In the middle of a dense forest, a boy around seventeen lies on the ground.
-Hmm? Huh?!
-What!?
I raise a hand to my head.
-Ouch!
-My head…
I jump to my feet and look around, confused about where I am and how I got here. Slowly, my memories begin to return. I recall everything, the recent events, my death, the Regents, my encounter with Eladreo, and this new world.
-Ah… I remember.
-So this is the new world, huh?
I look at my clothes and realize I only have a cloak covering my body, and nothing underneath. Also, I'm barefoot.
The dirt slips between my toes.
-I should've brought proper clothes… and shoes, at least.
-It looks like I'll have to get used to it.
Even though I don't like the feeling of the ground or the discomfort of having no clothes underneath, at least the cloak Eladreo gave me is large and closed. It covers me almost completely, leaving only my feet visible. The sleeves are long, showing only my hands, and there's also this hood that can protect my head.
Looking around more carefully, I realize this forest is extremely dense. The trees are very tall, covering almost the entire sky, yet I can still tell it's daytime.
A closer look confirms.
-I really am in a forest.
-So… what do I do now?
I walk from side to side, until an idea comes to me. I snap my fingers.
-I got it!
-Just like in the manga I used to read, I need to worry first about the basic needs of any living being: water, food, and a safe shelter to spend the night.
With my first goals defined, I set out on my search.
….
…
..
.
I sigh.
-I haven't found anything to eat or drink.
Looking up, I see the sun's rays barely reach the forest floor.
-(It's already getting dark… and I still haven't found a safe place.)
I sigh again.
-I never imagined living in nature would be this difficult…
I barely finish speaking when I hear a loud sound in the forest. It seems to be approaching quickly. I turn toward the noise, ready to fight or run.
I see the branches and bushes shaking.
Sweat runs down my forehead.
-…
The wind picks up.
-(Run!!!)
But then, I realize I'm only hit by a powerful gust of wind, which lifts my cloak and blurs my vision. The wind continues fiercely, pushing me back. Suddenly, it stops completely, and nothing else happens.
I stay alert and tense.
-(What was that? Was it really just a temporary gust of wind?)
I feel uneasy, like something is missing. My arm starts to heat up. When I look at my left arm, I freeze immediately. My arm isn't there anymore.
-Aaaaah!
-M-my arm!
The pain is immediate, brutal. My body shakes, blood flows in a frightening amount, and my thoughts scramble. My legs give out, and I collapse to my knees.
Suddenly, right in front of me, a floating arm appears, and I recognize it instantly.
-(That… my arm!)
-(What's happening?!)
I try to see who tore my arm off. But I realize that, truly, it's only my arm floating freely in the air, until it simply disappears right before my eyes.
I act quickly and notice that the sleeve of my cloak remains intact. I intend to tie it to stop the bleeding, but it isn't necessary. My severed arm begins to regenerate right before my eyes.
I widen my eyes, surprised, unable to understand how this is possible, but soon I remember the most important conversation I had with Eladreo, about the request I made.
I open a wide smile as I see my arm completely regenerated and without pain.
I get up from the ground, full of energy and vigor.
-Don't get distracted!
But soon, I frown, clenching my teeth, trying to assume a defensive stance.
-I need to do something!
-No!
-I… I have to run while I still can!
Suddenly, I hear that sound again. I turn my face toward the noise, but feel only the wind striking my body. The wind grows stronger and stronger. I try to reach a nearby tree, but the gale throws me back every time.
I'm slowly dragged backward.
-(There's definitely something controlling this wind.)
Out of nowhere, the wind intensifies violently. I cross my arms, try to keep my feet firm on the ground and resist, but the wind becomes so strong that it lifts me off the ground.
When I realize it, my back slams violently against a tree.
-Aaaah!
I fall to the ground however I can, feeling pain all over my body. My spine is definitely broken. I try to focus my vision, but unfortunately, I realize my legs have disappeared. I widen my eyes, desperate, trembling with fear. The situation only worsens when I realize I can't see the culprit.
Gradually, the pain in my body decreases, my spine realigns, and my legs begin to regenerate. I watch my legs regenerating, but despair grips me anyway.
I get up from the ground, leaning my back against a tree.
-(What… is this thing!?)
-(My arm was there one second and then gone… Now a powerful wind throws me away and my legs also disappear… just like my arm!)
I turn my head in every direction, nonstop.
-(Invisible? Or just too fast?)
I hear the sound of the wind again, coming from behind.
The strong wind knocks down trees, drags stones, and lifts a lot of dust.
-!!!
I have no way to react. I feel like I'm flying. I can't even scream. The tree I was leaning on has already been destroyed.
My mind goes blank.
No words come out.
I feel an immense, sudden pain, but it disappears in an instant. Slowly, I lose consciousness and my vision fades.
I land on my back, my body wrecked beneath the cloak. I lie still, mouth open, blue eyes staring lifelessly.
Gradually, the tips of my fingers move. My mouth trembles slightly and closes. My eyes blink a few times, regaining life. My body remembers how to breathe, and slowly, I regain consciousness.
But I still can't move, my body is severely damaged. The sound of footsteps approaches me.
I remain on the ground, in immense pain.
-(What happened?!)
A huge shadow covers me. I widen my eyes in fear. I try to move desperately as a colossal figure appears above me, resembling a tiger, but this feline is far larger than any ordinary tiger. Its fur is completely green, like the leaves of the trees, and its eyes are also green. But none of that matters.
Our eyes meet for a moment. The green tiger opens its mouth, revealing horrifying teeth. But a strong gust of wind pushes the tiger back into the forest. I watch the animal fly away, disappearing from sight. My mind goes blank. Everything's happening too fast. The leaves sway from the direction the wind came. I turn my head. A new tiger appears, smaller, very thin, but equally imposing.
The new tiger looks at me and runs toward where I am. Without hesitation, I see it open its mouth. But its teeth can't pierce the cloak. So it pushes aside the sleeve of the arm that had previously regenerated and begins devouring my arm.
My face can't express the pain, but my eyes tear up.
-…
Before the tiger can eat more, a loud roar echoes through the forest, it's definitely the first tiger. Its roar is a clear signal that it is approaching, full of fury. The smaller tiger gets scared, starts to become translucent, and disappears completely.
I'm shocked to see this.
-(!?!?!?)
At that same moment, the first green tiger appears, filled with rage. It can sense the presence of the smaller tiger moving away. Its instincts won't allow this little tiger to escape unpunished. With its eyes locked on the direction where the other vanished, it charges after it.
I cry, but I watch everything.
-...
-(This is my chance!)
I hear the sound of the wind again, but this time, it's moving away. The tigers, it seems, are fighting. Knowing this, I can't waste time. Even with my body in pieces, I force myself to stand.
I see that my body has already regenerated most of itself.
I start walking with a limp.
Gradually, I manage to run with a limp.
Soon, I'm running normally, able to gain distance.
….
…
..
.