With every step, the pull grew stronger, more urgent, encouraging him forward.
'Should I go in or not?' Finn felt conflicted. 'But... I can feel something inside pulling me.'
Finn couldn't shake the feeling that something waited for him at the end of this trail like something really important, maybe even magical.
Magic was not an unusual occurrence in this world; it was just that the place where he lived and the villagers were not chosen to wield it.
He then clenched his fist and Old Thom's words replayed in his mind, "They didn't wait for greatness… they chased it themselves."
'Maybe... This is the kind of thing that I should chase,' Finn thought. 'If I want to change my destiny.'
He walked slowly but as he moved closer, a sudden rustling sound snapped him out of his thoughts.
Finn stopped dead in his tracks, his heart pounding in his ears. Slowly turning his head, he saw two bright yellow eyes peering at him from behind a cluster of dense bushes.
His breath caught painfully in his throat.
'Is that… a wolf?' he wondered. 'No. This is different. Its eyes are different.'
That could only mean one thing. It was not just a wild animal, but a wild beast. Its strength would be double, if not triple, that of a typical wild animal.
As people said, the beast possessed a beast core, which was highly valuable.
'I need to run. I can't handle this,' he thought again.
Finn was acutely aware of the disparity between them. He could manage wild rabbits and other small wild animals, but a beast? That would be a suicide battle.
Slowly, the beast stepped into view, confirming Finn's worst fears. It was large and muscular, with thick black fur and a cruel, hungry expression.
It snarled quietly, exposing sharp teeth as it stalked closer, eyes locked onto Finn.
Fear surged through his veins. 'This isn't good. That beast is way beyond me. Old Thom was right… I shouldn't have come this far.'
Finn slowly stepped backward, trying to keep calm, his legs trembling uncontrollably beneath him.
"Easy there…" he whispered shakily, more to himself than to the wolf. "I don't want any trouble. Please… just let me leave."
The wolf growled louder, its ears flattening against its head. Without thinking, Finn turned and ran.
Panic took over completely, driving him forward blindly. Branches tore at his clothes and scratched his face as he desperately fled, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
'Where am I going? What am I doing? I've got to get away, I have to—'
He glanced behind him quickly, and his heart nearly stopped, The wolf was still chasing him, gaining ground fast. Its snarls echoed chillingly through the forest.
'It's too fast. It's going to catch me!'
In his desperation, Finn didn't notice how uneven the ground had become. His foot caught on a thick root, sending him sprawling forward uncontrollably.
He crashed through bushes, tumbling down a steep slope hidden beneath the underbrush.
"Ahhh!"
He fell hard, rolling over dirt and stones, sliding down into a deep, hidden gorge. Sharp pain shot through his side, but fear and adrenaline dulled it.
He finally came to a stop at the bottom, gasping and covered in dirt, leaves, and scratches.
Finn quickly sat up, looking upward in panic. The wolf stood at the edge of the gorge, pacing angrily and glaring down at him. Finn's heart raced uncontrollably.
'Please don't come down here… please, just go away.'
After several tense moments, the wolf finally gave a frustrated snort, turned, and vanished back into the shadows of the forest.
Finn let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through him as his heart slowly calmed down.
'I can't believe I survived… but how am I going to get back up there now?'
Slowly rising to his feet, Finn glanced around. The bottom of the gorge was narrow and rocky, surrounded by towering cliffs that rose steeply above him.
But as his eyes adjusted, Finn noticed something odd. A short distance away, partially obscured by creeping vines and thick moss, stood an ancient stone structure.
Curiosity slowly replaced his fear. 'What's something like this doing hidden down here?'
He approached cautiously, brushing aside the tangled vines and dirt with careful hands. Finn's eyes widened in awe as he realized this wasn't just some random stone formation.
It was a carved archway, tall and majestic, etched with strange, mysterious symbols he couldn't recognize.
He reached out slowly, tracing his fingertips along the weathered stone.
"What is this…" Finn muttered. "This is not the words Lisa used to teach me. This is different."
That was when something deep within the carvings began to pulse gently, radiating a warmth that seemed both comforting and mysterious at the same time.
Finn felt drawn to it, unable to resist the strange pull he felt from the structure.
Without fully realizing it, he pressed his palm against the center of the archway.
Immediately, a powerful surge of warmth flowed through his chest, spreading quickly through his entire body.
Finn gasped, his eyes snapping shut as the forest around him vanished completely. He felt weightless, as if lifted gently from the ground and transported somewhere else.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself standing high above an unfamiliar landscape.
"Where am I?" His voice echoed.
The place stretched out endlessly beneath him, vast and magnificent. He looked around and then a scene appeared.
"Wait a minute! What is happening?!"
His heart raced as he gazed down, seeing incredible cities and kingdoms appearing before his very eyes, built and shaped as if by magic.
Enormous fortresses rose majestically from barren fields, their walls thick and imposing, crowned with gleaming towers and fluttering banners.
"How come a place could be easily built like this?" Finn wondered. "I never knew this was possible..."
He was amazed by what he saw. He saw rivers rerouted, irrigating lush farmlands, turning deserts into verdant plains.
Then, he saw grand cities emerge, bustling with countless people, their streets alive with vibrant markets, rich culture, and prosperity.
"Is that the heroes?"
Finn watched in awe as heroes rose among these flourishing civilizations, mighty warriors clad in shining armor who harnessed the elements, and wise rulers whose leadership inspired great kingdoms and empires.
He saw people wielding fire, conjuring storms, shaping the earth, and commanding waves.
'Incredible,' Finn thought breathlessly, unable to tear his eyes away from the mesmerizing visions unfolding below him. 'This is exactly like Old Thom's stories… is this how the heroes changed the world?'
His excitement soared as scenes shifted again. He saw kingdoms uniting, great alliances forged, and peace spreading across the vast lands. People prospered, their joy and laughter echoing like music in his ears.
But suddenly, without warning, the visions shifted dramatically once more.
Darkness crept from the edges of his sight, spreading rapidly, devouring the beautiful kingdoms and empires beneath him.
"What is happening now?!" he asked in a panic.
Finn felt his pulse quicken, fear clawing at his chest. He watched helplessly as massive armies rose from the shadows, legions of terrifying creatures.
They were twisted, monstrous beasts and dark, armored warriors marching relentlessly forward.
'Who are they?' Finn wondered, his heart hammering wildly.
The darkness consumed everything, leaving destruction and despair in its wake. He heard screams, saw fires raging, castles crumbling, and heroes falling bravely against overwhelming odds.
He watched in horror, completely frozen, unable to turn away as everything beautiful turned to ruin.
Just when he thought he couldn't bear any more, the visions suddenly stopped. Finn gasped sharply, blinking rapidly as the world around him abruptly returned to normal.
He was back in the forest, standing unsteadily before the ancient stone archway. His body trembled, sweat trickling down his forehead, his breathing heavy and uneven.
'What was that? Did I… really see all of that?'
As his mind struggled to process everything he'd witnessed, golden letters appeared suddenly, glowing in mid-air in front of him.
[Master Builder System Activated]
Finn stared, eyes wide, heart pounding once more. This time with confusion and excitement rather than terror.