Once again, I found myself standing in front of the barrier. But this time, I wasn't going to follow it along the edge like before. There was no prey to track, no reason to stay near it. So I turned away and kept walking forward, hoping that something—anything—interesting would show up if I just kept moving.
The plains stretched endlessly in every direction. There were no trees, no rocks, not even a small hill to break the flatness—just grass, swaying gently in the breeze. It almost felt unnatural how empty everything was. I kept scanning the horizon, but there wasn't a single creature in sight. With no threats nearby, I figured I might as well keep going in a straight line until something changed.
After walking for what felt like half an hour, I finally saw something different. On the distant horizon, the faint outline of trees began to rise up, just barely visible through the hazy light. I immediately picked up my pace, then broke into a sprint. My legs moved fast—faster than any normal human's could—as I tore across the grasslands, racing toward the edge of the forest.
As the trees grew larger in my vision, I slowed to a jog, then finally came to a stop just before the treeline. Without much hesitation, I stepped into the dense woods, my senses on high alert. The trees stood close together, casting shadows that made it hard to see far ahead. I moved carefully, each step deliberate, scanning for signs of life—something worth fighting, or at least something to break the silence.
But there was nothing. No rustling leaves. No snapping twigs. Not even the sound of a bird. Just silence.
Unnatural silence.
My instincts—sharp and animal-like—were warning me that something was off. A low, gnawing feeling crept into my gut, the same kind of unease a beast might feel before a predator strikes. I couldn't figure out what exactly was wrong, but the silence… it wasn't natural. What could make an entire forest this quiet?
Just as a theory began to form in my head, I heard a faint rustle to my right—a bush shifting, ever so slightly. My head snapped toward the sound. I stepped forward slowly, crouched low, and reached out with one hand to part the leaves.
Before I could react further, something shot out.
Instinct took over.
I leapt sideways, the air slicing past me as a blur of black and white whooshed through where my head had just been. Landing in a crouch, I spun around, heart pounding.
Stuck in the dirt where I'd been moments ago was a bird—its feathers sleek and glossy, black and white like ink on paper. But it wasn't just any bird. It stood motionless, as rigid as steel, its long beak jammed deep into the ground. An ambush predator.
I didn't hesitate.
Activating [Flame Claws], heat surged through my hand. I darted forward, dragging my flaming finger across the side of the bird's neck. It sliced cleanly, like a hot knife through butter.
The bird shuddered, then collapsed.
[You have killed a Dart Sparrow.]
I stood there, breathing steadily, eyes scanning for more. If one had been hiding, there might be others. And now I knew why the forest was so quiet.
Predators were hunting.
Suddenly, just as I was about to devour my newest prey, I heard four sharp whooshing noises—one after another—from every direction. My body reacted before I had time to think. I pushed off the ground with everything I had, jumping as high as I could to escape the incoming attacks.
I hadn't meant to jump so hard.
In the blink of an eye, I was over ten meters in the air, rising fast and already feeling gravity pulling me back down. The wind rushed past my ears as I looked down, spotting four more black-and-white birds stuck beak-first into the ground where I'd been standing just moments ago. Each one was nearly identical to the first—Dart Sparrows, ambush hunters that relied on speed and precision to kill with a single strike.
But they weren't dead. Far from it.
The birds were already wriggling, pulling their sharp beaks out of the dirt. Their bodies twitched and adjusted unnaturally fast, shaking off their failed attack with eerie ease. I could tell—they weren't done. They were just getting started.
I gritted my teeth mid-air. I'd have to time my landing perfectly, or I'd be torn apart before I even touched the ground.
Quickly thinking of a plan, I looked toward one of the thicker trees nearby. It was just close enough—if I timed it right. Twisting mid-air, I angled my body toward it and kicked off the trunk with both feet. The force sent me rocketing downward, accelerating my descent several times over.
This was going to hurt.
The ground rushed up to meet me faster than I expected. I braced myself just in time—
Bang!!!
I slammed into the dirt, hard. The shock tore through my legs and sent sharp pain shooting up into my arms as I caught myself. My vision wavered for a split second, but I pushed through it. There was no time to recover. I was surrounded by enemies.
I forced myself to my feet. Two of the four birds had already pulled their beaks free from the earth and were about to take off. Their wings fluttered, gathering speed. I gritted my teeth, planting my feet firmly. No time to waste.
[Flame Claws]
Igniting my skill, heat surged through my fingers as flames coated my nails. Without hesitation, I launched forward, closing the distance in an instant. My claws sank into the closest bird before it could react, the burning heat tearing through its feathers and flesh.
[You have killed a Dart Sparrow]
I didn't wait for the message to fade. Without so much as a glance, I dashed toward the second freed bird. But I was too late.
It had already taken flight, vanishing above the treetops with a loud, echoing shriek. At the same time, the remaining two Dart Sparrows tore themselves free, twitching and shaking off the dirt like it was nothing.
Now three were airborne.
I scanned the sky, heart pounding. These birds weren't just fast—they were smart. They didn't attack all at once, but in turns, striking like coordinated assassins. I could feel it—the moment I stopped moving would be the moment they struck again.
And I wasn't sure I could take another hit.
I steadied my breath, claws still blazing, and began calculating my next move. I'd either bring them down… or they'd bring me with them.