Johan emerged from the secret passageway into a lush forest, the crisp, cool air invigorating against his skin as he stepped from the darkness into the moonlit night. He took a moment to steady himself, a rush of freedom flooding through him as the gravity of his situation sank in.

Beyond the towering walls of Audemars, danger lurked in the shadows. The king's men would undoubtedly be on high alert once they realized he was gone, and every moment he lingered near the walls increased the risk of capture.

With urgency clawing at him, Johan glanced at the ring glimmering on his finger in the moonlight—a precious gift from Elara. The weight of it felt significant, a reminder of her kindness and the promise to return it someday.

He paused, furrowing his brow as he surveyed the darkened forest. "How the hell am I supposed to know which way is north?" he muttered.

The vastness of the wilderness stretched endlessly before him, each direction indistinguishable from the other. As Johan ventured further from the walls and onto the dirt path, meandering deep into the forest, a familiar glow caught his eye—a translucent display hovering in the corner of his vision.

Curious, he focused on the glowing interface and was greeted by his HUD screen.

"Ah, I forgot about this," Johan muttered, a hint of delight creeping into his voice as he recalled the system that had become a part of him since meeting Sanity.

With a swipe of his hand, Johan accessed the menu screen, his eyes widening in surprise as a mini-map popped up before him. The interface displayed valuable information about his surroundings, marking his progress with each step.

"Whoa, this is handy," he said, a grin spreading across his face as he studied the mini-map. The realization dawned on him that it could expand to reveal a larger map, providing all the guidance he needed to navigate the terrain ahead—no reliance on anyone else required.

"Guess I won't be getting lost after all," he added with a chuckle, appreciating the small fortune of this unexpected feature.

Johan continued north down the dirt path, following the mini-map displayed on the HUD. The night stretched endlessly as he pressed through the forest. He had never walked this much in his life, not to mention going without water and food for what felt like an eternity.

The relentless hunger tore at his stomach like a merciless beast, its growls echoing through the silence. Each step amplified the emptiness within him, a constant reminder of his body's desperate need for sustenance.

"Guess it's been a while since I've eaten," he muttered, the realization slapping him awake.

Oh, how time flew in this new world. Nearly half a day had passed since he last ate—back in his world, just before he met his friends for the midnight release of CoL.

The memories of his last meal became increasingly vivid with each passing moment: a classic bacon cheeseburger, perfectly cooked with juicy beef patties and crispy bacon layered beneath a river of melted cheese. Fresh vegetables nestled between soft, toasted buns added a satisfying crunch.

On the side, golden fries, crispy and seasoned just right, accompanied the burger, served with tangy ketchup—though Johan had always preferred honey mustard. To wash it all down was a tall glass of ice-cold cola, fizzing with refreshment.

The taste of that meal and the warmth of his friends' laughter felt like a distant dream, a fleeting moment of comfort amid this harsh reality.

As he leaned against the base of a tree, fatigue washed over him. His vision blurred, and weakness seeped into his limbs, pulling him toward the ground. His lips felt parched from the relentless march through the forest, and his throat ached for a sip of cool water, longing for relief from the dryness that clung to him like a suffocating fog.

But no relief was in sight.

With a weary sigh, Johan pushed himself up from the tree, his muscles protesting with each movement. His strength waned, yet he knew he had no choice but to endure the challenges ahead.

"Seriously? What kind of isekai bullshit is this? I'm out here fighting for my life, and the universe can't even throw me a snack?" he grumbled, his voice hoarse.

Johan stumbled through the underbrush, battling weariness while searching for something edible and a source of water. Despite his exhaustion, he marveled at the creatures inhabiting this fantastical world. Among the towering trees and swaying foliage, he glimpsed beings unlike any he had ever seen.

Rabbits with sleek, iridescent fur and elegant, spiraled horns darted through the bushes, their movements both graceful and cautious. Rodents with tails as long as their bodies scurried from branch to branch, their bright eyes filled with curiosity as they observed him.

Hordes of deer with shimmering, opalescent wings glided gracefully by, their pleasant calls enchanting the night. Johan watched in awe as these creatures went about their lives, each one contributing to the boundless creativity of this world.

Yet, despite their strangeness, he felt a sense of familiarity in their presence.

As the hours passed, fatigue weighed heavily on him. His muscles continued to ache, and his eyes grew even more weary from navigating the darkness. Each step felt heavier, threatening to pull him into the depths of sleep.

Every rustle of leaves and chirp of insects sent jolts of hope through him, yet each time, his hopes were dashed as he found nothing but the silent wilderness stretching before him. Finally, just as he began to lose hope, he spotted a small stream through the trees, its waters glistening like silver in the moonlight.

Relief flooded him as he stumbled toward the water's edge, dropping to his knees and cupping his hands to catch the crystal-clear liquid. The refreshing feel of water revived him, washing away the grime that had plagued his face for hours.

Yet, Johan knew that both his thirst and hunger would remain unfulfilled.

"Didn't they say we should purify water before drinking it...?" he murmured, air-drying his hands. "But damn, I'm so thirsty... I'd probably drink it anyway. Just hope there aren't any fish in there swimming around in it."

His stomach growled loudly, echoing in the stillness of the forest. "Ugh, I could really use something to eat too," he grumbled. "A burger and fries would be nice right about now... Damn, a milkshake sounds good too..."

Johan's thoughts drifted to the food he craved. He could almost taste the juicy bacon cheeseburger—hot, greasy, and topped with melted cheese—alongside crispy fries, golden and perfectly salted.

"Man, I'd kill for that right now," he mumbled, feeling his stomach grumble once more in agreement.

Just as he imagined the satisfying crunch of biting into the burger, his gaze was abruptly drawn to a breathtaking sight.

A woman emerged from the depths of the water, her brown skin illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight. She moved with an elegance and fluidity that seemed straight out of a regal textbook, like a dance of stars above.

Johan's heart skipped a beat, captivated by the sight of the woman washing herself in the stream. Her slender physique radiated a silvery glow, accentuating the curves of her body in a way that was both mesmerizing and intoxicating.

A wicked grin spread across his face. "Well, I certainly wasn't expecting a free show in the middle of a forest... This is a hell of a lot better than a burger."

But his trance shattered when the woman noticed him.

With a whispered incantation, wisps of light swirled around her, coalescing into a magnificent staff of polished ebony. Its length was adorned with detailed runes that pulsed with an inner radiance, each symbol a testament to the staff's formidable power.

The staff's head bore a crystal of dazzling clarity, refracting the moonlight into a kaleidoscope of colors dancing across its surface like a mesmerizing aurora.

Within the crystal, shadows stirred, hinting at depths of magic beyond comprehension. As the staff materialized in her grasp, the woman's demeanor shifted, her stance becoming more poised, more commanding.

With a flick of her wrist, she pointed the staff at Johan.

"Who are you?!" she demanded, her voice cold and commanding.

"Whoa, hold up! I'm not here to cause trouble," he replied, a smirk creeping onto his face despite the tension. "I was just admiring the... view. I swear I wasn't watching you... Just looking for some water to quench my thirst."

Johan couldn't shake the unease settling between them, her piercing gaze seeming to strip him of his bold manner. She glared at him with an intensity that made him feel as if she was peering into his very soul.

"You risked venturing this deep into the forest for water?"

"Can you blame me? I've been trekking through this place for hours," he replied. "And to be honest, I certainly didn't expect a naked woman to just pop up out of the water like this. Talk about a surprise welcome party."

Her eyes narrowed, her grip on the staff tightening as she studied him. "You expect me to believe that?"

"Look, I know how this sounds," Johan said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "But seriously, I'm just a guy trying to survive. I stumbled upon this stream, and—well, you know how it is. Water in one hand, a view in the other. Life's all about balance, right?"

"A view in the other...?" she repeated, the air crackling as the staff radiated with arcane energy, its aura pulsating with raw power. "You claim to be looking for water, yet your eyes refuse to leave my body."

The crystal at the tip of her staff cast multicolored rays of light that danced across the surrounding landscape. As the energy coalesced at the staff's apex, a gentle hum filled the air, increasing in intensity with each passing moment.

Johan watched, half in awe and half in disbelief, as the water in the stream began to stir violently, its surface rippling and churning as if stirred by an unseen hand.

A flush of embarrassment crept up Johan's cheeks as he realized he had been staring, his gaze lingering a little too long on her curves. He quickly averted his eyes, feeling the heat of his cheeks ignite like fire.

"Yeah, not awkward at all, right?" he muttered under his breath, trying to play it cool. "Just a guy admiring the view… while surrounded by magic and mystery."

The woman's gaze bore into him, her expression unreadable as she considered his words. For a moment, Johan thought he saw a flicker of amusement in her eyes, but before he could react, the world around him spun.

A sharp pain shot through his skull, and his vision blurred as he stumbled backward, his limbs suddenly heavy and unresponsive. With a muffled groan, he collapsed to the ground, his senses reeling as darkness closed in around him.