All Chapters of Dead To Begin: Chapter 41
- Chapter 50
62 chapters
Level 41 – Hunting in the Grasslands
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the village’s remaining intact houses. Smoke still lingered faintly in the air from the burned-out homes, curling upward like ghostly fingers. The village chief’s decree had been clear: Poo and Lulu were to clean every corner of the village for a full month and, in addition, hunt three to five deer each day using the small, sharp knives he had handed them. Both beasts had reluctantly accepted their punishment, heads bowed in front of the villagers’ curious and whispering eyes.“Today has been exhausting,” Joanne murmured, collapsing onto her bed. The three of them—herself, Jackson, and Smith—had spent the day helping villagers repair damaged houses and salvage what remained from the fire. Some homes had been completely reduced to ash, while a few had survived, including the one they were currently resting in.Jackson flopped onto his own bed, brushing his fur from his forehead. “I can’t believe those two were the ones trying to steal the
Level 42 – Beneath the Hearth
“I never imagined I could protect you for this long. I only hope I can continue to shield you and my people for a little while longer,” murmured the village chief.He stood alone in a shadowed chamber, the silence so thick that every exhale felt like a whisper swallowed by the stone. Only a faint shaft of light spilled through the narrow crack of the door, painting dust motes as if the air itself remembered. In his hands, he clutched a wooden chest—its surface etched with symbols faded by time, its corners worn by generations of guardianship.The Kane Collection.An heirloom said to outlast empires, a relic bound not just to his family’s bloodline but to the fate of the village itself.---“How much longer are we supposed to stay here? Our journey keeps getting delayed because we spend too much time adjusting to them.”Joanne’s voice carried a sharp edge of frustration. She sat slouched on the terrace connected to the kitchen, one elbow propping her chin, her eyes half-lidded as she s
Level 43 – The Pendant’s Temptation
Poo’s attention suddenly shifted to a faint light flickering in the corner of the room. Inside a glass-covered wooden box, he could clearly see the Grand Porcupine Pendant sparkling. In an instant, its shimmer seemed to reach into his very soul, enchanting him, hypnotizing him to take it and make it his own.“So that’s where he’s hiding the Kane Collection?” Joanne thought, silently observing the village chief. She clenched her fists under her sleeves, trying not to let her excitement show.“We should leave. There’s nothing interesting here anyway. Besides, we still need to find Willy,” Lulu suggested, her voice calm but firm. Poo and Joanne snapped out of their daze, their minds refocusing on the task at hand.The three of them quietly rose and continued toward Willy’s location. Every step felt heavier than the last, as though the weight of their mission pressed down on them.Night fell, just like the nights before. The sky was bright, adorned with a full moon and countless twinkling
Level 44 – The Night of the Hidden Path
“What should I do?” Joanne whispered under her breath, pacing back and forth in the dimly lit room. Her two companions were fast asleep, unaware of her restless thoughts.She bit her thumbnail again—an old habit she couldn’t control when anxiety took over.Then she froze. Her eyes shifted toward the window, where the moonlight poured in through the glass. The silver glow painted her face in quiet determination.“I can’t just sit here doing nothing,” she murmured.She turned to her sleeping friends one last time.“I’m sorry, guys… but I can’t wait any longer.”Without hesitation, Joanne slipped into the darkness, her furry paws pressing softly against the wooden floor. Each step felt heavy—she hadn’t eaten properly in days, and hunger clawed inside her like a beast.Outside the village, she stopped and crouched near the border of Beast Village—the place that had returned to peace since her last visit. The faint hum of magic from the protective barrier surrounded it like invisible fire.
Level 45 – The Village Chief
“Village Chief!” the beast shouted again as it banged on the chief’s door. After pounding several times, it finally managed to wake the man up and pull him out of his house.“What is it? Why are you yelling like that?” the chief asked, clearly irritated at having his sleep disturbed.“Chief, it’s bad! I saw those three travelers heading toward our secret chamber!” the beast said, panic in its voice.“What did you say?” The village chief’s eyes widened in shock. “Are you sure?”“Yes, Chief. I saw them enter with my own eyes.”“What business do they have there?”“I think they’re trying to steal something from us!”“This can’t be allowed! I’ll go check it myself. Call the head guard and order him to come with me at once!” the chief commanded.“Yes, Chief.” The beast immediately darted off to carry out the order.Meanwhile, the village chief, still half-awake, hurried toward the hidden chamber where the three travelers were.Jackson and Smith had already pressed the Light-Antlered Deer cr
Level 46 – The Fire of Regret
“Burned alive… watched by dozens of beasts who think we’re murderers.”The thought echoed painfully in Joanne’s mind. Her body trembled, bound tightly to the wooden pole as flames surrounded them, cracking and hissing like angry spirits.Jackson and Smith kept struggling against their ropes, shouting for mercy. Joanne stayed still. Regret flooded her chest like molten lead.“Let us go!” Jackson’s voice broke through the roar of the fire. His wrists bled from the ropes cutting into his skin, but he didn’t stop pulling. Smith, on the far end, was doing the same.Joanne could only lower her head, tears stinging her eyes.This is my fault… If only I’d listened to them. If only I’d waited a little longer… they wouldn’t be trapped here with me.Her chest tightened as smoke filled her lungs. What do I do now? What can I do to save them—to save myself?Come on, Joanne. Think! You can’t die like this… Neva still needs you. They need you too.---Deep inside the crystal-lit tunnel, Poo moved si
Level 47 – Awakening Strike
“I really am beautiful…” she murmured again, watching her reflection ripple across the flowing river.Her focus shifted abruptly when a sharp scream echoed from the direction of the village.Poo turned toward the sound. Smoke was rising in the distance, and the night—supposed to be calm and peaceful—was now filled with terrified screams and the deafening roar of a tiger.“What’s happening…” she whispered softly.She stood up quickly. “Lulu…” she muttered, worry flashing across her face. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the village, her heart pounding as she prayed her friend was safe.“Come on, get him down!” Jackson shouted, rushing to help.The three of them climbed down from the ledge, dragging Smith toward the riverbank to sit him down. He was still writhing in pain, his face pale and drenched in sweat.But as the moon slipped behind drifting clouds, the pain seemed to fade—vanishing as if swallowed by the darkness.“KYAAA!!”The beast’s scream tore through the air again, f
Level 48 – Wrath of the Golden Fang
“I won’t let you get away that easily!”The tiger roared, his deep growl echoing through the forest as his golden fangs glimmered under the moonlight. Fury burned in his eyes—he was done playing around.His main targets were Joanne and Jackson—both weaker than Smith. The moon was still shining brightly, giving Smith a temporary advantage, but the tiger had already decided: Smith will be the last one I kill.Joanne leapt from one platform to another, rolling and spinning repeatedly to dodge the golden-fanged beast’s attacks. Jackson too became its next prey, his steps quick and erratic as the beast’s furry arm swung wildly through the air, trying to claw him down.“I’ll defeat you and end this! Then my friends and I can finally continue our journey!” Joanne muttered under her breath, raising her blaster and firing at the tiger from behind while it focused on Jackson.Laser shots hit the creature’s back—but they didn’t pierce through. She didn’t realize the golden tiger’s fur was too th
Level 49 – The Crystal of the Golden Fang
“Let’s end this. Right here. Right now.”Jackson rose to his feet, with Joanne and Smith standing beside him.“That’s enough stalling,” Joanne said, gripping her pistol tightly. “I can’t waste another second. I’m done holding back.”“Defeat him,” Smith replied, drawing his gun. “Then we’ll deal with the villagers afterward.”Jackson exchanged a firm glance with his teammates.“We strike together!” he shouted.Joanne and Smith nodded in sync.“This time… I’ll destroy you all!”The tiger roared furiously, charging forward. Its claws gleamed under the moonlight, eyes glowing blood-red, fangs extending menacingly.Jackson, Joanne, and Smith raised their weapons and fired—three beams of light struck the golden-fanged beast directly in the stomach.The impact sent the tiger flying backward, but they didn’t stop. They kept shooting relentlessly as its roar echoed through the night sky.“ROAAARRR!!!”The beast writhed in agony as its body began to break apart—its fur, flesh, and bones dissol
Level 50 – Bonds Beyond Sacrifice
"You can’t say things like that! We came here together, and we promised to face everything as a team. Why would you talk as if you’re giving up?!" Jackson snapped, his voice filled with pain as his chest tightened at her words.“What Jackson said is right. Why would you say something like that? We can face all of this together—never talk like that again,” Smith added, his tone soft but firm.Joanne lowered her gaze. “Do you remember our promise back in the forest?” she whispered.> ‘We came with the same purpose—to fight together so we could return to the people we love. Even if one of us fails, even if the others fall, the last one standing must keep going and finish what we started.’Her voice trembled, eyes glistening with tears. Jackson and Smith’s eyes also grew watery as they listened to her repeat their old vow.“I’ve already lost someone I love,” Joanne said softly. “And I don’t want to go through that pain again. I can’t bear to lose anyone else.”She inhaled deeply, trying t