As the darkness gave way to light, I instinctively closed my eyes, the brightness forcing me to adjust. When the light settled, I found myself standing in the middle of an enormous forest. The trees towered around me, 30 to 40 meters tall with massive trunks at least six meters wide. Everything felt alien—the sounds of unfamiliar birds and insects, the overwhelming smell of damp earth, and the uneven terrain stretching into the distance. This was no ordinary forest; it reeked of danger, and I had no weapons, no armor, and a partner that didn't know how to fight.
Despite the odds, I couldn't afford to panic. I named my partner Asura, a strong, mythical name fitting for a fighter, and he seemed curious about me. "Follow my lead," I told him as I activated my barrier, a basic iron-rank defense that would only last a few hours and drain my energy faster under attack. This was my only protection for now, so I had to move carefully. The forest was too quiet for comfort, but since no immediate threats revealed themselves, I decided to use this time to train Asura and assess my abilities.
In my mind, I reviewed the cards I had: defensive enhancements for myself and Asura, attack and speed boosts, and even healing for minor injuries and poison. My most powerful abilities were Brave Shield—a golden dome that nullified attacks for a second—and Temporary Evolution, which could push Asura beyond his limits for a short time. Both were life-savers but required careful use, especially at my beginner iron rank. For now, the simpler enhancements would suffice. These abilities, along with my knowledge of monsters, could potentially change the course of humanity's survival—but first, I needed to survive today.
Turning to Asura, I tested his capabilities. "Asura, can you talk?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied, his voice steady.
"What do you know?"
"I can talk, walk, stand, jump, run, and crawl."
Relief washed over me—at least I wouldn't have to teach him the basics. "Okay, let's see what you can do. Shoot wax at that tree."
Asura raised his hand, but nothing happened. He tried again, shaking his arm in frustration. I realized he couldn't envision the action, so I focused on our bond and shared my intent with him. Together, we aimed at the tree, and finally, a jet of wax shot out like a bullet, striking the bark. The wax was a neurotoxin, designed to paralyze enemies, and I nodded in satisfaction at the first success.
We continued testing. I had him conjure flames, produce wax clones, and even teleport within a five-meter radius. Each ability worked, though they drained Asura's energy quickly. To ensure we were prepared, I guided him in crafting weapons: gauntlets and leg armor for himself, and a wax spear for me. The wax was incredibly durable, resistant even to flames that could melt iron. With these tools, I felt slightly more confident—at least I wouldn't be entirely helpless in a fight.
After taking a few minutes to rest, I decided we needed to find high ground to scout the area. "Asura, climb that tree," I ordered, pointing to one of the towering giants nearby. He obeyed with surprising agility, his wax-covered limbs gripping the bark with ease. I followed behind, struggling slightly but determined to reach the top.
From the canopy, I hoped to spot a path or landmark, anything to guide us through this deadly new world. The forest below was vast, and every shadow seemed to hold a threat. This was just the beginning, but I needed to plan my next move carefully if I wanted to survive—and find my way back to my family someday.
Looking up at the strange sky, I immediately knew I wasn't on Earth. The unfamiliar celestial bodies hovering above weren't moons but massive creatures—monsters that dwarfed anything I could imagine. Not wanting to risk waking them, I averted my gaze to the endless sea of trees ahead. Above me, a shimmering golden orb floated silently, producing a protective barrier that seemed to ward off monsters, but its faint flicker suggested it wouldn't last much longer. Time was against me, and I needed to find a direction to move before the protection gave out.
I climbed higher to get a better view but realized I needed more height. "Asura, throw me up," I commanded, bracing myself. With one powerful motion, he launched me into the air, sending me soaring above the forest canopy. For the first time, I saw beyond the immediate chaos—there was a river snaking through the forest and, far in the distance, buildings nestled at the forest's edge. Relief washed over me; if those were human settlements, I might find safety and answers there.
The journey to the settlement wouldn't be easy. It was kilometers away, and the dense forest below was teeming with danger. As Asura caught me on my descent, I made my plan. Jumping tree to tree was suicide with the giant birds and monkeys patrolling the skies. Instead, we descended to the forest floor, where we faced a quieter but no less threatening challenge—the forest itself.
The first signs of danger came quickly. The eerie silence was a dead giveaway that something was watching us. "Stay alert," I warned Asura, tightening the barrier around me as a precaution. Moments later, branches lashed out at us from the seemingly ordinary trees. They weren't trees at all but Bronze-ranked monsters with poison-tipped branches strong enough to dent steel. We dodged and retaliated, breaking through their grasp and running full speed until we left them behind.
Breathing hard, I came upon a clearing blanketed by purplish mushrooms. One glance told me they were monsters too—extremely toxic ones. Asura's immunity to poison gave us an advantage, but fire wasn't an option in this volatile environment. Taking a detour seemed like the safest option, but the forest had other plans.
Without warning, the ground beneath me exploded, and I was hurled into the air. A massive black centipede emerged, its red eyes gleaming with hostility and its pincers snapping viciously. It was an Intermediate iron-rank creature, and its sheer size and speed were terrifying. Even worse, its toxin was deadly, capable of killing Bronze-ranked monsters.
Without hesitation, I activated my boosts, enhancing Asura's speed and attack. "Teleport to its face and shoot wax into its mouth!" I shouted. Asura obeyed, appearing right in front of the creature and unleashing a jet of neurotoxic wax into its gaping maw. The centipede crashed to the ground, writhing in pain, but it wasn't paralyzed.
Before we could finish it off, a glowing green barrier surrounded the centipede. The mushrooms had come to life, working in tandem with the centipede—a horrifying partnership. "Clones," I ordered, deciding we needed reinforcements. Asura formed several wax clones, their immunity to poison giving them the edge to hold back the advancing mushrooms.
With the clones keeping the mushrooms occupied, the centipede turned its wrath back to Asura, charging with purple energy radiating from its body. Asura met it head-on, his gauntlet-covered fist igniting with flame energy. When the two clashed, the flames erupted into a spike that sent the centipede skidding off course. It retaliated with a powerful swing of its tail, slamming Asura into the ground, but he remained focused.
Our bond was key—if one of us faltered, the other would step up to maintain control. Together, we pressed the attack, knowing survival in this brutal forest depended on trust, quick thinking, and relentless determination. This was only the beginning, and I couldn't shake the feeling that far worse challenges awaited us on the road ahead.