Melina stumbled through the dense forest, weaving between thick roots and damp leaves. The birds had stopped singing hours ago. Everything was far too silent.
She was exhausted. Her entire body ached. Left arm broken, three cracked ribs, and a fatigue so deep that even breathing felt like a burden.
The forest was killing her—slowly.
That's when she saw the body.
Lying on its side, partially covered by leaves, was a warrior. Rusted armor, hollow eyes, and a sword still clutched in a dead hand.
Melina approached, trying to ignore the pain in her ribs.
"Someone died here… was it recent?"
She knelt down with difficulty and used her ability.
Assessment: Heavy armor, steel. Integrity: 30%.
"Too heavy for me…" she muttered.
She assessed the sword.
Assessment: Longsword, iron and fused copper. Integrity: 18%.
"This wouldn't even make decent scrap…"
Then something shimmered next to the body. A long dagger, partially buried in the earth.
Assessment: Long Dagger, pure steel. Integrity: 70%.
Melina smiled.
"Well… I don't have armor, but just having a weapon is already something."
The moment she grabbed the dagger, the bushes behind her exploded.
A shrill roar tore through the forest's silence.
A giant red-tailed lizard burst out, leaping at her with bared fangs. Its yellow eyes were wild. The skin looked like beaten leather, with spikes running down its back.
Melina barely had time to react.
She rolled to the side, groaning. The pain in her chest made her lungs falter.
The lizard landed where she'd just been, shattering the ground.
"Damn… it's fast."
She stood up with effort. The dagger trembled in her right hand. The left—broken—was useless.
A one-armed fight.
The lizard spun its tail. Melina tried to dodge, but it clipped her shoulder, slamming her into a tree.
The wood cracked. She hit the ground with a dull thud.
Pain made her scream.
Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth. Her shoulder throbbed. She coughed—one of the ribs might've pierced something.
"Get up… get up, Melina…"
The lizard charged again, fast as lightning.
Melina rolled aside, groaning with every move. She braced against a rock, waiting for the right moment.
When it dashed past her, she drove the dagger into the side of its neck.
Hot blood sprayed.
But the lizard didn't die.
It thrashed violently. Melina was thrown to the ground again. The dagger stayed lodged in the beast's neck.
It staggered, bleeding. But still standing.
Melina stood too, nearly fainting, legs trembling. Breathing hurt. Every step was like walking on thorns.
Still, she ran—
Or at least tried to.
Using her right leg to push off, she leapt onto the lizard once more. Grabbing the dagger's hilt with her good hand, she pushed with all the strength she had left.
"DIE!"
The creature's final roar shook the air.
Its body collapsed.
The forest fell silent.
Melina dropped with it.
She lay there for a moment. Just listening to her own heartbeat.
The creature's blood covered her from head to toe. But she was alive.
Dragging herself forward, she continued through the trees—
And then saw it.
A village.
Simple wooden houses, smoke rising from a few chimneys. A fence made of twisted branches marked its edge.
She smiled, relief in her eyes.
"A… civilization…"
She took two steps—
And froze.
The air grew heavy.
As if the world itself had stopped breathing.
She slowly turned her head.
There he was.
A tall figure, cloaked in dark rags. A hood hid his face, but his eyes glowed pure red—like living embers.
An overwhelming aura radiated from him. The ground seemed to tremble.
Melina dropped to her knees. Not from pain—but pure terror.
He took a step forward.
His voice was low, slow, and deep.
"Human…"
To be continued…