Reiji woke up on the ground. He was lying on top of the dirt that covered one of the fires.

  It was nice and warm when he went to sleep but now it was cold.

  He pushed himself up and looked around. He saw a few tents and an unforgiving forest.

  After stretching for a bit a few of the soldiers started to wake up and prepare breakfast.

  Reiji then remembered the amazing meal he had last night from soldiers. For them, it was an ok meal but for Reiji it was great.

  He was actually in a good mood, not having to eat only meat. Still, the stale bread was kind of hard to chew through.

  After all of them had breakfast, they packed and went over the plan.

  Lord Fujioka took a map and unfolded it. There was an area marked with an X.

  The X had the word colony above it. Lord Fujioka pointed to it.

  "Men, you will not speak of this operation, ever. We'll attack this exact sediment. You'll receive further instructions once we reach this check point."

  Lord Fujioka pointed to a spot on the map near the colony. He looked around.

  "Does anyone have a pencil?"

  "Give a second."

  Reiji answered and walked to the fire they used to make breakfast that morning.

  He took a piece of charcoal and came back, making a small point where Lord Fujioka's finger was.

  "Thank you, Kurozuma."

  Reiji didn't respond and kept the charcoal in his hand.

  "We'll get there through the forest. Could you please mark the route I'm about to show?"

  He looked at Reiji as he asked. Reiji stepped forward and used the charcoal to mark the path Lord Fujioka pointed out.

  "Thank you. This is the route we'll be following. Our departure is now and remember…stay.vigilant."

  All of the soldiers got into formation and waited for the Lord and general to lead the way.

  Reiji threw away the charcoal and did the same. As they started leading the way Reiji Kurozuma walked beside them.

  Reiji looked up at the two of them as they rode their horses.

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  "You know that looking all high and mighty will make an arrow go through your head, right?"

  "Better for me to die than the men that actually fight our battles."

  Lord Fujioka answered.

  "If what you say is true then you might not be so bad."

  4 hours later

  Reiji wasn't even out of breath as they stopped to take a break.

  He looked around, scanning the area for movement.

  "If we're going to get ambushed it's going to be here. We're close to the colony."

  Said Reiji.

  "Yes, but we'll never know until they fire first."

  Answered Lord Fujioka.

  After a moment Reiji calmly leaned against a tree.

  "We're being watched."

  "How can you be so sure?"

  Asked the general.

  "We're deep inside enemy territory, we aren't seeing any activity and we're near their colony. This is the classic 'If you don't have a target then you are one.' Plus, you start having a gut feeling after being in the same situation multiple times."

  "Should we move?"

  Asked the general.

  "It doesn't matter."

  Reiji answered.

  The general stood up in anger.

  "Then what do you suggest, smartass?"

  Reiji stayed silent for a moment before walking past the general.

  "I'll advance from here. You stay and defend."

  Reiji answered. He then stopped and turned to the general, speaking again.

  "There are two possibilities. They sent one to follow me or they all follow me. One is worse than the other. If they send one I'll deal with it and kill their colony. If they send multiple they might stop me and save their colony."

  "Could you clear up what role we play?"

  The general asked.

  "You defend this place, so you don't get ambushed."

  Reiji answered, turned and took a few steps before getting stopped by Lord Fujioka's voice.

  "Wait! You should know that their colony is in a cave."

  Reiji sighed.

  "Thanks."

  That was his only response before he kept going down their planned route.

  Following the route, Reiji was all alone. Only the sound of snow crunching under his boots.

  After walking for an hour he noticed red in front of him. Red trees?

  Reiji kept walking until he reached the edge of a red forest.

  Reiji looked around in confusion. The snow went from white to red and then it was gone.

  The closer you got to the red forest the more leaves were on the trees. Red leaves.

  This should be the planned route. This wasn't on the map.

  Reiji took a deep breath and started walking into the forest.

  Reiji noticed that it was just a forest but red in colour. That's until he stepped on a root, popping it.

  Blood poured out. It wasn't a root; it was a blood vessel. Reiji looked at its source and saw it led to a tree.

  He took another deep breath and stepped forward with unexpected resistance.

  Blood vessels were already crawling up his boots.

  "Great…"

  Reiji kept walking until the road faded, and he had to walk through the forest.

  Reiji walked through the terrain until he spotted a blood river.

  He crouched in a place where he was largely hidden by bushes.

  He noticed that the blood vessels were already creeping closer to him.

  He pulled out his katana and cut a circle around himself. He tore off the previous blood vessels from his boots.

  He watched the river flow. He watched and watched until a group of creatures walked up to it and started drinking the blood.

  They had a low, crouched stance, with their massive forearms planted heavily on the ground.

  The arms were thick and muscular, ending in heavy, clawed hands.

  Their hind legs looked powerful, suggesting explosive lunges rather than long-distance running.

  The head was grotesque. Its mouth was filled with multiple rows of sharp, uneven teeth.

  From the centre of their mouths hung a long, tongue-like appendage that looked prehensile.

  The surface of their bodies appeared as if the creatures had no skin.

  Along their backs and necks were jagged, spine-like growths.

  Their tails were long, thick and whip-like. At the tip, the tail split into a sharp, spear-shaped structure.

  Reiji was surprised by the sight. They were about half the size of a Frostgnasher but that didn't comfort him.

  Reiji looked down, feeling a terrible tightness in his chest.

  What the hell was happening to the world? That was the only question on his mind.

  Reiji felt a sense of hopelessness. The Frost people? Sure, he could kill those but a blood forest? How do you deal with that?

  Reiji needed to return and fast.

  Screw those Frost people. I need a better strategy.

  Reiji then heard something behind him, a breath. He slowly turned around and saw…something that resembled a human.

  It had a humanoid silhouette, but its body was entirely made of exposed, dark red muscle.

  Its head was narrow and elongated, with a sharp, predatory grin carved into its face.

  The eyes were small and sunken, giving it a cruel, focused expression.

  Long, pale, almost white hair streamed backward from its head.

  One arm was holding a jagged, blade-like structure, grown directly from flesh. The other arm was thinner and more skeletal, ending in elongated, clawed fingers.

  Its grin was directed right at Reiji. It was massive, even while crouching.

  Reiji stood up and turned towards it, still holding his katana.

  Once it stood up, it was three meters tall.

  "Give me a break."

  It swiped at Reiji with its right arm, the one holding the flesh blade.

  Reiji ducked and jumped towards it, aiming to cut its head.

  The creature was faster and punched Reiji with its left arm, sending him rolling down the hill towards the blood river.