The forest didn't welcome him.
It watched him.
Every step Eli took deeper into the trees, the air grew heavier—thicker, like something unseen was pressing down on his shoulders. The sounds changed too. The closer he moved away from the edge, the less he heard the outside world.
No distant voices.
No wind from the open land.
Only—
CRUNCH…
CRUNCH…
His own footsteps.
Eli didn't rush.
He couldn't afford to.
"…This place is different already…"
His eyes moved constantly, scanning everything.
Tree trunks.
Shadows.
Ground movement.
"…If I were a predator…"
He slowed his breathing.
"…I'd attack from the side… or behind…"
Rustle.
"…!"
Eli's body reacted instantly—
STEP—!
He pivoted sharply, sword raised—
Nothing.
Silence.
"…No…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…Not nothing…"
He lowered his stance slightly.
Listening.
Rustle…
Again.
But this time—
Above.
Eli's eyes snapped upward—
"…!"
A shape dropped from the tree—
FAST—
WHOOSH—!!
"…Too fast—!"
He threw himself backward—
THUD—!
Rolling across the ground—
The creature slammed into where he stood—
BOOM—!
Dirt scattered.
Eli pushed himself up quickly—
"…What the hell was that?!"
The creature turned.
Now he could see it clearly.
Long limbs.
Clawed hands.
Its body thin, but its muscles tight, coiled.
Its eyes—
Locked on him.
"…It was waiting…"
Eli muttered under his breath.
"…Above the whole time…"
The creature let out a low, distorted screech—
SKRRRREEEE—!!
"…Yeah… definitely not the same as the last one…"
It lunged again—
WHOOSH—!
Eli raised his sword—
CLANG—!!
"…!"
The force—
Way stronger than the first creature.
His arms shook.
"…Damn—!"
The creature didn't stop.
Another swipe—
SWIPE—!!
Eli ducked—
STEP—!
The claw sliced through the air above him.
"…Fast AND strong?!"
He rolled sideways—
THUD—!
Just as the creature's foot slammed down—
BOOM—!
"…If that hit me directly…"
He didn't finish the thought.
Didn't need to.
The creature twisted mid-motion—
Unnatural speed—
"…No opening…?!"
It came again—
WHOOSH—!
Eli reacted—
But this time—
He stepped forward.
"…Let's see…"
He angled his blade—
Timing it—
CLANG—!!
The claw met the sword—
But Eli didn't stop there—
He twisted his body—
Redirecting the force—
"…Now—!"
SLASH—!!
His blade cut across its side—
SKREEE—!!
The creature shrieked—
But instead of backing away—
It attacked again—
Immediately.
"…It doesn't care about damage?!"
Another swipe—
SWIPE—!
Eli jumped back—
STEP—!
Barely avoiding it.
"…This thing is crazy…"
It lunged again—
Relentless—
Eli's breathing picked up slightly.
"…Alright…"
"…Then I'll just have to break you down…"
He tightened his grip.
The creature came again—
WHOOSH—!
Eli moved—
STEP—!
To the side—
"…You're fast…"
He ducked—
SWIPE—!
"…But predictable…"
He stepped in—
SLASH—!!
Another clean hit.
This time—
Deeper.
The creature staggered—
Just slightly—
"…There it is…"
A weakness.
It roared—
SKREEE—!!
Charging again—
But sloppier now.
"…Got you…"
Eli stepped forward—
CLANG—!
Block—
Then—
SLASH—!!!
A clean strike across its neck—
Silence.
The creature collapsed.
Eli stood still.
Breathing heavier now.
"…That one…"
"…Was way stronger…"
He looked down at it.
"…And more aggressive…"
He crouched slightly.
Examining the claws.
The muscle.
The structure.
"…Different type…"
"…Different behavior…"
He stood up slowly.
"…Good…"
Not because it was easy.
But because it wasn't.
"…This is what I needed…"
He took a step forward.
Then another.
Deeper.
CRUNCH…
CRUNCH…
Minutes passed.
Then more.
Eli kept moving.
Stopping occasionally.
Listening.
Watching.
"…Too quiet now…"
That wasn't a good sign.
"…Something's off…"
He slowed even more.
Then—
THUMP.
"…!"
His body froze.
That wasn't small.
THUMP…
"…Big…"
Eli's grip tightened.
"…Don't rush…"
He moved slowly toward the sound.
Each step careful.
Measured.
THUMP…
THUMP…
Closer.
The trees opened slightly.
And then—
"…!"
Eli's eyes widened.
"…That's… huge…"
A beast stood ahead.
Much larger than the others.
Its body thick.
Muscular.
Its skin rough—almost armored.
"…This is on a different level…"
The beast hadn't noticed him yet.
"…Good…"
Eli lowered his stance.
"…Think…"
His eyes scanned it.
"…Size… strength… probably slower…"
The beast shifted—
"…But if it hits…"
He exhaled slowly.
"…I'm done…"
He stepped forward.
CRUNCH—!
The beast's head snapped toward him—
"…!"
Too loud.
"…Crap…"
The beast roared—
ROOOOARRR—!!!
The ground vibrated slightly.
"…Yeah…"
"…Definitely stronger…"
It charged—
THUMP—THUMP—THUMP—!!
"…Fast?!"
Eli's eyes widened—
He moved—
STEP—!
Barely dodging as it crashed past him—
BOOM—!!!
"…That speed with that size?!"
He turned quickly—
The beast was already turning.
"…No way…"
It came again—
THUMP—!!
Eli rolled—
THUD—!
The beast's claw slammed down—
BOOM—!!
"…Too close…"
He pushed himself up—
Breathing heavier now.
"…This is bad…"
The beast roared again—
Charging once more—
"…I can't fight this head-on…"
He moved sideways—
"…Need to control the fight…"
The beast lunged—
Eli waited—
"…Now—!"
At the last second—
He stepped in—
"…Got you—!"
SLASH—!!
His blade struck—
But—
"…!"
It barely cut.
"…What?!"
The beast didn't even slow down—
SMASH—!!
Its body slammed into him—
THUD—!!!
Eli was thrown—
Rolling across the ground—
"…Tch—!"
He coughed slightly.
"…That… hurt…"
He pushed himself up—
"…Its defense…"
"…Too high…"
The beast charged again—
"…Think… think…"
Eli's eyes locked onto its legs.
"…Maybe…"
He waited—
The beast came—
THUMP—!!
"…Now—!"
Eli dropped low—
STEP—!
Sliding under—
"…There—!"
SLASH—!!!
A clean cut across its leg—
ROOOARR—!!
The beast stumbled—
"…That worked…"
But—
It turned instantly—
"…Still fast…"
It swung—
SWIPE—!!
Eli jumped back—
"…No opening…"
He breathed in.
Deep.
"…Alright…"
"…This is where it gets serious…"
The beast charged again—
And Eli—
Didn't run.
He stepped forward.
"…Let's go…"
The forest shook slightly as both moved—
Collision coming.
And this time—
Eli wasn't holding back.