Jiang Liuyue took another slow step backward. Her bare feet slipped slightly against the mossy, damp ground, and her breath caught in her throat. Her arms wrapped tightly around her chest as she looked around.
The forest was too quiet. No birds sang. No wind rustled the leaves. It felt like even the trees were watching her. Every shadow made her skin crawl, and the silence pressed against her ears.
"What is this place?" she whispered, her voice shaking. Her eyes darted between the tall trees. "How did I get here?"
She tried to think. The last thing she remembered was sitting on her couch at home. The news had been playing on the TV. Her wine glass tipped over on the table as she drifted to sleep. That was it. And now she was here. In a strange forest. Naked. Alone.
A soft chime rang in her ears.
[System Online.]
Welcome, Host: Jiang Liuyue.
Location: Erah'dor Sacred Forest
Status: Unmarked
Danger Level: Moderate
Her eyes widened in shock.
"What the hell is going on?" she whispered. Her voice trembled. She turned in a circle, trying to see where the voice or sound came from, but there was no one there. Only the glowing text floating in her vision.
Suddenly, a low growl rumbled through the air.
She froze.
From between the trees, a figure stepped out.
He was tall, with broad shoulders and a lean, muscular frame. His golden eyes glowed in the shadows. A long, black snake curled lazily around his neck, its tongue flicking in and out. The man's skin was pale, his features sharp and almost too perfect , like a dangerous, beautiful prince from a dream.
His voice cut through the silence.
"Who are you?"
Liuyue opened her mouth, but no words came out. She was too stunned to speak. She just stared at him.
He took a step closer. His glowing eyes locked on hers. He tilted his head slightly and sniffed the air around her.
Then, his eyes narrowed, and he shouted, "Intruder!"
Without warning, he charged.
She gasped loudly and stumbled backward in panic. But instead of hitting the ground, her foot didn't land. Her body lifted into the air, slowly and gently, as if the forest itself was protecting her.
[Warning: Unauthorized presence detected by hostile clan member.]
Identified: Serpent Clan – Second Prince, Name: Si Yao.
You are airborne due to the forest's protection spell.
"What do I do?" she asked quickly. Her voice was shaking. "How do I get out of here?"
[Figure it out yourself.]
"What?! Are you serious right now?!"
[Choose an emergency gift:]
1. Language Comprehension
2. Mark of the Chosen Womb
She stared at the floating options. Her heart pounded. "What the hell does 'Chosen Womb' mean? What are you talking about?!"
Before she could choose, something yanked her down.
She screamed as she hit the ground hard. The pain shot up her back. She groaned and opened her eyes slowly.
Si Yao was on top of her.
His body was heavy and warm. He pinned her down with ease. She tried to move, but he was too strong. His golden eyes stared into hers, full of curiosity, hunger, and something she couldn't understand.
He spoke again, but his words made no sense. It was a language she had never heard.
Then glowing text appeared over his chest.
[Name: Si Yao – Serpent Prince]
[Status: Interested – Scent Detected]
[No selection made. Default option chosen: Mark of the Chosen Womb]
Suddenly, a bright light burst across her skin.
She gasped as glowing symbols appeared along her stomach. They wrapped around her hips and sides, warm and almost alive. She could feel the light sinking into her skin, filling her with strange heat.
"What is happening to me?!" she cried out.
Before she could understand more, Si Yao was pulled off her. He flew backward and crashed into the ground.
Liuyue looked up.
A new man stood in front of her.
He was even taller than Si Yao. His long silver hair fell around his shoulders. His wolf ears twitched slightly, and his silver eyes glowed like stars. He looked strong, calm, and dangerous in a quiet way.
[Identified: Lang Feng – Alpha of the Wolf Clan]
[Status: Protective – Chosen Womb Recognized]
He stood between her and Si Yao, protecting her.
Si Yao hissed from the ground, but the wolf man growled low in his throat.
Then he turned to her.
Liuyue tried to crawl back, panic filling her chest. She used one hand to cover herself and the other to push away from him.
But the man did something unexpected.
He knelt down.
And bowed.
Her eyes widened in shock. "W-What are you doing?"
He spoke softly, but she couldn't understand a word.
[System Notification: The Wolf Clan Leader has acknowledged your Mark.]
[He believes you are the prophesied "Chosen Womb."]
[Mission Objective: Form intimate bonds with each Clan to awaken your divine body.]
[Failure to bond may result in being claimed or eliminated by opposing Clans.]
Liuyue stared at the glowing text.
Her heart raced. "Claimed? Eliminated? Are you kidding me?!"
[Language Comprehension Unlocked.]
The world shifted slightly.
The wolf man's voice became clear in her ears.
"We've been waiting for you," he said gently. "You are ours."
Liuyue's body froze.
Her nightmare had just begun.