Chapter 2: New Territory.
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"HAAAGHH!" The sound came from Rynan's throat as he woke up from the cold ground, his body trying hard to breathe like someone who almost drowned. His dark eyes looked around quickly, seeing the strange place around him and feeling more confused. The forest looked different in the moonlight, making everything seem scary and not familiar. His whole body felt stiff and cold from lying on the hard ground for so long.
―Oh... I... passed out. How weak of me. The truth hit him like a slap to the face—and he really did slap himself. A loud *smack* sound went through the forest as Rynan brought both hands to his cheeks hard enough to leave red marks. The sharp pain was exactly what he needed to wake up the right way.
―A godslayer, made to faint like some weak child. So embarrassing. He felt ashamed that someone with his power had fallen down like that. His pride was hurt more than his body was. The thought of being so weak made his stomach twist with anger at himself.
"I shouldn't be like that. I still have a lot to do," he said to himself with a firm voice. Rynan pushed himself up from the ground with slow movements, his body fighting him every step as he wiped the dirt from his clothes. The cold had gotten into his bones while he was unconscious, and being tired stuck to him like wet clothes. The position of the moon told him it was already dead midnight—hours had passed since he lost consciousness.
―How long was I out? Three hours? Four? The lost time worried him more than the physical pain. He had things to do and people counting on him. Every hour he spent unconscious was an hour wasted when he should have been moving forward.
"Guess I used too much Eons," he said with a bitter taste in his mouth. He had pushed his power way beyond safe limits during the fight with Xhan, and now his body was making him pay for being so reckless. The magic drain felt like someone had sucked all the energy out of his soul. His whole body felt empty and weak, like a battery that had completely died.
"Oh." His stomach chose that exact moment to make a noise so loud it seemed to go through the entire forest. Rynan's face turned bright red with embarrassment, the childish reaction happening by itself even though there was no one around to see him. The growling sound was so loud he was sure every animal in the forest could hear it.
―Even when I'm alone, I still act like a kid. Some things never change. He shook his head at his own silly behavior. Even after everything he'd been through, he still got embarrassed over small things like a normal teenager would.
"I should go hunting—" The words stopped in his throat as he suddenly realized something. His eyes went wide as the idea hit him like lightning. Maybe he didn't have to do this the hard way after all.
―W-wait... I don't need to hunt though! I can just make food with magic! Hope filled his chest as Rynan held out his right hand toward the empty air, his face showing deep focus as he tried to squeeze out even the tiniest bit of Eon from his empty reserves. He made grunting sounds with the effort, sweat appearing on his forehead despite the cold night air. His hand shook as he tried to force his magic to work.
But there was no luck. His magical reserves were as empty as his stomach. Nothing happened no matter how hard he tried. The realization that he was completely powerless hit him like a punch to the gut.
―Shit. Completely drained. The curse word slipped out before he could stop it. He rarely swore, but the situation was getting to him. Being powerless when he was used to having god-like abilities was more frightening than he wanted to admit.
"Guess... I'll have to hunt until my Eons come back..." he said with dread in his voice. For Rynan, a kid who had no experience in tracking, killing, or cooking wild animals, it was definitely easier said than done. He had never even been camping before, let alone tried to survive in the wilderness. The thought of killing an animal with his bare hands made his stomach turn.
Three long hours later, his voice cracked as it carried across the forest like the cry of a hurt animal. His whole body hurt from chasing prey through the dark woods. His clothes were torn from branches and his hands were cut from trying to make weapons out of rocks and sticks.
"I-I hunted... A SINGLE DEER WITHIN A SPAN OF THREE HOURS!" The scream held all of his anger, tiredness, and hurt pride rolled into one childish outburst that reminded him exactly how young his current body really was. His voice went through the trees, probably scaring away any other animals that might have been nearby. The fact that it took him three whole hours to catch one deer was embarrassing beyond belief.
―But... I never thought it would be this hard... I miss Mom's cooking so much it hurts. The memory of Linia's warm meals, made with love and seasoned with care, made his chest feel tight with homesickness that almost overwhelmed him. He could almost smell her cooking and feel the warmth of their kitchen. The simple memory was enough to bring tears to his eyes.
"'You'll never survive if you keep telling yourself that!' Is what Mom and Andrea would say," he said, copying their voices perfectly. The words came out in perfect imitation of how they sounded, and for a moment, he could almost pretend they were there with him. He could imagine them giving him encouragement and gentle scolding at the same time. Their imaginary presence made him feel a little less alone in the dark forest.
―They're right. I can't give up now. Not when I've come this far. The thought of his family gave him strength to keep going. Rynan gathered every bit of courage he could find and started making a campfire, his movements clumsy but determined. He cut the deer meat into small pieces with shaking hands, then put them on branches he had taken from a nearby tree. The makeshift cooking setup looked sad and pathetic, but it would have to do.
As he cooked the meat over the flickering flames, the smell of cooking food filled the air—not good, exactly, but at least it smelled like something he could eat. The fire crackled and popped, sending sparks up into the dark sky. He turned the meat carefully, trying not to burn it while making sure it cooked all the way through. His stomach growled constantly, reminding him how hungry he was.
After what felt like forever of careful turning and worried waiting, Rynan finally decided his food was ready. He pulled one of the sticks from the fire and took his first careful bite. The meat was tough and had a strange taste, but it was food. His jaw worked hard to chew the overcooked venison.
―Here goes nothing. He braced himself for whatever taste was about to hit him. The first bite was worse than he expected, but his empty stomach didn't care about taste anymore.
"H-hah... I-It lacks taste... b-but the effort makes it worthwhile..." His voice shook as emotions he had been trying to hold back finally broke through his defenses. "Mom, Dad, Andrea... I miss you all so much!" The words came out as a wail that would have embarrassed him under normal circumstances, but there was no one here to judge him. No one to see him break down like a child.
Rynan kept eating the poorly cooked deer meat, each bite reminding him of everything he had lost and everything he was fighting to protect. Tears ran down his face freely now, mixing with the smoky taste of his sad meal. The meat was tough and bland, nothing like the delicious food his mother used to make. But he forced himself to keep eating because he needed the strength.
―This is what it means to be alone. This is the price of the path I've chosen. The loneliness hit him harder than any physical pain he had ever felt. Being by himself in this dark forest, eating terrible food and missing his family, made him understand what he had given up. But even as the sadness threatened to eat him alive, even as the tasteless meat reminded him of all the comforts he had lost, Rynan made himself keep eating.
―Hah, now's not the time to get sentimental, I have to get stronger, to protect those I care for, in the darkness. Wow. That sounds cringe as hell. Rynan chuckled at the thought, looking up at the night sky, which he hadn't noticed until now. The stars were bright and clear above him, scattered across the dark canvas like tiny diamonds. He felt a bit silly for thinking such dramatic thoughts, but they were true nonetheless.
"I guess it's time for me to sleep," he said to himself quietly. His body was tired from the long day and his mind needed rest from all the stress. The cool night air felt good against his skin as he prepared to find a place to rest. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, he just wanted to forget everything and sleep peacefully.
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A loud, annoying, and familiar motor whirring was heard, which had made Rynan uncomfortable—he had heard this sound before, but had already forgotten it. The noise cut through his dreams like a knife, pulling him from sleep into something that felt too real. His mind struggled to place the sound even though it felt so familiar. The mechanical whirring filled his ears and made his heart start beating faster.
"Yo Alexus!" A familiar voice had sounded, his voice full of excitement and goofiness. The name hit Rynan like a punch to the gut, bringing back memories he had tried to bury. The cheerful tone was exactly how he remembered it, full of life and energy. His chest tightened as he recognized who was speaking to him.
"Wanna grab some drinks after this?" the voice continued with the same happy energy. The casual question about drinks after their mission was so normal, so everyday. It was the kind of thing friends would ask each other without thinking twice. But Rynan knew how this story would end, and it made his stomach twist with dread.
And by the time Rynan had woke up, he had realized that he was in a helicopter. The familiar sight of military equipment and the sound of rotor blades filled his senses. He was back in that moment, the one he had tried so hard to forget. His hands gripped the seat as the terrible memory played out again.
―H-Harold..? He called his name out, his voice breaking with emotion. The sight of his old friend alive and well made tears spring to his eyes. Harold looked exactly the same as he remembered, with that same confident smile and bright eyes. For a moment, Rynan almost forgot that this was just a dream, just a painful memory coming back to haunt him.
"Hah!" Another familiar voice spoke, and Rynan's heart sank even further. "You're still thinking about the bar? Better survive first, rookie." Daniel's voice was just as he remembered it, full of teasing and friendly competition. The man looked exactly the same, with his serious expression and careful movements. Seeing him again made Rynan want to scream and cry at the same time.
"I will," Harold boasted, grinning wide with complete confidence. "I'm Harold, remember?" His cocky attitude was exactly the same as always, never doubting himself for even a second. That grin had always made everyone feel better, even in dangerous situations. But now it just made Rynan's heart ache because he knew what was coming next.
"What about you, Alexus?" Daniel asked, glancing over at the stoic man with genuine concern. "Feeling confident about this mission?" His question was asked with real care, the way a good friend would check on someone they were worried about. The simple question carried so much weight because Rynan knew the answer would be wrong.
―I-I... Rynan's thoughts were jumbled and panicked as he tried to process what was happening. He wanted to warn them, to tell them to turn back, but the words wouldn't come out. His mouth felt dry and his throat felt tight with fear. The knowledge of what was about to happen was eating him alive from the inside.
"We'll die..." Rynan put his right hand on his forehead, his face sour with dread. The words came out like a prediction of doom, heavy and final. He could feel the terrible future rushing toward them like a freight train. His whole body shook as he tried to prepare for the horror that was about to unfold.
"No we won't, we'll survive!" Harold reassured Alexus, trying to calm him down with his usual optimism. His voice was warm and confident, the same way he always talked when someone was scared. He reached over and patted Rynan's shoulder with a gentle touch. But his words felt hollow because Rynan knew the truth that Harold didn't.
And after that—another familiar flash of light appeared in the distance. The same terrible light that had changed everything in his past life. Rynan's blood ran cold as he saw the deadly gleam that meant someone was aiming at them. His heart stopped as he realized they were about to relive the worst moment of his life.
"THE FUCKING SNIPER!" Rynan yelled out, trying to take control of the helicopter with desperate movements. His hands reached for the controls as panic took over his body completely. He had to save them this time, had to change what happened. But his hands passed right through the controls like he was made of air.
James's head had exploded in a shower of blood and bone. The sight was exactly as horrific as Rynan remembered, maybe even worse. Blood splattered across the helicopter's interior, painting everything red. The sound of the gunshot echoed in his ears like thunder, drowning out everything else.
Rynan just stood there, his eyes dead, his expression emotionless as he watched his friend die again. The shock was so complete that he couldn't even process what he was seeing. His mind shut down to protect itself from the trauma. He felt like he was floating outside his own body, watching everything happen to someone else.
―T-They're gonna die because of me. THEY'RE ABOUT TO DIE AGAIN! B-BUT... I CAN'T MOVE... His thoughts screamed in his head as he realized he was powerless to stop what was happening. The guilt and helplessness crashed over him like a wave, drowning him in despair. He wanted to move, to act, to save them, but his dream body wouldn't obey him. This was his punishment for surviving when they didn't.
The altimeter in front of Rynan spiraled downward, showing their rapid descent toward the ground. Each number that flashed by was another step closer to death. The mechanical display showed their doom in cold, precise numbers. Rynan watched helplessly as their fate was spelled out in bright green digits.
[500 feet] The number glowed ominously as they began their fall. [420 feet] Still falling fast, with no way to stop. [300 feet] The ground was getting closer with each passing second. [200 feet] Rynan could see the earth rushing up to meet them.
[100 feet] They were almost out of time. [80 feet] The impact was inevitable now. [67 feet] Rynan closed his eyes, unable to watch. [54 feet] His friends were going to die again.
[23 feet] The final moments before impact. [12 feet] Rynan braced himself for the crash. [5 feet] Everything went silent except for his heartbeat. [0] The world exploded in pain and darkness as they hit the ground.