**Squeal!**
**Honk!**
The ground shook, and people were running in terror, causing a chaotic ruckus. Right in front of a pillar in Sector 15 of the city, two cars had collided at high speed due to fear and carelessness.
A black T8 sedan caught fire, while a red Bentley in front of it was in worse shape; its front was completely crumpled, and the driver's condition was unknown. A young woman, about 25 years old, stepped out of the T8, glanced at her car, sighed, and with a tense look, moved towards the Bentley.
A human life was worth more than a beautiful car, but her compassion was beyond measure. If damages were considered, the car would certainly be more expensive.
The beautiful girl with black hair and violet eyes, her long eyelashes complementing her eye color, had smooth, pale skin, a slender, mature figure - in short, she was striking and influential.
A pair of blue eyes were fixed on her in this chaos, but she didn't notice as she approached the Bentley's door. The earth trembled, but it didn't halt her resolve.
*Click!*
She opened the car door, revealing a horrific and gruesome scene to both her and the trembling blue eyes. Blood and broken glass were scattered on the ground, emitting a foul smell. The driver sat motionless, eyes wide open, blood still streaming from his head where a metal rod had pierced through, protruding from the other side.
*Squeal!*
Terrified, the girl fell to the ground, covering her face. The blue eyes, like restless ocean waves, showed pure horror, even feeling the scent of death from afar.
"Damn it!"
Ryan jolted awake, sitting up on the ground, clutching his chest. He was panting, his forehead sweaty, his heart racing.
His face looked dark and frightened. He inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself.
Once he was a bit calmer, he grumbled irritably:
"When I'm awake, I face nightmares, and when I sleep, I dream them? Damn, this is just ridiculous."
He glanced around; warm sunlight touched his face, surrounded by leaves and branches big and small. The sound of birds and the chirping of sparrows uplifted his weary spirit.
"Did I fall asleep in the nest?!"
Ryan scratched his head; it could have been fatal. What if the owl had returned? And there were other creatures that could easily attack him while he was defenseless.
What a situation!
He was frustrated; at least he could have dreamt something peaceful and beautiful, but no, it was a lose-lose scenario. At least his exhaustion was gone.
Ryan yawned and said:
"Gotta keep moving."
He hurried down from the tree. Daylight was the best time for exploration, and he couldn't waste a moment; it was a matter of survival. He resumed his journey southward.
The landscape had changed; yesterday he'd easily lose his way, but now his enhanced senses guided him. The air was fresh, and Ryan savored it eagerly. He wished he could rest here peacefully, but he knew that peace and silence were now fragile, ready to shatter at any moment.
Danger didn't announce itself.
...
*Drip drip drip.*
The sound of water droplets soon surrounded him. With a smile, Ryan continued on his path and said:
"Right on time. I was getting pretty thirsty."
It didn't take long for him to find the source of the sound, a beautiful pond nestled in a rocky area, adorned by several large stones. Water droplets fell from the rocks, creating a soothing sound.
The water's surface rippled. In the middle of the pond, colorful fish of various sizes swam briskly, some tiny, others over a foot long, but all were exciting for Ryan. Here was a source of free food, without extra danger, possibly even with life energy and power he could gain easily.
He looked like some kind of devilish creature, licking his lips and murmuring excitedly:
"I've gotta give this a try!"