I'll be there

The group of warriors moved in grim silence, their footsteps crunching softly against the forest floor. Arika led the way, her spear thrower strapped across her back and her eyes fixed ahead, her expression as unyielding as stone. Behind her, Jarik walked with his usual energy, though his movements were more subdued, his focus sharpened. Around them, nearly two dozen Toquiri warriors marched in disciplined formation, their spears gleaming in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the thick canopy.

Among the Toquiri, Darius, Ryden, and Rice stuck out like sore thumbs. Darius kept his spear thrower close, his eyes scanning the forest with quiet intensity. Ryden moved with his usual aloofness, though his sharp gaze betrayed a readiness for whatever was ahead. Rice, meanwhile, brought up the rear, muttering nervously to himself as he repeatedly adjusted the strap on his borrowed spear thrower.

As they drew closer to the monster's territory, the air grew heavier, almost suffocating. The forest seemed darker here, the shadows longer and deeper, as if the land itself recoiled from the beast's presence.

It wasn't long before they spotted it.

The monster lay sprawled in the shadow of a ruin, its massive, wolf-like frame half-curled as if in rest. Two of its glowing yellow eyes were shut, but the grotesque third eye in the center of its forehead remained open, swiveling slowly in an unsettling display of vigilance even as the creature appeared to sleep.

The ruin it rested beneath was unlike anything the three outsiders had seen in this world. It was the crumbling remains of a stone building, its walls covered in creeping vines and moss. Despite the decay, its structure was unmistakable—clean lines, intricate carvings, and a symmetry that spoke of precision and craftsmanship far beyond the capabilities of a tribal society.

Darius, Ryden, and Rice froze, their eyes widening as they took in the sight.

"Is that…" Ryden whispered, his voice trailing off as he stared at the ruin.

"That's not tribal," Darius said, his tone low and measured, his mind clearly turning over the implications.

Rice opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Arika raised her arms, signaling the warriors to prepare for battle. The time for questions was over.

With fluid, practiced motions, the Toquiri warriors spread out, circling the sleeping monster. The forest was deathly quiet, the only sound the faint rustling of leaves as the warriors moved into position.

Arika gave a sharp hand signal, and the first volley of spears launched through the air.

The spear throwers transformed the attack into something devastating. The spears flew with deadly speed and power, their sharpened stone tips slicing through the air and striking the monster's flank with a series of sickening thuds. Blood sprayed as several of the spears embedded themselves deep into the beast's thick hide.

The monster roared, its eyes snapping open, its third eye glowing brighter with rage as it surged to its feet. It shook itself violently, dislodging one of the spears, and let out a guttural snarl that made the ground seem to tremble.

But the Toquiri were relentless. Another volley of spears flew, this time aimed at its legs and joints. The creature lunged toward a cluster of warriors, but Jarik was ready. He let out a sharp battle cry, launching his own spear with precise aim. The weapon struck the monster's shoulder, forcing it to stagger.

Arika followed up with a perfect throw, her spear slicing through the air and piercing the beast's neck. Though it didn't bring the creature down, the blow slowed it, blood now pouring from multiple wounds.

The warriors closed in, their attacks coordinated and unrelenting. Each thrower-enhanced spear landed with brutal force, and though the monster thrashed and roared, it was clear the tide was turning.

Finally, with a mighty heave, Darius hurled his spear straight at the creature's chest. The weapon struck true, puncturing deep into its heart. The monster let out one final, bone-rattling roar before collapsing to the ground in a heap, its massive body twitching once before falling still.

Cheers erupted from the warriors as the beast's lifeless body lay in the shadow of the ruin. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the earthy scent of crushed leaves, but the mood was triumphant. Warriors clapped each other on the back, their earlier tension melting away as they began to cut into the monster's body, carving trophies and preparing its meat for the feast that would follow.

Rice, ever the opportunist, crouched near the monster's side, his eyes gleaming with curiosity as he examined its strange anatomy. "This thing's gotta have some interesting cuts," he murmured, poking at its flank. "I mean, look at the muscles. If I can just figure out how to cook this right…" His voice trailed off as his mind raced with ideas—braising, roasting, maybe even a stew.

But before he could get too far into his culinary musings, Ryden called out to him from the direction of the ruin. "Rice, you need to see this," he said, his voice strangely subdued.

Curious, Rice stood and jogged over, his grin fading as he saw the look on Ryden's face. "What is it?"

Ryden didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gestured inside the ruin.

Rice stepped inside, his breath catching as his eyes adjusted to the dim light. The room was filled with books—piles upon piles of them, their spines worn and their covers coated in dust.

"Why are there books here?" Rice asked, confused, his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous space.

Ryden didn't respond. Instead, he picked up one of the books and held it out. The cover was eerily familiar—identical to the small booklet they'd been handed before arriving in this world.

Darius, who had followed them inside, picked up another book from a nearby pile. His expression was grim as he opened it, flipping through the pages before stopping at the first entry. He held it out for the others to see.

Inside, the book listed a name, age, role, skills, and status. But the name was unfamiliar, and the status was clear:

NAME: Althea Rynn

AGE: 31

ROLE: Researcher

SKILLS: Advanced Ecology, Strategic Analysis

STATUS: Dead

Ryden grabbed another book, flipping through it frantically. It listed a different name, a different age, but the same chilling status: Dead.

As the three of them looked through more of the books, the weight of the discovery settled on them like a lead blanket.

"We weren't the first ones sent here," Darius said quietly, his voice heavy.