Jason's head spun as he stood in the middle of the dense, foreign forest, his senses tingling with every unknown sound and smell around him. The shockwave had brought him here—along with a lot of people and now he had no idea where here was. The towering trees loomed above him, their thick branches casting shadows that felt oppressive, as if the very forest was watching him.
All around, people appeared just as confused and terrified. Some were crying, others yelling. His eyes darted across the chaos, landing on the familiar figure of the cop who had just cuffed him. Instinctively, Jason sprinted over, the cold steel biting into his wrists as he approached the officer.
"Hey! You gotta get these off!" Jason demanded, holding up his cuffed hands. "We're not in New Manhattan anymore—just let me go!"
The officer barely spared him a glance, his face pale with shock, but his grip tightened on Jason. "No way, kid. You're still under arrest."
Jason's frustration boiled over. "Are you serious right now? Look around! This isn't some prison break. We've been teleported to a—"
A sound cut through the air, low and menacing, like the growl of something primal. Jason froze, his super senses flaring to life. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he slowly turned toward the source of the noise.
Through the thick brush, a creature emerged. It was hulking, with matted fur and massive limbs. It looked like an ape but moved with unnatural speed, its eyes glowing faintly in the dim light of the forest. It snarled, revealing rows of sharp teeth, and before anyone could react, it vanished—a blur of motion cutting through the crowd.
Screams erupted as the creature reappeared, covered in blood. Ten heads hit the ground before the bodies even realized what had happened. Panic spread like wildfire. People scattered, fleeing in every direction, while a few brave—or foolish—souls stayed to fight, summoning flames, water, and other elemental powers to try and stop the beast.
Jason's heart pounded as the cop's grip on him tightened again, trying to drag him away. But Jason had other plans. His senses screamed at him to move. With a surge of desperation, he reached for the keys on the officer's belt, snatching them in a quick motion before shoving the cop to the ground.
"Not today," Jason muttered, turning and running into the forest.
Branches whipped at his face as he sprinted through the underbrush, the distant roars and screams of others still echoing behind him. He didn't stop until his lungs burned and his legs ached, finally coming to a halt in a small clearing. Gasping for breath, Jason fumbled with the keys, struggling to unlock the cuffs. His hands shook, but eventually, the cuffs clicked open and fell to the ground.
Rubbing his sore wrists, Jason glanced around. What was this world? It looked similar to Earth, but it felt different. The air was thick with tension, and the creatures here… they weren't like anything from home.
He crouched down and grabbed a sturdy branch from the ground, snapping off the smaller twigs. Jason closed his eyes and focused, letting the wind energy flow through him, coating the branch in an invisible blade of air. His power wasn't flashy, but it was precise—enough to turn this makeshift weapon into something useful. Armed with the branch, he stood, determination hardening his features.
This wasn't just about survival anymore. It was about staying ahead of whatever nightmare was hunting them.
As he took a step forward, his heightened awareness flared again. Something was coming—fast. The wind shifted unnaturally, the air growing colder. Jason spun, just in time to see a massive eagle-like creature swooping toward him. Its talons gleamed, sharp as blades, and its eyes were locked on him.
Move! Jason ducked as the eagle slashed through the air, missing him by inches. The tree behind him wasn't so lucky. Its trunk split cleanly in half, crashing down with a thunderous crack.
Jason's eyes widened. This was no ordinary bird. Its claws had the power to slice through solid wood like it was paper.
The eagle circled around, preparing for another attack. Jason gripped his wind-infused branch tightly, steadying his breath. He wasn't running this time.
The eagle charged again, wings spread wide as it dove toward him. Jason sidestepped at the last moment, swinging the branch with precision. The wind-enhanced strike sliced clean through one of the bird's wings, severing it from its body. The eagle screeched in pain, crashing into the ground in a flurry of feathers and dirt.
But it wasn't done.
Even grounded, the creature was still deadly. With a flap of its remaining wing, it sent a flying slash of air toward Jason, faster than he could react. He barely dodged, but the edge of the attack grazed his cheek, drawing blood.
Jason winced but didn't falter. He spun the branch in his hand, eyes locked on the creature as it struggled to get back up. This was his moment. With a final burst of wind energy, Jason lunged forward, driving the branch into the eagle's neck. The creature screeched once more before collapsing, its head severed from its body.
Jason stood there, panting, his heart still racing from the fight. Blood trickled down his face from the cut, but he wiped it away, more focused on what had just happened.
What kind of world is this?
He glanced at the eagle's lifeless form, then at the branch still crackling with wind energy in his hand. Whatever this place was, it was a nightmare, and he would need to stay on his toes if he wanted to survive.
Without a second thought, Jason took up the fallen body of the eagle planning to eat it.