An Icy Rain That Could Not Drench Its Foe

Creeeek—scrraaatch.

The sound of claws raking against bark echoed through the depths of night.

Sixteen marks scarred the tree—today marked the sixteenth day since Ayato had been stranded in the forest.

More than a week had passed since parting ways with the Forest King. Now, Ayato lived for survival alone, all while searching for a path out of this endless forest toward wherever humans might dwell.

Yet so far, his efforts had led only in circles, never certain of his place. He had been so absorbed in memorizing the Forest King’s every move that he had forgotten to ask the simplest question: the way out. By the time he remembered, the chance had long slipped away.

Crack… crack…

The campfire crackled as Ayato tightened his grip on the dagger in his hand.

In the end, this dagger left behind by the Forest King has been my greatest aid.

It felt less like something forgotten, more like a parting gift. On that final night, after their last meal together, she had disappeared by morning—leaving only the blade behind.

There’s no way she simply forgot it… heh, maybe she’s just too awkward to say things honestly.

Though her words were often curt, everything she left him had always proved useful.

Loneliness stirred in his chest at the thought. He clenched the dagger tighter and lifted his eyes to the sky.

From where he sat, the canopy blocked most of the night sky. On a whim, he decided to climb a nearby tree for a clearer view.

It wasn’t necessary, but Ayato seemed to mask his solitude by seeking comfort in the glitter of starlight.

That night, the sky was perfectly clear. The cold bit deep, yet the ragged cloak he had scavenged from a corpse in the forest wrapped him with just enough warmth.

He had also smeared his body with petals of the Thysera flower. The Forest King had once taught him its use, and indeed, its pungent aroma kept insects and predators at bay. Now, after days alone, Ayato had grown used to harvesting it for himself.

Most of his gear and tools were crafted by his own hands; the rest, he had salvaged from the unfortunate dead who had never found their way out.

After several attempts, Ayato finally climbed the tall tree. His head broke through the canopy, and the brilliant night sky stretched above him.

Though the forest below lay in darkness, strange glowing fruits and flowers dotted the canopy, scattering light like stars upon the trees. The sight was so splendid, it felt like gazing at a stage lit for an idol concert.

“So beautiful… Watching the stars like this, I can’t help but feel so small. Even though I still can’t recall anything about my past… I think my present will be alright. And I hope my future will be too…”

…

Grrrhh… Rrraaawrhh!

A beast, lynx-like in form, lunged straight at Ayato.

Since it was alone, Ayato chose to stand his ground.

Shaaaa!

The creature, restless and frenzied, struck blindly. Ayato remained calm, weaving away, keeping just out of reach.

He pressed his back to a tree, baiting it into a reckless charge. Steadying his breath, his eyes sharpened to a razor’s focus.

Falling for the lure, the beast lunged. Ayato twisted aside, driving his dagger deep into its exposed throat as its claws tore the bark.

He pushed until the blade met bone—then stilled.

Confirming the corpse, Ayato exhaled shakily.

“Pant… Pant… No matter how many times I do this, I still can’t get used to it…”

His hands shook, slick with blood. Was it the unfamiliarity of killing… or the terror of dying should he falter?

After a moment’s rest, Ayato used broad leaves to wipe the blood from his skin.

Thanks to watching the Forest King closely, he could now distinguish plants: poisonous, edible, medicinal, and even those fit for makeshift tools.

Yet even after scrubbing with leaves, the sticky blood clung stubbornly. Reaching for his bamboo flask, he hesitated—then instead squeezed liquid from a stalk to rinse it away.

His analysis had improved. His combat sense too. Even his instincts had sharpened—tempered by the Forest King’s cruel games, her sudden ambushes.

At first, he’d cursed her for it. Now, seeing the result, all resentment was gone.

“Phew… But ever since she vanished, this forest has felt less safe. I must find a settlement. I can’t stay like this forever… it’s exhausting.”

For an ordinary boy—untrained in both mind and body—weeks stranded in the wild was a crushing burden. His memories had not returned, but his body still remembered the comforts of the modern world he had lost.

…

The next day, Ayato gathered materials for traps.

Though his dagger was reliable, many of the forest’s beasts were too swift to strike. Traps were his only hope.

Today, he set his sights on a wild boar—just like the Forest King once had.

To chase away silence, he hummed a tune. Where it came from, he could not remember. Yet mid-verse, he froze.

This feeling…!? I rubbed Thysera petals thick! Even I can smell it… did I overdo it and weaken its effect?!

Dagger tight in hand, Ayato scanned the shadows.

No! This isn’t like before. This isn’t some common beast that’ll flee from the flower’s scent. Which means…!

He sprinted, seeking a tree to climb. But as if predicting his escape, the predator revealed itself, hunger in its stride.

At first, its steps were silent. Then—thud… thud…—heavy, deliberate. Panic clawed at Ayato; sweat drenched his body.

He looked left, right—searching, desperate. The oppressive air smothered him, choking away even the thought of climbing.

His breaths hitched. Gulp! His throat bobbed audibly.

Calm… down… ca-ca-calm…

He forced the fear down—when instinct screamed. He dove forward, and just in time.

From the shadows emerged a monstrous lion, its tail ending in a black scorpion’s stinger, violet eyes gleaming with hunger. Fangs jutted long and sharp, flaunting their power to rend flesh.

Though battered and scarred, its shattered stinger twitching uselessly, the beast towered over any lion. Its presence alone was terrifying.

The sense of horror it exuded was on a completely different level from when Ayato had first encountered that pack of wolves days ago. To make matters worse, this monster radiated a dark aura from its body, distorting the air around it as though the forest itself recoiled.

Blood oozed from its wounds, a sickly bluish-purple—unnatural, unlike any beast Ayato had faced.

The monster charged again, Ayato throwing himself aside.

Its claws carved gaping furrows into the earth, sending tremors up his legs. Sensing weakness, it pressed harder—relentless.

Trees splintered as their clash tore through the forest. Ayato faltered, his body drained by fear, exhaustion, and that suffocating aura.

“No… way…”

He tried to push on, but his vision reeled. A sudden blow hurled him through the air.

Crash! Crack! Thud! His body slammed against the ground, bouncing hard across the earth. The beast’s downward slash had twisted at the last moment—flinging him skyward, as though declaring the hunt’s cruel finale.

Ayato sprawled in the dirt, blood streaming from deep gashes across his chest. The soil drank crimson as death loomed near—

Ah… this feeling again… so strange, yet familiar… the cold wraps around me… the pain is unbearable, but this time… I can still…!

His body stirred, rejecting death’s grasp. Though blood still seeped from his wounds, they began to freeze.

The air itself iced over, vapor crystallizing into shards that spread beneath his feet, weaving a frozen floor.

The pain is unbearable, but… I can still move…!

His steps faltered, yet the ice bore him upright. His vision blurred, but the fire of survival flared within his eyes, burning at the beast.

The lion, once triumphant, faltered. Its glee curdled into fear. Instinct screamed—the prey had become the hunter.

Ayato raised his hand. Moisture gathered, coalescing into icy bullets that hurled toward the beast.

Two. Four. Six. With each shot, another formed.

But his aim was wild. Many struck trees, others missed entirely. Only a few pierced the beast—not enough to bring it down.

Damn it! My control is terrible—most of my ice shots are missing! But… it’s running away?!

The beast bolted. Ayato’s thoughts raced:

If I let it go, it’ll ambush me later.

This power came suddenly—what if it abandons me next time?

Luck doesn’t strike twice… just like the Forest King said.

Resolve hardened. Icy paths bloomed beneath his feet as he dashed after it.

The beast sprinted swiftly, weaving through the trees on all fours. Ayato chased after it, firing more ice bullets—yet every shot was futile. His accuracy while moving at such speed was far worse than when he’d been standing still.

Ugh! The pain’s gotten worse! I have to finish this quickly!

Time was running out. Ayato clenched his teeth, finally deciding—he needed one last strike to end this chase once and for all.

But at this rate, I’ll lose its trail first!

His two legs could never match the monster’s four. If he wanted to close the distance, he had to find another way.

There’s… no choice but to try it!

His eyes caught the frozen floor forming with every step he took. An idea sparked. He might not be experienced with magic, but he recalled the sensation of igniting the Forest King’s firestone, and the feeling of shaping his own ice bullets.

Swinging both arms in opposite arcs, Ayato stretched an ice track forward along his path.

“It worked! Alright!”

With sudden momentum, he launched himself onto the slick surface, skating faster and faster. Even as he gave chase, he poured energy into forming a massive ice crystal above, swelling it larger and larger with every breath.

The beast tried to veer away, but Ayato cut off its routes with reckless ice shots, haphazard yet effective, forcing it back into line. Meanwhile, more ice tracks spiraled ahead, tightening the noose.

The crystal above had now grown immense, crushing trees beneath its bulk as it expanded. Seeing it, Ayato’s confidence flared.

Even with my terrible aim, something this big—there’s no way it can escape!

“DIE!”

With all his might, he hurled the massive crystal downward. Forest trees splintered as its shadow loomed over the panicked beast. The moment of death drew near—

“WHAT!?”

Too slow. For all its size, the crystal fell at a snail’s pace. Any creature should have been able to dodge it.

Realization struck. In the split second that remained, Ayato swept both arms toward the path the beast would take to escape.

Skating through the forest on twisting ice trails, he drove his speed higher and higher.

“I WON’T LET YOU ESCAPE!”

At the same instant the crystal slammed into the earth, Ayato rammed into the beast, carrying both of them skyward.

“BEGONE!”

Clutching it tight, he froze the monster solid, its face etched with terror—forever immortalized in ice.

With the beast encased, Ayato braced for the fall. He crashed down atop it, shattering the frozen shell. The crystal did not harm him—it was his own.

Gasping, his breath fogging in the frozen air, Ayato forced himself to stand.

“This… is outside?”

When he looked around, Ayato finally realized something—he was no longer inside the forest. He had landed outside.

Beneath him stretched a dirt road, its grooves well-worn by carriage wheels.

“Haha… hahaha!”

Even in his weakened state, he managed a laugh. The relief was so overwhelming that, for a moment, he forgot the pain wracking his body.

“WHATEVER HAPPENS, DON’T BREAK FORMATION!”

A woman’s shout snapped Ayato back to his senses.

Following the voice, he saw a carriage besieged by monsters. Around it, a group of soldiers had formed a ring, shields raised, struggling to hold their line.

Some of the beasts were ones Ayato had already encountered in the forest—aggressive and vicious by nature. But what unsettled him was the sight of so many different species gathered together, attacking as one.

As Ayato rushed closer, the formation began to collapse.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! HOLD UNTIL MILADY IS—GUH!”

One by one, soldiers fell under the monsters’ onslaught. Then, just as one beast lunged straight for Milady—

“MILADY!?”

―an ice bullet pierced clean through the monster’s skull.

“WHAT!?”

As the woman commanding the soldiers questioned the source of the attack, walls of ice suddenly rose, circling around them.

The ice formed into towering barriers, as if deliberately shaped to shield the troops within.

“BACK TO FORMATION, NOW!”

Still wary of the threat posed by the sudden walls of frost, the woman barked orders to reform their line.

With the barriers complete, Ayato shot forward on his ice skates, unleashing bullets of frost in a reckless barrage.

Though small in size, the speed of each projectile was enough to tear through most of the monsters, sending the rest fleeing in panic back into the woods.

Once he was sure the enemies had scattered, Ayato’s thoughts lingered.

I know how to make them… but how do I undo these walls? And they’re clearly on edge around me too. This is bad—ugh!

The unbearable pain clawed at his body, pulling his consciousness away. Yet even as darkness pressed in, he managed to touch the walls he had created.

With a single brush of his hand, the towering ice crumbled into countless tiny shards. And at that very moment, Ayato collapsed before their eyes.

“Stay alert!”

The commander gave sharp orders, slowly advancing toward Ayato’s fallen form.

“H-hey!”

She tried calling out, but received no response. Just as her hand reached closer, Ayato’s body twitched faintly. Instinctively, she raised her shield and leveled her sword at him.

“My goodness, Elyn! What are you doing!?”

“Milady! Stay inside the formation!”

“Enough! Let me see him!”

Ignoring the warnings, Milady dashed toward Ayato’s crumpled body. Kneeling, she rolled him over—only for his faintly open eyes to meet hers.

Dark brown hair framed her face, set against a sky the same deep blue as her eyes—the final sight Ayato beheld before his world fell into darkness.