Alex woke the next morning after his first night in the forest, feeling something different in his body. He no longer felt the exhaustion from the previous night; instead, there was a sense of strength, as if his body had become faster, stronger, and more resilient.
He sat on a fallen tree trunk, examining himself with wide-open eyes, trying to understand the strange changes that had occurred after the transition. Every small movement was lighter and faster, every step more stable, every reaction sharper.
Alex remembered his long years of research and study, the years that had given him survival skills: observing the environment, moving silently, maneuvering with agility, dealing with dangers, recognizing animal signs—skills that had now become instinctive, almost part of him without conscious thought.
After walking a bit among the dense trees, he noticed a dark opening between the rocks. It was a small cave, suitable for rest and observation. Alex entered cautiously and sat on the cold ground, evaluating his body, his strange energy, and everything that had happened since the transition.
It wasn't long before he sensed something approaching. A strange smell, a smooth movement through the trees, and then appeared a massive tiger, black with a tail shimmering with magical energy, its eyes glowing golden.
The tiger was larger and stronger than he expected, its magical power making the ground tremble with every step.
Alex took a deep breath, relying on his prior training, and began moving sideways, avoiding direct eye contact with the tiger. But the animal pursued him with incredible speed, as if it knew every move he would make.
He ran through the forest using all his skills: leaping over logs, hiding between rocks, climbing to change direction, moving silently. The tiger was faster, every step shaking the ground beneath them.
Suddenly, the tiger lunged, its claw passing close to Alex's shoulder, causing him to fall and bleed. The pain shocked him, but he continued running, driven by willpower and the rage of the challenge.
Every minute was a test, every step a battle. Alex discovered something new: his body could endure more, his reflexes were quicker, and his mind planned faster to confront danger.
After minutes of running and fighting, he found a large rock and jumped over it to change the tiger's path. The beast lost some speed, giving Alex a chance to put distance between them.
But pain from his wounds increased, and breathing became difficult. Alex sat on the ground, completely exhausted.
Survival had been hard, and the tiger had not disappeared. After a moment of silence, Alex closed his eyes, unable to continue, realizing that this was only the beginning and the forest had yet to reveal all its secrets.