Alex's eyes fluttered open, greeted by a clear, endless blue sky.
He groaned softly, raising a hand to his throbbing head.
His mind felt hazy, as though shrouded in a thick fog.
For a moment, nothing made sense. The memories were gone, but the disorientation didn't last long.
Suddenly, it all came rushing back, and a smile crept onto his face.
The corners of his mouth curled into a grin as he remembered it—the maniacal laughter that had escaped his lips just before he passed out.
"Ah…" he groaned, satisfied.
"That's right. I won."
Sitting up, Alex let his gaze sweep across his surroundings.
But almost immediately, his brow furrowed in confusion.
This place was completely unfamiliar.
Gone was the icy forest where he had battled the Cockatrice King.
There were no trees, no frost-covered ground, no green canopy above.
Instead, he found himself sitting on jagged stone.
