《Conqueror of the Lost World》 Chapter 1: Start of a Journey POV Unknow: I need to recall my memory before I lose that fragment too. What was it again? Ah, yes. In the dangerous expanse of the Graham Forest, more commonly known as the Black Wilds, lived monsters, unknown diseases, and horrors beyond human comprehension was surrounded by four kingdoms. The Four Corners of Graham Forest To the East: On the eastern edge of the forest stands the Kingdom of Britannia, a lively but beastly domain under the rule of the Beast Empire. Whether the royal family still holds power is unknown, but this kingdom thrives with a rich tapestry of creatures and cultures. Here are some of its unique inhabitants: Common Species: Mythical Creatures: Hybrids and Elementals:
To the West: The western side is home to the Human Empire, a network of self-governing nations bound under allegiance to the Crown. Large-scale wars are rare, because no one wants the hunting dogs of the crown hunting them for now. but smaller atrocities occur unchecked. The Gisal Kingdom, bordering the forest, is renowned for its warrior culture. Adventurers from across the Human Empire flock here, seeking glory, wealth, or death within the depths of the Black Wilds.
To the North: To the north lies the Demon Empire, a brutal land where strength dictates status. The weak are oppressed or discarded, while the strong live lives of indulgence and privilege. Close to the forest lies Kreabohan, a kingdom ruled by the same cutthroat hierarchy. Here, the phrase "survival of the fittest" isn''t just a philosophy¡ªit''s law. The Demon Empire teems with terrifying creatures, including: Otherworldly Beings:If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Unique Demon Creations:
To the South: The southern lands belong to the Elven Empire, a realm governed by a culture similar to that of the demons but with distinct differences. Near the edge of the forest lies the Kingdom of Lana Esari, where elves place an unwavering emphasis on strength. Lowborns face constant ridicule and scorn until they can prove their worth. However, in this society, strength commands respect¡ªno matter your origins. Elven society is diverse, including: Classic Types: Unique Subtypes: Hybrid Types: Other Potential Inhabitants:
{AN: Worldbuilding is essential to any story. Whether you dive into these details or not, they shape the journey ahead.} Then, it noticed a disturbance in the forest. --------------------- At the beginning of any journey, there should be theatrics, right? But did it even matter? ¡°No!¡± he shouted, though no one could hear him. Then, without warning, a scene unfolded¡ªa moment so strange it defied explanation. A boy¡¯s body hurtled through the air, crashing through the forest''s small patches of grass. He had come from nowhere and landed in nowhere. With a resounding ¡°Patak!¡± his body slammed into the ground. For the boy, the events were incomprehensible. Not that he could process it¡ªhe was unconscious. Simple as that. After sometime he woke up¡­ Chapter 2: The Unraveling "Order or Chaos¡ªwhich do you believe will prevail when all comes to an end? Or perhaps, it is neither. Could it be that the strongest shall remain, transcending both order and chaos? Yet, strength itself is subjective. Is it the brute force to endure, or the resilience to adapt? Is it the power to impose order, or the audacity to embrace chaos? When the final curtain falls, perhaps it is not a question of which prevails, but whether the struggle between them is the essence of existence itself. For in the dance of order and chaos, we may find not an answer, but the eternal rhythm of being." By Author At the beginning of any journey, there should be theatrics, right? But does it really matter? ¡°No!¡± he shouted, though no one heard him. Who was he yelling at? Was it the universe, fate, or himself? Perhaps he was simply yelling for the sake of it. Truly, who could say? Then it happened¡ªa sound, sharp and unnatural, broke the silence as space itself fractured. From this rupture, creatures stirred, drawn to the disturbance. These beings were not of one origin but a convergence of anomalies, each commanding respect through their sheer strength. Yet, they were indifferent that day. When they saw the source of the disturbance¡ªa foreign soul breaching their realm¡ªthey lost interest. After all, this was not the first time in their millennia-long existence that they had witnessed such a phenomenon. But For a human observer, the unfolding scene defied all logic. A moment so strange it defied explanation. A boy, no older than 14 or 15, was hurled through the crack in space, propelled at unimaginable speed. His descent was so swift that, had he been an ordinary human, the force would have turned his insides to pulp on impact. Yet, he wasn¡¯t ordinary. He looked human, but appearances can be deceiving. With a resounding thud, he struck the ground. The earth beneath him cracked, buckled, and then, strangely, rebounded back to normal as if nothing had happened. This was no ordinary place; this was the Forest of Graham, a realm far stranger than the boy himself. As for the boy, the events were beyond his understanding. Not that it mattered¡ªhe was unconscious. Simple as that. ------------------------------- After some time, the boy stirred awake. First, his fingers twitched, then his eyes fluttered. A low groan escaped his lips¡ª¡°Ugh.¡± Slowly, his eyes opened, but darkness greeted him. [AN: As this is all happening, his mind telling his eyes are moving but it is not moving at all] He tried to focus, to make sense of his surroundings, but his vision failed him. Were his eyes unable to adapt? Or was something obstructing his sight? Fear¡ªthat''s what anyone would feel if suddenly stripped of their vision. But the boy felt nothing. I told you, he wasn¡¯t ordinary. He was something unique, something not of this world. He didn¡¯t belong here.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Rising from the ground where he had been lying, he paused and listened. The wind whispered, leaves rustled as it passed through the trees, and the earth hummed softly beneath him. He crouched, placing his hands on the ground, feeling the vibrations of life below¡ªthe wriggling of tiny insects moving through the soil. Then, he sat cross-legged, entering a meditative state. He focused inward, channeling his energy, letting it flow through his body and outward, seeking any signs of damage. What he discovered left him astonished. Internally, his body was pristine. His heart, kidneys, and energy points¡ªall functioning perfectly. But externally? His body was ruined beyond comprehension. Every orifice of his body was sealed shut. No nostrils to breathe, no eyes to see, no pores on his skin¡ªnothing. His surface was impossibly smooth, unnaturally clean. It was disturbing. Deeply, undeniably disturbing. ------------------------------ Before we return to the boy, let¡¯s examine the place where he was transported: the Graham Forest, also known as the Black Wilds. Only 20% of this vast, enigmatic forest has been explored, and even the anomalies dare not venture too deeply into its heart. The boy¡¯s arrival point was on the eastern edge of the forest, near the Kingdom of Britannia. Despite their power, Britannia¡¯s forces have only managed to chart 3% of the forest before their teams were utterly annihilated¡ªa feat not easily accomplished. The boy, however, found himself at the center of the eastern expanse. This specific location was known as Arlam¡¯s Atoll, a strange and foreboding land. It doesn¡¯t harm its inhabitants directly, but it doesn¡¯t let them leave either¡ªwhether they are living or not. Worse still, it toys with their minds, stripping away sanity piece by piece. The rule here is simple: never fall asleep. But the boy didn¡¯t know that. Arlam¡¯s Atoll is said to be under the dominion of Zlegaas, an enigmatic entity. Monster or beast¡ªno one truly knows. How its name became known is another mystery, though the anomalies are rumored to have spread the tale. Now is not the time to linger on the past or unravel these secrets. Instead, let¡¯s return our focus to the boy himself. --------------- As he channeled energy through his body, his transformation began. His skin started to repair itself, regenerating in patches until it was whole again. His eyes grew back, their vacant sockets gradually filling with life. His ears unfolded, returning to their natural shape, and his hair, once scattered on the ground, regrew into its familiar blackish brown strands. Pores appeared across his smooth skin, and soon, a small slit formed on his face¡ªa mouth. At first, it was tiny, but it expanded steadily, taking on a human shape. A tongue sprouted, followed by teeth, and little by little, his sense of taste returned. When he finally looked around, he was astonished. The forest was... normal. No ominous signs, no immediate danger. This place, if only he realized, only reacts to those who sleep. While awake, it remains passive. But the boy didn¡¯t know that yet. He stood, stretching his limbs and exhaling a long sigh of relief. He could feel again, see again, taste again. The sensation was a small comfort after the ordeal he had just endured. His appearance was unremarkable: brown eyes, black hair, and Whitish Brown Skin. He wore simple clothing¡ªa pair of blue pants and a black t-shirt. No armor, no tools, nothing. ¡°Now,¡± he muttered, scanning the area, ¡°where did he dump me this time?¡± Closing his eyes, he extended his senses, reaching out to detect anything nearby. ¡°Just animals, I guess.¡± But his mind lingered on the unsettling thought: what had happened to him? His body, mutilated and reformed, bore the marks of interference¡ªintentional and deliberate. Someone or something had done this to him, and he didn¡¯t even know who. Granted, he¡¯d been unconscious, but still... what the hell? ¡°Another thing to worry about,¡± he sighed. Shaking off the thought, he took a step forward. ¡°Let¡¯s just get moving for now.¡± ------------------------------------ Daily Updates will On Patreon! Link: patreon.com/TenaciousJay002 We Are Currently 8 Chapters Ahead. Chapter 3: Monkey Business You are who you chose to be. {TenaciousJay} But his mind lingered on the unsettling thought: what had happened to him? His body, mutilated and reformed, bore the marks of interference¡ªintentional and deliberate. Someone or something had done this to him, and he didn¡¯t even know who. Granted, he¡¯d been unconscious, but still... what the hell? ¡°Another thing to worry about,¡± he sighed. Shaking off the thought, he took a step forward and decided to look around. ----------- This was an intriguing place. Wherever he had been summoned, it seemed to be a vast open field, completely exposed with no shade or cover. Strangely, this clearing was surrounded on all sides by dense jungle, its towering trees forming an imposing natural barrier. ¡°I can only see the forest around me and nothing else,¡± he muttered, his voice breaking the eerie silence. He pondered his next move. Should I use my map? Or simply wander and let fate guide me? Fate¡ªa concept as fleeting as it was illusory. This time, he decided to embrace it. No plans, no destinations, just the raw freedom of moving wherever the path might lead. ¡°Let¡¯s see where fate takes me,¡± he said with a faint smile, setting off. ----------- As he left the patch of open ground behind, the terrain shifted dramatically. Before him lay a dense jungle, cloaked in shadows. Only thin beams of light filtered through the canopy, illuminating patches of the forest floor wherever they fell. Despite the darkness, the path ahead remained traversable¡ªmanageable even for an ordinary traveler. Standing at the edge of the forest, he paused. Shouldn¡¯t one know where they¡¯re going before plunging into the unknown? He didn¡¯t have an answer. ¡°Well,¡± he muttered with a shrug, ¡°when in doubt, use the oldest trick in the book.¡± He placed a finger in his mouth, wetting it thoroughly before pulling it out with a soft pop. Raising his hand high, he waited, feeling the faint brush of a cool breeze against his index finger. ¡°So, the wind¡¯s coming from this direction.¡± Let¡¯s see where it leads, What¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡± With that, he stepped forward. A crisp crunch sounded beneath his foot, the dry foliage snapping under his weight. A sudden gust of air swept past him, but he paid it no mind, already shifting to his next step. As he moved deeper into the forest, something stirred within him¡ªa restlessness, a desire for freedom. On impulse, he squatted slightly and then launched himself into the air with a powerful leap. The ground fell away beneath him as he burst through the trees, breaking into the open sky. The vast expanse unfolded around him, and for a brief, exhilarating moment, he was weightless.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Haahaha!¡± he laughed, the sound raw and unrestrained. ¡°It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve traveled like this... alone and free.¡± He floated in the sky, savoring the moment, lost in its trance-like simplicity. But the sky couldn¡¯t hold him forever. Gravity, relentless and inevitable, began to pull him back. He descended rapidly, cutting through the air like a comet streaking toward the earth. As he landed, the ground beneath him caved slightly under the force, only to rebound moments later, leaving no trace of his impact. It was as if the forest refused to acknowledge his presence, resetting itself to an unbroken state. Curious. The thought flickered through his mind. How and why? Questions worth pondering, but not now. For now, he was surrounded. As he focused, his senses sharpened, revealing the forest''s inhabitants¡ªcreatures that seemed as ancient as the land itself, their forms steeped in a timeless menace. From the shadows emerged monkeys, though to call them such felt woefully insufficient. Their tongues slithered like snakes, darting out with unsettling precision. Their hands, devoid of fingers, bore sharp, curved claws that gleamed faintly in the dappled light. Most unnerving of all were their eyes, constantly shifting through a kaleidoscope of colors, each transition hypnotic and disorienting. To meet their gaze was to risk losing oneself entirely, falling into a trance so deep it might claim your life. For a normal person, the sheer oppressive aura of these creatures would have been enough to end them. But the boy was far from normal. ¡°Aa... umm... hello?¡± he ventured, his tone deliberately casual, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Maybe they¡¯re friendly, he thought, his gaze sweeping over their strange forms. Look at them¡ªso unique, so¡­ Snaeky? The claws, the serpentine tongues, the ever-changing eyes¡ªthey all contributed to a kind of haunting allure. ¡°Truly beautiful creatures,¡± he murmured, unsure if he meant it or was merely trying to convince himself. ====================== Moments later, one of the largest among them stepped forward. His sheer size and commanding presence made it clear¡ªthis one was in charge. He motioned for the others, perhaps his mate or companions, to stay back, asserting his authority with a guttural sound that was an unsettling blend of monkey-like hoots and snake-like hisses. ¡°Ook ook, ssss-psss!¡± he barked, the strange cadence reverberating through the air. And within moments the others obeyed, forming a loose circle around the boy, their shifting eyes glinting with intent. The leader seemed to deliberate for a moment before striding toward him, exuding both menace and curiosity. ¡°Grrrraaaasssshh!¡± he growled, his tone guttural yet oddly articulate. ¡°Huh¡­¡± the boy muttered, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Is he... trying to talk to me?¡± But¡­ ¡®I can¡¯t understand Monkey.¡¯ Truly a shame. They stared at each other for a moment, the silence stretching into something almost comical. The boy tilted his head slightly to the left, squinting in mild confusion. The leader mimicked the gesture, tilting his own head to the right, his expression equally puzzled. Intrigued, the boy leaned to the right. The monkey leaned to the left. ¡°Hu hu!¡± the leader hooted again, his tone rising as if asking a question. ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t speak Goril... uh?¡± The boy paused mid-sentence, his senses catching the subtle shift in the air. From behind him, another monkey crept closer, its movements eerily silent, claws poised to strike. Sneak attack? The boy smirked inwardly. Impressive. These aren¡¯t your average animals. The leader¡¯s eyes flickered with understanding, realizing his comrade had been noticed. With a sharp hiss, he lunged forward, coordinating the assault. The boy didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Clank!¡± In one fluid motion, he caught both attacking monkeys by their clawed hands, their momentum useless against his grip. Twisting deftly, he flung them into one another, disrupting whatever strategy they¡¯d been concocting. A piercing shriek erupted from the circle¡ªa high-pitched, ¡°Eeeeeek!¡±¡ªthat resonated through the forest. Ah, a war cry, he thought, amused. How very theatrical. This place keeps getting more interesting by the second. ----------------------------- Daily Updates will On Patreon! Link: patreon.com/TenaciousJay002 Chapter 4: The Poisoned Gift "Never lose hope in your dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem." Author: In one fluid motion, he caught both attacking monkeys by their clawed hands, their momentum useless against his grip. Twisting deftly, he flung them into one another, disrupting whatever strategy they¡¯d been concocting. The collision sent the two tumbling, but their fall was hardly the end of it. From the shadows emerged two more, their tactics shifting. This time, they didn¡¯t swipe with claws but bared their venomous fangs, hissing as they spat poison in deadly arcs. ¡°Hsss... hsss...¡± He evaded with calculated precision, his movements so minimal they seemed effortless. Yet just as he dodged the last of the venomous streams, the leader struck¡ªa hulking mass that appeared from behind with unsettling speed. ¡°Wow,¡± the boy muttered, his voice laced with surprise as the leader suddenly lunged forward and wrapped him in a bone-crushing bear hug. Before he could react, a vaporous spray of poison enveloped his face, forcing its way into his lungs. The boy inhaled voluntarily, and the effects were immediate. It started in his throat, a searing burn that spread like wildfire. As the toxin coursed through him, it felt as though molten metal had been poured into his veins. His body convulsed as unbearable agony consumed him. ¡°AAAA...uggh!¡± the boy screamed, his agonized cry echoing through the forest, cutting through the silence like a blade. With a disdainful snarl, the monkey hurled him aside, his body landing in a crumpled heap. Status of the boy: Unknown. Status of the monkey: Hungry. Because, of course, the damn monkeys were always hungry. ¡°Ho Ho Ho, hos hos hos,¡± came the unsettling cry¡ªa guttural mixture of monkey chittering and snake-like hissing. It reverberated through the clearing, a twisted melody of celebration. Yes, this was a feast¡ªa rare, jubilant moment for these creatures. After what seemed like a millennium of famine, they would finally taste something... meaty. ¡°Ho Ho Ho, hs hsss hss,¡± they continued, their eerie chorus filling the air. As the sound faded, the leader stepped forward, his hulking frame casting an imposing shadow over the boy. His nostrils flared, each exhale puffing out a plume of heated breath. With three steps left, the leader felt a swell of pride, his thoughts basking in his dominance. On the second step, his mind wandered to their perpetual hunger, gnawing at their very existence. On the final step, his focus narrowed to one simple, primal decision: Where shall I take the first bite? From his head? His chest? Or perhaps those tender, inviting hands¡­ Wait, hands?This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Grrrghhh.¡± A sickening gushing sound tore through the moment. ¡°Crunch.¡± And Crushed his Heart. The leader¡¯s massive body slumped forward, hitting the ground with a resounding thud. Standing behind him was the boy, his arms drenched in crimson. The boy¡¯s lips curved into a wide, unsettling grin, and a cold laugh escaped his throat. ¡°Hahahaha¡­ Now this is fun!¡± The circle of creatures froze, their collective breath caught in their throats. What had just happened? Their Alpha, felled in an instant. A piercing shriek erupted from Fallen Alpha¡ªa high-pitched, ¡°Eeeeeek!¡±¡ªthat resonated through the forest. Ah, a war cry, he thought, amused. How very theatrical. You can¡¯t even die alone how very theatrical indeed. As the boy redid himself, for a blood bath that is about to follow. ---------------- As the boy was besieged by the frenzied horde of crazed monkeys, chaos swirled around him. ¡°Shling!¡± The sharp sound of metal-on-metal rang out, except one combatant wielded no weapons. One set of iron claws met nothing but the boy¡¯s bare hands, yet he stopped the attack cold. A feat in itself¡ªa testament to the unyielding strength that radiated from his deceptively ordinary form. With a single, dismissive motion, he slapped the attacking monkey across the face, sending it sprawling. Wasting no time, he charged toward a cluster of the creatures, where a group had already formed, their intent clear and menacing. From the shadows, two monkeys launched themselves at him in unison, their attack veiled in a cloud of poisonous vapors¡ªa tactic designed to cripple. Yet instead of panicked screams, a wholly different sound filled the air. ¡°Nfffff,¡± the boy inhaled deeply the fucking gas, drawing the toxic mist into his lungs as if savoring it. The attacking monkeys paused, stunned by the sight. They awaited the telltale convulsions, the agonized cries of their prey succumbing to the venom. But no such thing came. Instead, the boy straightened and grinned. Before they could react, he crouched low, muscles coiled like a spring, and launched himself into the air. In a blur of movement, he closed the gap between them and, with brutal efficiency, crushed their skulls in his hands. The wet splatter of brains and bone painted the ground in grisly streaks. Without hesitation, the boy rose from the carnage, his path unbroken, his focus unshaken. He resumed his march toward the earlier group, his expression one of pure exhilaration. The group of monkeys, witnessing the carnage, remained eerily calm. No panic, no retreat¡ªjust calculated observation, their shifting eyes tracking the boy as he charged toward them like a ravenous predator. The boy noticed their peculiar stillness, a sharp contrast to their earlier frenzy. But he dismissed it with a smirk. What could a pack of beasts possibly do to me? Their attacks no longer stung, their claws and tactics rendered meaningless against him. As he closed the distance, ready to strike, something shifted. In an instant, his world turned upside down¡ªliterally. The ground beneath his feet no longer felt solid. His balance wavered, and before he could even process what was happening, everything around him flipped. The forest canopy was now below him, and the earth hung above. Gravity twisted into chaos, and he was powerless to resist its pull. The last thing he heard, echoing through this bizarre distortion, was a guttural, mocking chorus: ¡°Uf UF UF Uf!¡± The monkeys'' laughter¡ªgleeful, derisive, and triumphant¡ªrang in his ears as the world spiraled into madness. ============================= Daily Updates will On Patreon! Link: patreon.com/TenaciousJay002 Chapter 5: An Anomaly If you are firm on something then do it, and do not look back but only look back when you are done. Author: "Ooo, a mind attack," he muttered, a trace of amusement in his voice. Yet, he felt no telepathic intrusion¡ªnothing probing his thoughts or breaching his mental defenses. No, this was something else entirely. Something different. Their mental assaults didn''t affect him directly, but they warped the environment around him in subtle, disconcerting ways. "Is this a Reality Marble?" However, unlike those, this felt crude, unstable even. Also, he felt something else¡ªsomething beyond the attack¡ªtugging at the edges of his biology, subtly interfering with his body. Before, someone could interfere in his fight against the monkeys. The boy With a single swipe of his hand, he shattered their crude construct. The distorted reality trembled, cracked, and snapped back into place as though rebounding from the strain. While the attack was unique, it demanded a heavy price from its user¡ªa sacrifice, no doubt. "But¡­ that big monkey I killed earlier seemed capable of something like this. These others, though¡ªthey''re¡­ asleep?" I guess that''s the sacrifice. As He glanced around, confusion creeping into his thoughts. "And why the fuck am I on the ground?" Shaking off his daze, he noticed them¡ªtendrils, slithering across his body. Some had already latched onto him, while others crept closer, coiling with unnerving intent, trying to reshape him. With swift, precise movements, he severed the tendrils wrapped around him, dodging others that lunged in his direction. "Swoosh" he launched himself skyward, His body cutting cleanly through the air as he observed the tendrils retreating below, some slinking back into the ground as if absorbed. Curious. As he hovered above, he noticed a disturbing sight¡ªtendrils erupting from the soil beneath the unconscious monkeys, twisting and writhing with an eerie intelligence. They moved like serpents, coiling around the limp forms with a deliberate grace. Yet there was no violence¡ªno screams, no frantic struggle, only an unnerving stillness. The transformation was surreal, almost serene. The tendrils seeped into their flesh like roots burrowing into rich earth. Their fur softened into moss, their limbs hardened into bark, and their once-lively eyes now glowed with a tranquil green hue. Within moments, the monkeys no longer resembled living creatures. Their forms had merged with the forest, transformed into intricate statues of wood and vine, Leaves sprouted from their limbs, flowers bloomed where their faces once were, as though nature itself had claimed them.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The only remnants of their former selves were the faint glint of their steel claws. "Oh my... truly, a unique place indeed," he murmured, his gaze lingering on the grotesque beauty of the scene. Hmm¡­ it seems the forest only targets the unsuspecting. Some of the monkeys appeared to still be alive, but their behavior had drastically changed. They no longer seemed aggressive or coordinated. Instead, they scattered in all directions, moving erratically, avoiding each other, and fleeing without even a backward glance. "Did they snap out of the berserk trance? I thought that was permanent. Guess not." Descending slowly to the forest floor, he noticed something odd¡ªthe scars of battle had vanished. The gashes on the trees, the torn-up earth¡ªit was all gone. The forest appeared untouched, as though it had erased the chaos entirely. "Creepy," he muttered, a shiver running down his spine at the unnatural restoration. Before he could rest or even fully process the events, a sharp sensation pricked the back of his neck. Someone¡ªor something¡ªwas watching him. And it was amused. He could easily track the source of the gaze, but he chose not to. He hadn''t come here to hunt or confront; he was here to experience this strange world. The monkeys¡­ long gone. So, he resumed his journey, walking in the same direction as before. This time, his steps were more leisurely, his demeanor relaxed. Yet, the unsettling gaze persisted, following his every move. Fine, he thought with a smirk. If it wanted to watch, he''d give it something to watch. With deliberate nonchalance, the boy paused, squatted down, and defied the unseen watcher in the most primal way possible. He decided to poop. ----------------------- The scene shifted to an area cloaked in impenetrable darkness, devoid of shadows or definition. The blackness was so absolute that it seemed to swallow everything whole, leaving only a pair of glowing pink eyes visible¡ªa vivid contrast to the void. Within those eyes danced an unusual symbol, a flicker of flame that seemed alive in its own right. Was it strange that only the eyes were visible, with no form to anchor them? Yes, deeply strange. Yet, in this place, it felt oddly fitting. The owner of the eyes was lost in thought, pondering its existence. The long years of confinement here felt like an eternity, yet the reasons for its imprisonment had faded from memory. It knew it was confined, but the "why" had become irrelevant. With a blink of those flaming eyes, it mused about its current state. Did it even care anymore? Not particularly. It had found solace in its dominion over this bizarre forest, its power unmatched. Here, it could do as it pleased¡ªno rules, no intrusions, just endless possibilities. Its most consistent amusement? Tormenting the creatures of the Black Wilds. Sometimes, it would slap the monkeys into submission; other times, it would alter their very biology, shaping them into grotesque parodies of their former selves. This was its entertainment, its game. As it prepared to settle back into stillness, perhaps to drift into a dreamless sleep, something shifted. A ripple, faint but unmistakable, passed through the forest¡ªA DISTURBANCE! HERE! Its gaze sharpened, and the scene unfolded before it. A crack in the fabric of space itself, and out of it, a boy was hurled into the forest. What caught its attention wasn''t just the spectacle of the boy''s arrival but the impossibility of it. The Black Wilds is weird like that¡ªno external forces can penetrate its boundaries. No matter the power, no matter the will, this forest denied entry to all. And yet, here was this boy, defying the rules of a place that had none. How the fuck did he get here? The Boy the Anomaly piqued its curiosity. With an amused glint in those fiery pink eyes, it made a decision- the only one that made sense to it. Like what every curious observer do? It would observe. ------------------- Daily Updates will On Patreon! Link: patreon.com/TenaciousJay002 Chapter 6: A Glimpse into the Unknown If you look at what you have in life, you''ll always have more. If you look at what you don''t have in life, you''ll never have enough. So, Enjoy. Quote: The Boy, the Anomaly, piqued its curiosity. And With an amused glint in those fiery pink eyes, it made a decision- the only one that made sense to it. It would observe him. Like any truly curious observer might. When the boy was hurled onto the ground, the impact buckled the earth beneath him, creating a gaping hole. Yet, in an instant, the earth rebounded, restoring itself to an undisturbed state. That was normal, a quirk of this place. What wasn''t normal, however, was the boy''s state. He was unconscious with no wounds whatsoever. As the forest''s tendrils emerged, snaking toward him with intent to rewrite his biology, they met unexpected resistance. No. Though the tendrils penetrated his skin, but they could not venture any deeper. They were stopped, unable to work their influence. And it felt it. The forest entity always felt the energy siphon back to it whenever the tendrils took hold of a victim. But now? Nothing. No energy, no feedback, no connection. It was remarkable. Unprecedented. This boy, this anomaly, was truly unlike anything it had encountered. Worthy of study, undeniably. So, it decided to take another approach¡ªone more calculated, and entirely unforgiving. If it couldn''t alter his biology, then it would do the next best thing. It would change the boy''s outer skin, encase him in a layer of its own making, and preserve him like a pickle. For later. For study. But something unexpected happened. Before it could seize the boy and hurl him toward its domain, the connection to its tendrils was severed. The link, once strong and unyielding, simply ceased. And with it, its vision. WHAT¡­ IS¡­ THIS? For the first time in its millennia-long existence, it felt something unfamiliar¡ªa creeping dread. It wasn''t just blindness; it was an emptiness that clawed at its essence. The vibrant pink eyes dulled, their light fading until they were voids of nothingness. The monochrome world its inhabited, which once carried faint traces of her presence, plunged into an even deeper abyss. Even the faint glow of its eyes was slowly faded away, consumed by an oppressive darkness.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ........ There was movement. But in the absolute blackness, nothing could be seen. ...¡­. It ¡­ is ¡­ alive. Or was forced to be alive. But it, did not know. But¡­ It was not worried, even if it was killed, or its soul was destroyed. It will be reformed back to this place. That much is certain in Arlam''s Atoll after all. So its decided to wait, wait for its eyes to restore. While its eyes were restoring, there is something else you need to know. You why its connection were lost to the tendrils. Why it suddenly became blind. It was not because of some shock or something, no no no. its soul was literally shredded apart for looking at the unknown. I told you the boy was not normal. He was an enigma. =============== After some time, its vibrant pink eyes, adorned with the flickering symbol of fire, were restored. And the first thought that surged through its mind was simple: Find him. It began scanning for the anomaly, its focus sharpening as it searched for the boy. First, it turned its gaze to the patch of forest where he had first appeared. But there was nothing. No trace of him, not even a lingering whisper of his presence. It expanded its search, sweeping its sight across the surrounding forest. Still, it found no sign of him. Strange. It should have been able to sense him¡ªthrough the leaves, the ground, the tendrils. The forest itself should have betrayed his location. Yet, it yielded nothing. Unless... he''s in the air. Air? The idea struck it. Before it could shift its gaze skyward, a new disturbance rippled through the forest. This one was far less severe than the first, but still, it caught its attention. Its focus wavered. The urgency to locate the boy surged. Could that disturbance be him? With a flicker of resolve, it decided, A quick glance won''t hurt. It turned toward the source of the disturbance, and Lo and Behold there he was. The boy had shed the casing it had formed around him, breaking free from the seal crafted in its own skin. He stood there, unscathed, his form as nonchalant as ever. But... Could he...? The thought was absurd. Ridiculous. Not even worth considering. No, it dismissed it swiftly. For now, it resolved to watch. Observe first. Then decide. =============== As the battle began, the snakey monkey¡ªa proud creation of its design¡ªmoved into action. The leader of the pack fixed its gaze on the boy, launching a coordinated mind attack from every angle. The boy, however, simply tilted his head to the left, unfazed. Where blood should have poured from his orifices, there was nothing. The leader, realizing its mental assault was ineffective, devised a new strategy in an instant. It telepathically commanded one of its comrades to execute a sneak attack. But the boy noticed the ambush before the monkey could even close the distance. Sensing the plan unraveling, the leader launched its own physical attack simultaneously, coordinating with its subordinate. As the two creatures converged, claws poised to shred, the boy''s response was swift. With a single fluid motion, he hurled both attackers into each other, sending them crashing to the ground in a tangled heap. It observed the scene with mild interest. Impressive, it thought, but not surprising. Because all the boy seemed to do was dodge. Was it wrong to expect more? Perhaps¡­it would need to watch a little longer. As these thoughts lingered, the Monkey Leader shifted his approach. He grabbed the boy in a bear hug. And spewed Poisonous vapor forth from his gnarled fangs, towards the boy face as the boy inhaled it. Did he just inhaled the fucking gas? Is he an idiot? So as expected. Moments later, the boy agonized screams echoed through the forest as he was tossed aside by the leader. I guess this is over, it mused, ready to turn its attention elsewhere. But then something... intriguing happened. You See, the poison wasn''t ordinary¡ªit was designed to maim both the body and the soul. The boy should have been paralyzed, crippled even, no hope for future progress ever. Yet he wasn''t. Defying all logic, the boy stood again. And in a single, devastating strike, he destroyed the heart of the big monkey. It let out a chuckle, deep and amused. "Hahahaha... truly something unique has wandered into my backyard." ------------------- Daily Updates will On Patreon! Link: patreon.com/TenaciousJay002 Chapter 7: The Illusionists Gambit If the world was not temporary, I would have killed EVERYONE. Quote: Defying all logic, the boy stood once more. In a single, devastating strike, he obliterated the heart of the big monkey. Then it was a Massacre after that. The boy inhaled the poisonous vapors¡ª and fucking savored them, as if that were a famous Air Freshener. But the most shocking moment came when he was struck by the Reality Marble. This was no ordinary attack. Few could withstand such an assault, let alone destroy it. But it was crude¡ªa desperate effort born of weakness. The boy not only withstood the attack but shattered it effortlessly with a single swipe of his hand. As the Reality Marble dissolved, the boy noticed one, then two tendrils coiling around his neck. The Forest of Graham, a living, predatory entity, was enacting its nature. It preyed on any weakness it could find, attacking the unsuspecting. But this boy was far from unsuspecting. With a sharp motion, the tendrils were severed completely, and the boy leaped skyward. The monkeys that initiated the attack paid the ultimate price, sacrificing their souls in vain. Had the big leader still been alive, perhaps they would have stood a chance. But with him dead, the smaller ones were little more than inconsequential pests. It the beast observed all of this with growing amusement. "Hahahaha... truly something unique has wandered into my backyard." As it became immersed in observing the boy''s next move, anticipation rose what would the boy would do now. Will he rest¡ªnow that he had defeated the monkeys, but, No! The Thing noticed his path heading straight toward the core of Arlam''s Atoll. That''s where its essence resided. Was he coming toward it? A whirlwind of emotions stirred within. Anticipation, curiosity, and even a trace of unease. What would their first confrontation be like? It found itself... excited. But then¡ª What it saw next was utterly baffling. The boy stopped, turned toward it, unbuttoned his pants, squatted down, and... pooped. WHAT THE ACTAUL FUCK? Just why¡­. ....Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ......¡­.. For a moment, there was only silence. And then, realization struck. As to why the beast got the 4k view of the Poop and only POOP itself. It Was absurdity itself. There was no trace of the boy. No¡­ As reality itself cracks¡­ Wait a minute. So did her absurdity of the situation, melting away, as it recognized the truth. What it had witnessed wasn''t real. It was an illusion. Illusions are curious things You know. When you focus too closely on the subject, they draw you in, hypnotizing you with their deceptive reality. But when you pull back and examine the illusion itself, its falsehood becomes glaringly obvious. As the cracks in the illusion splintered and dissolved, so too did its trance. Seeing this situation, that thing did not got angry, instead it was amused. Just what type of monster have arrived at Graham? The Question? Will soon get answered. [AN: How do you like You Like it. Comments for your thoughts.] ------------------ Where had the boy gone now? Nobody knew. What the beast did know was that this would all end very, very soon, and with certainty. For now, it would wait. Its senses expanded outward, probing every direction. No leaf, no stone, no inch of Arlam''s Atoll would escape its scrutiny. It would miss nothing this time, refusing to fall for the same deception again. It wasn''t anger that simmered within¡ªit was wounded pride. And the beast wanted compensation. And The beast would have it. ---------------------------- As we return to the boy, we see him strolling leisurely through the forest. Stopping momentarily, he squatted down and plucked a strange flower from the ground. Instead of roots, peculiar tendrils hung from its base. As he pulled the flower further, the tendrils tightened, straining under the tension until they snapped. "It seems like everything is connected," he mused. Grabbing the tendrils before they could retreat into the ground, he closed his eyes and extended his senses through them. "Like a hive mind," he noted. And then... "Intriguing. Someone is obstructing my view from going further," he muttered. The obstruction was deliberate, carefully constructed. "It''s being controlled by someone, and that someone is trying very hard not to let me find the source." He turned his gaze in the direction the tendrils seemed to point. Instead of forcing his way through the interference, as most might, he chose another route. He ate the flower. "Hmm. Intriguing flavor," he said with a nonchalant shrug, rising to his feet to resume his journey. The flower was no ordinary bloom. Laced with tiny, razor-sharp crystals, it would shred the tongue, then the heart, and eventually everything inside the body. Once the victim was reduced to pulp, the plant would take root, using the remains as fertilizer. And yet, all he had to say was that it had an "intriguing flavor." What an Absurd Bastard. As the boy continued, the vibrant green surroundings began to fade. The forest transformed into an unsettling landscape, draped in thick webs that intertwined in complex patterns. This time, the air was heavy with silence, an eerie, oppressive quiet that seemed to hold its breath. The forest is a haunting labyrinth, where towering, skeletal trees stretch their gnarled branches toward the ashen sky. It is evening after all. Every surface, from the crumbling bark to the twisted undergrowth, is shrouded in dense, silken webs that glisten faintly in the dim light. The webs drape like curtains between the trees, their intricate patterns forming an eerie, otherworldly tapestry. The ground is carpeted in brittle leaves and desiccated moss, their usual vibrancy replaced by shades of gray and brown. Not a single bird sings, nor does the buzz of insects or the rustle of wildlife break the oppressive stillness. The silence is so absolute it presses against your ears, amplifying every hesitant step or breath. Occasionally, a faint, almost imperceptible rustle runs through the webs, as if carried by a ghostly breeze, but the air is still and cold, almost suffocating. Shadows seem deeper here, pooling in the hollows of the terrain and between the trees, as though the forest itself absorbs what little light dares enter. It feels abandoned yet alive, a place holding its breath, watching, waiting. ---------------- We are at Chapter 20 On Patreon! Link: patreon.com/TenaciousJay002 Chapter 8: The Unseen Enemy A Spider is Slow, But Its Web Catches The Fastest Flies. Matshona Dhliwayo: ----- --------- ------------- The forest stood as a haunting labyrinth, where towering skeletal trees stretched their gnarled branches toward the ashen sky. Evening cast its somber hues over the landscape, adding to the otherworldly gloom. Every surface¡ªfrom the crumbling bark to the twisted undergrowth¡ªwas shrouded in dense, silken webs that glistened faintly in the dim, fading light. These webs draped like ghostly curtains between the trees, their intricate patterns forming a chilling tapestry that seemed alive in the half-light. As the boy stepped into this part of the forest, it felt as though he had crossed into another realm. The ground beneath his feet was carpeted with brittle leaves and desiccated moss, their once-vivid colors drained to lifeless shades of gray and brown. This realm stood in stark contrast to the lush greenery and vibrant, bluish-white sky he had traversed earlier. Here, not a single bird sang; no insects buzzed, nor did the rustle of hidden wildlife break the oppressive stillness. The silence pressed against his ears, amplifying the crunch of dried leaves and brittle twigs beneath his boots. Occasionally, a faint, almost imperceptible rustle rippled through the webs, as if carried by an unseen, ghostly breeze. Yet the air itself was still and suffocatingly cold. Shadows pooled thickly in every hollow and between every tree, as if the forest consumed what little light dared to enter. It felt abandoned yet alive¡ªa place holding its breath, watching, waiting. As the boy moved deeper, toward the source that he had found earlier, the oppressive stillness seemed to shift. Shadows grew restless, trailing him like living specters. Here, the monsters were different¡ªmore territorial, more aggressive. Unlike the ones he had previously encountered, which had reacted to his unexpected intrusion, these seemed to lie in wait, anticipating his arrival. "Khssst." A web, shimmering faintly with poison, shot down from above, narrowly missing him. The boy smirked, his eyes scanning the treetops. These creatures weren''t just defending their territory¡ªthey were hunters, and they were hunting him. As more webs shot toward him from the shadows, the boy moved with precision, dodging each one effortlessly. "These attacks? They''re slow. The monkeys were much faster," he mused, recalling his previous encounter while sidestepping yet another silken projectile. Dodging the final web, he crouched slightly, then sprang toward the source of the last attack with explosive force.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. As he closed the distance, his sharp eyes scanned the abyssal darkness where the attack had originated. To an ordinary person, the pitch-black void would have been impenetrable, a perfect hiding place. But the boy''s gaze pierced through the shadows, revealing a creature of eerie design. Roughly the size of a large hawk, its sleek, lightweight body was a disturbing amalgamation of feathers and fine, spidery hairs. Eight segmented legs, each ending in small, clawed talons, shifted with unsettling grace. Two large, feathered wings sprouted from its back, their movements silent as death. Its head was a grotesque fusion of a bird''s sharp beak and a spider''s multifaceted eyes, gleaming with a predatory glint. The creature''s abdomen, distinctly arachnid, ended with a spinneret, from which the poisonous webs had been fired. Using the shadows as a cloak, the creature blended seamlessly into its surroundings, "Impressive," the boy muttered, a faint smile tugging at his lips. {AN: You Know What is most Impressive of them all, Hawks Are usually Half-Size of the Human.} As he struck the black-legged eagle-like creature with a punch, its body crumpled under the force. From its shattered remains, smaller versions of the same creature emerged, scuttling in chaotic directions. They attempted to bite into his skin with their sharp beak-like fangs, but their efforts were futile; they couldn''t pierce him. Quickly realizing this, the tiny creatures scattered and reformed, merging back into the same spider-hawk entity as before before disappearing into the shadows¡ªor so it thought. The boy, far from disgusted as most would be, felt a spark of amusement and intrigue. Instead of reacting with revulsion, he considered a different approach. "Crushing doesn''t work," he mused. "Let''s see how they handle something else." He let fire flicker to life on his fingers but paused, deciding against traditional flames. Instead, he conjured cold flames, their eerie blue hue radiating a biting chill rather than heat. "Cold flames," he murmured. "They don''t burn¡ªthey shatter." Leaping from the branch he was perched on, the boy shot through the air as a stillness descended. Webs suddenly sprang from all directions, converging on him like a trap. "Worth a try," he said with a smirk, effortlessly accelerating. Time seemed to stretch as he moved faster, each second expanding as he honed in on his target. His cold-flamed hand closed around the spider-hawk creature mid-motion. There was no struggle, no writhing¡ªonly silence as the creature froze solid in an instant. Its grotesque form became a brittle, crystalline statue that shattered into fragments with the faintest pressure. Before time seemed to resume its natural flow, the boy had already pinpointed the locations of every hidden hunter in the forest. One by one, the lurking predators fell, frozen solid by his cold flames and reduced to lifeless shards. When the air stilled again, the forest was eerily quiet, the remnants of its hunters scattered like frost-rimed debris. This might have worked under normal circumstances, but as the boy landed lightly on the forest floor, a screech echoed from deep within the woods. It was a grotesque sound, a chilling hybrid between a spider''s chitter and an eagle''s cry, its reverberations thick with menace. The boy paused for a moment, amused. "What''s the worst that could happen?" he muttered, before setting off in the direction of the sound at a casual, unhurried pace. As he approached the source, the oppressive weight of the forest seemed to thicken. Most would have frozen in terror, paralyzed by the primal instinct to flee. For this wasn''t just any creature that lay ahead¡ªit was no bitchy clich¨¦d predator, but a true monster of the Black Wilds, a nightmare rarely glimpsed and never survived. The sky transitioned from the amber hues of dusk to the deep indigo of night, and with the darkness came life. The forest awoke in a chorus of eerie sounds: the chittering of unseen things, the rustle of countless legs, the crack of twigs underfoot. As he moved deeper, the ground beneath him writhed. Millions of spiders¡ªvarying in size, shape, and grotesquery¡ªemerged from the underbrush, their eyes glinting like scattered stars. They surrounded him, a living sea of movement, yet the boy merely stood still, a faint smile curling at the edges of his lips. No fear darkened his expression, no hesitation marred his step. Instead, his gaze flickered with unbridled excitement, a predator''s delight at meeting a challenge worthy of his attention. "Hahahhahahaah" as a chorus of laughter rang through the forest¡­. ================ We are at Chapter 18 On Patreon! Link: patreon.com/TenaciousJay002 Chapter 9: A Symphony of Destruction Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength. Corrie Ten Boom: ---- --------- ---------------- The sky shifted from the amber hues of dusk to the deep indigo of night, and with the darkness came life. The forest awoke in an unsettling symphony: the chittering of unseen creatures, the rustle of countless legs, and the sharp crack of twigs underfoot. As the boy ventured deeper, the ground beneath him seemed alive, writhing with movement. From the underbrush emerged a sea of spiders, millions strong, their grotesque forms varying in size and shape. Their eyes glinted like scattered stars, tiny reflections of the dim light. They surrounded him, a living tide of chitin and fangs. The boy stood still, unperturbed, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Surely, this isn''t all it can do?" he mused aloud, directing his words toward the largest spider among them. This one stood apart, towering above the others. Unlike the hybrid monstrosities he had encountered before, this creature was almost pure in form¡ªa massive arachnid, its body the size of a four-story building, its spindly legs stretching out like skeletal towers. As if in response to his words, two unique spiders leapt forward from the writhing mass. These newcomers were unnervingly large, their bodies akin to oversized felines, with legs spanning several feet. Their limbs were thick and powerful, covered in sinewy fur and ending in claw-like appendages designed for gripping prey or scaling vertical surfaces. Their mottled exoskeletons shimmered faintly under the dim light, patterns resembling leopard rosettes pulsating like living veins. The grotesquery didn''t end there. Their abdomens were sleek, almost feline, contrasting starkly against their hardened, chitinous limbs. From the center of their cephalothoraxes emerged grotesque, semi-humanoid faces. Large, multifaceted spider eyes were accompanied by smaller, disturbingly human-like ones beneath them. Their mandibles, sharp and spider-like, merged with jagged, humanoid teeth, dripping venom. A pair of elongated, human-like arms jutted from their sides, ending in clawed hands that twitched with an unnatural rhythm, as though battling against their own existence. The colossal spider stepped back, granting the smaller ones room to engage. As the boy prepared to face them, a sudden pressure gripped his mind¡ªa psychic attack, emanating from the depths of the monstrous creatures'' hive-mind. A mind attack, he thought with faint irritation. It''s always the same fucking thing with these fucking things. The pressure intensified, clawing at his thoughts, but his expression remained calm. No fear darkened his gaze, no hesitation slowed his step. Instead, his eyes gleamed with unbridled excitement, a predator''s delight at encountering worthy prey.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. He raised his hands to his chest, clenching them into fists. Blue flames flickered to life, dancing along his knuckles, casting an ethereal glow against the encroaching darkness. As the boy moved, so did the two spider-leopard hybrids, mirroring his every motion. When he leapt forward, they did the same, their grotesque forms twisting through the air with uncanny precision. The boy''s fists, cloaked in swirling blue flames, met their claws mid-air. Remarkably, the creatures turned their claws into hardened fists, striking with enough force to rend the very air. The collision shattered the sound barrier. As the two forces landed, the smaller creatures that had gathered to witness the clash froze in eerie silence. For a brief moment, there was only the visual chaos of a circular shockwave rippling outward, displacing air and sending debris flying. Then, with a thunderous "BOOM!", the delayed roar of sound caught up. The blast was so intense that the weaker creatures were crushed under its sheer pressure, their fragile forms obliterated by the sonic force. But as before, the monstrosities did not die. They scattered into trillions of tiny, writhing fragments, each scurrying toward safety before merging once again into their grotesque whole. Half the realm where they fought lay in ruins, but the forest, as was its nature, began to regenerate unnaturally fast. As soon as one blow tore it apart, the next wave of regeneration followed, an endless cycle of destruction and renewal. The combatants exchanged blow after blow, each strike reshaping the landscape. Trees exploded into splinters, and webs dissolved into ash, only to reform moments later. The air was heavy with the sounds of collisions¡ªdeafening, rhythmic, and unrelenting. From above came a thunderous strike. The boy tackled it head-on, dodging a barrage of simultaneous punches from all angles¡ªabove, below, and behind. Each strike carried the same bone-crushing intensity as the first, but the boy''s laughter echoed amidst the chaos. To him, it was nothing more than amusement¡ªa chance to toy with his foes. He could have dispatched them swiftly and cleanly, as he had done with the monkeys, but where was the fun in that? The boy''s icy flames began to freeze the momentum of the punches. With each collision, the hybrids'' strikes lost power, their movements growing sluggish under the creeping frost. One of the creatures attempted to flank him, delivering a devastating punch from behind. The boy responded by headbutting the incoming fist, shattering it into shards of frozen chitin. As the creature staggered back, the boy unleashed a flurry of strikes. Each punch landed with brutal precision, faster than sound itself. By the time the resulting shockwaves caught up, the creature had already been reduced to a glacial sculpture, its form cracking and crumbling into icy remnants. Without pausing, the boy turned toward his remaining prey, his flames burning colder, his amusement unshaken. ----------------- The beast observing the battle was not merely intrigued¡ªit was captivated. Its master had warned of an unpredictable being setting foot on these lands, one capable of upending the natural order and finding amusement even in chaos. Never in its millennia-long existence had it encountered someone who could venture so deep into the forest, let alone approach the heart of Arlam''s Atoll itself. Yet here stood this boy, defying all expectations. Now, as it watched him engage in combat, the beast felt a rare excitement stir within. "This will be fun," it thought, a wicked anticipation building. But for now, it would wait. It needed its target to waver a little, then it will strike¡­. ================ We are at Chapter 20 On Patreon! Link: patreon.com/TenaciousJay002