Upon reaching the ground below, Ash found himself standing beside a vast basin created by the plunging waterfall.
He decided to rest there for a moment before making his move toward the village.
Approaching the water's edge, he knelt and submerged his entire face.
The icy water flowed over his skin, bringing a sense of comfort and sharp clarity after an exhausting journey.
As he lifted his head, his reflection shimmered on the surface—a pale complexion, deep black eyes devoid of emotion, and a cold, stoic expression.
Staring at his own image, Ash noted a profound change within himself. Before, he had only seen the hollow emptiness of a mundane life, uncertain of what his future held.
Now, having stepped into this "Place" and experienced trials, hardships, and near-death encounters, he realized that life was anything but boring.
'It's fascinating.'
Beneath the surface of the lake, that cold face cracked into a wide smile of pure satisfaction, as if he had finally discovered his purpose—his future.
Without lingering, Ash scooped up a handful of water, drank it, and set off toward the village situated at the heart of this land.
He stood up, gripping his wooden branch in his right hand as he tracked the settlement he had spotted earlier.
'The ecosystem down here is more diverse than above.'
Ash observed his surroundings; there was grass, small shrubs, and trees of normal height, similar to those on Earth.
They weren't the colossal, towering giants he had seen previously. The area felt vibrant and fresh—an anomaly in a world dominated by shades of gray and black.
Strangely, however, there was still no sign of life, not even a single insect.
Ash followed the path etched in his memory. The village wasn't far, and it took only a short time to arrive.
From his vantage point, he saw a rustic settlement built from simple wood, with roofs thatched from straw and leaves.
As he drew closer, he found himself at the main entrance.
The village was enclosed by a wooden fence about two meters high, likely designed to protect the inhabitants from wild beasts.
'Even though not a single beast has appeared here.'
Ash hesitated at the gate for a moment before deciding to enter. As he stepped inside, he realized there wasn't a soul in sight.
The silence was haunting, mirroring the desolation of the land above. It was utterly empty.
"Ha... just as I thought."
He wasn't surprised. Having seen no living creatures on his way here, the chances of finding humans were slim.
He scanned the area; the village was small, consisting of only a few dozen houses.
He approached one and knocked on the door—a gesture of respect, even though he knew no one would answer.
'No response. As expected.'
Ash pushed the door open. The interior was vacant, save for common household items like knives, tables, chairs, and a bed.
Everything was layered in thick dust, indicating they had been abandoned for a very long time.
Aside from these relics, he found nothing.
'A pity there's no food. I'm starving.'
Ash pressed a hand to his growling stomach; he hadn't eaten in over two days. He closed the door and continued to search the other houses, hoping for a clue about this place or the Core he sought.
Cậu đóng cửa lại và tiếp tục tìm kiếm ở những ngôi nhà khác, hy vọng tìm được manh mối về nơi này hoặc về Lõi mà cậu đang tìm kiếm.
He checked everywhere—under tables, beneath beds, inside wardrobes, and even in flower pots.
After circling the entire village, he had found nothing.
'Is it possible there's not a single clue here either?'
He looked up at the sky. The sun was dipping below the horizon; night was fast approaching.
'I wonder if there are monsters down here. If so, will hiding in this village be safe?'
Suddenly, Ash's eyes snapped wide.
'Wait !!... I've overlooked one place.'
He remembered a house situated in the very center of the village, obscured by the others. He had unconsciously ignored it.
He immediately sprinted deeper into the settlement, bypassing the huts until he reached the central house. It was smaller than the others, but built with higher quality wood and a more refined design.
Ash stood before the door, knocked, and slowly pushed it open. Inside, he saw only a bed and a small desk placed by the window.
His attention was drawn to a chair beside the desk, where an object sat covered by a shroud. He approached the chair and slowly pulled the cloth away.
Ash's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight beneath the veil.
'A skeleton?'
Sitting in the chair was a skeleton covered in dust, dressed in tattered, yellowed clothes—a shirt and long black trousers.
The remains held a notebook against its chest, while the other hand gripped a rusted, broken knife.
'Suicide? And why is this skeleton here?'
Questions flooded Ash's mind. He pulled the notebook from the skeleton's ribcage and opened it to read the contents.
{ Hello to whoever is holding my notebook. My name is Alberto, the 12th Chief of this village. }
Ash was stunned; he hadn't expected the remains to belong to the village leader.
{ If you are holding this, then I am certainly dead. You likely have many questions, but I will share with you the information I possess. }
Ash read the entries with meticulous care.
{ This place is an island our villagers named "No Name," as it has no official title. This island is vast, potentially over 20 million square kilometers, according to the calculations of eleven generations of our people. The land is divided into three sectors: }
{ - The first is the Center, where you stand now. It is surrounded by high mountains and a waterfall to the East. At the borders of this area, our mages placed a barrier. Anyone approaching will be met with a relentless and violent hailstorm. It serves as a small trial for those wishing to enter; once you pass the barrier, the storm ends and everything returns to normal. }
{ - The second is the Giant Gray Forest, a place where monsters frequently appear—mostly Semi-Spawn, but occasionally Spawn-level creatures. }
{ - The final sector lies at the edge of the island, enclosed by mountains over 5,000 meters high that blot out the sky... }
Ash was amazed by the sheer volume of information. He finally understood the origin of the hailstorm he had escaped—it was a trial barrier.
He was also shocked by the scale of the island. He turned to the next page, and the following lines made him freeze.
{ You cannot cross those mountains because... }
Ash's hands began to tremble as he read the name he couldn't believe.
{ There is a Colossus there... }