Birds soared freely through the clear skies—birds unlike any the being had seen or had information about. Massive creatures with shimmering crimson feathers painted the heavens above.
Hours had passed since the being began his journey through the green lands. Yet, what seemed like an eternity to him was merely a few short hours in the time of this world's inhabitants.
The tranquility and beauty of the surroundings left him alone with his thoughts and doubts. He pondered his mission—retrieving the so-called "jewel"—and questioned its true nature.
He wasn't the first sent here. The remains of colossal weapons and the shattered hulks of ships in the far distance were evidence of those who had come before.
But the being pushed these thoughts into a dark corner of his mind. Even if he had doubts, he couldn't defy the Union. He doubted they would allow him to flee after witnessing the splendor of this planet. Ignoring his concerns was the only option for now.
His hand rested against the bark of a lone tree that stood isolated, two kilometers away from the rest of the towering forest whose canopy kissed the clouds.
The field was desolate, devoid of life except for plants and the scattered ruins of Union ships. Occasionally, he spotted the giant birds, and while he wasn't sure if this solitude was a blessing or a curse, he continued onward.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble faintly. The being stopped in his tracks.
"An earthquake?" he muttered, sensing the quakes occurring in intervals of about half a minute, each one growing stronger than the last.
By the tenth tremor, the ground shook so violently that he collapsed to the earth. A minute and a half later, a colossal shadow enveloped him, forcing him to look skyward.
What he saw left him frozen in terror.
A gargantuan entity towered above, its head breaching the clouds. Its body was ancient and craggy, like a living mountain. Its massive shadow cast a premature night over the landscape. Four dreadful eyes focused on an unseen target as the being trembled below.
One of the entity's massive steps landed near the being, sending a violent shockwave through the ground. Its footprint was larger than the Union's enormous warships, which boasted of their size.
Step by thunderous step, the colossal creature moved away, leaving a trail of devastation that stretched across the land. The being sat trembling, overwhelmed by the enormity of what he had just witnessed.
"Gareth... for the love of the stars, tell me what the hell that was!?" he whispered hoarsely, too afraid to let his voice rise lest the monstrous entity hear him.
"Ice Giants?! What in the hell is it doing here? And how is it that huge?!"
The being shakily rose to his feet, his legs still weak. Without hesitation, he turned and ran in the opposite direction of the Ice Giant. He sprinted as fast as he could toward the forest of towering trees.
The beauty and serenity of the planet had lulled him into forgetting its dangers—dangers in the form of creatures and monsters, some recorded in the database, others entirely unknown.
He ran and ran, his mind blank, his breath growing ragged. Yet he didn't stop until he reached the safety of the forest. Collapsing onto the ground, he tore off his helmet, gasping for air.
Leaning against one of the massive trees, he panted heavily, catching his breath as the enormity of the encounter settled over him.