Eternal Temptation: Awakening Sinful Desires

Soon after that, Asher continued to walk into the forest as he constantly kept an eye out for any monsters or beasts that could appear in front of him. The forest's atmosphere began changing drastically as he proceeded forward.

The darkness became so thick that it was difficult for anyone to see more than a couple of meters ahead. Coupled with the strange noises echoing in his ears, the area had a gloomy and foreboding feel about it.

Fortunately, thanks to his dark element affinity, Asher didn't have trouble navigating through here. Instead, this environment suited his nature better than any other kind of terrain possible. Thus, he kept moving forward without worry.

Asher's footsteps echoed through the thick, oppressive atmosphere as he made his way through the dense foliage. The trees loomed over him like sentinels, their branches swaying in the breeze like skeletal fingers reaching out to snare their prey. The earth beneath his feet was damp and muddy, each step sinking in and threatening to swallow him whole.

The air was heavy with a stale smell that lingered in his nostrils, and a sense of unease crept into his heart as he peered into the darkness beyond. Something was lurking there, waiting for him to make a mistake or falter for even a moment. He could feel it in his bones, and it made every nerve in his body tingle with anticipation.

As he pressed onward, Asher became aware of the many eyes watching him from the shadows. Creatures that scurried between the trees and darted through the bushes. He caught glimpses of them occasionally, but never enough to determine what they were. Still, he knew that they were there, stalking him like predators tracking their next meal.

Despite this, he didn't allow fear to cloud his judgment, choosing to stay vigilant as he continued his journey through this dark forest.

The longer he spent in this place, the more familiar he felt with it. Although the scenery gave off a strange vibe, it also felt oddly comforting in some ways. The sights around him reminded him of his previous life. The loneliness, isolation, and despair he felt when he was all alone. But this time around, there was hope. He was no longer the weak and helpless soul wandering aimlessly through life.

Now, he could stand tall and face whatever came his way, regardless of whether it was a physical enemy or an emotional obstacle. And when faced with a choice between giving up and pushing forward, he would choose to keep going every single time.

That's what being alive meant to him now. To live and learn from the experiences that shaped him into who he was. To fight for his dreams even when others say it's impossible. To love those closest to him and protect them fiercely from anything or anyone that might harm them.

In other words, he wouldn't allow himself to back down just because things seemed bleak or scary. His courage and determination gave him strength that no amount of strength training could provide.

As Asher walked through the woods, he thought of the people close to him. The love and support they had shown him gave him something worth living for. Those people were what truly mattered in life. Not titles or achievements. Those were just means to an end. And that end was happiness.

"Love? Haha... Now, that's a word that hasn't entered my vocabulary in a long time. How pathetic for a man to have never known love in his entire life before..." Asher chuckled sadly while shaking his head.

"But now I know that it's possible. It's more than just possible—it's real." Asher felt his heartbeat quicken at the thought.

"Love is a powerful emotion that transcends all boundaries. It can bring joy and sorrow together, creating something wonderful and beautiful." A warm sensation filled Asher's chest as he imagined his new family and loved ones smiling happily. It was a feeling unlike any other, and it made him realize just how fortunate he truly was to be alive.

The forest soon changed its environment and turned into a swamp of some sort, as the sounds of animals and insects could be heard.

"Now that's just unpleasant," Asher complained as he glanced at the murky water before looking further ahead of him.

There weren't many trees in sight anymore; instead, it seemed like a vast marshland, filled with tall grasses, reeds, and cattails growing among puddles of mud. The smell was overpowering and stagnant, causing Asher to grimace.

Swiftly climbing on one of the tree branches nearby, Asher continued traveling, making long jumps from tree to tree.

Not long after that, a terrifying roar reverberated through the whole place, and the surrounding environment shook violently. Then, a large figure jumped into the air, coming into view.

A gigantic star beast emerged from the depths of the swampy area. It was a crocodile, with gray and black scales that covered its entire body. It had a long tail swinging behind it, and its eyes were crimson red as a long scar ran across its left eye.

The beast landed on the surface of the water with a loud splash, causing waves to ripple throughout the swamp. Its size was enormous, with a length of about twenty meters and a width of ten meters.

The beast's appearance made Asher halt in surprise and shock. He did not expect such a giant creature to pop up all of a sudden, especially one that emitted such powerful pressure.

"This beast should be of the High-Stage of the Rank 3 Star-Beast realm... That's way more challenging than the wolves were."

He focused his senses to observe the giant beast carefully as it swam closer to the tree he stood on. The crocodile opened its maw wide enough to fit an adult person in and snapped its jaws shut, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

The beast charged forth towards the tree where Asher stood with great force, making loud splashing noises and sending ripples across the swampy waters.