The forest was too quiet.
Hermes—no, Adrian—tightened his fists as he pushed through the twisted trees. The air reeked of iron, wet moss, and something that didn't belong in nature. Every branch creaked like bones, and the deeper he went, the heavier the silence pressed on him.
He couldn't shake off the image of the man from before, the way his eyes had lingered on him with suspicion. That man was a survivor, someone who had clearly been trapped here far longer than him. If even people could become threats, then what hope did he have against the monsters he hadn't even seen yet?
His chest tightened. Breathe. Just breathe.
He wasn't Adrian anymore. Here, he was Hermes Sonic. If the name meant nothing, then maybe he could shape it into something. Survival was the first step. Strength would have to come after.
The trees opened to a small clearing. At first, relief flickered through him—open space meant he could see—but it died quickly when he spotted movement at the far edge. A hunched shape, black fur glistening under the blood-red sky. Its back bristled with spines, each one sharp and wet as if dripping with poison. The creature's head turned slowly, glowing yellow eyes locking onto him.
A growl tore through the air, low and guttural.
Hermes froze. His instincts screamed at him to run, but where could he go? The creature's body tensed, muscles rippling under its hide. It was fast—he could feel it.
This is it. My first monster.
The beast lunged.
Hermes stumbled back, heart slamming in his chest. He threw himself sideways just as claws tore into the ground where he had stood, ripping earth and stone as if they were paper. Dirt sprayed into his face. He rolled, coughed, and scrambled to his feet, vision blurring.
The monster wheeled around, spines rattling with a hiss. Hermes grabbed the nearest thing—a jagged rock lying by his boot. It felt pathetic in his hand compared to the monster's claws, but it was all he had.
The beast lunged again. Hermes ducked low, shoving the rock forward with every ounce of desperation. It smashed against the monster's snout. The beast howled, jerking back, but its claws still raked across Hermes's arm. Pain seared through him, hot and raw.
He screamed, stumbling, clutching his bleeding arm. Warm blood slicked his fingers. His legs trembled.
I'm going to die here.
The monster didn't stop. It stalked him, spines shivering with anticipation. Each step it took sank deep into the earth, deliberate, savoring his fear.
Hermes backed away, gasping for breath, until his back hit a tree. The bark dug into him, rough and unyielding. His lungs burned. The beast lowered itself, muscles coiling like a spring.
Something inside Hermes snapped. Fear twisted into rage. If he was going to die, then at least he would go down fighting.
He roared, charging forward with reckless abandon. The beast lunged to meet him, jaws wide open, teeth glistening.
At the last second, Hermes ducked under, shoving the jagged rock upward with both hands. The rock pierced into the soft flesh beneath the beast's jaw. A wet crunch filled the air. The monster shrieked, flailing, claws slashing wildly. One swipe caught Hermes across the chest, ripping through his shirt and skin. Agony burned through him, but he held on, driving the rock deeper.
With a final desperate shove, the beast collapsed. Its body convulsed once, then stilled.
Hermes staggered back, chest heaving, blood dripping from his arm and chest. His vision blurred at the edges. He leaned against the tree, coughing, barely believing he was still alive.
The monster's body twitched—and then something strange happened. Its chest cracked open, not with flesh but with light. A small orb pulsed out, hovering above the carcass. It glowed faintly, a sphere of translucent energy, shimmering between white and violet.
Hermes stared, transfixed. His instincts told him this wasn't ordinary. This was… something meant to be claimed.
The orb drifted toward him, as if pulled by gravity. His hand rose on its own, trembling, and when his fingers brushed the surface, the world exploded with pain.
Energy surged into him, raw and wild, burning through his veins like molten metal. He screamed, collapsing to his knees. His body convulsed, every nerve set ablaze.
In his mind, he saw lines of light branching through his body—veins, but not veins of blood. They glowed with resonance, twisting, reshaping. One line flared brighter than the rest, anchoring itself deep into his chest.
When the pain finally receded, Hermes lay gasping on the ground, drenched in sweat. The orb was gone. The monster's body had crumbled into ash.
But something had changed inside him.
He could feel it: a subtle thrum beneath his skin, like a second heartbeat. His body was heavier yet lighter, weaker yet sharper. His wound still bled, but his senses felt heightened. He could hear the faint rustle of leaves, the drip of blood from his arm, the distant echo of another monster's call.
"This…" His voice cracked, hoarse. "This is… the power?"
He remembered the words the man had spoken before—something about survival depending on strength. So this was it. The key to living here.
The first Resonance Vein.
Hermes clenched his fists, feeling the faint pulse of energy within. He was no warrior, no cultivator, no chosen hero. Just a boy stolen from reality, dropped into hell.
But now… he had taken his first step.
The forest seemed to watch him, silent and waiting. For the first time since arriving, Hermes felt a spark of defiance. If this world wanted him dead, it would have to try harder.
He wasn't going to die here.
Not yet.