Ethan stumbled through the dense, twisting forest, his body aching with every step.
The air felt heavy, almost sticky, as if the world itself was trying to drag him down.
His hands brushed against the trees, feeling their bark shift under his touch, reshaping themselves to block his path.
Every time he thought he saw an opening, the forest closed it off again.
The system notification blinked furiously at the corner of his vision.
[Warning: Hostile environment. Movement not recommended. Immediate danger detected.]
Ethan grimaced but ignored it. He had come too far to back down now.
"Danger's the only thing that's ever gotten me anywhere."
He muttered to himself, shoving forward.
His muscles protested, feeling like they were burning from the inside out. His breathing turned shallow, and his head spun with each step.
But still, he forced himself onward, clawing past the moving trees and sinking vines.
