I woke up gasping. My lungs burned, my limbs ached, and my mind reeled from the transition. One moment, I had been stepping away from Wizard City, my heart steady as I prepared for the unknown—now, I was sprawled out on the damp ground, the scent of grass and rich soil filling my senses.
I pushed myself up, shaking off the disorientation. This wasn't Ooo anymore. This was somewhere else.
Terraria.
The sky above me was a soft blue, the sun hanging low on the horizon, casting long golden streaks across the land. Around me, a dense forest stretched in all directions, tall trees swaying in the breeze. The air was thick with the scent of nature—earth, leaves, and something faintly metallic. Birds chirped in the distance, and small creatures skittered through the underbrush.
But beneath all of that, there was something wrong. A creeping sensation of unease crawled up my spine, something I couldn't quite place—until I turned east.
There, on the edge of my vision, the world bled.
The Crimson.
A grotesque, pulsing mass of blood-red trees and veins stretched over the landscape. The grass was no longer green but a sickly red, the sky above it tinged with an unnatural hue. I could almost feel the corruption seeping into the land, spreading like a disease, waiting to consume everything in its path.
I swallowed hard. No time to waste.
I forced myself to focus. The first rule of any new world was simple: establish a base. I needed shelter, supplies, and a plan—before something found me.
I checked my belongings. I had arrived with a Starting Set—basic tools, a pickaxe, an axe, and some simple building materials. More importantly, my Improved Crafting Station was here, already stocked with blueprints and knowledge. Good. That would give me an edge.
I flexed my fingers, reaching for my magic. The warmth of my Flamelash flickered to life at my side, the familiar pull of Material Sense guiding my attention toward useful resources nearby. Trees, stone, even veins of ore beneath the surface—I could see it all in faint glowing outlines.
I didn't waste time. My axe struck wood, the rhythmic thunk of chopping filling the silence. Each swing felt smooth, efficient—evidence that Terrarian instincts were already in effect. The trees fell quickly, leaving behind a pile of wood and acorns.
I needed a clearing. A defensible position.
I moved west, away from the Crimson, until I found a small hilltop overlooking a lake. It was perfect—high ground, plenty of space, and natural water nearby. I began setting up, crafting a small wooden house with walls, doors, and a simple roof. Not much, but enough for now.
I was halfway through securing the walls when I felt a shift in the air.
A pulse of magic rippled outward, and before I could react, a mass of shimmering blue slime burst into existence beside me, coalescing into a familiar figure.
A massive, regal Slime Queen hovered in place, her gelatinous body shifting as she stretched, translucent and crowned. Her eyes, bright and intelligent, locked onto mine.
I blinked. "Right. I forgot I had you with me."
The Slime Queen gave a pleased gurgle before bouncing once, settling into a more compact form. A moment later, a handful of lesser slimes split off from her, hopping around curiously.
I exhaled in relief. A companion—an ally.
"Guess I won't be alone in this world, huh?" I muttered. The Queen rumbled in response, her form flickering between solid and liquid.
Having her would help. Slimes weren't the strongest creatures, but they were resilient, adaptable, and... strangely comforting.
But we weren't safe yet.
As the sun began to set, I could feel the world shifting. The air grew colder, the wind sharper.
Something was coming.
I readied my Flamelash, its flickering fire casting long shadows against the trees. My Space Gun was holstered at my side, its energy humming softly.
The first zombie staggered out from the trees, its rotting body moving unnaturally fast. Another followed. And another. Soon, a dozen pairs of glowing red eyes were locked onto my position.
I tensed. Invasions.
They weren't wasting any time.
The Slime Queen let out a low, warbling growl, her body expanding as her slimes leaped into battle.
The first zombie lunged—only to be caught mid-air by a flaming tendril as I lashed out with my Flamelash. The fire curled around its body, reducing it to ashes in seconds. The others didn't hesitate, rushing forward in a hungry, mindless swarm.
I moved, dodging as I sent fireballs hurtling into the mass. Slimes tackled zombies to the ground, their gelatinous bodies absorbing the impact before crushing them completely.
I pulled out my Space Gun and fired a streak of green energy, cutting through three zombies at once.
But they kept coming.
From the treeline, something bigger emerged—a Demon Eye, its grotesque, pulsating form hovering above the battlefield.
I barely had time to react before it rushed me, its massive eye gleaming in the dark.
I dove to the side, but then everything changed.
A sound erupted in my mind, deep and otherworldly.
"HE SEES YOU."
I froze.
The voice. It wasn't from the zombies. It wasn't from the Demon Eye. It was inside my head.
"I AM COMING."
My vision flickered. Shadows crept at the edges of my mind, and for a split second, I wasn't in the forest anymore.
I saw something massive—a form beyond comprehension, writhing in the dark, a vast, cyclopean presence looming over a blood-red sky.
I gasped, snapping back to reality just in time to dodge the Demon Eye's next attack.
Cthulhu.
The whispers weren't just madness. He was watching.
I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to focus. I couldn't afford to panic. Not now.
I launched a fireball, striking the Demon Eye dead center. It screeched, its body twisting violently before bursting into green flames.
The rest of the undead fell soon after, cut down by spells, slimes, and sheer determination.
When the last monster finally crumbled to dust, I was left standing in the eerie silence of the aftermath. My breath was ragged, my mind still echoing with whispers.
This world wasn't going to be easy.
I leaned against my half-built house, staring up at the sky. The Crimson loomed in the distance, its influence creeping closer. The invasions weren't stopping anytime soon, and the whispers of Cthulhu were already gnawing at the edges of my sanity.
But I wasn't backing down.
I would build. I would adapt.
I would survive.
This was my new world.
And no matter what it threw at me—I was ready.