Only two figures moved through the forest.

Tyler walked along the riverbank, boots crunching softly against damp soil and scattered pebbles. Beside him, Serena padded silently, her orange fur standing out against the green and brown surroundings. The pearl tied around her neck glimmered faintly every time sunlight slipped through the canopy above.

The river flowed steadily at their side, its surface reflecting broken fragments of the sky.

Tyler glanced at it and nodded to himself.

"Yeah... sticking close to the river is still better," he muttered.

Serena flicked an ear.

"I know, I know," Tyler said, hands resting behind his head as he walked. "Last time it caused trouble. But rivers are still convenient. Water, monsters, fertile soil... everything gathers here."

Serena looked at him.

He smirked. "Relax. I won’t dump those rotten trash into it again."

The cat huffed.

Tyler chuckled and continued walking. Silence returned, broken only by the sound of flowing water and distant insects.

After a while, he spoke again.

"I was thinking," he said casually, as if talking about the weather. "Maybe I should go to a city."

Serena slowed slightly.

"Not permanently," he added quickly. "Just... buy stuff. Tools. Clothes and other items. Maybe even seeds I don’t have."

He glanced down at her. "I can’t stay in the forest forever with nothing but dirt and vibes."

Serena meowed softly.

"Yeah, I thought so too." He sighed. "But I don’t know if leaving the forest breaks whatever condition dragged me here in the first place."

That uncertainty still bothered him.

He was sent here to farm in the forest and gain exp.

What if stepping into a city triggered something? Failed the mission? Wait for next life to trigger mission again?

Tyler clicked his tongue. "Annoying."

Serena hopped onto a rock near the river and waited for him.

Tyler stopped beside her. "Worst case, I send you instead," he joked. "Cats don’t count as people, right?"

Serena’s eyes narrowed.

"...Okay, okay, I’m kidding."

He resumed walking, gaze drifting toward the water.

"At least I’m not out of seeds," he continued. "Cherry tomatoes, potatoes, peppers... still plenty inside the pocket dimension."

He smiled faintly. "That part’s fine."

Seeds meant Food and EXP.

"There is also those two cow girls. They can also help me farm exp while indulging in pleasure." Tyler slightly said.

Serena gave him a look.

"And this time," he added, voice lower, "I’ll find a place far from villages."

He didn’t want another misunderstanding. And get Another burned field and Another group of desperate people chasing shadows.

If he had to barter, he’d do it properly.

"I’ll find a village" Tyler said. "Trade crops for other things. Maybe tools and other Normal stuff. Or maybe I should create my own village."

Serena flicked her tail approvingly.

"See? That’s the best part. We should create our own village..."

They walked for another hour before the terrain began to change.

The forest floor sloped gently upward, rocks appearing more frequently along the riverbank. The sound of water shifted no longer just flowing, but crashing.

Serena stopped suddenly.

Tyler followed her gaze.

Ahead, the river narrowed, funneled between stone walls. Water spilled downward, white and roaring, forming a small waterfall that cascaded into a clear pool below.

Mist filled the air.

Beside the waterfall, sunlight broke through completely.

And beyond that—

"...Oh."

Tyler stopped walking.

A field of flowers stretched out before them.

Not a meadow. A field.

White, pale blue, and faint pink blossoms covered the ground like snow that had decided to bloom instead of melt. Tall grass swayed gently between them, and the mist from the waterfall kept everything fresh and damp.

The air here felt different.

Richer.

Serena’s ears perked up.

Tyler took a step forward, then another, boots sinking slightly into soft soil.

"...This is perfect."

He crouched and pressed his fingers into the ground.

Fertile. Moist. Alive.

No signs of human paths. No cut trees. No tracks except small animals.

"This place is isolated," he murmured. "Water source. Natural barrier. Open space."

He stood up slowly, eyes shining.

"I can build here."

Serena leapt onto his shoulder, clearly pleased.

Tyler laughed softly. "Yeah, yeah. I know. You picked a good spot."

Then a thought crossed his mind.

His smile widened.

"...Might as well test something."

He stepped deeper into the flower field. The petals brushed against his legs as he walked, releasing a faint, sweet scent into the air.

Tyler stopped near the center.

He rolled up his sleeve.

"Just a little," he muttered.

Using his fingernail, he scratched the skin of his forearm. A thin line of blood welled up immediately, bright red against his skin.

Without hesitation, he flicked his wrist.

Drops of blood scattered across the flowers.

The reaction was instant.

The petals trembled. The mana trembled.

The flowers nearest to the blood darkened slightly, veins glowing faintly as they absorbed the energy. Stems straightened. Roots dug deeper.

Golden letters flickered faintly before Tyler’s eyes.

[ Gained 2 EXP ]

[ Gained 2 EXP ]

[ Gained 1 EXP ]

"Oh?" Tyler blinked.

He grinned.

"So this works too."

Not as effective as farming livestock, but still valid.

"This place is amazing," he muttered. "Natural plants responding immediately."

Serena purred.

Tyler stretched his arms. "Alright. Decision made. This is home. At least for now."

He reached into the pocket dimension and released Chole.

Light shimmered, and the cow demi-human appeared beside him, blinking in confusion.

"...Where are we?" Chole asked.

She looked around, eyes widening as she took in the scenery.

"Oh... wow."

Tyler smiled. "Welcome to our new farm."

Chole’s tail swayed unconsciously as she walked forward, fingers brushing against the flowers.

"This place feels... comfortable," she said softly. "This is flower field I heard of this before."

"Exactly," Tyler replied. "You’re know about the forest right? Think this place is safe?"

Chole closed her eyes briefly, then nodded. "For now. But..."

She opened her eyes and pointed slightly uphill, beyond the densest part of the flower field.

"I heard a rumor before, There’s something sleeping there."

Tyler’s smile didn’t fade.

Sleeping meant not dead.

"Big?" he asked.

"...Very."

Serena stiffened.

Tyler exhaled slowly. "Figures."

"Actually it won’t really try to kill the travellers but doesn’t mean it never killed anyone." Chole said.

Behind the curtain of flowers, beneath the damp earth and tangled roots, something shifted.

A leg moved.

Then another.

White chitin cracked through the soil. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

A massive spider —its body the size of a human, limbs long and pale, eyes clustered and slowly opening, pulled itself free from the ground.

It had been sleeping beneath the flower field.

And now

It was awake.