Like a speeding bullet Maxwell's body shot out of the space fold!
THWACK!
His body fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes, minutes tickled by as he remained unmoving.
His body began twitching then spasming uncontrollably. Blood came out of his ears, nose and mouth. Splinters of wood dug into his body as he spasmed.
"ARRRGHHH! SOMEBODY PLEASE! PLEASE HELP MEEE! ARGHHH!" Screams of agony broke the silence of wafting winds and leaves. "WHA-WHA-WHAT IS HAP--ARGHH T-TO MEE!" Incoherent words escaped Maxwell's mouth as he let out screams. His voice lost after minutes of screaming. He passed out .
The wind and leaves continued wafting as is, onlookers to what was unfolding. The forest was silent, only the echoes of Maxwell's screams resounding.
A second became two then a minute, a minute became an hour, time passed as Maxwell lay unconscious amidst a plethora of trees.
What was puzzling was that only scars and wounds he had before entering the space fold were present on his body, the cause of the agony a mystery. Countless eyes latched onto his figure.
Maxwell's body lay unconscious, alive but why?
Unknown to Maxwell he had entered the territory of a beast or rather exited the space fold in a beast's territory, beasts are extremely territorial and tended to settle in caves or places with a high mana concentration. Thus, they tended to live alone on vast expanses of land and only ventured out to hunt.
Trees extended as far as the eye could see, no sound was made as creatures moved throughout the forest. The Maldon thicket , somehow Maxwell had arrived at its outer periphery but death stalked him, nonetheless.
"mhmn-mmmn." After a while Maxwell's groaning sounds could be heard as he awoke, he quickly sat up feeling discomfort all over his body and looked distraught. He thought that he had died, however his sensations told him otherwise that he was alive and well because to amount illusions can invoke such a realistic feeling. Maxwell looked beneath him, he was laying on tree branches and leaves. Massive trees extended all around him their trunks thicker than a man's reach from one hand to the other. The treetops blocked the sky, only rays of sunlight fell onto what lay below them.
He furrowed his brows, the pain although less intense was present around his heart area and brain. He could not tell what was wrong however he knew he had to get moving. He had made a lot of commotion and he was sure that this place was not that hospitable.
Looking up, he closed his eyes. The sun's radiance was coming from the southern direction. ' I just need walk south I will eventually reach the domain of Vlaris if I'm not already in it. I don't know was happened but this could be my chance to run away however I still do not know where I am nor the vegetation in this forest. However, first order of business is food and a place to sleep for the night. I can worry about the rest tomorrow.'
Maxwell stood in the forest in lost in his thoughts, he looked up to see leaves swaying and felt the brush of winds. 'HOW?! Why am I not hearing anything?! I am no longer disoriented and I am sure my senses are working, so what is going on! 'His thoughts frantic.
Reaching for the knife, he took a battle stance his face weary. Looking left there was no movement same to his right. Without pause turned behind him and jumped back creating a bit of distance. He found nothing still.
'This is bad, I have got to somehow reduce the commotion I make or else I will hunted down till I make it out of this forest and that's if I survive long enough.' Taking a deep breath Maxwell focused, tightening his grip on the knife he advanced forward in the direction of the sun.
As much as he would have liked to rest where he had woken up since it was somewhat safe, he had to keep moving. The sun was scorching and Maxwell moved through the forest at a snail's pace, it was not the knee length shrubs and grass that hampered him. He was on high alert for anything that might attack or where he stepped.
The most dangerous creatures of any forest were not the large predators but the small poisonous creatures, that struct unsuspectingly. Maxwell hiked for three hours eating berries and shrubs he deemed not poisonous. As a soldier he was not completely inept when he came it to outdoor survival.
Maxwell suddenly halted his steps, his heartbeat rapid he sensed danger. He licked his dry lips avoiding any drastic movement. "Hiss- Piirshh" A green liquid sped towards him and from the tree bark a creature suddenly lunged at Maxwell, its small, clawed forelimbs and hind limbs digging into the withered tree back as it lunged at him.
Sizzling smoke arose from his amour, few acid drops had stuck his amour although he sidestepped and retreated backwards. He haphazardly slashed with the dagger. The monster fell into sight after landing on another tree, its green scales radiated a dull luster. Its figure reminiscent of a tetrapodophis, 2 meters long, half a foot in height and its slit eyes zoned in on Maxwell as it constantly flickered its tongue. Tightening his grip on the knife, he thought for a bit and steeled his resolve. He thought about running away but he decided not to, the monster could sneak attack or pursue him relentlessly.
"HIISSS." The mornpest lunged at him again, it spat acid he avoided by sidestepping then sped forward. The reach of a dagger was short so close combat was only option.
The knife and claws clashed producing crisps sounds in the silent forest as one stabbed and the other clawed, the mornpest whipped using its tail as it spun around mid-air using the rebound force.
Maxwell made no attempt to dodge the incoming tail, he vertically slashed downwards.
Bang, the tail hit his chest along with a prickling sensation, he quickly distanced himself after digging the blade into the mornpest's back, the mornpest fell to the ground screeching! Blood splashed as it wriggled about on the ground.
'Shit, the tail had spikes! Fuck!' The realization hit him as saw the thrashing tail of the mornpest. Looking at his chest, the spikes failed to breakthrough.
Not giving the beast a chance, he attacked, running with all the speed he could muster, roars of pain filled the atmosphere like blaring sirens, he stomped his foot on its tail immobilizing it. Just as he was about to decapitate it, with a forceful tug, it severed its tail and rushed into the bushes. The tug threw him off balance a bit. He immediately ran in the opposite direction.
Not long after he left, a paw stepped on the mornpest's tail, squashing it. Rough fur as black as obsidian extended from the paw to its underbelly, giving of a glimmer of death. Its four slit eyes looked where the mornpest had disappeared, turning its head the other direction, it furrowed its brows, a new scent, one that it did not recognize. What is it? Danger? Like a cheetah it sped after the injured mornpest.
A few miles from where the battle had taken place, within a cave, Maxwell sat on the ground staring at the grilling fishes as he was lost in though. About 2 hours he had found a spring and collapsed on its bank. He caught some fish after they almost ate him. He found a deserted cave, probably home to some monster but he would rather face it than sleep in the open forest.
The mouth of the cave was narrow though wide inside, mold plastered onto the walls.
Maxwell's POV
'I was lucky, I didn't run into any beats that could threaten my life but this forest is very weird, its not as if the monsters are silent more like someone did a large silence spell over the forest but who would do such a thing? Nonetheless I will scout other areas tomorrow.'
The sizzling smell filled the cave as he gulped, dry saliva down his throat as he focused back on the grilling fish. Taking a bite one after the other like gluttony itself. It had been a while since he ate anything other than dry rations. Maxwell rested his legs as he thought about other plans.
Eerie silence permeated the forest as monsters breathed in their last, prey to the strong. Monsters and various tree demons preyed on the unsuspecting but their predatory eyes never leaving Maxwell's abode.
Like Maxwell other soldiers flew out space folds thrown into various places, various habitats as if to test their mantle. The space quake had brought panic and confusion in Mergard however this was the beginning to the chaos about to unfold.