The rush of wind roared in Nicolas' ears as he plummeted through the air, the ground rushing up to meet him at a terrifying speed. His stomach lurched, and he felt sick.This was it; he was about to die. The realization struck him with a cold finality, and every second felt like an eternity. Nicolas closed his eyes, bracing for the inevitable impact.Then, a sharp whistle cut through the chaos, and something massive and powerful surged beneath him. In an instant, strong talons wrapped around his torso, and the sensation of free fall ceased. His eyes flew open, and he gasped as he saw a bird, majestic and enormous, soaring upwards with him in its grasp. The bird’s feathers glimmered in the sunlight.Within moments, Nicolas found himself back in the sky, being lifted toward the man and the first bird. The change from impending death to sudden rescue left him breathless and shaking. As the bird finally leveled out beside the man, Nicolas clung to the feathers, his knuckles white.The m
The birds beneath them let out warning cries and adjusted their flight paths to give Nicolas and the man better positions to defend themselves. Another beast lunged at Nicolas, its talons extended and fangs bared. Before it had time to fully attack Nicolas, it's found itself getting struck in the head in an instant.“Good!” the man shouted. “Keep moving, don’t let them overwhelm you!”Nicolas barely had time to register the man’s words before another beast was upon him.This one was larger, more aggressive. It swooped down with terrifying speed, its claws aiming for Nicolas’s face. He ducked at the last moment, feeling the rush of air as the creature’s talons whistled past his head. He swung his knife upward, catching the beast in its unprotected belly. It howled in pain, thrashing wildly before retreating.All around them, the battle raged. The man moved with a grace and precision that left Nicolas awestruck. His movements were a blur, his weapon flashing in the moonlight as he st
Nicholas stirred from a restless sleep, shivering beneath the thin blanket he had wrapped over himself the night before.The cave, once a temporary haven, had offered little protection against the bitter cold that had transformed the jungle into a frozen wasteland. His breath emerged in visible puffs, and he rubbed his arms continuously, trying to bring warmth into his limbs.As he emerged from the cave, blinking in the early morning light, Nicholas' eyes registered the significant change in his surroundings. The cold desolation of the previous night had given way once again to a lush, vibrant jungle. Birds chirped cheerfully, and the air was thick with the earthy scent of plans and trees. It always felt unreal how the jungle had reborn itself overnight, shaking off the icy grip that had held it captive. The beauty of it all marveled Nicolas each time he sees it.Standing at the edge of the clearing was the man who had taken Nicholas under his wing, training him for the Armageddon
Nicholas's heart pounded loudly against his ribs. The man's casual dismissal of his plea for an alternative sent a fresh wave of terror crashing over him. A primal urge to flee battled with the knowledge that escape was impossible. This wasn't a test of his fighting prowess; it was a potential death sentence. Nicholas was stuck between pleading for his life or just putting his hands up as a sign to show that he has surrendered. He knew that fighting with this man would mean his imminent death and she was not prepared to die especially when he had to return to Lou-ra."Sir, please," Nicholas pleaded, his voice cracking with a tremor he hated. "There has to be another way. Let me train with something, a log, a…" he cast his eyes around, desperately searching for anything that wouldn't fight back. The man's lips curved into a humorless smile, devoid of warmth. It wouldn't be a mistake to say that she was actually looking forward to this fight.There was something about Nicholas that ju
Nicholas's muscles tensed as his mind raced. His body screamed for him to retreat, to flee into the dense jungle, away from the impending confrontation. But something deep inside him resisted. Maybe it was pride, or perhaps the sliver of defiance that refused to bow to fear. Regardless, he knew there was no turning back. The man had laid down the challenge, and to back down now would mean surrendering his spirit entirely.The man continued to stare Nicholas down, a tower of strength and menace, his battle-scarred chest heaving with quiet confidence. He wasn't making idle threats; Nicholas knew that. This world didn't leave room for empty promises. Survival was earned through blood, sweat, and the unwavering will to stand when everything inside screamed to fall."I... I'm ready," Nicholas finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.The man’s lips curled into a feral grin, satisfied with the decision Nicholas had made, even if it was drenched in fear. "Good," he said, his voice l
Nicholas blinked, rubbing his eyes, his vision swimming. When he looked again, nobody was there. No footprints, no signs of movement, only the quiet crackling of the fire remained.He staggered, disoriented. His heart was still pounding from the fight, his body bruised and aching, and now his mind was unraveling. Lou-ra’s comforting presence was gone, evaporating into the night like mist.He was alone. The jungle’s oppressive atmosphere closed in on him, the thick air suffocating as it pressed against his lungs. The dark canopy above loomed like a ceiling, shutting him off from the sky, from any sign of hope.Panic clawed at his chest. He fought to suppress it, but the loneliness gnawed at his mind, dragging him into despair.”I have to get up. I have to keep moving."But his body refused to cooperate. Every inch of him ached, a testament to the brutal training he had endured. He hadn’t just been fighting the man he had been fighting against his own fear, his weakness. And now, it was
Nicholas strained against the heavy branch, muscles trembling with exhaustion. The wood groaned and splintered under the pressure, but it still held firm. Below him, the beast circled, blood dripping from the wounds he'd managed to inflict with the rocks. But it wasn’t backing down—it was waiting, eyes gleaming with a cold, predatory intelligence.Nicholas grip tightened around the branch. His body was screaming at him to stop, to rest, but there was no time for that. The beast would not give him a second chance.With a grunt, Nicholas gave the branch another violent shake. It splintered more, cracking like a whip in the still air of the jungle. Below, the beast growled, pacing in tight circles, as if anticipating his next move. Sweat dripped down Nicholas’s forehead, blurring his vision, but he couldn’t afford to stop.The branch finally gave way with a loud crack. For a heart-stopping moment, Nicholas hung in the air, feeling the world tilt as the massive piece of wood began its f
Nicholas stood frozen, every muscle tense, as the figure slowly approached him. The jungle’s oppressive silence seemed to amplify the sound of the stranger’s footsteps, each one deliberate, almost too measured. Nicholas had never seen anyone like this before, and the man’s glowing eyes made his skin crawl. Despite the man’s frail appearance, there was something unsettling in the way he moved, like he wasn’t fully human. "You seek power," the figure repeated, his voice a rasping whisper that seemed to slide through the thick air like smoke.Nicholas swallowed hard, trying to ignore the knot of fear twisting in his gut. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replied, his voice rough from exhaustion. He stepped back, his hand instinctively reaching for the sharp stone he had used against the beast earlier.The figure chuckled, a sound that seemed far too deep for someone so gaunt. “Do not play games with me, boy. You wouldn’t have survived this long if you weren’t seeking somet