It had been eleven days since Kuro's summoning to the Beyonder test, and in that time, his wounds, sustained during his initial battle against the spirit, had gradually begun to heal.
Crouching down before a colossal tree, its width rivaling that of a small cave, Kuro inhaled the scent of moist soil and foliage mingling in the air. Ensuring that no uninvited guests had encroached upon his abode, he gently stroked the grass with his fingers, before finally entering his makeshift shelter.
Kuro's home was a humble refuge constructed from the natural elements, with tree branches and leaves intertwined to form a makeshift roofing, creating a quaint, rudimentary structure. The surrounding trees provided an added layer of camouflage, blending his shelter into the forest's scenery.
Kuro's mind was no longer overwhelmed by confusion and fear but had instead sharpened. He had spent eleven days in the Beyonder test, scouting while he was healing turned out to be a worthwhile gamble.
The boy had noted that spirits seemed to gather in specific areas. The river where he initially faced an ambush was one such gathering point. These spirits would swarm and attack one another, only to be defeated and leave behind crystals. Other spirits then consumed these crystals, seemingly in a perpetual cycle.
Kuro couldn't help but wonder why the spirits acted in this manner. It was as if they had an instinct to gather in specific locations and fight one another. The purpose behind this strange behavior eluded him.
Kuro leaned against the wooden interior of his tree, uttering softly to himself, "I'm incredibly fortunate to have found this place." It was a habit he had developed, talking to himself, but now it seemed to happen more frequently. The isolation was beginning to make him feel a bit unhinged at times.
Thoughts of his sister flooded his mind. Every night he missed her dearly, longing to be there to protect her. However, survival was his most pressing concern, and deep down, he knew she was capable of taking care of herself.
Kuro's features hardened as he directed his gaze forward, attempting to push back the thoughts that clawed at his mind. Yet, he knew he needed to confront them.
During his previous scout, he had come across a sizeable group of participants. The idea of seeking their help first sprung to mind, but then he quickly shook the thought away, recalling the voice in the white room's warning. To kill another participant was to claim their points.
Kuro's eyes wandered towards his shoulder, upon which a strange, glowing substance spelled out the number 0.3 in a peculiar hue.
He noticed it a few days ago, there was a cold distant part of Kuro that came out during situations like these, that part of him had saved his life dozens of times during his life with the bandits
Kuro's thoughts lingered on the mysterious girl who had once saved him. Despite the strange circumstances surrounding their encounter, the idea of her being part of the large group he had discovered flickered in his mind.
However, the boy's rational mind prevailed again, quickly dismissing the notion. Engaging with the group without assurance of his safety was far too risky, and he couldn't allow himself to be clouded by fleeting thoughts or false hopes.
Kuro picked up the crystal he had gotten from the spirit the crystal was small like a chipped piece of orange rock, and it radiant a strange feeling to Kuro that he couldn't describe
He clutched the oddly shaped crystal in his hand, his eyes fixed on its peculiar orange hue. Despite its unassuming size and appearance, he could somehow detect an air of significance about it, a sense that it was far from ordinary.
The boy had observed the spirits and the massive group of participants, and his mind concluded that this small piece of rock held great importance. With a determined gleam in his eyes, he muttered to himself, "Here we go, I guess."
Taking a deep breath, he held the crystal firmly in his palm and repeated the girl's words, "Open thy soul."
The previously solid crystal began to transform, morphing into a liquified form that spilled across Kuro's palm, flowing like water on parched earth. As the liquid crystal made contact with his skin, a strange sensation spread throughout his body.
Kuro winced slightly, but he maintained his grip on the crystal, determined to see this through. An intense heat coursed through his veins, igniting a fiery pain, as if his very soul was being exposed to the scorching touch of an inferno.