The Hunt

The cold night wind lashed against his skin as he ran, each gasp of air burning his lungs like searing embers. Adrenaline surged through his veins, pushing him beyond his own limits, forcing energy out of a body that should have already collapsed. His heart pounded with such force he felt it might explode at any moment—but he didn't stop.

He never looked back.

He didn't need to.

The presence chasing him clung to his back like a shadow, a viscous darkness seeping into his mind, whispering that running was useless.

The creature's malignant aura wrapped around him like an invisible noose, suffocating him with each passing second. Every footstep it took sent tremors through the ground, the earth quaking beneath its monstrous weight.

Each roar ripped through the silence like a thunderclap, a constant reminder that he was being hunted.

His legs screamed for mercy, every muscle stretched to its limit, but stopping wasn't an option. If he did, his life would end right then and there.

The beast pursued him relentlessly, its sheer size making its movements sluggish in the dense forest. That was the only reason Fenix was still alive. He wasn't fast, but he was small, agile—able to slip between the massive roots jutting from the ground, while the creature was forced to crash through or move around them.

It wouldn't be enough.

Fatigue clawed at his limbs, weighing him down like iron chains.

"I can't keep this up much longer… I need to think of something."

His thoughts were a frantic mess, barely forming coherent sentences. His senses were dulled by exhaustion and fear, but he forced himself to analyze his surroundings, to find something—anything—that could give him a chance.

"Give me a sign… just one."

Desperation twisted in his gut. He hadn't had a single stroke of luck since waking up in this godforsaken place. First, he had appeared on top of a tree, disoriented and confused, only to lose his balance and fall. And, as if fate wanted to mock him, he had landed directly on the back of a monstrous beast he had never seen before.

Now he was running for his life.

Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw it.

A clearing.

An open space with no roots or trees to shield him. A death trap if he didn't have a plan. But beyond the clearing, at the far end, something caught his eye.

A colossal tree, far larger than the others.

At its base, a hollow in the trunk.

A hiding spot.

"That's my last chance."

Gathering the last remnants of his strength, Fenix pushed forward. His lungs burned, his vision blurred from exhaustion, but he gritted his teeth and forced his legs to keep moving.

The beast roared in frustration, sensing his escape.

The footsteps behind him grew heavier, faster. He could feel its hot breath on his back, a primal warning that he was mere moments from being caught.

And then, with a final desperate effort, he dived forward and slid on his back into the hollow.

A split second later, the creature slammed into the tree with monstrous force.

The impact shook the ground, sending vibrations through the massive trunk. Leaves rained down from above, rustling softly as they fell. Inside the hollow, Fenix remained motionless, his chest heaving as he gasped for air.

Silence followed.

Darkness swallowed everything.

Only the faint glimmers of starlight slipped through the cracks in the wood.

He couldn't see anything, but he didn't need to. His body was on the verge of collapse. His clothes were torn, his skin scraped and bruised, sweat and dirt clinging to him like a second skin.

Slowly, he peeked out of the hole.

The beast was still.

"Is it unconscious… or just waiting for me to come out?"

He let out a shaky breath, sinking onto the cold, damp ground.

Thirst. Cold. Hunger.

None of it mattered now.

Exhaustion wrapped around him like a heavy blanket, dragging him under. His body surrendered without a fight.

His eyes shut.

And he slept.

A droplet of water struck his forehead.

Fenix stirred awake, blinking groggily. The hollow was still dark, but now a soft light filtered in through the opening.

Dawn was approaching.

He tilted his head up just as another drop fell onto his face.

Water.

His parched throat screamed for relief. Without hesitation, he opened his mouth, letting the droplets slide onto his tongue.

It wasn't much, but at that moment, it was the sweetest thing he had ever tasted.

After a few blissful minutes, he cautiously peered outside.

The beast was gone.

Fenix froze.

"Did it really… leave?"

Relief flooded him. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, he allowed himself a small smile.

"Finally, some luck."

His strength still hadn't fully returned, but his mind was sharper now. He needed to decide his next move. From his hiding place, he could see the clearing and, beyond it, the faint glint of silver in the distance—a lake.

"If there's water, maybe there's food…"

Then, the moment of peace was shattered.

A familiar roar cut through the morning air like a blade.

Terror gripped his chest as he turned his head.

There it was.

His nightmare.

The beast stood at the edge of the clearing, its razor-sharp fangs bared, its single remaining horn gleaming under the dawn's light.

Fenix felt a bitter rage bubble inside him.

"Are you serious? You just won't give up, will you?"

And so, the chase began again.

But this time, something was different.

The creature was limping. Its horn—one of the two—was missing.

A smirk tugged at Fenix's lips.

"So, that hit really did some damage… Good. At least I'm not the only one suffering here."

The plan remained the same: reach the lake.

After pushing through the dense forest, he finally saw it.

A vast body of shimmering water.

But between him and the lake stood a ten-meter-high cliff.

No way out.

The beast realized it, too.

It slowed down, savoring the moment.

A deep growl rumbled in its throat.

Fenix let out a dry laugh.

"Live or die… At this point, I don't even care anymore."

Without a second thought, he stepped back and let himself fall.

The beast lunged after him.

The wind howled in his ears as he plummeted.

But then, the monster froze mid-air.

Something enormous stirred beneath the water's surface.

A colossal shadow, four times the size of the beast that had been chasing him.

A monstrous set of jaws emerged from the depths.

In an instant, the creature was swallowed whole.

From above, Fenix grinned.

"Serves you right."

But his victory was short-lived.

He reached for the rock to climb back up… but his body had no strength left.

His fingers slipped.

He crashed against a protruding root.

And then—

Everything went black.