The sensation of traveling through the warp hole was nauseating. It was as if Aleck were simultaneously going up and down a rollercoaster—his stomach lurching with every twist and turn, his body shifting between weightlessness and crushing heaviness. His senses spun out of control until—
Plop!
Aleck hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air from his lungs and jarring him awake. His head pounded, and his entire body ached as he struggled to sit up, disoriented by the strange, unfamiliar landscape around him. The air was thick and foul, carrying a stench of decay that made him gag.
To his left, the land was barren and lifeless. The ground was cracked and dry, with jagged rocks scattered across the dead landscape. The foul stench was stronger here, like rotting flesh permeating the air.
But to his right, in the distance, a lush, vibrant forest stood in stark contrast to the desolation. Its green canopy stretched far, glowing with life. It felt as though Aleck was standing at the boundary between two worlds—one vibrant and thriving, the other dead and decaying. Like Heaven and hell, with him caught between them.
Aleck cursed under his breath, thinking of the Saintess and her lackeys. "No wonder the Titan God was angered."
Suddenly, a familiar chime echoed in his head.
[Forget: Innate Skill]
[Description: Lets you forget any aspect of your life.]
Aleck groaned. "Ah, this stupid system. Always showing the same pointless skill."
Before he could collect his thoughts, a low growl echoed through the air, sending a shiver down his spine. Aleck froze, his breath catching as the sound grew closer. He turned slowly, his heart sinking when he saw the source of the noise—a hulking, wolf-like creature with humanoid features. Its eyes glowed with predatory intent, its muscles rippling beneath its fur as it stalked toward him.
Werewolf? Aleck thought, but he had no time to ponder as it was only a few hundred meters away. The beast lunged, and instinct took over. He bolted toward the distant forest, his feet pounding the ground as branches whipped at his face and clothes. His lungs burned with every breath, and his heart thundered in his ears. But the creature was fast—too fast.
Think, Aleck, think! he screamed internally, but panic clouded his thoughts. Ahead of him was the forest, its trees unnaturally tall and thick, offering no clear path of escape but perhaps a place to hide.
As the creature closed in, Aleck noticed something strange. It wasn't moving in a straight line. The beast was circling him, weaving between the trees, its movements erratic like it was toying with him.
But Aleck didn't have time to figure out why. His foot caught on a root, and he crashed to the ground, pain flaring through his leg as he landed awkwardly. The wolf pounced, its claws slashing toward him with deadly precision.
"Aaaghhh! Gahhh!" Aleck's screams ripped through the forest as the beast's claws tore into his leg His vision blurred from the shock and blood soaked through his clothes as he writhed in agony, desperately trying to pull himself away.
The pain was unbearable, every movement sending waves of burning heat through his body. He clawed at the ground, crawling forward, but he knew it wouldn't be enough.
I can't die here. I can't die. I need to get back to them. To Rebecca. To Alexa.
In his panic, a single thought pierced through his mind: my skill. It was all he had.
"Forget the pain!" he shouted, not knowing if it would work. But as the words left his mouth, the pain vanished. His entire body went numb—so numb that he couldn't feel anything at all. It was as if he had lost all connection to his body, floating in a strange, disconnected state.
This isn't right. Aleck's mind raced. Something was wrong. He wasn't supposed to feel like this. He quickly canceled the skill, the feeling of his body rushing back all at once. He had been too vague, and it had numbed everything considering all his senses a form of tolerable pain. He tried again; this time more specific.
"Forget the pain caused from the werewolf's claws," he muttered, and instantly, the pain in his leg disappeared, leaving only a dull throb in its place.
A system message flashed before his eyes:
[More information about the skill is revealed due to first use of the skill.]
[Forget]
[Description: Allows you to forget any aspect of your life. The forgotten aspects are stored and can be restored at any time.]
Aleck grunted, still frustrated. "Still the same trash skill."
But something clicked as he read the new information. He could forget more than just pain. He could forget multiple aspects of his experience at once. The realization dawned on him, and he quickly gave another command.
"Forget the fear of the werewolf monster."
Instantly, the overwhelming panic that had been choking him vanished. His mind cleared, his heartbeat steadying. He could finally think, his thoughts no longer clouded by terror. He could see the situation for what it was. The wolf, for some reason, was circling him again rather than launching a direct attack. If it had come at him head-on, Aleck knew he'd already be dead.
Is it playing with me? But why?
With the fear gone, Aleck could analyze the creature's behavior, his mind racing to find a way out. The beast was toying with him, as though testing him, waiting for something.
Maybe this skill isn't so useless after all, Aleck thought, watching the wolf with renewed clarity. He shifted his position, feeling a small flicker of hope rise within him. He still had a chance. Now he just had to figure out how to outsmart the beast.