The pain in my leg was relentless, gnawing at my focus with each uneven step. I pressed on, gritting my teeth and leaning on my newfound resilience from Bestial Vitality. The sun had begun its descent, painting the horizon with hues of amber and crimson as I stumbled along the dusty road. My tattered track pants clung to my leg, soaked with drying blood and mud.
I trudged forward, every hill feeling steeper than the last. The oppressive heat of the day still lingered, clinging to the air like a stubborn weight. My mind wavered between desperation and determination. The road, barren except for my own stumbling steps, stretched endlessly ahead. But then, just as despair threatened to creep in, a distant movement caught my eye.
Figures emerged at the edge of my vision—a cluster of silhouettes moving steadily toward the road from the forest’s edge. My heart clenched. Were they animals? Bandits? Or something worse? For a moment, I froze, my grip tightening around my makeshift staff, a broken branch I had picked up earlier.
As they drew nearer, details sharpened. This wasn’t a random group—it was a squad, their strides disciplined, their postures alert. The leader was mounted on a regal horse, his flowing robes billowing slightly in the breeze. Behind him, a handful of figures flanked him on foot, their weapons gleaming faintly in the fading sunlight. My pulse quickened.
They were armed and coordinated. The possibility of hostility loomed, but I couldn’t afford to turn away. Help—any help—was my best shot at survival.
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MAKING CONTACT
I forced myself to approach cautiously, raising one hand to signal my presence, while keeping my other hand on the branch for balance. The rider noticed me first. He pulled his horse to a halt, his expression neutral but assessing. The others quickly followed suit, their hands resting near their weapons as they studied me.
“State your business,” the rider commanded, his voice calm but firm. Though the words weren’t in any language I recognized, I understood them perfectly. Relief flooded through me—the Universal Translator worked.
“I’m... lost,” I said, forcing the words out through parched lips. I gestured to my bloodied leg. “I was attacked in the forest and barely made it out alive. I need help. Please.”
The rider’s piercing gaze swept over me, lingering on my torn clothes and improvised bandages. His face remained impassive, betraying nothing of his thoughts.
“You’re lucky to be alive,” he said finally, his tone devoid of warmth. “But why should we help you?”
I faltered, the weight of his question pressing down on me. “I have nothing to offer,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But if you could point me toward a village or healer, I’d owe you my life.”
The rider’s lips twitched into a faint smirk, though his eyes remained cold. “Life debts are easy to offer when you have nothing else to give.”
“Captain,” one of the foot soldiers interjected, stepping forward. His face was younger, his tone less guarded. He carried a longsword on his back and looked between me and the rider with a mix of impatience and concern. “He’s hurt and alone. What’s the harm in helping him? He’s not exactly a threat.”
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The captain turned his sharp gaze toward the soldier, his expression hardening. “Wang Jian, your sentimentality is admirable, but you forget the dangers of this world. An injured man could be a decoy for an ambush. Or worse—a spirit beast in disguise.”
I stiffened at his words, my mind racing. Spirit beasts could mimic humans? Fantastic. Another terrifying thing to worry about in this nightmare world.
“Come on, Captain,” Wang Jian pressed, his frustration evident. “We’re armed to the teeth and on high alert. Even if he were a threat, what could he possibly do to us? Look at him—he can barely stand!”
The captain sighed, his stern demeanor softening slightly as he studied me again. After a long moment, he dismounted his horse with practiced ease.
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THE TEST OF TRUST
The captain approached me slowly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “If you’re telling the truth, you have nothing to fear. But if you’re hiding something...”
His words hung heavy in the air as he stopped a few paces away. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”
I straightened as best I could, swallowing my nerves. “My name is Jayson. I don’t know how I got here. I woke up in the forest, and everything has been trying to kill me since. I’ve been fighting to survive, nothing more.”
The captain’s piercing gaze locked onto mine, as if he were trying to peer into my very soul. After an agonizing pause, he stepped closer, reaching out with a hand.
“Let me see your injury.”
Reluctantly, I leaned on my branch for balance and pulled back the torn fabric covering my leg. The wound was jagged and deep, crusted with dried blood. The captain inspected it closely, his expression unreadable.
“This is fresh,” he said, straightening. “The kind of injury you don’t walk away from without resilience. Tell me—how are you still standing?”
I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. Finally, I settled on a partial truth. “I don’t know. I feel... different here. Like I’m stronger than I should be.”
The captain raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. Before he could press further, Wang Jian stepped forward again. “Captain, he’s clearly telling the truth. Let’s get him back to the caravan before something else finds him.”
The captain studied me for another long moment before nodding. “Fine. But you’ll walk with us. And if you try anything...”
“I won’t,” I said quickly, relief flooding through me.
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JOINING THE CARAVAN
The group led me back toward their caravan, which was parked in a clearing just off the road. Several wagons were arranged in a loose circle, their drivers tending to horses and supplies. More armed guards milled about, their wary eyes tracking my every movement.
Wang Jian handed me a flask of water as soon as we stopped. “Here,” he said, his tone softer now. “Drink. You look like you’re about to keel over.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, taking a grateful swig. The cool liquid was a godsend, soothing my parched throat and reviving me slightly.
The captain disappeared into one of the wagons, leaving Wang Jian and another guard—a glaive-wielding man with a perpetually sour expression—to keep an eye on me.
“What’s your deal, anyway?” Wang Jian asked, his curiosity apparent. “You don’t look like you’re from around here.”
I hesitated, unsure how to respond. “It’s... complicated. Let’s just say I’m a long way from home.”
He nodded, seemingly satisfied with my vague answer. “Well, you’re lucky we found you. These roads aren’t safe—especially for someone in your condition.”
“Yeah,” I said, my voice tinged with exhaustion. “Lucky...”
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AN OMINOUS ARRIVAL
As the sun dipped lower, casting the clearing in deep shadows, the captain reemerged from the wagon. He carried a small pouch, which he handed to one of the guards. “Tend to his wound,” he ordered before turning back to me. “We’ll take you as far as the next town. After that, you’re on your own.”
“Thank you,” I said, sincerity coloring my voice.
He regarded me for a moment, his expression softening slightly. “Don’t thank me yet. Surviving in this world takes more than luck. If you can’t adapt, you won’t last long.”
I nodded, his words settling heavily on my shoulders. The relief of finding help was tempered by the reminder of the challenges ahead. But for now, I had a reprieve—and that was enough.