The waves thundered relentlessly against the desolate shore, a cacophony of nature's fury echoing in Wang Xiao's ears. The coastline, strewn with the remnants of shattered wood and sporadic vegetation, stretched out before him.
A dense forest loomed beyond, its secrets concealed within the haunting shadows.
*Cough... Cough....*
Wang Xiao awoke with a jolt, disoriented and gasping for breath.
Violent coughs wracked his body as he expelled sea water, the taste lingering bitter on his tongue. Numbness gripped him, a stark reminder of the cold embrace of the ocean.
"What... where am I?" he muttered, his voice barely audible against the roaring waves.
As he struggled to collect his thoughts, the surroundings came into focus. Birch trees, their branches weighed down by moisture, stood sentinel beside him. The air was heavy with the aftermath of rain, the forest dripping with a spectral serenity. Yet, an unsettling calm pervaded the atmosphere.
