it.

As he passed, the trees became blurred. Either the forest has become more even, or he is too tired to discern the difference. Noah was so distraught as he walked that he almost hit the monkey hanging in front of him.

Noah controlled himself at the last moment. He managed to climb onto the monster's back, and the monster didn't seem to notice him yet. He immediately raised his hands. A wind blade shot out of them and sliced straight into the back of the monster's head. Before it could make a sound, it fell from the tree and died.

A wave of energy rippled through his body, starting at his toes and rising to the top of his head. A strong sense of freshness ensues. Noah's hunger lessened, and his dry lips moistened a little.

Noah froze, basking in the sensation for a few seconds, and then vanished. He looked around to see if there were other monkeys nearby. When he found out that there wasn't, he didn't know whether he was relieved or disappointed.

Somehow, killing monkeys seems to give me satisfaction. Magic, I guess. The first thing I do when I get out of this stupid forest is sit back and figure out how it all works.

Before moving on, Noah's gaze fell on the monster's long claws. He paused, then knelt beside the monkey. He carefully picked up one of its hands, clutched the claw like a knife, and fumbled for one of its claws on the other hand.

It was bloody, horrific work, and he ended up covered in rancid blood and also covered in monkeys, but after a few painful minutes, he kept looking back to make sure nothing had fallen on him, and he finally succeeded in chopping it off.

When the claws are extended, they have a finger-long bone attached to the end, which is perfect for Noah. He tested the weight in his hand and nodded to himself. There were more than a few knives he had used in his previous life, and each one was used for cooking, not for stabbing people. Still, that claw is heavy and sharp enough. He walked back through the forest, leaving a corpse in his wake.

***

The monkey is back. Noah will be leaning his back against a large tree stump, struggling to control his frightened breathing. The huge, lanky monster that killed him seconds after he reached the charred forest was somehow right in front of him, and he was pretty sure it had been watching in his direction.

Everything went smoothly.

Well, I guess nothing happened except walking. Still, there's nothing better than having it. I'll do the math too.

It doesn't particularly matter what he is. What matters is the slow and uncomfortable sound of heavy breathing that the great ape makes as it slowly approaches. The beast took a heavy and deep breath, as if savoring the taste of fear.

Noah's gaze scanned the surroundings, looking for any place where the creature could hide or trap. Running is not an option. He's saved so much. To make matters worse, he was still carrying a gourd. He wasn't sure how long it would take him to wake up. If the monkey was still there when he returned......

Noah's back trembled. He could end up being killed over and over again – forever. Dying now is not an option.

He did a quick mental check of what he was dealing with. A gourd. His book. A pair of pants. The paws of the monkeys. He barely suppressed an amusing snort that might immediately reveal his position.

At this point, I almost want the monkey's paw to trump the paw.

Cries of excitement echoed through the dry forest. Noah was stunned for a moment, but nothing happened. For whatever reason, the monkey hasn't done anything yet. It's close, though. He could smell the stench of its matted fur, like a mixture of disgusting sweet earth and feces from a week ago.

Noah clenched the claws in his hands. His breathing was smoother.

Good. Count to three.

Three.

One.

Noah rushed out from behind the tree, a wind blade in his fingertips. The monkey jerked to his feet and stood only a few trees away from him. It spun in his direction, opening its mouth and screaming.

The wind blade sliced into its chest, and blood splattered on the ground. Noah lunged at the monster, and the monster fell backwards. Noah noticed this move in his mind. It was the same person who was killed with him.

He dodged to the side, anticipating the monster's attack. Its claws tore through the air he was standing on, and he rolled to his feet, lunging forward, stabbing his makeshift knife into the monkey's chest.

The padded fur was harder to penetrate than he expected. His claws bite deeply, but not deep enough. Noah cursed, trying to break free, but before he could see it, he heard the next blow.

He threw himself to the ground, but it was too late. Thick claws grazed his back, tearing flesh and breaking bones. Noah screamed in pain. He grabbed the gourd from his side and threw it into the tree with the last of his strength.

Immediately after, a heavy foot stepped on his head, tearing his body out of his soul. Noah roared, his ghostly body thrown into the air, severed from his physical body. The monkey grabbed his corpse, lifted it into the air, and sniffed it curiously.

Energy gathers around Noah's neck, dragging him into the forest. towards the gourd. A smile flashed across his lips, but at the same time he was a little nervous. If the resurrection process takes a certain amount of time, the monkey may find him before he is resurrected. The only way to know is to find out. He was jerked forward, dashed over several trees, and then jerked back into existence.

Noah stood up suddenly, his body stiffening, not letting a groan of pain escape from his mouth. Every part of his brain protested, and the nausea hit him so strong that he almost threw up.

Instead, Noah rolled over and stood up. Squinting his eyes, he could barely see the back of the big monkey chewing something. Noah was pretty sure it was one of his arms. He clenched his fists, trying to summon his magic.

All that was responded was a deep, throbbing pain. Noah gritted his teeth and walked briskly, approaching the monster as quietly as possible. His dagger was set aside and discarded.

He doesn't give himself time to think. He couldn't afford it. Noah lunged, picked up the blade from the ground, and spun and dashed towards the naked monster. Its eyes widened, it screamed, threw his arm aside, and lunged at him.

Noah recognized another attack - this time, the one that had actually just killed him. He rolled backwards, barely avoiding the massive claws that cut through the air above his head. It leans back and raises its paws above its head.

Noah lunged at it, stabbing the knife into the wound in its chest. He twisted the blade of his sword, then dodged the monkey's head slash with a sharp dodge. As soon as its hands hit the ground, he lunged forward, throwing all his weight into the dagger.

Something creaked when Noah's shoulder hit the monster's massive chest. The bones were broken, and the dagger pierced deeper, piercing the monkey's heart. It trembled, and Noah looked at it.

He bared his teeth, his eyes full of anger and determination. All that meets them is fear.

The monkey fell backwards and fell to the ground, blood gushing from the deep wound in its chest and running down its fur to the ground around it. Noah staggered back a step, his head still pounding violently.

Energy filled his body, flowing through his limbs like an icy river – more than he had gained by killing the little monkeys. Much more. Unfortunately, this did not relieve his severe headaches.

Naturally, he staggered towards the remains of the corpse and took off his pants. He pulled them on and made his way into the woods to retrieve his gourd. He hung it on his belt and returned to the monkey.

He pulled his claws out of the monster's chest and shook off the blood inside. Noah looked down at his tormentor, his lips pursed thinly. Part of him almost felt sorry for it. That part is very, very small. It's been so long since he died, and Noah definitely doesn't want to try again. If the monkey has an afterlife, he hopes to wait a particularly long time.