The group resumed their progress on the right path, but the atmosphere had changed. The brief glimmer of hope born from the victory against the Spectral Monkey and Kenta's level-up had been overshadowed by the harsh reality Junichi reminded them of: their priority was to find an exit, an escape from the confrontation with the Rokurokubi that terrified them all. The goal was no longer to gain power, but to flee.

  They moved forward with renewed caution, the decided formation, Kenta and Goro in front, Junichi and Haru on the fnks, the others in the center, maintained with a discipline born of fear. Every cracking branch, every shifting shadow was scrutinized with nervous intensity. The air seemed even heavier, the phosphorescent glow of the trees more sinister. Fatigue weighed on their limbs, and the throbbing pain from the spectral wounds constantly reminded them of their vulnerability.

  The path wound through the underground forest, sometimes skirting oozing rock faces or crossing areas where the luminous moss was denser, casting distorted shadows. The pping water heard earlier grew closer, revealing a thin trickle of bckish water flowing down a rock before disappearing into the spongy ground. The water seemed neither potable nor reassuring.

  Following Junichi's instructions, they actively avoided any sign of confrontation. At one point, Haru, whose senses seemed sharpened by the constant danger, signaled the group to stop. He pointed towards an indistinct figure sneaking between the trees in the distance, perhaps another Spectral Monkey, or something else. Without a word, the group froze, blending into the shadows as much as possible, holding their breath until the potential threat disappeared. The tension was palpable; avoiding combat was almost as stressful as seeking it.

  As they continued, their eyes scanning the ground for clues of an exit, they began to find incongruous objects among the dead leaves and mud. First, Aiko almost tripped over something hard. It was a short sword, its bde heavily pitted with rust, the pommel missing. Shortly after, Goro spotted a round wooden shield, half-buried in the ground. The wood was cracked and warped by moisture, the leather strap for holding it rotten. Further on, Haru unearthed a pair of simple daggers, their bdes tarnished but still retively solid.

  The discovery sparked a wave of hesitation and mistrust.“Weapons? Here?”Kenta murmured, looking at the rusty sword with disgust.

  “Careful.”Junichi warned.“Why would they be here, just like that? It could be a trap.”

  “Or... or they belong to the... the monsters?”Daichi stammered, taking a step back.“Maybe they’re cursed!”

  Misaki shivered.“It is strange... like someone left them here on purpose.”

  Goro examined the shield.“Cursed or not, a shield is a shield. Better than nothing.”He tried to pry it from the ground.

  Remains of previous adventurers? Or bait?Renji analyzed.Either way, ignoring potential tools would be foolish. But caution is necessary.

  Finally, driven by necessity and the ck of alternatives, they decided to retrieve the items, but with palpable apprehension. Goro managed to wrench the shield free, testing it warily. Haru slipped the daggers into his belt without a word. Kenta picked up the rusty sword gingerly, looking unconvinced of its usefulness. They felt slightly better equipped, but also more worried about the nature of this pce.

  The path continued to curve, seeming to delve deeper into the cavern. Yet, a sense of unease began to settle over Renji. Certain trees, certain rock formations felt... familiar. Was it just the monotony of the ndscape or...?

  Wait... that rock with the triple crack... I'm sure I've seen it before!he thought, an unpleasant shiver running down his spine.And this curve in the path...

  He wasn't the only one. He saw Junichi frowning, his gaze sweeping the surroundings with renewed intensity. Kenta also slowed his pace, a look of confusion on his face.

  “Hey... guys.”Kenta began hesitantly.“Does this pce look familiar to you? I feel like we’ve been here before.”

  Doubt settled over the group. They looked around, searching for ndmarks. The terrible truth began to dawn. The path wasn't going deeper. It was looping.

  They quickened their pace, apprehension growing with every meter. The familiarity of the pce became undeniable. That twisted trunk, that pool of stagnant water, that particur rock face...

  And then, they emerged into a clearing. The same clearing. In the center, massive, bck, and sinister, stood the obsidian door. The boss door. They had come full circle. The right path had led them right back to where they started.

  The realization was brutal. There was no other exit on this path. And by logical deduction, the left path must do exactly the same thing, forming a loop around the central area dominated by the door. There was no easy escape, no way around.

  Silent despair fell upon the group. Shoulders slumped, faces fell. The brief momentum they had found after the fight evaporated completely, repced by an overwhelming sense of helplessness. They stopped, staring at the bck door as if it were the very face of their doom. Daichi let out a strangled sob and fell to his knees, burying his face in his hands. No one tried to comfort him; they were too busy fighting their own despair.

  “No... no, it can’t be...”Kenta whispered, his voice empty.

  “Both paths... they lead nowhere.”Junichi stated grimly, his usual pragmatism tinged with a note of resignation.“They just bring us back here. To it.”His gaze was fixed on the bck door.

  “So... there’s no other way?”Misaki asked, her voice breaking.“The only way out... is... through?”

  The silence that followed was answer enough. The terror of the Rokurokubi, the memory of Takeshi's death, all came flooding back. But now, there was no longer the illusion of an alternative.

  It was Renji who broke the heavy silence, his calm voice cutting through the ambient tension.“If it’s the only way... then we have no choice.”He looked at the others, his expression serious.“Junichi was right about the rules. We saw that fighting gives us XP, that XP gives levels and skills. Kenta is level 2. The door says ‘Recommended Level: 5’.”He paused, letting his words sink into the ambient despair.“Maybe the exit is after the boss. It’s the only logic left. We have to face it. Preparing, leveling up, is necessary, but the final goal must be to get through that door. There is no other path.”

  The new reality was setting in. Escape via another route was impossible. Confrontation, however terrifying, seemed inevitable. The question now was how to prepare for it. The circle had closed, forcing them to face the challenge they dreaded most.