Rustle, rustle...
The dense woods brimming with chaos—the sound of thrashing, snarling, and the haunting echoes of a fight for survival. A bear's roar split the air, raw and agonized, reverberating through the trees like a death knell. The cry wasn't just pain—it carried a desperate, primal fear. Above, birds scattered in panicked waves, their wings slicing the air as if fleeing the very essence of death.
"No need to scream so much," the man muttered, his tone coldly amused. "You're giving me a headache."
"Come on now, big guy," he taunted, a wicked grin curling his blood-smeared lips. "No need to make such a fuss—you'll ruin the moment."
His arm was buried elbow-deep in the bear's throat, its teeth gnashing against his bloodied left hand, which kept it's jaws from snapping shut and tearing him apart. Blood poured over his skin, thick and steaming, soaking him in the beast's lifeblood. His lips twisted into a smile.
"Shh... it'll all be over soon," he whispered, his voice low and venomous, as if comforting the dying creature.
With a sickening, wet rip, he tore through the beast's throat from within, the sound of muscle ripping echoing in the blood-soaked clearing. The bear collapsed in a convulsing heap, its life spilling out in a steaming crimson pool.
Panting, he stood over the carcass, drenched in gore, his chest heaving with exhilaration. "There we go," he said, his voice a low, mocking murmur. "Rest easy now. Your body... it's mine to claim."
He ran a bloodied hand through his hair, leaving streaks of crimson against his matted strands. His gaze fell on the mangled corpse at his feet, his lips curling into a grin that dripped with satisfaction.
"Not bad," he murmured, his voice low and almost playful. "Quite fun, actually. Though…" His grin faltered, twisting into a frown. "The results are still... insufficient. I need more tests."
With a sigh, he crouched and grabbed the corpse by its leg, dragging it through the woods. The scraping of flesh against soil echoed through the silent forest. His silhouette dissolved into the shadows, and soon, only the sickening sound of the body being hauled away remained.
As the noise faded, the forest began to stir. From the shadows emerged a pack of wolves, their noses to the ground, sniffing the blood-soaked trail left behind. Their golden eyes glinted in the dim light as they moved cautiously, hunger and curiosity guiding them.
Among them, the alpha stepped forward, its massive frame casting an imposing figure while basking in the sunlight. It sniffed the air, then raised its head, gazing intently in the direction the man had vanished.
Low, rumbling growls rippled through the pack as the alpha let out a guttural snarl. The wolves split silently into two groups, slipping into the bushes like phantoms. One group veered left, the other right, their movements swift and soundless. They vanished into the darkness, leaving only the eerie rustle of leaves in their wake. What they were up to—or what they would find—remained a mystery.
At the edge of the forest, a house loomed into view—or rather, a villa. Its towering silhouette etched itself against the horizon, the faint glow of light spilling from its high windows. The air around it felt heavier, The stench of blood coming from it steered birds from it.
"Arcane Net, activate," the man said as he settled into his sofa, its surface made of rough reptilian fur.
[Welcome back, Sir Lucian D'Acron. How may I assist you?]
"Start from the beginning," he replied, closing his eyes. "Tell me everything about this world's history and about yourself."
[Understood.]
[The Great Power Surge occurred approximately 100 years ago. It was a massive release of magical energy that spread across Xylarthion. This event awakened hidden powers in many people and made existing abilities much stronger. The surge caused chaos and reshaped the world.]
[You come from what is called the Root World, which is identical to this one. One of the Primordials duplicated your world as a safety measure. This was done to protect ordinary people without powers from those who developed abilities after the surge. When someone from the Root World gains powers, a seal is placed on their family's memories. To them, you are forgotten, as if you never existed. If they do not awaken themselves, they remain in the Root World. Those who awaken are brought to this version of the world, Xylarthion, and registered in the Arcane Network.]
Lucian's fingers drummed lightly on the sofa's armrest as the explanation continued.
[The Arcane Network is a global communication system powered by magical runes and energy. Similar to the internet in your original world, it allows instant sharing of information. It was first created by ancient sorcerers for military use during the Great Wars, to coordinate battles and relay information. Over time, it expanded for civilian use and now connects magical communities across Xylarthion.]
Lucian smirked faintly but didn't open his eyes. "Interesting... It's still not enough, though. Keep going."
[This world is connected to others created by the Primordials of the Old Age. Each of these worlds has unique races, features, and cultures. While infighting is common within this universe, there are also external wars with worlds outside of it. This universe is called Nexurias. So far, 2,086 worlds have been discovered, though not all are inhabited. To access more detailed information on this topic, you must update your Star Rank, Sir.]
[Star Ranks are assigned to every citizen, reflecting their strength or societal importance. Currently, your rank is negligible—a grain of sand, unnoticed and insignificant—due to your recent arrival.]
"Stop there," Lucian interrupted, rubbing his temples. "Let me think for a bit."
He stood and began pacing the room, his bare feet making soft taps on the cold marble floor. After a moment, he strode to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and pulled out a cold can of root beer. With a soft pop, he opened it and took a long sip, letting the chilled liquid ease his nerves.
"Haah... this world just keeps getting more and more troublesome," he muttered under his breath.
As he leaned against the counter, a sudden thought struck him. "Wait a minute, how did I get possession of this villa again?" When I came here, this AI told me I was the owner of this place. At first, I paid no mind to it, but now that I think clearly, it's been 2 days since I arrived here. My hunger and my need for fresh meat made me go hunt, so I didn't really care. But it seems something is definitely wrong here. This house was kept clean, presumably by the robotics in here, but that doesn't explain why I was called the owner. – he thought while frowning.
Winston Churchill once said, "The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you will see." Just as he said, I need to see this through.