The beast lunged forward, its enormous claws slicing through the air with deadly precision. The short young man on the ground was seconds away from being torn apart. Just as the beast was about to bring its paw down and crush him into a pulp, a volley of arrows whistled through the air, piercing the creature's thick hide. One arrow struck true, embedding itself deep into the back of its skull.
The beast's roar was abruptly silenced, its massive body crashing to the ground with a thunderous thud, barely missing the young man. The earth trembled beneath its weight, sending ripples through the clearing.
Jacob's breath came in ragged gasps as the full weight of the situation hit him. He had been on the verge of witnessing a brutal death, and it left him shaken to his core.
His chest rose and fell, his heartbeat thundering in his ears. Still reeling from the tension, he turned toward the direction from which the arrows had flown.
Stepping out from the shadows of the forest was a woman unlike anyone he had ever seen. Even compared to the models back on Earth, her beauty was striking. Her smooth brown skin glowed in the soft light, and her locs, tied into a sleek ponytail, bounced gracefully with each step. She moved with the effortless poise of a seasoned warrior, her leather armor hugging her athletic frame as if it were crafted specifically for her.
Her piercing brown eyes locked onto Jacob, and for a moment, he felt exposed, as though she could see right through him. She looked no older than the young man who had the spear earlier, but there was an unmistakable depth in her gaze—a calm, lethal precision honed by countless battles.
Before Jacob could collect his thoughts or make sense of her sudden appearance, the air was torn by a bone-chilling growl that seemed to shake the very ground beneath their feet.
The larger behemoth, enraged by the death of its comrade, let out a furious roar that echoed through the forest. Its hulking form, already terrifying, seemed to swell with an unnatural surge of strength. The veins running along its muscular frame bulged grotesquely, and its once calm, blue eyes turned bloodshot with rage.
The three men who had been battling it were now being pushed back with every strike. Each swipe of the beast's massive paws sent shockwaves through the ground, forcing them onto the defensive. Their previous confidence had evaporated, replaced with fear and desperation as the berserk creature bore down on them.
The woman quickly knocked another arrow and shot it with practiced precision. It flew true, aimed directly at one of the beast's vulnerable spots. But unlike the smaller creature, the larger behemoth's hide was impossibly tough. The arrow glanced off its fur, leaving no more than a scratch.
Her expression darkened as she realized the gravity of their situation. They were running out of time. This battle could attract even more powerful creatures to ambush them.
Jacob watched in silent horror as the beast pressed its assault. One of the middle-aged men swung his giant sword desperately, trying to block the behemoth's massive claws, but the force of the creature's strike knocked him off his feet. The man's sword flew from his hand, skidding across the dirt as he hit the ground hard. The behemoth loomed over him, its claws raised high, ready to reduce the man to nothing more than broken flesh and bone.
The young man with the spear gritted his teeth, his muscles bulging as he prepared to make his move. Sweat dripped down his forehead, and his breathing was labored, but his eyes blazed with determination.
In that moment, Jacob saw something incredible.
The young man took a deep breath, stepping back to create distance. His fists clenched, his body tensed, and the veins in his arms bulged as he activated some kind of technique. His entire being seemed to vibrate with raw energy. The silver head of his spear began to glow faintly, as if responding to his will.
With a roar that sent shivers down Jacob's spine, the young man extended his hand with the spear. Without hesitation, he reared back, pouring every ounce of strength he had left into one final attack. His muscles strained as the silver spearhead turned red-hot, the heat distorting the air around it. With a primal roar, the young man hurled the spear at the behemoth with blinding speed.
The spear shot through the air like a missile, leaving a faint trail of smoke in its wake. It was aimed directly at the behemoth's chest, targeting the one spot that had any chance of piercing its thick hide.
At the same time, the behemoth's massive paw descended on the injured man, about to turn him into a pile of shattered bones and mangled flesh.
Time seemed to slow.
Just as the behemoth's claws were about to land, the spear struck its chest with the force of a cannonball. The impact caved in the creature's rib cage, sending shockwaves through its massive body. The behemoth was thrown off its feet, slamming into a nearby tree with enough force to split the trunk in half.
The beast let out a final, guttural growl, its body twitching one last time before falling limp.
Silence settled over the clearing, the only sound the labored breathing of the survivors. The young man who had thrown the spear collapsed to his knees, utterly spent. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, his face pale from exhaustion.
The man who had been struck by the behemoth groaned, coughing weakly as he lay on the ground, alive but battered.
For a moment, the group stood in stunned disbelief, the battle's sudden end leaving them dazed. But that brief respite was soon replaced by an ominous tension as all eyes turned toward Jacob.
The young man who had thrown the spear barked an order to the others, his tone sharp with frustration. He pointed toward the remaining fruits scattered around the clearing, instructing the men to finish gathering them while another rushed to aid the injured.
Then, the young man turned his gaze toward Jacob, his eyes narrowing with suspicion and hostility.
Jacob's heart raced. He couldn't understand their words, but the meaning behind their glares was clear. He was an outsider, a stranger who had appeared in the midst of their battle.
The woman with the bow stood beside the young man, her bow still in hand, her expression a mix of curiosity and caution. Her eyes flickered toward Jacob, but there was no warmth in her gaze, only the cold readiness of a warrior prepared to strike.
Jacob knew he couldn't afford to run—not now or he might end up like those beasts.