Edge of Death

For a brief moment — only a few seconds — Lin Feng thought he might be safe.

The tiger still paced along the edge of the clearing, unwilling to step closer. Lin Feng forced himself to breathe, his chest burning, his arms shaking from exhaustion.

But then —

A deep, rumbling roar echoed through the jungle.

Not from the tiger.

From somewhere beyond the clearing — far, but drawing closer.

Another roar answered, just as fierce, just as hungry.

Lin Feng's blood ran cold. His head snapped toward the sound.

Emerging from the dense foliage, perhaps a few hundred meters away — two lions.

Massive, powerful, their golden manes bristling, eyes locked on him with pure, predatory hunger.

They moved with deliberate grace, shoulders rolling with every step, tails flicking lazily. Their gazes burned — fierce and unblinking — as though sizing up a fresh meal.

Saliva dripped from their open jaws.

Oh no…

In that instant, Lin Feng understood why the tiger hadn't attacked.

It wasn't fear of him — it was fear of them. Territory. Rival predators.

And now — they were all here.

Without hesitation, Lin Feng turned and ran — this time toward the opposite side of the clearing, back into the depths of the jungle.

Not toward the tiger. Anywhere but that direction.

The lions roared again, breaking into a run. The tiger snarled, as if unwilling to give up its prize.

Now he was being hunted by three beasts at once.

Lin Feng's mind raced. His body screamed with exhaustion — but fear drove him forward.

Move! Run!

Branches whipped at his face and arms as he crashed back into the jungle. Leaves tore at his legs. Roots threatened to trip him at every step.

The forest around him felt smaller now — the shadows deeper, the air heavier.

Behind him — the pounding of paws, the crashing of underbrush, the guttural growls of the predators on his trail.

And strangely — even as they pursued him, the lions and the tiger kept their distance from one another. They wanted the same prey — but they were still enemies.

Lin Feng's breath came in ragged gasps. His heart hammered in his chest.

No escape…

He scanned the jungle desperately — for a rock, a tree, a place to hide — but there was nothing. Only endless forest.

And no time.

He was no longer running with a plan — only pure instinct. His body moved without thought, driven by the raw will to survive.

Yet the weight of fear grew heavier with every step.

The sound of pursuit was constant, closing in.

Lin Feng's legs burned. His chest ached. His vision blurred.

And then the thoughts came — unbidden, uncontrollable.

Why did I come here?

Why am I even doing this?!

Was it worth it… just to die like this?

The questions rang in his mind, louder with every heartbeat.

He stumbled — nearly falling — caught himself, pushed forward.

He could feel it now — death drawing closer.

The end.

Lin Feng's breath came in short, ragged bursts. His chest burned with each gasp of air, his legs numb from the relentless pace.

Branches slapped against his arms and face. Vines tangled around his legs. Still, he ran — or tried to.

The sounds behind him were louder now.

The thunder of paws crashing through the undergrowth. The deep, rumbling growls of predators locked in a deadly chase.

And through it all, one chilling truth gnawed at his mind —

He was running out of time.

His body could barely keep going. His strength was almost gone.

But worse than the pain — was the fear.

A cold, creeping dread that spread through his chest, wrapping around his heart.

He could feel the beasts closing in.

Their breath. Their hunger.

The tiger's snarl, the lions' deep roars — echoing through the dark jungle.

They were stalking him — toying with him.

An enemy stronger than any he had ever faced.

And no matter how hard he ran — they were faster. Stronger.

I can't escape… I can't…

The thought slipped into his mind — bitter and sharp.

A flash of despair.

Was this it?

Was this how it ended?

His chest tightened. His throat burned.

And as the weight of fear crushed him, another thought forced its way to the surface —

Why?

Why did I come here? Why did I think I could survive this? Why—

"WHY?!"

The word ripped from his throat, hoarse and broken.

But no one answered. Only the sound of his own desperate flight — and the predators behind him.

And then — his foot caught on a twisted root.

He stumbled.

Fell.

Tumbled forward — rolling through the damp earth, dead leaves clinging to his skin.

Pain shot through his shoulder, his ribs.

He hit the ground hard, coughing.

Dazed, he forced himself to turn — to look back.

And what he saw froze him in place.

The two lions had broken from the underbrush — massive forms leaping through the air, jaws wide open, teeth gleaming.

Their fierce eyes locked on him — as if already tasting the kill.

And just behind them — the tiger.

Muscles tensed, ready to pounce.

Lin Feng's heart nearly stopped.

His body refused to move.

This is it… this is the end…

I'm going to die… here… now…

Why… why did I—

The ground beneath him trembled.

A faint rumble — deep, distant.

Then — a sudden, violent crack.

The earth split open beneath him.

The ground gave way — collapsing.

And before the jaws of death could reach him — Lin Feng plunged into the darkness below.

The sensation was instant.

One second — Lin Feng was staring up at the deadly jaws of the lions, the gleaming claws of the tiger.

The next — the world vanished beneath him.

He fell.

The ground had crumbled without warning, the soft earth collapsing into a hidden void.

A sharp cry tore from his throat — part panic, part reflex — as gravity pulled him down.

The roar of the beasts above was swallowed by the rushing air.

Darkness engulfed him.

The damp scent of earth and stone filled his senses.

His body tumbled through the air, limbs flailing. Dirt and rocks rained down with him.

He twisted instinctively — no control, no direction.

The fall seemed endless.

Seconds stretched into an eternity.

In those heartbeats between life and death, his mind reeled.

Is this how it ends…?

Not to the tiger. Not to the lions. But to the earth itself…?

A wave of bitter regret crashed through him.

Why did I come here…? Why didn't I run when I had the chance? Why—

I don't want to die… not like this… not yet…

The cold darkness pressed around him, thick and suffocating.

He braced for the inevitable — the impact. The pain.

And then —

CRASH.

His body struck something — hard, uneven.

The shock jolted through him, knocking the breath from his lungs.

He tumbled again, rolling across damp stone and loose dirt.

Another drop — shorter this time — then a hard landing.

Finally — stillness.

For a moment, Lin Feng didn't move. Couldn't move.

Pain lanced through his side. His arms trembled.

But — he was alive.

Somehow.

Through the haze of shock and exhaustion, he opened his eyes.

Dim light filtered from above — far, far above. The jagged hole through which he'd fallen was little more than a shadow now.

The roar of the beasts was gone — distant.

And he… was alone.

At the bottom of some deep, hidden cavern.

His breath came in ragged gasps. His body ached in a dozen places.

But he was breathing.

Alive.

He let out a shaky breath, his voice barely a whisper:

"… I'm… alive…"

But the fear hadn't left him.

What was this place?

And was he really safe?

Slowly, painfully, Lin Feng rolled onto his side. His hands scraped against cold, damp stone.

Somewhere in the darkness around him — faint echoes. Water dripping. The distant creak of unseen stone.

The cavern stretched away into the unknown.

No telling what lay ahead.

But for now — one thing was certain.

He had escaped death.

Barely.