The next three days passed with relative peace.
Though the forest was far from safe, the group managed to avoid any deadly encounters, save for the occasional pack of hungry hyenas.
When they encountered such foes, it felt like a deadly game of hide-and-seek, but their newly crafted weapons and cautious planning allowed them to fend off the beasts effectively.
Still, there were close calls—moments when the hyenas nearly overwhelmed them.
In those desperate times, they learned to use the narrow entrance of their cave to their advantage, luring the creatures in and picking them off one by one.
Even when they emerged victorious, the encounters left them shaken, their nerves frayed, and their bodies aching.
The most nerve-wracking moment was on the sixth day when an endless horde of massive tarantulas was passing through, sparring nothing in their wake.
They had to barricade the cave and wait it out while trying to avoid making any sounds for almost the whole day.
What was worse was that their food supply ran out, and they also couldn't access the water source.
Coupled with the fact that they had to stay silent in a completely dark cave, with the possibility of one wrong sound attracting their doom, almost drove them crazy.
Thankfully, the catastrophic wave kept going and didn't settle in their area.
On the seventh day, as they sat in the cave discussing their plans and preparing for what might be an extended stay in the forest, something unexpected happened.
Swish~~
The air grew heavy and thick, weighed down by an unnatural stillness that made it hard to breathe.
Before them, a glowing, circular portal materialized, its edges shimmering with an ethereal light that seemed to pulse in time with their heartbeats.
The trio froze, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Zzzt.
A voice, cold and apathetic, echoed directly into their minds. It carried the weariness of someone who had repeated the same words countless times.
[To all new recruits hearing this, congratulations on surviving and passing the test. Please step into the portal in front of you to proceed to the next phase.]
The voice paused as if allowing the weight of its words to sink in, before continuing.
[A reminder: Those who refuse to enter within the next ten seconds will be stranded in the tutorial forest for the next six months. It is advised to enter promptly, as the portal is perfectly safe.]
Ashen exchanged a quick glance with Seraphine and Braun. No words were needed; their choice was clear.
After barely surviving this long, there was no way in hell they'd stay in this nightmare a moment longer—let alone six months.
Together, they stepped forward, Ashen leading the way.
*
On the other side of the portal, they were greeted by the sight of hundreds of people gathered in clusters.
Judging by their ragged appearances and bewildered expressions, most appeared to be survivors of the same ordeal.
'It seems we weren't the only ones they kidnapped,' Ashen thought grimly. 'Judging by the numbers, they must have run this twisted test on dozens of groups. These are just the ones who made it out.'
The next thing he noticed was that they were no longer in the forest.
The towering trees that had loomed over them were gone, replaced by a massive clearing surrounded by patches of greenery.
Glancing backward, he saw a long road that ended at the edge of a forest—likely where they had emerged.
What truly caught his attention, however, was the faint yellow light encircling the forest's perimeter.
'Some kind of barrier…'
The realization made his mood darken. Even if they had somehow escaped that cursed place, it seemed they were still trapped.
The trio continued scanning their surroundings, but their attention was soon drawn by a man's hysterical scream cutting through the low murmurs of the crowd.
"GET ME OUT OF HERE! You can't just kidnap people like this! You criminals! Monsters!"
The man's rant was cut short as two armored guards appeared, their movements swift and precise. They dragged him away without effort despite all his flailing and shouting.
He wasn't the only one—several others were also creating scenes. But each outburst ended the same way: the individuals hauled off to an unknown fate.
Ashen couldn't help but wonder where they were taken, but he was certain it wasn't back home. He clenched his fists but kept his composure, his instincts warning him against acting out.
"..."
As they stood quietly, a woman in a maid's uniform approached them.
The uniform itself was an unusual choice, but what truly caught their attention was her striking appearance—long black hair tied into a sleek ponytail that somehow still reached her thighs, and piercing, sky-blue eyes that seemed to glow with intensity.
Her immaculate appearance and refined demeanor stood in stark contrast to the chaotic surroundings.
She wasn't alone—several similarly dressed women moved through the crowd, escorting people to various areas.
The injured were taken to nearby tents, while others were directed to a line for food and water.
"Hello there," she greeted with a professional bow. "I'm Sabrina, and I'll be your guide for now. Are any of you in need of medical attention? If not, please follow me to the food distribution line."
Ashen glanced at Seraphine and Braun, who remained silent, leaving him to respond.
"Hello, Miss Sabrina. We're not injured, but rather than eating, could you explain what's going on here? And when might we be able to go home?" he asked politely, suppressing the anger bubbling beneath his calm tone.
Both Seraphine and Braun exchanged surprised glances. They hadn't expected him to be so composed, considering the circumstances.
Ashen himself wanted nothing more than to shout and demand answers, but his gut told him it wasn't the time. Seven days of survival in the jungle had taught him to trust his instincts.
'This woman isn't just some maid,' he thought, studying her with narrowed eyes.
Sabrina held his gaze for a moment, her expression unreadable. "Someone will address everyone's inquiries shortly," she replied evenly. "For now, I suggest you eat and rest."
Realizing he wouldn't get any more information from her, he nodded reluctantly. "Thank you."
Following her lead, the trio lined up for food, eventually settling into seats near a platform at the front of a venue.
Most of the crowd had gathered here, eating in tense silence.
"..."
His expression soured as Ashen bit into his first real meal in days.
Across the clearing, Chris stood surrounded by ten people, his confident demeanor making it clear he'd positioned himself as their leader.
Seraphine and Braun followed his line of sight, and Braun sighed upon seeing the lunatic. "So, he survived."
Seraphine focused on the people around Chris. "They don't know what they're getting into," she muttered.
Ashen scoffed. 'Not only did he survive, but he also found new tools. He doesn't waste time.'
Shaking his head, he turned back to his companions. "Forget about him. We've got enough to deal with. Meddling won't help us now."
Braun nodded. "Not that we could do much anyway," he said, glancing at the armored guards stationed throughout the venue.
Seraphine exhaled slowly, her shoulders slumping. "Let's just focus on the person Sabrina mentioned. I really hope there aren't more tests. I don't think I can handle it."
"Me too," Ashen replied, though deep down, he didn't share her optimism. Every sign pointed to things getting worse.