He kept walking towards the Tree at the edge of his periphery. Every step is as dry as the land. Light and fragile since his stamina has been used for days without end. It was strange for the man since any normal person would take a chance to rest, but he did not and kept trudging. No exhaustion affected his state of mind, just the pure thought of reaching his destination.
The withered trees are getting numerous the nearer he is to the huge tree. It was dark like shadows, the oddities that came out even in the place that is known for its dark-like void, the Abyss. Yet it somehow mimics the world above, the living earthen land where everything can co-exist.
It was strange as the man observed while going toward the tree, there are bushes and grasses that pop out like any other forest, but he turned his eyes to focus on his destination. The journey was dull and silent, like the darkness of the world.
The only problem now is that his vision is close to his destination, yet his pace toward the place is somewhat far. he was supposed to reach it within minutes if he kept walking but now, he thought it will become an hour. The man decided to run, as fast as he can be. The weirdness of the situation alarms him.
Every step now became heavy due to the exhaustion of walking for days, he felt like his legs were tied to sacks of rice dragging along his way. It burns, it hurts, it cramps, oh God what misery did he befall on. But no problem since he is compelled to run by his instinct against the odd atmosphere. The quietness is shocking to his skin like something is watching his back. Staring at his back until holes are made to reach his bones. He has no choice; he needs to run.
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His breath became rugged, he thought of any possibilities that may happen if things come to a bad term, but it hardly changes his priority to use his tired body to the maximum. He was there, almost to his destination, just meters away from the shelter, to his safety.
*CRACK*
There, a branch broke and was followed by a growl. He turned and saw a malformed beast, a black tar-covered tiger whose mouth has reached beyond its eye. Its paw is three times bigger and the same goes for its claws which were shaped into a monstrosity. When the beast bears its fangs, there were dozens filled to the brim.
The man saw it all within a second, and he whip his head and ran fully with desperation. He was too late, and the beast leap towards its prey. The man did the same and he jumped and turned his back in mid-air. The strange instinct he got recently let him act to face his opponent.
The maw met his face and he was crushed to the ground and pounded his body by the beast like getting hit by a car. He thought it was his end, but unfortunately for the beast, the fangs did not penetrate his mask and his body got into a state of bruises and survived from having his bones shattered by the force of the impact. So, he gritted his teeth and pushed his aching body to fight.