'That old geezer kicked me through a portal. I'm guessing one of his abilities?' Yuri questioned as he picked up his belongings. 'Where am I? This definitely isn't Mythmere.'
'At least he left me with an actual katana. He must have thrown it in after he kicked me but, why is it dark outside? Wasn't it morning a second ago?'
Letting go of his questions, he got his things together.
He decided to look around a bit and figure out where he was. As he did he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head to get a better look, his eyes locked to the gaze of a terrifying beast.
Its eyes, a pair of dark shadowy orbs, burned with a malevolent intelligence. They fixed upon Yuri with an intensity that rooted him to the spot.
The beast's maw agape, revealed rows of serrated teeth, each one stained with the echoes of past kills. Its breath, a fetid gust of wind, carried the scent of decay and whispered of the grave.
It stood on four thick, muscular legs, each ending in blackened claws that left scorched earth in their wake. Its hide was a tapestry of smoldering red and orange, scales that glimmered like embers under a blacksmith's hammer.
Massive horns, twisted and charred, jutted from its head. Its tail was a whip of flame, leaving a trail of fire with every thrash.
Yuri fled, not thinking twice. His breath was ragged and his skin burned, he could feel the intense heat that radiated from the beast. It was as if the sun itself was at his back, intent on consuming him. He darted and weaved through the trees, the beast's fiery breath ignited the foliage around him, it created a blazing inferno that threatened to engulf the forest.
Just when Yuri thought his legs could carry him no further, a new terror emerged. From the shadows, a second beast appeared, its form shrouded in darkness. It moved with a silent grace that belied its size, its eyes reflecting the moonlight with a predatory glow. The fire beast, so focused on its quarry, had not noticed it had trespassed into the territory of another apex predator.
The two beasts collided with a force that shook the earth, their roars intertwining in a symphony of fury.
Yuri seized the moment, his survival instincts screaming at him to escape while they were distracted.
He plunged deeper into the woods, the sounds of the titanic struggle fading behind him.
He continued to run and didn't stop until the first light of dawn began to pierce the canopy. Exhausted but alive, Yuri collapsed against a tree, his body aching but his spirit unbroken.
"I'll kill that geezer next time I see him. He could have told me he'd send me into a random forest filled with giant ass beasts. I'm pretty sure they were both in the dominion realm."
After he felt a little better he decided to keep moving in hope of finding a place to settle down and make shelter.
As he moved through the dense undergrowth, Yuri kept his senses sharp, listening for the slightest sound that could signal danger. He climbed a ridge and surveyed the land below.
In the distance he could see a cave entrance shrouded in moss and entwined in vines. With cautious steps he descended the ridge, each step a silent whisper. His senses remained sharp, vigilant against anything that lurked in the shadows, ready to ambush him.
Arriving at the cave Yuri entered with caution, his eyes and ears alert for any danger. He made his way inside, slowly, carefully, until he came to a clearing big enough that he could call home for the time being.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Laying his bag down he went outside the cave to get items to make himself a makeshift bed.
Taking his katana with him, he made sure he was quick and got everything he needed. He gathered wood and leaves and headed back into the cave. After making the bed as comfortable as he could he settled in for the night, feeling safe and secure in the depths of the cave.
The chirping of birds and insects filled the air as the darkness of the night embraced him. He lay there, content and safe, listening to the sounds of the night. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Waking up in the morning, he felt refreshed and ready for the day. He got up, stretched, and got ready for the day ahead. Grabbing his katana he headed out to scout his surroundings and find some food for the day as well as some herbs he could use.
He made sure to stay alert and keep his guard up, as he was walking through an unfamiliar area. He noticed a pack of Ashen Howlers.
'I definitely recognize them from the books I've read. They're AshenHowlers. I need to stay away from them. They're dangerous in packs.' He thought as he quickly hid behind a nearby tree and watched them from afar.
He took a deep breath and crept away, keeping his eyes trained on the AshenHowlers. His heart raced as he turned and ran, making sure not to make a sound. He made sure to stay far away from them, and was eventually able to escape.
'I definitely want no problems from them, dangerous buggers they are. If I got one of them alone I would definitely win, but they are smart. They use their numbers to corner their prey.'
Forgetting what he had witnessed he decided to get him some food. He came across a few animals, but they weren't what he had in mind. He kept walking and eventually found what he was looking for, a Terrafang.
Yuri's heart pounded in his chest as he locked eyes with the Terrafang Stag. The air was thick with tension, the only sounds were the rustling leaves and Yuri's steady breathing.
A chilling grin spread across Yuri's face, his eyes alight with a red glow that mirrored the burning intensity of his spirit. "Thanks for becoming my dinner," he said, his tone laced with a predatory hunger that sent shivers down the spine of any who heard it.
The Terrafang Stag, sensing Yuri's determination, let out a challenging snort and pawed the ground, ready to defend its territory.
Yuri, recalling his grandfather Ren's teachings, steadied his stance and prepared for the onslaught.
As the stag charged, Yuri sidestepped with the agility of a seasoned warrior, narrowly avoiding the piercing antlers. He countered with a swift slash, but the stag's thick hide turned the blade.
Yuri realized brute force wouldn't be enough; he needed precision and strategy.
The dance of battle ensued, with Yuri weaving through the trees, using the environment to his advantage. He feigned a move to the left, then rolled right, coming up behind the stag. With a deft movement, he targeted the beast's hind leg, causing it to stumble.
The Stag roared in pain and anger, but Yuri didn't hesitate. He leapt onto the beast's back, avoiding another swipe of its antlers. With a powerful thrust, he drove his sword into a vulnerable spot just behind the creature's shoulder blade.
The battle cry of the Stag echoed through the forest as it collapsed.
Yuri, panting and covered in the marks of battle, stood over the fallen beast. He had won, not through sheer might, but through the cunning and skills he had honed under his grandfather's guidance.
As Yuri prepared his meal, he reflected on the fight. He had faced a formidable opponent and emerged stronger, both in body and spirit. This encounter, his first true test against a beast, would forever be etched in his memory as the day he took a significant step towards becoming the powerhouse he aspired to be.
'I wonder if I gain anything from killing beast.'
[ Status ]
‣ Name: Yuri Kaguno
‣ Class: ( Locked )
‣ Realm: Preliminary Realm
‣ Title: ( Locked )
‣ Passives: ( Locked )
‣ Attributes
- Strength: 25
- Dexterity: 27 -> 28
- Agility: 25
- Stamina: 29 -> 30
- Constitution: 5
- Int: 1
‣ Traits: ( Locked )
‣ Arts: ( Locked )
‣ Skills:
- Intermediate swordsmanship - 21%
- Intermediate parry - 5%
'Only my stamina and dexterity went up a stat point, so i get nothing special for killing anything, how sad' Yuri thought.
Forgetting about his status panel, he turned his attention to fortifying his makeshift sanctuary. He meticulously wove a tapestry of vines, moss, and leaves, camouflaging the cave's entrance so seamlessly that it seemed to disappear into the forest itself.
Not satisfied with mere concealment, Yuri then channeled his focus into crafting an array of cunning traps. Each one was a silent guardian, a testament to his resolve to survive and make it out of the dangerous forest he was in.
As dusk gave way to night, he ate his meal in solitude. The sounds of the night being his only thing of comfort.
Laying in his makeshift bed, Yuri's body yearned for sleep, but his mind remained on guard, attuned to the nocturnal sounds of the forest.
Yuri's training had honed his senses to such a degree that even in slumber, he remained aware. The gentle moonlight that filtered through the cave's entrance did little to disturb his restful alertness.