Cal's hand hesitated on the cool metal of the doorknob, a silent warning prickling at the base of his neck. He exhaled slowly, then twisted the knob, inch by inch. The door creaked open to unveil the dense wall of forest that pressed in close, as if nature itself had conspired to swallow the room he stood in.

He once again stepped across the threshold, the ground soft and yielding beneath his boots. A symphony of familiar, but foreign sounds enveloped him – the rustle of leaves, the distant call of some unseen creature, and the whisper of the wind through the branches overhead.

Eyes darting, Cal moved with the stealth of a shadow, every muscle coiled tight, ready to spring into action. The trees loomed like sentinels, their bark gnarled and twisted, roots snaking across the earth as if they were searching for something hidden.

The air was heavy with the scent of moss and decay, pungent in his nostrils. As his gaze swept the surroundings, he noted how the walls of the room behind him had merged seamlessly with the trunks of the trees, creating an unsettling fusion of his known world and this alien forest.

"Watchful," he murmured, the command barely above a whisper. It was more for himself than anyone else, a mantra to keep his wits sharp. This was no ordinary reconnaissance; this was survival.

Cal's hands hovered near the hilt of his concealed dagger, the metal cool and reassuring against his palm. He advanced with measured steps, senses straining to detect any hint of movement, any breath of danger in the stillness of the forest. The very fabric of this place seemed woven with threads of mystery and peril.

Cal's boots found purchase on the rough bark, fingers gripping into the grooves as he scaled the nearest tree. Higher, ever higher, until the forest below became a tapestry of shadow and whispers. His eyes scanned the horizon, but there was no end to the woodlands; they sprawled like a living entity, without limit or edge.

He sighed, "It’s endless."

Descending, his ears locked onto the subtle sign of life—a murmur of water threading through the silence. He dropped to the forest floor, landing with a muted thud, and set out toward the sound.

Branches parted before him, snapping back in place like sentries closing ranks. The ground beneath his feet was spongy, alive with unseen life. He moved with purpose, dodging low-hanging limbs and overgrown roots that seemed to claw at his ankles.

The whisper grew to a babble, the promise of water drawing nearer. Each step brought a fresh coolness to the air, a hint of moisture that clung to his skin. Cal's eyes remained vigilant, darting from shadow to shadow, ready for any threat that might emerge.

"Water is the first step," he breathed, “Temp any update on your sensors?”

“No Cal.”

Cal's footsteps were steady, his eyes scanning the underbrush. The scent of damp earth filled his nostrils as he moved through the verdant maze. Amidst the natural orchestra of rustling leaves and distant bird calls, Temp’s voice, dispassionate, cut through the din.

"Cal, you are now linked to the system guidance protocol."

He halted. "Explain," he commanded, keeping his tone even.

"Isolation of your soul has been confirmed, no intrusion detected. The guidance protocol appears to be interacting with me, now that your soul is isolated with my connection" Temp replied, its voice devoid of inflection. "Tasks are being generated for completion. I will bring the details up for you."

Cal frowned, considering the implications. "Tasks? For what purpose?" But he knew better than to expect all the answers at once.

A growl rumbled behind him. Cal spun on his heel, pulse hammering. Through the tangle of branches, two red orbs burned into his vision, "looks like we found dinner." His brief thought shattered against the reality of its now visible and imposing form.

He cast the AI's cryptic message aside in his mind. "Survival first," he thought, pushing a thick fern aside with the back of his hand. The water's call was closer now—a tease now, given the large hog in front of him.

"Goddess be damned," he muttered. Definitely not New Kansas. He instinctively crouching low, as he found the nearest area most favorable for a confrontation.

The creature's silhouette loomed large; muscles large and visible through matted fur. Eyes like molten embers locked onto him – a predator sizing up its quarry. Cal knew this was no mere foraging gone awry; it was a primal confrontation. Man vs. beast.

Stolen novel; please report.

He reached to his side, fingers closing around the hilt of his dagger with familiar ease. The weapon was an extension of himself, sleek and deadly—a lifeline in this world of unknowns.

It was a long dagger, longer than most tantos. It was double edged with a non-continuous angled blade and deadly sharp, a perfect fusion of function and grace. The guard was large enough to catch and parry. Its adamant blade glinted in the fading light, a promise of protection and danger all at once.

"Alright," he said, voice steady, betraying none of the cold dread that snaked through his veins. "Let's dance."

Cal squared his shoulders, eyes fixed on the beast. He'd learned long ago that fear was a luxury he couldn't afford – his mother would periodically remind him of this. With calculated breaths, he prepared to make his stand. His signature combat style relied on using his oversoul pistol and his trusty adamant dagger. Cal used a grappledagger style while infighting. He wasn’t expecting any ranged attacks from his counterpart, so this would be a true melee, the lack of a functioning gun having limited impact here.

The earth shook as the beast charged. Cal's breath hitched, his body prepared to dodge at any moment. It lunged, tusks gleaming in the waning light, claws slicing empty space where he'd stood moments before. He rolled to the side, leaves and damp soil sticking to his skin. His dagger found air as he struck back—aim true but anticipation bettered by brute force and speed.

"Quick," Cal grunted, eyes darting for an opening. None came. If he had use of his oversoul, he could have adjusted quicker.

The hog turned, snout huffing with hot breath, eyeing him with primal intent. Cal's feet moved of their own accord; Cal’s every sense sharpened to the creature's rhythm. Its bulk was a blur of movement, each swerve pushing him further into the dance of survival.

"Can't keep this up," he thought, barely dodging a swipe that threatened to cleave him in two.

Sweat mingled with the forest's must, dripping into his eyes. He blinked it away, vision clearing just in time to see another charge. Cal threw himself aside, feeling the rush of air as death passed by a hair's breadth. His leg was gored by the beast's razor sharp tusks. His muscles screamed in protest, fatigue clawing at his resolve.

He scanned the environment, the agent within cataloging details—a protruding root here, an overhanging branch there. All potential tools in the deadly game he played. But the beast gave no quarter, relentless as the tide, and twice as crushing.

"Come on then!" Cal yelled, defiance bolstering his flagging energy.

With a roar, the beast answered, its assault unyielding. Cal could feel the tremor of each step and taste the looming threat it posed. His next move had to count.

Cal edged toward the massive root system on a nearby tree, and the beast faltered, its hind leg buckling under a misstep. Cal's blue eyes locked onto the lapse, a faint glimmer of hope amidst the savage dance. With a surge of adrenaline, he lunged forward, his lean form a shadow flitting through the dappled sunlight. The dagger, an extension of his will, found its mark, but only burying a moderate depth into the dense flesh.

"Got you," he hissed as the creature bellowed, a sound that shook the leaves from their perches.

It was not a cry of defeat but of enraged agony. The beast, undeterred, swung its massive head toward him, tusks like scythes glinting with a deadly promise. He knew then, with cold clarity, hesitation meant death.

"Can't stop now," Cal thought, closing in once more.

His window of opportunity was closing fast, each second his vigor stretching thin as spider silk. Drawing on his training, he vaulted onto the back of the beast, gripping with thighs. His dagger plunged again, this time into the softer underbelly, seeking a finale to the brutal ballet.

But the world spun. A force colossal and unforgiving caught him mid-recovery. Cal's body hurled through the air, a ragdoll, until wood met flesh. His back slammed against a tree, a shockwave of pain radiating to the bone.

The ground beneath him felt unsteady, the forest suddenly tilting on an unseen axis.

Above him, branches swayed, whispering secrets of survival and danger. His chest heaved, drawing in the scent of pine and blood, a reminder of the line between life and prey. Cal's grip on consciousness wavered, the beast's growls a distant drumbeat against his scattered thoughts.

Defiance fueled Cal's battered body as he lurched to his feet, vision tunneling on the beast's eyes. Every instinct screamed run, but he was an agent of the Anu’aris theocracy —flight was never the first option, for better or worse. Cal calculated and knew that the beast was worse off than he was. With a primal shout, he charged, his dagger a sliver of adamantine vengeance.

The beast, its red gaze fixed on him, hesitated—a fatal mistake. Cal leapt, twisting mid-air, the world reduced to the flash of his blade and the feral gleam of his target. His arm struck true, dagger point piercing the wet orb. A grotesque squelch, a roar cut short, the shudder of collapsing mass.

Silence fell, heavy as the corpse at his feet.

Cal stood, chest heaving, the iron tang of victory and viscera mingling in his mouth. He watched the life ebb from the creature, its remaining eye fading to dull glass. Survival had exacted its toll; he swayed on his feet, the forest spinning around him.

"Need to move," Cal whispered to the silence, trying to stave off the creeping dread that clawed at his resolve. The sound of battle would surely bring company.

He wiped his blade on the beast's bristled hide, the act mechanical, grounding. There was no time for rest, not when every shadow could harbor death. His muscles protested as he turned away from the carcass, but he pushed through the pain and limped back to the room.

It was a short hike back to the doorway but a reminder of the dangers in close proximity. Cal's steps were labored, his breaths heavy. The forest shadows seemed to press against his skin, an intangible weight that tested his resolve with every stride.

The sound of flowing water echoed in the distance; the sound magnified by the stillness. He paused, head cocked, listening. His hand tightened around the hilt of his dagger, the metal cold and reassuring against his palm. Then Cal stepped back inside.