Rain swallowed a final bite of rice cake before staring blankly at the ground, his voice trembling as he began his story.
"It all started three months ago. It was a night like any other in our camp, at the foot of Mount Chongryu. The winds howled through the trees, and the animals seemed restless, as if sensing an impending danger. Then, a sound tore through the silence—a powerful impact, followed by a strange light that illuminated the valley.
"I remember waking up with a start, the walls of our cabin shaking from the impact. My father, the leader of the camp, was already outside with the other men, armed with their hunting rifles. I was terrified, but curious. I followed them, staying hidden in the shadows. What I saw that night... I'll never forget."
"In the center of the valley, where the forest opened into a vast clearing, there was an enormous crater. At its core stood a monolithic black pillar, shimmering, as tall as a building. It pulsed with an eerie light. The men of the camp were frozen—some praying, others whispering that it was a sign from the gods or a curse.
"But that wasn't all. Shadows moved around the pillar. Creatures unlike anything we had ever seen before. They were tall, their skin looked melted, dripping, and their eyes glowed with a crimson light. They guarded the pillar, as if protecting it. My father ordered the men not to approach, but a young hunter, too reckless, fired a shot."
"The gunshot echoed through the valley, and the creatures turned to us, their eyes burning with fury. It was a massacre. They lunged at the hunters with unimaginable speed and strength. I remember the screams, the gunfire, and the blood soaking the ground.
"My father grabbed my arm and forced me to run. 'Back to the camp!' he shouted at the survivors. 'Warn everyone! No one must go near that thing!'
"We ran all night, leaving behind the clearing and its horrors. But even after we returned, things never went back to normal."
"The next day, some of the men who had survived began to show strange signs. They were more irritable, patches of their skin started to decay, and they had uncontrollable fits of rage. The camp elders spoke of a curse. But what was strange was that everyone who had been near the pillar was affected—including me."
Rain rolled up his sleeves, revealing necrotic patches on his arms. "It started small. Just an itch here, a spot there. But over time, it became this."
"At first, the people in the camp pretended everything was fine. But as the days passed, fear grew. Rumors spread that the afflicted were doomed, that they would eventually turn into monsters—like the ones near the pillar.
"Families began avoiding the infected, children were kept away, and those who dared ask questions were silenced. Then, one day, one of the camp elders died—his skin completely necrotic, his eyes white like those of the creatures by the pillar. That was the beginning of the end."
Rain lowered his head, his fists clenched. "My own father, the leader of the camp, did nothing to protect me. The people demanded my execution to prevent the disease from spreading. But he… he remained silent, unable to choose between his duty and his son. So, I made the choice for him. I ran. I left the camp in the middle of the night, without looking back."
"Since then, I've been hiding in the forest. Surviving as best as I can, avoiding the mutants, hoping to find a safe place. But I know I don't have much time left."
Rain looked up at Yoona and Jisoo, tears streaming down his face. "I should have died with the others that night. But something kept me alive. I don't know why."
A heavy silence followed his story, broken only by the rustling leaves around them.
Jisoo, ever pragmatic, crossed her arms. "Damn, that's a hell of a mess back there. And you want us to go back to that camp with all that happening?"
Yoona, calmer, placed a reassuring hand on Rain's shoulder. "I know you're scared. But you're not alone. We'll help you. If that pillar is the cause of all this, then we need to understand what's happening. And maybe we can find a solution."
Rain hesitated, his gaze shifting between Yoona and Jisoo. Then, with a hint of determination in his voice, he said, "If you really want to go to the camp… I can show you a way. But it's dangerous."
Yoona smiled slightly. "Danger is something we're getting used to."
Jisoo sighed, adjusting the straps on her backpack. "Great. A pleasant little stroll with a deadly shortcut. What more could I ask for?"
And with those words, the trio prepared to venture deeper into the forest, Mount Chongryu looming before them.