Mark stood there for a long time, soaking in his freedom, tears of joy slowly drying on his face.
His gaze remained fixed on the moon, its gentle glow comforting his scarred soul...
Suddenly, a massive dark shape glided silently across the moon's face, blocking out a chunk of its light.
Mark's heart skipped a beat as he froze, his eyes locked intensely upward...
Mark's instincts screamed warning signals – something massive was approaching!
He sprinted silently towards the nearest cluster of bushes and trees, his heart racing.
Reaching cover, Mark activated his **Camouflage** skill:
* His skin turned mossy green
* His hair blended into leafy branches
* His twisted tree-like arm merged with surrounding foliage
Fully concealed, Mark held perfectly still, watching the direction he last saw the dark shape pass across the moon.
His single eye strained to see through the darkness, muscles tense with anticipation.
The air was heavy with silence... then faintly, he heard:
* Rustling leaves
* Crushing gravel
* Low, rumbling breaths
Mark didn't wait to see what was making those terrifying sounds!
He silently deactivated his **Camouflage** skill and TURNED AND RAN:
* His feet pounded against the earth
* His twisted tree-like arm pumped wildly for balance
* His single eye scanned ahead for obstacles
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Mark saw a dense thicket of trees far from the terrifying noises.
He dashed inside and collapsed onto the soft forest floor:
Exhausted. Breathless. Alive.
Mark closed his single eye and focused on slow, calming breaths...
His body began to relax... and then he fell asleep.
Morning sunlight filtered through the thicket, waking Mark from his deep sleep.
He stretched his twisted tree-like arm and sat up, feeling fully refreshed.
Curious about his status, Mark focused his mind to access his character details:
**MARK'S STATUS**
* **CLASS:** Ancient Treant (Dark)
* **LEVEL:** 280
* **HP:** 130,000/130,000 (FULLY RECOVERED)
* **MP:** 81,000/81,000 (FULLY RECOVERED)
* **MAX HP INCREASED BY 12,000**
Mark nodded to himself, familiar with the passive skill's benefits – **Vitality Boost** constantly improved his endurance!
His thoughts turned to what's next...
Mark set out to explore the surrounding area, seeking stronger enemies to battle and gain experience.
His twisted tree-like arm swung freely as he walked, single eye scanning the horizon.
After a few hours of traversing through the forest,
Mark crested the hill and stopped abruptly, his single eye fixed on:
**Brindlemark Village**
Or what remained of it...
Charred beams lay scattered, roofs collapsed, and an eerie silence hung over the devastation.
A mix of emotions swirled inside Mark - anger, hatred, and bitterness.
This village was tainted with dark memories for Mark.
He had left from here full of hope, only to end up:
* Maimed
* Sacrificed to the Dryad in that terrifying cave
* Forever changed
Mark's twisted tree-like arm clenched into a fist, his mind racing with unresolved fury...
He took a step forward, his gaze burning with intensity towards the ruined village.
As he drew closer, he noticed something was terribly wrong with the village...
Charred beams lay scattered, roofs collapsed, and an eerie silence hung over the devastation.
Mark searches the ruins for any survivors or clues,
He stepped cautiously into the devastated village, his single eye scanning the wreckage.
Every step revealed more destruction:
* Crumbled stone walls
* Shattered glass and pottery
* Burned timber still smoldering
Mark's twisted tree-like arm navigated through the debris with ease, his mind fixed on finding answers:
Why was the village destroyed?
Was anyone responsible for his sacrifice to the Dryad still alive?
He called out names of those who had been close to him:
"Kael... Lila... Is anyone here?"
His voice echoed through the desolate streets, filled with a mix of anger and longing.
Mark's thoughts were tangled with memories of Kael - a bond he once considered brotherly...
And Lila - her gentle smile and comforting presence had drawn him close...
But now, amidst the village ruins, Mark's feelings towards them were laced with bitterness and suspicion.
He searched the debris-filled streets, twisted tree-like arm moving cautiously, as if expecting betrayal around every corner.
Mark's single eye scanned the horrific scene, his mind reeling with grief and anger.
The burned bodies, though barely recognizable, still evoked a chill down his spine.
Scattered around them were gruesome remnants:
* A severed arm lying alone on blackened stone
* A charred torso torn from its lower half
* A skull cracked open, empty eye sockets staring upwards
Mark's stomach twisted in horror as he continued searching, his twisted tree-like arm moving slowly through the rubble.
Then, he saw it - their former home, now a smoldering ruin:
* Collapsed roof
* Charred wooden beams
* Shattered glass scattered everywhere
Mark's emotions threatened to overwhelm him, but he pushed onward.
Nearby, he spotted a decent set of clothing amidst the debris -
* A dark tunic
* Leather pants
* A worn cloak with a hood
He quickly changed into these clothes, covering his twisted tree-like arm and maimed body.
The hood cast a shadow over his face, concealing his single eye.
Now disguised, Mark resumed his search for answers - and possibly, Kael and Lila.
Mark continued his grim search through the devastated village, his hooded figure moving silently amidst the ruins.
His single eye scanned the charred landscape, taking in the destruction and death.
He turned corners, navigated rubble-filled streets, and pushed aside burned debris...
Then, he saw it - a body lying face upward, partially consumed by flames.
Mark's heart sank as he approached the corpse...
The body was charred beyond recognition, except for one haunting feature:
The left half of the face remained intact, skin pale and lifeless...
Mark's single eye widened in horror as he realized:
This was Kael.
The person he once considered a brother.
The same person whose actions had led to his darkest nightmares...
Mark's twisted tree-like arm clenched into a fist, anger and betrayal simmering beneath his hood.
Mark turned away from Kael's lifeless body, his emotions simmering beneath his hood.
He continued his search, navigating through the ruined village streets.
The path led him to the village head's residence, once a symbol of authority and wisdom.
But now, a gruesome sight awaited him in front of the house:
A headless body lay on the ground, clothes torn and bloodstained.
Despite the horrific mutilation, Mark's single eye recognized:
* The slender figure
* The familiar dress with embroidered flowers
* The petite hands
It was Lila.