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I woke up, surrounded by shadows. The forest loomed around me, a dark expanse that stretched out into nothingness. The moonlight barely pierced through the thick canopy, leaving everything draped in black. The smell of damp earth and something burnt lingered in the air.
I didn't know where I was. My body ached, and there was a strange sense of disorientation in my mind, like I had just woken from a deep sleep. A strange warmth emanated from a glowing object nearby. The lantern.
The smoke swirling around it was thick and heavy, curling like dark tendrils toward the air. Yet, as the smoke approached, something in the lantern reacted. A rune inside it lit up with a bright blue glow, casting a faint light into the darkness and pushing the smoke back. The smoke recoiled, but a deep sense of dread filled me. It was as if the very air was alive and fighting against me.
"Ding"
Magic Resistance: 0 -> 1
Corruption: 1% ->
Why did my magic resistance go up? What was attacking me with magic? I looked around, heart racing, but nothing appeared. I couldn't shake the growing unease gnawing at my insides. Then it happened again. A strange, familiar sensation washed over me.
"Ding"
Magic Resistance: 1 -> 2
Corruption: 16% ->
The fear was suffocating, more than I could handle. It clawed at my chest, and I gasped, my vision narrowing as a wave of terror struck. My entire body trembled, and the sensation spread through me like poison. What was this? I couldn't make sense of it, only the overwhelming sense of dread.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push the panic away. "It's fine," I whispered, the words barely a comfort. But no matter how much I told myself it was fine, the corruption climbed higher. It reached 40%.
I tried to curl into the bag, hiding from it all. My mind was racing, and fear gnawed at my sanity. How could I stop this? How could I control it?
"Ding"
Magic Resistance: 15 -> 16
Corruption: 99% ->
Everything went dark. The void consumed me, empty and endless. My body felt weightless, and the fear didn't subside; it only grew, suffocating me from the inside. And then, as if the darkness itself was suddenly pulled away, I was gasping for air.
I blinked my eyes open. My heart hammered in my chest. I looked around. I wasn't sure if I was still dreaming, but I saw him. The man who had carried me—who had helped me. He stared down at me, his expression a mixture of confusion and surprise.
We locked eyes for a long moment, unsure of what to do. I was still trapped inside the bag, curled in a small ball. I must have been having a nightmare.
The man had moved around and was now preparing something over a fire. The scent of fresh meat filled the air. It was warm and comforting, like the smell of something familiar.
I watched him work, his movements precise as he skinned the creature. It resembled a rabbit, but larger and darker in color with unsettling red eyes.
Status
LEVEL: 1 2/5 EXP
Status: Hatchling
Species: Young Ancient Elemental Dragon
Health: 120/120
Stamina: 36/40
Mana: 0/0
Strength: 8.6
Agility: 4
Physical Resistance: 2
Elemental Resistance: 4
Magical Resistance: 16
Ability: ???
!Corruption: 26%!
I stared at the numbers, trying to comprehend what they meant. This was real. The corruption. The magic. Everything. It wasn't a dream. The fear from earlier, the panic—it was all too real.
I couldn't shake the tremors that had begun to settle in my limbs. They didn't stop. The panic was still crawling beneath my skin.
The man noticed my shaking and stopped what he was doing. His eyes softened, and he came closer, holding out a piece of meat in his hand.
"Hfle eat," he said gently, his words awkward but understandable.
I didn't know why, but I understood him.
"Eat?" I whispered, testing the sound of the word in my mouth.
Then another strange sensation washed over me.
"Ding"
"Human communication 1"
"Journal spoken language 1"
So I can learn their language just by listening? It made sense, in some strange way. This world was completely unfamiliar to me, and yet I was learning things I didn't know were possible.
Looking up, I saw the man holding out the piece of meat again, and this time I could smell its warmth. It smelled... sweet. Like a treat. It was too tempting to ignore. I leaned forward and took the meat in my mouth, chewing eagerly. The taste was satisfying, the hunger in my stomach slowly fading as I swallowed. It wasn't the best I had ever tasted, but it was more than enough.
After I finished eating, the man stood, gathering his things. He placed me back into the bag, this time with more care than before. I tried to climb out, but his voice stopped me.
"It's alright, sit still," he said.
I hesitated. It was clear now: I couldn't walk. I was too weak. Even if I could, there was no way I would survive alone in this forest.
I wasn't sure why he was helping me, but without him, I had no other option. I might be dead within a day if I stayed by myself. Yet, I couldn't shake the guilt that filled me. I was just extra weight for him, nothing more.
But if I stayed, I would survive.
I looked up at him, wanting to thank him, but I couldn't find the words. Instead, I simply sat in the bag and looked at him, unsure of what to say. He caught my gaze, and for a brief moment, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
As we continued on our journey, I thought about the road ahead. I didn't know where we were going, but I knew this was my only chance to change my fate. There was a world out there, and it was waiting for me to discover it.
Only time would tell what would happen next. Destiny would guide me...