Chapter 1: A New World

Alexander's eyes snapped open, his breath hitching as a cold wind rushed over his face. The ground beneath him was damp and rough, littered with jagged stones and patches of moss. He groaned, sitting up slowly, his hands instinctively reaching for his throbbing head.

"What... what happened?" he muttered to himself, his voice shaky.

The last thing he remembered was sitting at his desk, staring at the glow of his laptop screen. Now, he was surrounded by an unfamiliar wilderness. Towering trees with violet leaves stretched high above, their twisting branches casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. The air was heavy, filled with an electric hum that made his skin prickle.

Alexander struggled to his feet, his legs shaky beneath him. His clothes were damp, his t-shirt clinging uncomfortably to his skin. He looked around, his eyes wide with confusion. There were no signs of civilization, no buildings or roads. Just endless forest.

His stomach growled loudly, reminding him of his growing hunger. He touched his throat and winced—it was dry, parched as if he hadn't drunk water in days. The dull ache in his muscles only added to the discomfort.

"First things first," he said quietly. "Water. Food. Shelter."

The words felt foreign coming from his mouth. Alexander wasn't a survivalist—his life back on Earth had been anything but rugged. His idea of "roughing it" was running out of coffee during an all-night work session. But now, the harsh reality of his situation loomed large.

As he stumbled forward, he kept an eye out for any sign of water. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sounds coming from the crunch of leaves beneath his feet and the occasional rustling of branches.

His breath hitched when he heard a distant growl.

Alexander froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He turned slowly, scanning the trees for the source of the noise. His eyes caught movement—a shadow darting between the trees.

"What the hell was that?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

His instincts screamed at him to run, but his legs felt like lead. He forced himself to move, each step heavier than the last. The growling grew louder, closer, and Alexander's fear mounted.

Breaking into a panicked sprint, he darted through the forest, his breath ragged. His body screamed in protest—his legs burned, his chest heaved, and his vision blurred with exhaustion. But he didn't stop.

Ahead, he spotted a cluster of large rocks jutting out of the ground. Without thinking, he scrambled up, his fingers slipping on the damp stone. He reached the top just as a creature burst from the underbrush below.

It was unlike anything he'd ever seen—a wolf-like beast with sleek, black fur and glowing red eyes. Its snarling maw revealed rows of razor-sharp teeth, and its body moved with a predatory grace that made Alexander's blood run cold.

Perched atop the rock, Alexander felt exposed and vulnerable. The beast paced below, its glowing eyes never leaving him.

"I'm going to die here," he muttered, panic creeping into his voice.

His muscles ached, his throat was dry, and his head pounded from dehydration and exhaustion. He had nothing to defend himself with—no weapons, no tools, not even a rock to throw.

The beast growled, preparing to leap.

Desperation surged through Alexander. His eyes darted around, landing on a sharp branch lying a few feet away. He lunged for it, his fingers closing around the rough wood just as the creature sprang into the air.

With a primal yell, he thrust the branch upward. The jagged end pierced the beast's side, eliciting a pained howl. It stumbled back, blood oozing from the wound, but its eyes burned with rage.

Alexander's grip on the branch tightened as the creature circled him, looking for another opening. His body trembled with fatigue, his limbs heavy and uncoordinated.

The beast lunged again, and Alexander swung the branch wildly. This time, the jagged tip struck its neck, sinking deep. The creature let out a strangled cry before collapsing to the ground, motionless.

For a long moment, Alexander stood frozen, the branch still in his hands. His chest heaved, and his vision swam with exhaustion.

He looked down at the lifeless creature, bile rising in his throat. He had never killed anything before—not even an insect. Now, he had taken the life of a living, breathing creature.

But there was no time to dwell on it. His stomach growled again, louder this time, and he realized he couldn't afford to waste energy on guilt.

Alexander climbed down cautiously, his legs nearly giving out as they touched the ground. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood.

As he approached the creature, he noticed something strange. Its body began to glow faintly, a shimmering light rising from its wounds. The light coalesced into a small, glowing orb that hovered above the corpse.

"What... is that?"

Curiosity overcame his fear, and Alexander reached out. The moment his fingers brushed the orb, a surge of energy coursed through him. His aches and fatigue faded slightly, replaced by a warmth that spread through his limbs.

He stared at his hands, bewildered. Whatever that orb was, it had rejuvenated him—though not completely. His stomach still churned with hunger, and his throat remained dry.

"I need to find water," he muttered, his voice hoarse.

His gaze shifted to the creature's body. The thought was revolting, but he knew that meat was meat, and if he didn't eat soon, he'd collapse. He hesitated, then crouched down, using the jagged branch to cut into the beast's side.

The meat was tough and raw, but Alexander forced himself to chew and swallow. Each bite sent waves of nausea through him, but he knew he had no choice.

Afterward, he wiped his bloody hands on the mossy ground and stood up, his legs still unsteady. He needed water to wash the taste out of his mouth and clean his face and hands.

With a deep breath, he pushed forward, determined to survive. Whatever this world was, it didn't care about his comfort or morals.

It was a world of predators and prey, and Alexander knew he had to adapt—or die trying.