Chapter 13: Into the Unknown

The forest whipped past Arthur in a blur as he dashed through the undergrowth with incredible speed. Each stride covered dozens of meters,even though his feet barely touched the ground before launching him forward again, each of his steps creating a meter wide crater. 

The world around him seemed to distort, the greens and browns of the forest merging into streaks of color. Yet, amidst this rush, his vision remained sharp due to his enhanced dynamic vision, each detail ahead of him as clear as daylight. 

The roots of trees, the rustle of bushes, the flicker of movement in the distance, all were registered in his mind in an instant.

"My speed…it at least doubled after the fight with the wyvern," he thought, marveling at his heightened senses and speed. His body thrummed with newfound power, his strides effortless and his breathing steady despite his breakneck pace. It was intoxicating, a reminder of how far he had come.

With a sudden halt, he stopped at the edge of a cliff. The wind howled past him, carrying the fresh scent of pine and the faint sweetness of blooming flowers. 

Before him stretched an endless expanse of forest, its green canopy rolling like waves into the horizon. The sun hung high above, casting dappled light through wisps of clouds.

"Does this forest even have an end?" Arthur wondered aloud, his voice lost in the vastness before him. His gaze lingered on the treetops, noting the variety of foliage. 

Some bore fruits of brilliant red, others glistened with yellow berries or hanging clusters of purple pods. The forest wasn't just vast, it was abundant.

He descended from the cliff, navigating the rocky slope with ease, his feet finding sure footing on loose stones. Once back under the canopy, he began collecting fruits from the trees. 

He reached up and plucked a cluster of yellow berries, tasting one cautiously. It was sweet with a tangy bite, and he smiled at the discovery. A few more trees yielded similar treasures: a red, apple-like fruit with a crisp bite and a blue-skinned oval fruit that tasted like honey.

As he moved deeper into the forest, his senses prickled. Something was nearby.

…

While exploring the forest Arthur encountered a predator similar to one he had fought before. 

It resembled a jaguar, but its body was covered in sleek black scales, and it had elongated hind legs that seemed designed for leaping great distances. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto Arthur, and with a guttural growl, it pounced.

Arthur had only a split second to react. He sidestepped at the last moment, the creature's claws swiping at empty air. The beast landed with a ground-shaking thud, twisting around with a speed that belied its size. 

It lunged again, its jaws snapping, saliva dripping from razor-sharp teeth. This time, Arthur dropped into a crouch, letting the creature sail over him. He could feel the air shift as it passed, its claws narrowly missing his head.

"Too predictable," Arthur muttered, rising to his feet. He didn't wait for it to attack again. Instead, he charged, his feet pounding against the forest floor. 

The beast snarled, leaping to meet him mid-air. But Arthur was ready. His fist shot forward casually, striking the creature's ribs with the force of a battering ram. A sickening crack echoed through the trees as the beast yelped, its body crumpling and skidding across the forest floor, gouging deep trenches into the earth.

Arthur barely had time to catch his breath before the creature recovered, its glowing eyes narrowing with renewed fury. 

"Oh…it recovered faster than I thought."

It crouched low, muscles coiling like springs, and launched itself at him once more. Its movements were faster, more calculated. 

Arthur stepped aside, but not far enough as he slipped due to stepping on a round stone; its claws grazed his side, trying to tear through his shirt but unable to. 

"Thank god." Arthur felt relief at the durability of the wyvern leather, he did not want to lose the shirt the next day he made it, he then spun on his heel, catching the beast's neck mid-leap. 

The beast roared, but he slammed it into the ground, the impact sending shockwaves through the soil. The creature twitched once, its body going limp, before falling still.

"Not even close to the wyvern," Arthur said, brushing dirt off his hands. He glanced at the fallen predator, its sleek form now motionless, and continued deeper into the forest.

…

Arthur's trek led him to a new adversary, one as unyielding as it was massive. A creature resembling a rhinoceros beetle emerged from the underbrush, its size dwarfing any ordinary animal. 

The beetle was as large as a small car, its metallic shell gleaming in the dappled sunlight. Its pincers clicked ominously, the sound echoing like metal scraping against metal.

Without warning, the beetle charged, uprooting trees in its path. Arthur braced himself, his feet digging into the ground. At the last moment, he leaped into the air, the beetle barreling beneath him. 

He landed on its back, gripping the edges of its shell as it bucked wildly, trying to throw him off. Arthur steadied himself, raising a fist and driving it into the shell. The sound of the impact was like a hammer striking steel.

"Harder than I thought," he muttered, dodging as the beetle thrashed beneath him. Its pincers snapped wildly, gouging chunks out of nearby trees. 

Arthur's eyes darted over the creature's form, searching for a weak point. Then he saw it: a small, unarmored gap at the base of its shell near its head.

Seizing the opportunity, Arthur leaped off the beetle and circled around to its front. The creature lunged, its pincers aimed directly at him. Arthur sidestepped, grabbing one of the massive pincers and using its momentum to swing himself onto its back once more. 

With a grunt, he twisted the beetle's head upward, exposing the vulnerable spot. Summoning all his strength, he drove his fist into the weak point. The shell cracked with a sharp snap, and the beetle let out a high-pitched screech before collapsing, its legs twitching in its final moments.

Arthur stepped back, wiping the invisible sweat from his brow. "Well, that's dinner," he said, cutting off a chunk of its meat and wrapping it in a spare piece of leather. He glanced at the fallen behemoth, its metallic shell now dull and lifeless, and continued on his way.

…

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest, Arthur encountered his most dangerous foe of the day. A serpent-like creature slithered from the underbrush, its body covered in vivid green scales that shimmered like liquid emeralds. 

Its eyes glowed with a predatory glint, and its fangs dripped with venom that sizzled as it touched the ground, leaving scorch marks on the forest floor.

Arthur barely had time to react as the serpent lunged, its speed rivaling his own. He twisted to the side, the creature's fangs narrowly missing his neck. But its tail whipped around like a whip, striking his side with bone-crushing force and knocking him off balance. 

Arthur staggered, due to the sudden push, but the serpent didn't give him a moment's respite. It darted forward again, spraying venomous liquid on his face.

Arthur froze, a wave of paralysis washing over him as the venom coursed through his eyes and entered his body. His muscles locked, and he could only watch as the serpent coiled around him, tightening its grip. 

Its fangs gnashed against his skin, but they couldn't pierce through. "Arggh…" Arthur growled through gritted teeth as the paralysis began to wear off. With a surge of strength, he grabbed the serpent's head, forcing its jaws open.

The creature hissed in fury, its forked tongue flicking out as it thrashed wildly. Arthur slammed its head into the ground, the impact sending a shockwave through the surrounding area. 

The serpent's body loosened slightly, but it wasn't done yet. It writhed, attempting to coil around him once more, but Arthur was ready. He delivered a powerful punch to the side of its head, the force cracking its skull and turning its brain to mush.

The serpent's body went limp, as life left its form. Arthur staggered back, rubbing his eyes where the venom had struck. The forest around him was silent, the creatures wary of the predator who had just claimed another victory.

"Damn venom," he muttered, flexing his fingers as his body continued to heal. He glanced at the fallen serpent, its vivid green scales now lifeless, and moved on, the forest still holding its secrets ahead.

…

As evening fell, Arthur found a small clearing surrounded by trees. It was the perfect spot to rest. He began gathering wood and set about constructing a makeshift tent. 

Using sturdy branches as the frame, he draped leftover wyvern leather over the top, securing it with strips of tendons. The tent was spacious enough to shield him from the elements, with a snug interior, he laid down wolf pelts for a warm bed.

Satisfied with his shelter, Arthur started a fire. He skewered the beetle meat on a spit and sprinkled it with some of the spices he had salvaged. The aroma filled the clearing as the meat sizzled over the flames.

As he ate, he stared at the darkened forest, the shadows shifting with the firelight.

After finishing his meal and tidying the camp, Arthur lay down on the soft fur inside his tent. The forest buzzed with life, but it was a comforting symphony. His eyelids grew heavy, and as he drifted to sleep.

***