Luc's eyes snapped open as cold raindrops hit his face. He gasped, sucking in air feeling as if he had just surfaced from drowning.

For a moment, he lay there, trying to piece together what had happened.

I'm... alive?

The memory flooded back—white fur, crushing weight, the certainty of death.

He sat up quickly, scanning the area for any sign of the monstrous creatures.

Nothing.

Just rain-soaked trees and mist curling around them. The forest looked different now, almost normal—if such a word even applied here.

Luc looked down at himself and grimaced. His clothes were torn to shreds, barely hanging onto his body. Dirt and leaves clung to his skin.

He looked like he'd crawled out of a grave, and maybe he had, in a way.

He pushed himself to his feet, his legs shaky. His body ached, but it was the dull ache of exhaustion, not the sharp pain of fresh wounds. Even the scratches from his frantic run through the forest had disappeared.

Luc ran a hand through his hair, trying to make sense of it all. The last clear memory he had was the mist rolling in, right as he was about to black out.

He tilted his face upward, letting the rain wash away the grime and blood. The cool droplets were a balm to his battered body, a soothing contrast to the madness he'd just endured.

He let out a low, bitter chuckle that barely rose above the sound of the rain.

"Well, isn't this just peachy?" he muttered to himself. "Wolves spitting fire, demon monkeys... What's next, talking trees?"

He half-expected the forest to answer him, but only the steady rhythm of raindrops filled the air. Luc shook his head, water flying from his hair.

I've really done it this time, haven't I? Transported to another world. Fantastic.

The absurdity of it all hit him like a punch to the gut.

Here he was, standing in the middle of a godforsaken forest in nothing but his underwear, having narrowly escaped death multiple times in what felt like the span of a single day.

Wait a second...

He raised his hand—the one the darkwolf cub had bitten. The wounds were gone, not even a scar left behind.

Is this my cheat? He flexed his fingers. No pain, no stiffness, nothing. A spark of hope flickered inside him—maybe he wasn’t as helpless as he thought.

He looked around, the strange stillness of the forest finally sinking in. The place seemed to shift with the passing hours, almost like it was hiding something. By day, it was covered in mist, quiet and empty. But at night...

A shiver ran down his spine. At night, the mist vanished, revealing a twisted, nightmarish world teeming with monsters straight out of a fantasy. The trees, the plants—they changed too. Vibrant and alive during the day, they withered and died at night.

Maybe... maybe that’s the clue.

The realization struck him suddenly. During the day, the mist kept him trapped, looping him back to the same place over and over. But at night...

He shuddered, recalling the terrifying creatures he had faced in the dark—the massive scaled beast, the fiery breath of the darkwolf, the crushing strength of the monkey-like creature.

But what if that's the key? What if the night, when the mist vanishes, is my chance to escape?

Maybe he can get out during the night, while the mist is gone.

But how many more monsters are out there during the night? The thought sent a chill down his spine. He'd already encountered three terrifying species. What else lurked in the shadows?

The rain finally eased, leaving behind a stillness broken only by the soft plop of water droplets falling from the leaves.

Luc's thoughts were interrupted by an unsettling pang in his stomach. His throat felt dry and scratchy, a reminder of how long it had been since he last ate or drank.

He scanned his surroundings, trying to get his bearings. The forest seemed different now, but he thought he recognized a bent tree in the distance.

Luc set off, his bare feet sinking into the mud. Twigs and stones pricked his soles, but he continued. The sound of running water grew louder, a guide him forward.

Finally, he broke through a line of bushes and found himself at the riverbank. The water flowed clear and swift, carrying away the last traces of the rainstorm.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Luc knelt by the edge, cupping water in his hands and drinking. It soothed his parched throat.

After a few gulps, he splashed some on his face, washing away grime and sweat.

He stood, feeling slightly refreshed, and looked at his reflection.

His hair was a mess, his face scratched and dirty. His clothes, or what was left of them, hung in tatters.

I look like I've been dragged through hell. Twice.

Luc stepped into the river, letting the water wash over his feet. He bent down, scrubbing his arms and legs, watching the dirt swirl away in the current. The cold helped to numb the various aches and pains that covered his body.

As he cleaned himself, Luc's mind wandered back to the problem at hand.

He needed food, and he needed to figure out a way to navigate the forest at night without becoming monster chow.

Luc's stomach growled, reminding him how hungry he was. He looked around, trying to recall something important.

Hold on...

Yesterday—he'd stumbled upon some fruit during his exploration. He recalled the image of ripe, colorful fruit.

If I can just find that tree again...

Driven by hunger, Luc started walking through the muddy forest. He searched for what felt like hours.

Finally, a hint of color caught his eye. There it was—the tree with the fruit he remembered. The bright fruit stood out against the dull forest.

He walked closer, the sweet smell making his mouth water. Luc reached out and picked one. It felt warm in his hand.

He examined it carefully. It looked fresh and delicious, but he hesitated. In this strange world, he couldn't be sure if it was safe to eat. For all he knew, this could be deadly poison.

Well, it's not like I have many options. Poisoned or starved, the result would be the same.

Remembering some basic survival tips, Luc took a cautious bite. The fruit was soft and juicy, and the taste was surprisingly rich.

He paused, waiting for any bad reaction. The seconds felt endless, but when nothing happened, he exhaled in relief.

So far, so good.

Encouraged, Luc took a bigger bite. The fruit was incredibly delicious, sweet with a complex flavor he had never experienced before.

As he finished the last bite, a warm sensation spread through his body, and his hunger disappeared completely.

Luc blinked in surprised. He felt... full. Satisfied. As if he'd just polished off a five-course meal instead of a single piece of fruit.

What just happened?

Luc stared at the half-eaten fruit in his hand, then at the tree full of more. He couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity.

Magical fruit. Of course. Why am I even surprised anymore?

Luc picked a few more fruits from the tree, holding them in his torn shirt.

Better get back to the cave, he thought.

As he made his way through the damp undergrowth, his mind raced with ideas. Could he make a weapon? Maybe a spear?

The cave came into view, a dark opening in the hillside. Then he stopped.

There, just inside the entrance, lay the body of the darkwolf cub.

"What..." Luc whispered, moving closer.

It was the same cub he’d killed last night. The rock he’d used was still lodged in its skull, dried blood caking its fur.

His thoughts spun. The body had somehow followed him, just as he had been pulled into this strange place. A sudden thought struck him.

If I kill something during the night... does it follow me here? How about when the night comes? is it transported back?

Luc shook his head, trying to push aside the speculation. He needed to focus. He set the fruit down and stepped closer to the cub’s body. Its eyes, now empty, seemed to accuse him, stirring a pang of guilt.

"Sorry, little guy," he murmured. "It was you or me."

Luc gripped the cub’s body and dragged it further into the cave, feeling the strain in his muscles. He stared at the lifeless form, his mind racing. He had killed it out of desperation, but now...

His eyes caught on the cub’s sharp teeth, still gleaming white despite the dirt and blood. An idea formed in his mind.

With careful hands, he pried the cub’s jaws open. The stench of decay was strong, making him gag, but he pushed through. He grabbed one of the larger teeth and pulled.

It didn’t budge.

Luc cursed under his breath and tried harder. He twisted and pulled until, with a sickening pop, the tooth finally came free.

Thick, dark blood oozed from the socket. Luc wiped the tooth on what was left of his shirt and inspected it.

It was longer than he expected, curved and razor-sharp. It could work as a makeshift dagger.

By the time he finished, his hands were slick with blood, and his stomach was churning. But he had four of the cub’s teeth now, each one a potential weapon.

He stepped out of the cave, breathing deeply to clear his head. The forest stood silent, mist curling around his feet like a living thing.

He looked around for suitable branches. Most were too flimsy or too thick, but then he spotted a young sapling, straight and strong.

He approached the tree, and the tooth-dagger cut into the wood easily. Luc sawed back and forth. Soon, the sapling fell with a soft thud.

Luc worked quickly, stripping away the smaller branches and cutting the trunk into three roughly equal pieces. He sharpened one end of each makeshift spear.

Would these simple weapons be enough to keep him alive? He wasn’t sure, but he couldn’t dwell on that.

He tied the spears together with strips from his ruined shirt, making a rough harness to carry them. Slinging the bundle over his back, he stood up a little straighter.

For the first time since waking up in this place, he felt a flicker of hope. He wasn’t just a victim anymore; he was armed, ready to face whatever came next.

Luc settled back against the cave wall, holding one of the fruits in his hand.

The mist outside thickened, blurring the edges of the world. He took a bite of the fruit, savoring its strange taste, and waited for the night to come.