Chapter 2 – The Strange World
I hit the ground hard, the forest floor rough beneath me. My head spun, and the scent of magic was overwhelming. Giant trees towered above, their leaves shimmering faintly in colors I'd never seen. Tiny lights danced in the air like fireflies, yet they emitted a strange energy that made my skin tingle.
"What… where am I?" I muttered, staggering to my feet.
Before I could even catch my bearings, a rustling came from the bushes. My heart jumped. From the shadows, a creature appeared—not entirely animal, not entirely human. Its eyes glowed like emeralds, and its body seemed to shift and flicker as if made from pure energy.
I instinctively took a step back. "What are you?" I asked.
The creature tilted its head, almost curiously, before bounding away into the forest. Then, a voice echoed again, low and distant:"You've arrived… and the test begins."
I froze. Test? What test? My pulse quickened, and I scanned my surroundings. Nothing seemed familiar.
I decided to keep moving, stumbling through the glowing undergrowth. Suddenly, the ground beneath me trembled. From the darkness, a massive beast lunged—a wolf-like creature with multiple glowing eyes and fangs that dripped with a faint, blue liquid.
"Wh-what the hell!" I shouted, drawing an energy I didn't even know I had. My hand sparked, and a thin blade of light formed, hovering before me.
Instinctively, I swung the blade at the beast. It yelped, but instead of dying, it dissipated into particles of light that vanished in the air.
I stumbled backward, gasping. "I… I can summon this?!"
Before I could process it, the shadow from before appeared again—a massive, dark figure with eyes that burned like embers. It watched silently, almost judging me.
A whisper slithered through the air:"Learn quickly, human… or die. The world will not wait for the weak."
I swallowed hard, realizing something terrifying: this was no ordinary forest. Every step I took, every movement, was being tested. And the shadow wasn't just observing—it was hunting.
I clenched my hands, the energy blade flickering in response. "Fine… I'll survive." My voice, though shaky, carried determination.
A sudden movement above made me look up—a pair of glowing wings descended from the treetops. Another figure appeared, draped in a cloak of shadows and energy. Its eyes glinted with amusement.
"Interesting," it said, voice melodic yet dangerous. "The human shows some… potential."
"Potential for what?" I asked, barely steady on my feet.
"For survival… and chaos," it whispered, before vanishing into the trees.
I stood alone, heart pounding, realizing that this world was not only dangerous—it was alive. Every shadow, every creature, every leaf seemed to test me. And deep down, I knew: my journey had only just begun.
Cliffhanger: From the corner of my eye, I saw another shadow moving faster than anything natural. My energy blade flared, ready for battle—but I had no idea what was coming.