Magnus hadn't been asleep long before something jerked him awake. His body tensed, but before he could react, a sharp, stinging sensation hit the back of his neck. His vision blurred, and a wave of drowsiness swept over him, stronger than any exhaustion he'd ever felt.
"Wha...?" he muttered, his voice slurring. He tried to move, to summon his mana, but his limbs were heavy, sluggish. Something was wrong.
Darkness closed in, and the last thing Magnus remembered was the sensation of being lifted, carried away into oblivion.
Magnus woke with a start, gasping for air. His body felt sore, his head pounding like he'd been thrown down a flight of stairs. Groaning, he blinked the fog from his eyes and took in his surroundings. He was lying on the damp ground, surrounded by thick trees and twisted vines. The eerie silence of the forest sent a shiver down his spine.
"What the hell?" Magnus muttered, pushing himself up on shaky legs.
As he stumbled forward, he noticed something pinned to the bark of a nearby tree—a note. He ripped it off and read the short, familiar writing.
No communication devices. No outside help. No weapons. Only use your power when needed. Survive for 10 days.
—Tri
Magnus stared at the note, dumbfounded. "No way... Are you kidding me?"
Looking around, the realization hit him hard. This was the Hell Forest—a cursed place that formed when the Doors first started appearing. It was filled with monsters that roamed freely, but the creatures couldn't leave the forest. That didn't make them any less deadly.
"Dammit, Tri," Magnus growled, crumpling the note in his fist. "This is your idea of a test?"
A distant roar echoed through the trees, the ground vibrating beneath his feet. The Hell Forest wasn't just dangerous—it was unpredictable. Monsters from all sorts of Doors could be lurking anywhere, and now he was stuck here, with nothing but his wits and whatever he could scavenge.
He groaned, rubbing his face. "10 days? No communication device? I'm screwed."
Shoving the crumpled note into his pocket, Magnus steeled himself. He couldn't sit around and complain. He needed food, water, and shelter before nightfall. No telling what else was out there in this deathtrap of a forest.
With a sigh, he started moving, picking his way through the dense underbrush. Every sound put him on edge—leaves rustling, branches snapping underfoot—and he constantly glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting something to leap out at him.
"Find shelter. Find food. Don't get eaten," Magnus muttered to himself, kicking through some vines. His Mana Eyes flared to life, giving him a better sense of the forest around him.
As he wandered, he found a small stream of clear water trickling through the rocks. He knelt down, cupping some of the cool water in his hands, drinking it cautiously. It wasn't much, but it'd keep him going for now.
Continuing through the forest, he spotted some wild berries growing along a bush. They didn't look poisonous, but he plucked a few, testing one for a bitter taste before deciding it was safe enough to eat. Not exactly a feast, but it was something.
As he scouted further, searching for a suitable place to make camp, the ground suddenly trembled beneath him.
Magnus froze, his heart skipping a beat. "What now?"
The rumbling grew louder. The earth beneath his feet cracked and split open. And then, out of nowhere, a massive, hulking creature burst from the ground, sending dirt and debris flying. Its body was covered in thick, jagged stone-like armor, and its glowing yellow eyes locked onto Magnus.
"Oh, hell no," Magnus muttered, his mind racing. This wasn't just a monster—it was a Riftcrusher, a rare beast known for its brute strength and impenetrable hide.
Without any weapons or gear, Magnus was at a massive disadvantage. He had to think fast.
The creature roared, shaking the trees around them, and swung one of its massive claws toward him. Magnus dove out of the way just in time, the claw tearing a deep gouge into the earth where he'd been standing moments before.
"Alright, time to run!" Magnus yelled, scrambling to his feet. He darted through the trees, weaving between the thick trunks as the Riftcrusher barreled after him. Its sheer size made it slow, but it plowed through the forest like a wrecking ball, smashing everything in its path.
Magnus glanced back—too close. Too damn close.
Ahead, he spotted a narrow crevice between two large rocks. If he could just make it through there, the creature wouldn't be able to follow.
He bolted for the crevice, his lungs burning as he pushed his body harder. The Riftcrusher's claws swiped just inches from his back, the air whipping against his skin. With a final leap, Magnus threw himself into the narrow gap, scraping his shoulder against the rocks as he squeezed through.
The Riftcrusher skidded to a stop, its massive claws unable to reach him. It roared in frustration, slamming its fists into the ground as it tried to get closer. But it was too big, and the rocks held firm.
Magnus took a deep breath, his body trembling with adrenaline. "That... was too close."
He watched as the beast finally gave up and retreated, disappearing back into the forest. Only then did Magnus allow himself to relax.
Sitting down against one of the rocks, he wiped the sweat from his brow. His heart was still pounding in his chest, but he knew this was only day one. There were nine more to go, and he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
"One down," Magnus muttered, looking around at the twisted forest. "Great. Just... nine more days of this."
With no food, no weapons, and only his Mana Eyes to help him, this was going to be one long, brutal test.
Magnus sat for a moment, catching his breath after the close call with the Riftcrusher. His muscles ached, and the scrape on his shoulder from squeezing through the rocks stung, but he was alive—and that was enough for now.
He leaned back against the stone, wiping his brow. The Hell Forest was even worse than he'd heard, and it was only day one.
The eerie silence returned, but now it felt less like calm and more like the forest was watching him, waiting. Magnus pushed himself to his feet, eyes scanning the surroundings with his Mana Eyes still activated. The twisting trees, dark vines, and thick underbrush gave the place an almost otherworldly feel. But it wasn't the terrain that worried him—it was the monsters lurking within.
He needed shelter before nightfall.
Magnus started walking again, deeper into the forest, being more cautious than before. The encounter with the Riftcrusher had shaken him, but he couldn't let fear slow him down. As he moved, he mentally prepared a list of priorities—shelter, food, weapons, and staying out of sight. Anything else would have to wait.
After an hour of walking, he stumbled upon a small, natural cave tucked away behind a cluster of boulders. It wasn't perfect, but it was hidden from the main path, and the entrance was narrow enough to keep large creatures out. This would have to do.
Magnus entered the cave cautiously, checking for any signs of predators or other dangers. It was cold and damp, but empty. He let out a small sigh of relief and dropped his pack, sitting down to think.
The first task—find food and water—was already half complete. The stream he found earlier wasn't far from here. But food would be harder to come by unless he wanted to live off berries, which wasn't sustainable. He needed meat or something more substantial.
Just as he started to settle in, he heard something outside the cave. A distant rustle, like something—or someone—was moving through the underbrush. Magnus tensed, his instincts flaring.
He peered out of the cave entrance, and there it was: a massive Direwolf, its silver fur bristling as it prowled through the forest, its sharp eyes scanning the area as if it were tracking something—or someone.
Magnus ducked back into the cave, cursing under his breath. He wasn't ready for another fight, especially with a beast like that. He needed to think fast.
His hand instinctively went to the mana dagger he'd created earlier, but he knew better than to rely on that alone. The Direwolf was quick, faster than the Riftcrusher, and one wrong move could mean death. Magnus gritted his teeth and waited. If the creature got too close, he'd have to act, but right now, his best option was staying hidden.
The heavy thud of the Direwolf's paws grew louder as it approached the cave. Magnus pressed his back against the cool stone wall, holding his breath. His Mana Eyes flared, giving him a clearer view of the beast through the rock. It was close, sniffing around, its jaws slightly parted, revealing rows of sharp, yellow teeth.
Magnus weighed his options. He could try to sneak attack it, using a portal to appear behind the beast and land a killing blow. But that would require perfect timing—and if he failed, the wolf would tear him apart.
The wolf's head snapped toward the cave, its nostrils flaring. It sniffed the air, clearly aware of his scent now.
"Damn it," Magnus muttered.
Without wasting another second, Magnus created a small portal just outside the cave, peeking through the see-through layer to check the beast's position. The Direwolf was circling near the entrance, its sharp gaze fixed on the shadows of the cave.
Magnus gritted his teeth, waiting for the right moment. The beast moved a little closer, its nose twitching. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, the Direwolf lunged forward, jaws wide.
Magnus instantly activated his Instant-Teleportation, appearing behind the creature in a flash. Before it could react, he plunged his mana dagger into its side, aiming for the vital spots he could see with his Mana Eyes.
The Direwolf howled in pain, thrashing wildly as Magnus struggled to hold on. It was stronger than he expected, and the mana dagger barely pierced its thick hide.
"Not enough," Magnus muttered, pulling back and summoning another portal.
As the Direwolf turned to face him, blood dripping from its wound, Magnus vanished again, reappearing several feet away. The wolf charged at him, fury in its eyes. Magnus knew he couldn't keep dodging forever.
He had to finish it, and fast.
Magnus opened another portal, this time above the Direwolf, and fired off a series of Mana Blades through the opening. The blades whizzed through the air, striking the creature with pinpoint precision. One hit its neck, another its legs, slowing it down.
Finally, Magnus teleported right in front of the wolf as it staggered, plunging his dagger deep into its throat. The Direwolf let out one last gurgled snarl before collapsing onto the ground with a heavy thud.
Magnus stood over the fallen beast, panting heavily. His hands were trembling from the adrenaline, but the threat was over.
"Day one and already two monsters," Magnus muttered to himself, wiping the sweat from his brow. "This is gonna be a long ten days."
He crouched down next to the Direwolf, examining it. It was huge, easily twice the size of a normal wolf. Its meat could last him for several days if he could figure out how to cook it. He'd need to build a fire.
With a sigh, Magnus started the tedious work of skinning the Direwolf and preparing some of its meat. It wasn't going to be a gourmet meal, but it would keep him alive. Once he had enough meat cut away, he carried it back to the cave and started gathering wood for a fire.
The forest grew darker as night approached, and the temperature dropped rapidly. Magnus got the fire going just in time, the warmth seeping into his aching muscles. He roasted the Direwolf meat over the flames, chewing slowly, his thoughts wandering.
As he sat by the fire, staring into the crackling flames, the reality of his situation set in. He was stuck here for ten days, alone, with nothing but monsters for company.
And this was only the beginning.