Dawn was just breaking, the eastern sky tinged with a faint glow as dewdrops sparkled on the blades of grass.
Under the ancient tree, the campfire had long since burned out, wisps of smoke lingering in the air with a faint scent of roasted mushrooms.
Chong Yue woke up, rubbing the drowsiness from his eyes as he stretched his limbs.
He glanced around and saw that Eika was already awake, sitting nearby with her gaze alertly scanning the surroundings.
Her arms were crossed as she leaned quietly against the tree trunk, her violet eyes cold and cautious.
“Up early, huh?”
Chong Yue yawned, sitting up as he dusted off the dirt clinging to his clothes.
“Looks like you’re recovering well. Does your leg still hurt?”
Eika frowned slightly, glancing down at her neatly bandaged leg before replying indifferently,
“I can walk… barely.”
Chong Yue nodded, then picked up his backpack from the ground and began rummaging through his supplies.
“Looks like we need to keep moving today. Let’s see what we’ve got to work with.”
He pulled out each item from his backpack, laying them on the ground to take inventory:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A camping fire starter, used last night to cook mushrooms.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A car key, now completely useless.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A phone, but with no signal, it was nothing more than a decoration.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A wallet containing a few credit cards and a small amount of cash.</li>
</ul>
Chong Yue sighed helplessly,
“That’s all I’ve got. No food, no water… This is as bad as it gets.”
He shrugged with a bitter smile and looked over at Eika,
“What about you?”
Without saying much, Eika moved with swift precision, laying out her belongings:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A dagger, its blade gleaming coldly with a razor-sharp edge, clearly meant for defense and combat.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A phone, just like Chong Yue’s, with no signal.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Cash, a few Japanese yen bills, utterly useless in this place.</li>
</ul>
Their eyes met, a shared look of helplessness passing between them.
“Are we here to collect junk or something?”
Chong Yue laughed bitterly,
“No food, no water, and we’ve got no idea how long it’ll take to find a way out.”
Eika frowned slightly, her eyes serious,
“We need to find food soon, or we’ll starve.”
She tapped her fingers lightly on the hilt of her dagger, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings,
“This environment is completely unfamiliar. We need to figure out the terrain and resources as soon as possible.”
Chong Yue nodded in agreement, his eyes involuntarily drifting to the towering Titan’s Peak in the distance.
“Our goal is Titan’s Peak, but who knows how long it’ll take to get there…”
He paused before adding,
“And we have no idea what we’ll encounter along the way.”
After a moment of silence, Eika broke the stillness, her voice calm and steady,
“Chong Yue, where do you think this place is?”
Chong Yue frowned slightly, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
“I can’t say for sure, but… I think we’re probably still on Earth.”
Eika’s eyebrows arched in surprise,
“What makes you think that?”
Chong Yue looked up at the sky, his tone firm,
“Last night, I looked at the night sky. I saw the Big Dipper and the Southern Cross.”
He paused, his gaze growing more serious,
“I’m no astronomer, but I do know that those two constellations can only be seen together from certain latitudes on Earth.”
Eika’s expression shifted slightly, a thoughtful glimmer flashing in her violet eyes.
“So… you’re saying… we’re still on Earth?”
“Yes, and judging by the position of the Big Dipper, we’re likely somewhere just south of the equator.”
Chong Yue gestured with his hands, tracing the positions of the constellations as he continued,
“The Big Dipper was very close to the horizon, while the Southern Cross was high up in the sky. That combination only happens near the equator.”
Eika slowly nodded, though a hint of doubt lingered in her voice,
“South of the equator… But then why are the plants and animals here so strange?”
Her eyes swept over the bizarre flora around them, confusion evident in her tone,
“I’ve never heard of a place like this on Earth.”
Chong Yue let out a wry chuckle and shrugged,
“To be honest, I find it pretty strange too.”
They stood silently under the ancient tree, their gazes drawn to the distant Titan’s Peak.
The towering mountain stood majestically, piercing the sky. Its summit was shrouded in layers of swirling mist, giving it an ethereal, almost otherworldly appearance, like something out of a legend.
Despite the swirling questions in their minds, they both knew that their only lead was that mountain.
Whatever the mysterious voice was, however they were transported here—perhaps all the answers awaited them atop Titan’s Peak.
Chong Yue took a deep breath and looked at Eika,
“Looks like we need to make it there alive first.”
He pointed at Titan’s Peak, his eyes filled with determination,
“Maybe that mountain holds the answers we’re looking for.”
Eika gave a slight nod, a thoughtful glint in her violet eyes,
“Yes, but before that, we need to survive.”
She surveyed their surroundings, her gaze sharp and calculating,
“If we get trapped halfway by hunger or danger, we’ll never reach Titan’s Peak.”
Chong Yue nodded, his expression growing serious,
“So before we set out, we need to be prepared.”
They quickly went through their supplies, assessing their current food and water situation.
Before long, they came to a troubling conclusion: Their supplies were severely lacking—practically down to nothing.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Food: None. They would have to rely on the leftover roasted mushrooms from last night and whatever wild fruits they could find.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Water: Fortunately, there was a clear stream nearby, so at least water wouldn’t be an immediate issue.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Weapons: Eika had a dagger, but it wouldn’t be enough against a serious threat.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Defense: Almost non-existent. The only thing Chong Yue had were a few tree branches he had picked up the night before.</li>
</ul>
“This won’t do. We need food and at least some basic weapons.”
Chong Yue frowned, his eyes scanning the dense forest around them,
“If we run into those creatures from yesterday, I don’t fancy punching them to death.”
Eika nodded slightly, her eyes cold and alert,
“First, let’s search the area for edible wild fruits. Food is the top priority.”
With that, she drew her dagger and moved swiftly, scouting the area for berries and plants that could be eaten.
Not wanting to be outdone, Chong Yue followed suit, searching the undergrowth.
Before long, he found a bush laden with bright red berries, each one plump and giving off an enticing fragrance.
“Hey, Eika! These berries look edible. What do you think?”
He picked one of the berries, but instead of eating it, he handed it to Eika for inspection.
Eika took the berry, sniffing it carefully before using her dagger to make a small cut, examining the color of the flesh and the juice.
“The scent is fresh, no pungent odor. The flesh looks tender.”
She glanced at Chong Yue,
“Hold out your hand.”
“Huh? Why?”
Chong Yue asked suspiciously but slowly extended his hand.
Without another word, Eika smeared a bit of the berry juice on the back of his hand.
“Wait five minutes. If you feel any irritation or see any reaction, let me know.”
With that, she turned and continued searching for other edible plants without looking back.
“So I’m the guinea pig, huh?”
Chong Yue sighed and shook his head, resigned to his fate.
Five minutes passed, and nothing happened. No itching, no redness.
“It looks like the berries are safe to eat,” Eika said confidently.
“Hey!I am mentally hurt here?”
Chong Yue grumbled about being the test subject but began carefully picking the berries and placing them in his backpack.
With the food problem temporarily solved, they turned their attention to crafting simple weapons for defense.
Although Eika’s dagger was sharp, it wouldn’t be enough against larger creatures.
They needed better tools to survive what lay ahead.
Chong Yue had an idea and gathered several sturdy, straight branches from nearby. Using Eika’s dagger, he sharpened the ends into makeshift wooden spears.
He swung one experimentally, then thrust it against a tree trunk. The sharpened tip sank deep into the bark.
“Not bad… Pretty decent power.”
Satisfied, he nodded and crafted a few more, handing several to Eika.
Eika took the spears, giving one a light swing. Her movements were swift and precise, the spear whistling through the air.
“Crude, but they’ll do for self-defense.”
She assessed calmly, then slung the spears over her back, smoothly sheathing her dagger at her waist.
Watching her efficient, agile movements, Chong Yue couldn’t help but remark,
“You’re pretty impressive. Even with such serious injuries, you’re still this nimble. What were you before all this?”
Eika didn’t answer, merely giving him a cold glance.
She paused, a complicated look briefly flashing in her eyes before her expression returned to its usual coldness.
Once they were ready, they packed their backpacks, taking the berries and wooden spears with them.
Chong Yue pointed to the nearby stream and suggested,
“If we follow the stream upstream, at least we won’t have to worry about water.”
Eika nodded,
“And the stream leads toward Titan’s Peak.”
Her violet eyes gleamed with determination, a silent resolve evident in her stance.
“Let’s go. Whatever lies ahead, we need to find out.”
With a resolute look in his eyes, Chong Yue took the lead, stepping forward.
Eika followed closely behind.
The two of them walked slowly along the gently flowing stream, its crystal-clear water reflecting their weary yet resolute figures.
Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves above, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the ground. The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and foliage.
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They continued along the stream, eating the berries to stave off hunger. The sweet and sour juice tingled on their tongues, easing their hunger but leaving them far from satisfied.
“These berries taste good, but they’re not filling at all…”
Chong Yue complained with a wry smile, his eyes drifting longingly to the sky.
“If only we had some meat.”
Eika responded coldly,
“Save your breath and conserve your energy.”
Chong Yue sighed helplessly.
They walked for what felt like hours before finally emerging from the dense forest.
Their view suddenly expanded as they stepped into a vast, open plain.
Endless green grass stretched out before them, rippling in the wind like waves on the ocean.
The gentle breeze rustled the grass, creating a soft whispering sound as sunlight bathed the landscape in vibrant green.
In the distance, a chain of mountains encircled the plain like a natural fortress.
Amidst those peaks, Titan’s Peak towered above them all, piercing the sky like a colossal pillar that connected earth to heaven.
Amidst the tranquil and awe-inspiring landscape, a low, rhythmic chewing sound suddenly echoed across the plain.
Chong Yue and Eika turned towards the source of the noise.
There, scattered across the vast grasslands, was a herd of strange creatures.
They were massive and muscular, standing about two meters tall and four meters long. Their bodies were covered in dense, curly wool of a pale yellow hue, soft and fluffy like cotton.
Their heads and horns resembled those of bulls, with thick, curved horns that arched outward, giving them a majestic and powerful appearance.
These creatures moved in groups, grazing leisurely on the lush grass. Occasionally, they would raise their heads, their deep, gentle eyes gazing calmly into the distance.
Their movements were slow and graceful, their fluffy, pom-pom-like tails swaying gently as they walked, exuding a sense of peace and tranquility.
“What are those things?”
Chong Yue’s eyes widened, filled with curiosity and wonder.
“They look like a mix between sheep and cattle… but they’re much bigger, and those horns are enormous…”
Eika didn’t answer. Her eyes remained cautious, observing the strange creatures intently.
Just then, the largest of the herd slowly raised its head, its majestic horns catching the sunlight.
Its deep, gentle eyes swept over Chong Yue and Eika, filled with curiosity but showing no signs of hostility.
Chong Yue held his breath, careful not to make a sound that might startle the massive creatures.
Eika narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze cautious and contemplative.
The giant beast observed them for a few seconds before slowly lowering its head, resuming its leisurely grazing.
Its companions continued to graze peacefully as well, completely unbothered by the presence of the two strangers.
“They… don’t seem hostile?”
Chong Yue whispered, curiosity evident in his eyes,
“To be safe, we should go around them.”
Eika nodded, following his lead.
Chong Yue couldn’t help but glance back at the massive, gentle creatures as they peacefully grazed, his mind swirling with curiosity and confusion.
He murmured under his breath,
“They look nothing like any animal from Earth…”
After carefully skirting around the herd, they returned to the stream and continued following its course toward Titan’s Peak.
They walked for what felt like hours, the sun climbing high into the sky, its scorching rays beating down on the expansive plain.
Chong Yue and Eika continued along the stream, its flowing water bringing a refreshing coolness to the air.
They walked in silence, eyes sharp and vigilant as they scanned their surroundings.
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble, a faint vibration rippling through the soil beneath their feet.
Chong Yue froze, his brows furrowing as he muttered,
“An earthquake?”
“No… This isn’t an earthquake.”
Eika’s eyes sharpened, her ears twitching slightly as if listening to a distant sound.
Her head snapped around, shock flashing in her violet eyes,
“Look!”
Chong Yue followed her gaze and turned around.
In the distance, across the vast plain, a massive cloud of dust surged towards them like an oncoming storm.
The herd of sheep-bull creatures that had been peacefully grazing moments ago were now stampeding at full speed straight towards them!
Their eyes were wide with terror and panic, their massive curved horns glinting ominously under the sunlight. Their dense, woolly fur billowed wildly as they ran.
Each one moved like an uncontrollable beast, their enormous bodies tearing up the earth beneath them, leaving deep gouges in the ground.
The earth shook violently, the thunderous sound of their stampede rolling across the plain with a crushing, destructive force.
“What the hell? Why are they suddenly stampeding?!”
Chong Yue’s eyes widened in shock, his face pale with fear,
“Did something scare them?”
Eika’s expression darkened, her eyes cold and piercing.
Her instincts screamed that something was chasing those creatures.
“Look behind them!”
Eika raised her arm abruptly, pointing behind the charging herd, her voice cold and tense.
Chong Yue followed her gaze, and his blood ran cold.
Behind the stampeding herd, shrouded in a cloud of dust, a pack of pitch-black monsters was chasing them relentlessly.
Their forms flickered in and out of view under the sunlight, their movements swift and predatory.
They were built like wolves but larger than tigers, their limbs long and muscular, built for speed and power.
Their jet-black fur gleamed with a metallic sheen, their grotesque faces lined with rows of razor-sharp fangs.
Their blood-red eyes burned with icy malice and killing intent.
They ran with terrifying speed, their shadows flashing across the plains like streaks of black lightning.
One of the beasts lunged at a lagging sheep-bull creature with horrifying speed.
“ROAR—!”
With a guttural, raspy growl, the black monster opened its massive, fang-filled jaws and sank its teeth into the creature’s neck.
Blood sprayed into the air as the sheep-bull creature let out a heart-wrenching scream before its massive body was torn apart, collapsing heavily to the ground in a cloud of dust.
“What… the hell… are those things?!”
Chong Yue’s body went cold, his eyes wide with horror and disbelief.
“They look like wolves… or dogs… but they’re the size of tigers… They look like monsters straight out of hell!”
“No way… Are those… Hellhounds?”
His pupils contracted as cold sweat drenched his back, his heart pounding wildly with fear and anxiety.
“We’re screwed… Those monsters are chasing the herd… and the herd is charging right at us!”
The realization of the impending crisis struck him like a bolt of lightning.
“Run!” Chong Yue shouted.
“To the valley ahead!”
Without hesitation, Eika followed Chong Yue’s lead, the two of them sprinting towards the forested valley.
They ran with every ounce of strength they had, branches and leaves crunching beneath their feet as they charged into the woods.
“ROAR—!”
A wave of icy killing intent washed over them as one of the Hellhounds spotted them.
With a feral snarl, it leaped out from the pack, barreling straight towards them.
“Damn it!”
Chong Yue realized they had been targeted.
They dashed into the dense woods within the valley, branches and leaves crackling underfoot.
Above them, the canopy interlocked, blocking out the sunlight and plunging the forest into a dim, oppressive gloom.
But the Hellhound didn’t give up the chase. It let out a low, menacing growl as it entered the forest, its blood-red eyes glowing ominously in the darkness.
Its limbs were powerful and agile, claws tearing into the earth as it bounded forward, kicking up dust and leaves. Its speed was terrifyingly relentless.
Chong Yue gritted his teeth, his breaths ragged, sweat pouring down his face and soaking his back.
He glanced over his shoulder,
“Damn! It’s catching up!”
His mind raced,
“There’s no choice… We have to fight it!”
Chong Yue forced himself to stay calm, turning around and raising his makeshift spear.
“Eika, get up in that tree. I’ll distract it. When you see an opening, hit it hard!”
Eika’s eyes flashed with understanding. Without a word, she nodded and swiftly climbed up the nearest tree, moving with the agility of a cat.
Chong Yue tightened his grip on the wooden spear, his eyes locked on the Hellhound as it charged toward him, its jaws wide open, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs.
He took a deep breath, his heart pounding.
“Alright… Let’s do this.”
The Hellhound’s blood-red eyes locked onto Chong Yue, a low, guttural growl rumbling from its throat.
Its massive jaws opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs, saliva dripping thickly from its mouth.
Its eyes blazed with ferocity and murderous intent.
“ROAR—!”
With an ear-splitting roar, the Hellhound lunged forward.
It moved like lightning, its huge body cutting through the air, claws extended and aimed straight at Chong Yue’s throat.
“So fast!”
Chong Yue’s pupils contracted, his heart pounding wildly, but he didn’t retreat. Instead, he swiftly sidestepped, narrowly dodging the deadly claws.
The Hellhound missed its target, its huge body twisting mid-air, its claws slashing through the wind with a sharp whistle.
Chong Yue seized the opening and thrust his wooden spear forward, aiming for the Hellhound’s neck.
“Die!”
“Thud—!”
The spear pierced the Hellhound’s neck, black blood spurting from the wound.
“ROAR—!”
The Hellhound howled in pain, fury igniting in its crimson eyes.
It thrashed violently, its enormous strength snapping the wooden spear like a twig.
With a fierce swing of its massive body, it slammed into Chong Yue.
“Ugh—!”
The impact sent Chong Yue flying backward, his body crashing hard against a tree trunk. Pain exploded in his chest, stealing his breath away.
His vision blurred, darkness threatening to overtake him, but he gritted his teeth, clinging desperately to consciousness.
From her perch in the tree, Eika’s eyes turned cold as ice.
She saw her chance and leaped from the branch, her movements swift and precise.
In her hands was a sharpened wooden spear, aimed directly at the Hellhound’s exposed back.
“Thud—!”
The spear drove deep into the back of the Hellhound’s neck, black blood spurting from the wound.
Eika wrapped her legs tightly around the Hellhound’s back, riding it like a raging bull.
With all her strength, she drove the spear downward, trying to sever its spine.
“ROAR—!”
The Hellhound howled in agony, its massive body thrashing wildly in pain.
It shook its head violently, ramming into tree trunks in a frenzy, desperately trying to shake Eika off its back.
Weakened by her previous injuries, Eika couldn’t hold on for long and was thrown through the air.
She crashed hard onto the ground. Before she could get up, the Hellhound lunged at her, its fangs aimed straight for her throat.
“So… this is the end?”
A flash of despair crossed Eika’s eyes, unwillingness and defiance shining in her gaze.
Just then, Chong Yue snapped out of his pain-induced daze, adrenaline surging through his body.
With a roar, he charged at the beast.
Gripping the last of his makeshift spears, he gritted his teeth and plunged it into the Hellhound’s left eye.
“Squelch—!”
The spear burst through the Hellhound’s eyeball, shattering it as blood gushed out.
The Hellhound roared in pain, thrashing violently as its body convulsed in agony.
Freed from the crushing weight of its paw, Eika rolled away and sprang to her feet.
Without hesitation, she drew her dagger and drove it into the Hellhound’s right eye.
“Squelch—!”
The sharp blade punctured the eye, a spray of blood splattering across her face.
The Hellhound let out a bone-chilling howl, its massive body convulsing as it thrashed about in blind agony.
Its limbs twitched a few more times before it collapsed heavily to the ground, finally falling still.
Their clothes were soaked in blood, a mix of the beast’s and their own.
They were battered, exhausted, but alive.
Chong Yue slowly stood up, wiping the blood from his face.
“We made a pretty good team.”
He forced a grin, stubborn determination gleaming in his eyes.
“This isn’t a safe place to rest.”
Eika’s eyes were cold, and she struggled to her feet, her body swaying slightly.
“Its pack might track us by scent. We have to leave immediately.”
“Let’s go!”
Without another word, they turned and vanished into the shadows of the forest.
They moved cautiously through the depths of the valley, the trees thinning out as the air grew colder and damper.
The golden hues of sunset painted the treetops as dusk settled in.
Distant cries of wild beasts echoed through the woods, giving the place an eerie atmosphere.
Chong Yue clutched his side, his steps faltering, his face pale and drawn.
During the brutal fight with the Hellhound, he had slammed into a tree trunk. It wasn’t a fatal injury, but the pain was excruciating.
“Ouch… Damn, that hurts!”
He grimaced, his face twisted in pain.
“Stupid mutt… That headbutt was no joke.”
Panting heavily, he looked up at the sky. The sun was sinking behind the mountain ridge, and darkness was fast approaching.
“It’s getting late. We should set up camp here.”
But Eika didn’t respond.
Chong Yue paused, a sense of unease washing over him. He turned around.
Eika’s face was pale, her lips dry and cracked, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
Her steps were shaky, and before he could react, her knees buckled, and she collapsed heavily to the ground.
“Hey! Eika!”
Chong Yue’s expression changed dramatically as he rushed over, dropping to his knees beside her, his hands gripping her shoulders.
“Hey! What’s wrong? Wake up!”
Eika’s eyes were shut tight, her breathing rapid and shallow, pain contorting her face.
A chill ran down Chong Yue’s spine. He pressed his hand to her forehead.
“So hot… She’s burning up!”
His face paled as panic set in. Hastily, he tore open the fabric around her right thigh, peeling away the blood-soaked bandages.
Underneath, the wound was swollen and inflamed, yellow pus seeping from the gash.
The skin around it was an angry mix of red and purple, emitting a faint, sickly-sweet stench of rot.
His heart sank.
“Damn it… The wound is infected!”
“Damn it! The wound’s infected!”
Chong Yue gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with worry and panic.
“At this rate, the infection will spread… It could be fatal!”
His hands trembled slightly as he struggled to keep calm.
“What do I do now? We don’t have any medicine!”
His eyes darted around, desperately searching for anything useful, but they were surrounded by nothing but trees and dirt.
No medicine, no disinfectant, not even basic bandages—they had used up everything.
“Damn it… Am I really going to watch her die right in front of me?”
His face darkened, helplessness sinking into his heart.
Just then, Eika’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze unfocused and weak.
She lifted her head slightly, her voice barely above a whisper,
“Cut… cut off my leg…”
“What did you just say?!”
Chong Yue heard her words clearly, but they shocked him to his core.
His mind went blank, his body frozen in place.
He couldn’t believe it—this calm, decisive girl was telling him to amputate her leg so coldly.
He forced himself to think rationally. Without medicine, the only way to save her life was to amputate the infected limb.
Swallowing his fear, Chong Yue began to prepare.
He started a fire, heating Eika’s dagger over the flames to sterilize it.
Using his own shirt, he tied a tourniquet tightly around Eika’s upper thigh to stem the blood flow.
To prevent her from biting her tongue from the pain, he placed a thick stick between her teeth.
Chong Yue’s face was pale but resolute as he whispered,
“I’m going to start now…”
Eika was too weak to respond, her eyes half-closed, her breathing shallow.
Chong Yue forced himself to stay calm, his brows knitted tightly as he positioned the heated blade.
His hands were steady, but his heart was pounding violently.
Just as the blade was about to touch her skin, a rustling noise came from the nearby bushes.