Kazumi jolted awake, startled by the commotion that shattered the stillness of the night. Distant footsteps echoed through the forest, hurried and chaotic, causing the ground to tremble beneath her feet.
The atmosphere had shifted dramatically; a tense unease replaced the tranquility she had felt before falling asleep.
"What is going on?" she can only ask herself not sure of the current situation.
Heart racing, she sat up, her senses on high alert. Curiosity and caution intertwined as she strained to decipher the source of the uproar. But in the darkness of the night, there was no way to tell what was happening; all she could discern were the terrifying roars of unseen monsters echoing through the trees.
Sensing the moment's urgency, Kazumi carefully extinguished the fire, its flickering light fading as she focused intently on the sounds surrounding her. She grabbed her trusty pistol, loaded and ready for whatever might come her way.
The disturbance felt powerful and unnervingly close. She braced herself, pressing her back against the giant tree, heart pounding in her chest.
Her focus heightened, her eyes adjusting to the darkness, sharpening her view beyond the shadows.
Shapes began to emerge from the night, and she strained to make sense of the chaos unfolding before her. The tension in the air was palpable, and she was acutely aware of every rustle and growl echoing through the jungle.
"This is bad."
As the roars and footsteps grew louder, a horde of monsters suddenly appeared: goblins, orcs, wolves, and other creatures she had never encountered. They poured from the same direction, a chaotic tide of snarls and shrieks, and Kazumi's breath hitched in her throat.
"A stampede... I need to run."
But the sight of so many monsters sent a throbbing fear coursing through her veins, she can't move. Her hands and knees trembled, and beads of sweat formed on her skin as she fought to maintain her composure.
Instinctively, she raised her gun, aiming it at the approaching swarm. But as the first monster passed her—an orc, its eyes wild and frenzied—it went right by as if she didn't exist.
"wha…"
Confused, she blinked, but one by one, the creatures followed, skirting around her without a glance.
"Are they running away?" she whispered to herself, her heart racing.
It was then that realization dawned on her: they were afraid of something. Fear gripped her, and she instinctively moved further behind the tree, hoping to remain hidden as the monsters continued their frantic flight.
Kazumi's mind raced.
'What could these monsters be fleeing from?'
A whirlwind of thoughts spun in her head, torn between survival and curiosity.
In the back of her mind, posibilities were created. What if there were other humans here—perhaps even allies—that the monsters feared? Faces of her comrades surfaced from her memories.
"Taro, Akane, Jake..." Hopeful that they would find each other, and form their group again.
Then she remembered the three teens she had seen days ago.
'Could they be search parties?'
It was just a fleeting possibility, but after being alone for so many days, the idea ignited a spark of hope within her.
With each passing moment, the allure of investigating the unknown grew stronger, pulling her toward the risk.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead, knowing she had to seize this chance, no matter the danger.
"I'm just going to investigate. If it seems dangerous, I'll run," she said, trying to convince herself of her decision.
…
It had been a couple of minutes when she decided to explore the cause of the commotion, gun in hand, her phone serves as her light, parting the darkness of the night.
In the distance, she can see sparks of light.
"What is that?" she murmured, quickening her pace, her heart racing with the hope of finding a group of humans at a campsite waiting for her.
But as she drew closer, she realized the sounds were not those of a peaceful gathering; instead, they resembled the chaos of battle. Clashes echoed through the trees, and her footsteps faltered.
She paused, deciding whether to turn back and hide. In normal circumstances, she would have heeded her instincts and retreated at the first hint of danger. Yet perhaps the solitude of her days had taken its toll. The promise of companionship drew her in, and she found herself willing to risk it all for the chance that lay beyond the clearing.
"I have to go," she told herself firmly as she stowed her phone in her bag. Her hands gripped the gun tightly, determination flooding through her veins.
As she approached the clearing, what Kazumi saw was far from what she had expected. There were no humans gathered around a campfire; instead, the clashes she had heard were the sounds of two colossal monsters facing off against each other. Their fierce roars echoed through the night as they circled one another, muscles tense and ready to strike.
Kazumi stood frozen for a moment, her heart racing at the sight of the titanic figures locked in battle, realizing that the commotion was a struggle for dominance between creatures far beyond her comprehension.
Kazumi, awestruck of the breathtaking battle unfolding before her, almost forgot to breathe.
A massive minotaur-like creature towered at nearly seven meters tall, its muscular figure imposing and fearsome. It wielded a colossal sword that crackled with blue lightning, illuminating its skin, which shimmered in shades of deep blue. The sight was straight out of a nightmare, a terrifying embodiment of raw power.
Opposite the minotaur, a giant deer confronted it, its majestic form radiating an otherworldly aura. Its antlers shimmered with a magical blend of ice and fire, casting flickering shadows across the ground. The deer's body pulsed with a vibrant light as if it were a mythical being brought to life, ready to defend its territory against the monstrous foe.
The air is charged with energy as they clash, the minotaur's powerful swings sending shockwaves through the trees, while the deer unleashes bursts of elemental energy with its antlers.
Kazumi watches in stunned silence, realizing she's witnessing a conflict between two legendary guardians of the forest. The minotaur roars, channeling its fury into the sword, while the deer counters with graceful agility, using the elements to deflect the blows and retaliate with a storm of icy and fiery blasts.
"This is… in every sense… incredible," she breathed, her eyes glued to the fierce battle unfolding before her. As her fear melted away, a smile spread across her face, reflecting a newfound wonder.
Ever since the first day she was sent to this jungle, she questioned everything.
Where is she?
What is this place?
Why is she here?
It was all so easy to think that she is in another world, one that is different from hers, but she has her doubts. Perhaps, just like the undead that had once invaded her own world, this place was not so different after all.
But all that doubts dissolve away like the mist in the morning sun.
In this very moment. She truly realized it.
Another world—a realm alive with magic and untold possibilities.
Excitement surged within her, igniting her imagination for all that lay ahead.
"I will..."