Far away from the back of Toraz town, deep within the thick expanse of the Crawlers Forest, a mysterious person dressed in dark clothes stood before a natural enclosed and dense shadow magic.
The man's eyes focused on the swirling whirlpool, his excitement evident. "It's been almost three long years," he whispered, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Finally, I will enter you."
His gaze turned towards a specific direction, peering through the shadows. "Toraz town... The Toraz family and I have a deal," he said confidently. "I have already given them their desired magic crystals. They better keep their end of the agreement, because if they fail, I will chase them without mercy."
Standing up, the man's face gradually moved away, as if a camera was pulling back until it settled at a calculated distance.
His voice carried an eerie tone through the air. "But now, I must go back to check my pets that I will use to enter this portal, and to see if they have devoured the townspeople already," he declared, his words fading into the whispering wind. And just like that, he disappeared, vanishing from the hundred groups of the treetops.
…
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Toraz town, deep within the forest infested with crawlers, a young man named Wallace felt consumed by disappointment.
Despite his readiness and the collection of tools he had — advanced protective predator armor, camouflage ability, helmet with a visor that can detect any ambush animals, and a comprehensive book about animals in these two— he hadn't come across any truly dangerous creatures. Instead, his path was filled with friendly magical butterflies and colorful, harmless creatures.
"I came prepared, fully equipped," Wallace grumbled to himself, a hint of frustration in his voice. "But where are they? Where are the mythical creatures that should be hiding in this enchanted world?"
Doubt gnawed at his mind, questioning the very reality around him. "Am I really in a magical world? Why can't I see the creatures I'm searching for?"
Wallace possessed two extraordinary abilities: blending in perfectly with his surroundings and a visor that allowed him to detect even the most elusive living beings.
Yet, somehow, all he came across were small creatures of no significance. His heart sank, overshadowed by a feeling of uncertainty and longing to see blood on his hands.
However, Wallace won't give up! He knows that something is wrong and he needs to find out what it is.
Wallace continued to use his hidden abilities, a special armor that made him invisible and allowed him to move unnoticed through the world.
Taking cautious steps, he ventured deeper into the heart of the magical forest, his hidden presence concealed from everyone.
He walked carefully and silently.
As he made his way through the dense bushes and plants, a strange silence settled over the surroundings.
The air became heavy with an eerie stillness, and the only sound was the faint rustling of leaves. Wallace heightened his senses, alert for any signs of danger or the unknown.
Then, he came across a strange sight in a clearing up ahead.
A cluster of leaves arranged in a complex pattern shimmered with an otherworldly glow. It was as if they were calling out to him, urging him to come closer. Intrigued yet cautious, Wallace approached the mysterious display.
As he got closer, his heart skipped a beat.
The vibrant butterflies he hadn't seen before were floating above the leafy stage, their wings glowing with radiant colors.
They were bigger than any butterfly he had ever seen, and their majestic shapes resembled small dogs in flight. Wallace was both amazed and unsettled, as he had never encountered such marvelous creatures before.
"Gorgeous," he said while hiding with his camouflage armor.
Enthralled, he watched as the two magnificent butterflies moved together in a captivating aerial performance, with movements perfectly synchronized, he could only watch in awe.
Their wings captivated him with their show of shimmering patterns, casting a spellbinding glow across the clearing.
But then, something unimaginable happened, defying all logic and reason. As the butterflies gracefully met in the center of the stage, a sudden and horrifying fate befell them.
They were cut in half, as if an invisible blade had swiftly sliced through their delicate bodies. The silence in the air was shattered by the sickening sound of this gruesome act.
Wallace stood frozen, forgetting about his invisibility in the face of such a shocking spectacle. He could hardly understand what he had just witnessed—the beautiful creatures, once full of life and grace, now reduced to mere halves, their existence abruptly extinguished.
Not just that, right before his eyes, the severed bodies of the butterflies suddenly disappeared, leaving no trace behind. It was as if they had never existed, as if the entire display had been a haunting illusion.
Wallace stood there, speaking softly, "Where did it go?"
The butterflies, though bugs, were huge, almost as big as a small dog or a cat. He couldn't shake the creepy feeling that came over him as he thought about where the mysterious culprit had gone.
Why did it disappear so quickly after cutting the delicate creatures in half?
Without hesitation, Wallace activated his advanced visor of the Predator helmet, which had a top-notch advanced technology scanner.
He carefully searched the area, hoping to find any sign of the sneaky killer. His eyes moved around, examining every corner, but he couldn't find anything.
The culprit remained hidden in the dark.
A disturbing fear began to grow in Wallace's stomach. His heart raced, and sweat dripped down his forehead.
He realized the seriousness of his situation and felt thankful for the camouflage gear he was wearing, like the legendary Predator.
If he hadn't had this advanced equipment, maybe he would have met the same fate as the butterflies.
But what had he missed? How did he fail to sense it?
Questions filled his mind, demanding answers.
Determined to uncover the truth, Wallace's curiosity overwhelmed him.
He reached for the book of creatures that Captain Guard Dylan had given him. Flipping through its pages, he looked at the descriptions and pictures, searching for any clue that could explain the presence that frightened him.
"A creature that could disappear, a creature that could disappear, where are you?"
As Wallace read deeper into the book, he suddenly felt his shoulder become heavy. It was as if, had he not come here, he might have died, or many people in his town might have fallen victim to this unknown creature.
As Wallace casually flipped through the pages, he stumbled upon two more butterflies. To his surprise, they bore an uncanny resemblance in appearance and color to the previously encountered pair that had met a mysterious demise. Yet again, he found himself captivated by their exquisite beauty, just as he had been earlier.
However, before long, something unexpected occurred! The two creatures were abruptly severed in half, similar to the fate that befell the previous butterflies.
Determined, Wallace declared, "I will find you!" Armed with his cutting-edge predator visor, he wasted no time in activating it once more, without any prior warning, it scanned to surrounding area again.
Yet, much to his dismay, history repeated itself, and the visor failed, just like it did the last time.
Wallace felt like giving up, "Just what is that mysterious thing that was killing these kinds of butterflies?"