Chapter 2: Trial by Hunger

Alexander's body screamed in protest as he trudged forward through the dense forest. The cold wind bit at his damp clothes, and his legs trembled with every step. His mind was a whirlpool of questions, but survival came first. He needed water, shelter, and rest.

The faint trickle of water reached his ears. Relief flooded his chest, and he broke into a stumbling run, following the sound. Soon, he stumbled upon a small stream. The water sparkled under the faint light filtering through the violet leaves, its surface inviting and cool.

Alexander dropped to his knees, scooping the water into his hands and gulping it down greedily. The cold liquid soothed his parched throat and sent a chill through his weary body.

"Finally," he whispered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

After drinking his fill, he splashed his face and arms, scrubbing away the grime and blood from the earlier fight. The freezing water stung his skin, but it also cleared his mind.

Looking down at his reflection, Alexander barely recognized himself. His hair was disheveled, and his face was pale and gaunt, shadows of exhaustion under his eyes.

"This can't be real," he muttered, shaking his head. But the icy water, the lingering scent of blood, and the ache in his muscles were all too tangible.

He scanned the area, noting a cluster of flat rocks nearby. They weren't perfect, but they would provide a dry spot to rest. Alexander gathered some fallen branches and leaves, forming a crude bed. It wasn't much, but it was better than lying on the damp forest floor.

Before he could rest, his stomach growled again, louder this time. The small amount of raw meat he'd forced down earlier hadn't been enough.

"I need something better," he said, clenching his fists.

Foraging was his only option. He scanned the forest for anything edible—berries, nuts, or roots. His knowledge of survival skills was nonexistent, but desperation made him keenly observant.

After a while, he found a bush laden with small, crimson berries. He hesitated, staring at the fruit. Were they safe? He had no way of knowing, but hunger outweighed caution. He picked a single berry and held it to his nose, sniffing cautiously.

"Only one way to find out," he murmured, popping it into his mouth.

The berry was tart, its juice tangy on his tongue. He waited, his body tense, expecting a sudden wave of nausea or worse. But nothing happened. Encouraged, he gathered a handful and ate them quickly, savoring the fleeting sense of fullness they brought.

His body felt marginally better now, though far from strong. He returned to his makeshift bed, lying down with a sigh.

As his eyes closed, exhaustion pulled him into a restless sleep.

A distant roar jolted Alexander awake. His heart pounded as he sat up, his eyes darting around the dark forest. The eerie hum of the wilderness felt louder at night, and shadows danced menacingly in the faint light of the moon-like orb above.

Something was moving nearby.

Alexander's hand instinctively reached for his jagged branch, the makeshift weapon lying next to him. His fingers tightened around it as he scanned the trees.

A pair of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness.

His breath caught in his throat as the creature stepped into view. It was smaller than the wolf-like beast he'd killed earlier, but its feline build and sleek, spotted fur radiated deadly precision. Its claws glinted as it crept closer, each step silent and calculated.

Alexander's pulse thundered in his ears. He crouched low, holding the branch out in front of him.

"Stay back," he muttered, though his voice was shaky.

The creature didn't pause. It lunged, faster than Alexander could react. He barely managed to roll to the side, the beast's claws grazing his arm and tearing his sleeve. Pain flared, but he gritted his teeth, swinging the branch in a wide arc.

The jagged tip scraped the creature's side, drawing a thin line of blood. It snarled, its glowing eyes narrowing.

Alexander's hands trembled as he adjusted his grip on the branch. His movements were clumsy, untrained, but desperation fueled him. He swung again, this time catching the beast's leg.

The creature yowled in pain, backing away momentarily.

"Come on," Alexander muttered, trying to steady his breathing. His mind raced, searching for a way to gain the upper hand.

The beast pounced again, and this time, Alexander ducked, thrusting the branch upward. The jagged tip pierced the creature's chest, and it collapsed with a final snarl.

Alexander fell to his knees, gasping for air. His arm throbbed from the shallow cut, but the adrenaline kept the pain at bay.

As the creature's body lay still, the same glowing phenomenon occurred. A faint orb of light emerged from its chest, hovering above the corpse.

"Again?" Alexander muttered, staring at the orb.

He reached out hesitantly, and as his fingers touched the light, a surge of warmth spread through his body. The pain in his arm dulled, and his fatigue lessened slightly.

Whatever these orbs were, they seemed to have restorative properties. But why?

Alexander's gaze shifted to the beast's body. His stomach churned at the thought, but he knew he couldn't let it go to waste.

Using his branch, he carefully cut into the creature's side, carving out strips of meat. The task was gruesome, but survival left no room for squeamishness.

Back at his makeshift camp, Alexander built a small fire using dry twigs and leaves. He used his limited knowledge from TV shows and the survival tutorials he'd watched online, grateful for the faint sparks that eventually ignited.

He skewered the meat on a branch, holding it over the flames. The smell of cooking flesh filled the air, and despite the circumstances, his mouth watered.

When the meat was done, he bit into it cautiously. The taste was bland and slightly gamey, but it was better than raw meat or berries. Each bite restored a bit of his strength, and for the first time since arriving in this strange world, he felt a sliver of hope.

As he sat by the fire, staring at the flames, Alexander's thoughts wandered.

"This world…" he muttered. "It's kill or be killed."

The realization was sobering. Back on Earth, he'd lived a comfortable life, shielded from the brutality of nature. But here, there were no rules, no safety nets.

If he wanted to survive, he would have to change. He would have to fight, kill, and adapt to this world's savage laws.

For now, though, he let the fire's warmth lull him into an uneasy sleep.