"Okay, so we're here, and we need to go there." The man pointed past the large, beautiful river that cut through the lush landscape. Its water shimmered in the sunlight, a crystal-clear blue that seemed almost too perfect to be real. The rocks lining the riverbank were massive, gray giants, but their surfaces were covered in the most vibrant green moss—so lush, it almost looked like glass.
Niko squinted, trying to take in the sight of it all. The contrast was unsettling. He had been conditioned to view the island as nothing but a hostile, suffocating place—a labyrinth of dangers that always seemed to lurk just beyond sight. But this? This was different. This place was… beautiful. Almost serene. Yet, he knew better than to trust appearances here.
He glanced back at the man. "What's your deal with this place? This doesn't exactly feel like the rest of the island."
The man's lips twitched into a half-smile, his eyes scanning the river, then the dense jungle beyond.
"Oh that's because this island have for lack of a different word biomes"
Niko glanced up at him, raising an eyebrow. "Biomes? You mean like different environments?"
The man gave a sharp nod, his eyes scanning the horizon. "Exactly. It's not just a jungle, or a swamp, or a desert. This place… it's got layers. It shifts. Some areas are like this—deceptively peaceful. But the further you go, the more things change. The island is alive, and it reacts to whoever steps on it. That's why we can't just rush through it."
Niko's eyes narrowed, looking around. The tranquil river, the mossy rocks, the towering trees—it all seemed so calm. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was waiting, something just beyond the corner of his vision, ready to pounce.
"So you're telling me," Niko started, taking a cautious step forward, "this island has different zones that each feel like a completely different world?"
The man's smirk faded slightly, replaced by something more serious. "Not just feel like it, kid. They are different worlds. Some places are hostile, others are just... unpredictable. You step into the wrong area, and you could end up facing an entirely different set of rules. And that's why we have to stick together, no matter how bad it gets."
A rustling sound echoed from the trees behind them, but the man didn't flinch. Niko's pulse quickened, and he instinctively took another step closer to the man, feeling the weight of their situation. He didn't like the idea of being on this island for much longer—especially with the unknown threats lurking just beneath the surface.
"So we need to watch out for these zones," Niko said, his voice tight, "but we don't even know what they are yet?"
"Oh i know what the zones are in this area they usually shift when people aren't living in it. It defines living as a permanent residence of one hundred and more people. Any less and the biomes are liable to switch actually. One time when I was your age the biome switched. When I was asleep I woke up from a forest to a volcano with smog so deadly that your lungs evaporated."
"That was a lot to take in".Niko felt his chest tighten as he processed the man's words. He looked back at the vibrant river, then at the dense trees looming just beyond. The idea that the ground beneath him might just change while he slept—that this place could suddenly become lethal, with no warning—was disturbing in a way he hadn't prepared for.
"So you're saying this entire place is... unstable?" Niko asked, a hint of unease slipping into his voice.
The man nodded. "Think of it as the island's defense system. It's never meant to be comfortable or predictable. Anyone who tries to settle down for too long? The island has its own way of evicting them."
"Evicting them?" Niko echoed, incredulous. "Like, killing them?"
"Pretty much," the man replied with a shrug. "It's why you don't see any cozy little villages or permanent camps here. The island doesn't want us to stick around—it's all part of the game. Keeps everyone on their toes." He paused, as if weighing his words before continuing. "Plus, convincing people to stay put isn't easy. Curiosity gets the better of most. But there's another layer to it—death."
Niko's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Even though we can come back from death," the man explained, "it's not like you reappear right where you left off. The island isn't that forgiving. You could end up on the other side of it, miles away from anyone you knew or anything familiar. Every time you die, it's a roll of the dice."
"So, we're just scattered around?" Niko asked, trying to understand the island's twisted logic.
"Exactly. And the island's not the type to give second chances in the way you'd hope," the man replied, his tone grim. "It makes survival that much more… unpredictable." He looked down at Niko. "You still ready to keep moving? I could carry you on my back while crossing the river?"
Niko shot him a glare, crossing his arms defiantly. "I can cross a river just fine, thanks. I don't need a piggyback ride."
The man chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, tough guy. Just making sure. The current can be rough in places, and I'd hate for you to end up getting swept off somewhere else."
Niko rolled his eyes, stepping closer to the riverbank, where the water glistened under the sunlight. He felt a twinge of hesitation as he took in the fast-moving current, but he wasn't about to let this guy see that.
The man tilted his head, watching Niko with a faint, amused smile. "Look, crossing won't be as easy as it looks. Stick close, and I'll guide you through the parts that aren't as deep. One wrong step, and you're not just getting wet—you're gone."
Niko shrugged, trying to hide his unease. "Yeah, yeah. Lead the way, then."
They waded into the water, and the cold instantly made Niko's skin prickle. He focused on each step, feeling the stones shift underfoot. The man moved ahead, keeping a careful eye on the riverbed, guiding Niko around hidden dips and slick spots with a quick nod or hand gesture. Despite himself, Niko found himself almost trusting the guy's instincts.
About halfway across, Niko glanced back toward the bank they'd left behind, watching it grow smaller. For the first time since they'd started, he felt a strange calm settle over him—a fleeting moment of peace in the heart of chaos.
As they neared the opposite bank, the man turned to him with a faint smirk. "See? Not so bad, right?"
Niko huffed, pushing himself up onto the rocks. "I didn't need your help."
The man laughed quietly, shaking his head. "Keep telling yourself that, kid."