Zane was still running.
His lungs burned with each breath, his legs trembling from the constant movement. Every corner of this battlefield felt like a trap—like the world itself was waiting to crush him.
The Thornhide hadn't stopped its pursuit. Its growls echoed in the distance, reverberating off the crumbling ruins. Zane had no doubt the creature was close. Too close.
He had to think. He had to do something.
But what?
Zane slowed to a stop behind a pile of jagged stone, listening. His eyes scanned the wreckage of the outpost. Smoldering wrecks of tents. Burnt wood. The remains of soldiers who had fought here, now little more than ash and bones.
"Great," Zane muttered. "Just great. This is what I get for being curious, huh?"
[Quest Timer: 4:30]
The voice of the system echoed in his head, a reminder of the ticking clock. His heart skipped a beat. Four minutes? That was no time at all. His thoughts raced, but they all circled back to one thing.
The Thornhide.
"Okay, think. Think, Zane. There's gotta be something." He patted down his pockets. The book was still there, still heavy.
"Not like I can use it for this," he said bitterly.
No, the book wasn't a weapon. It wasn't something he could pull out to solve every problem. It was a lifeline, sure. The Void system kept him alive—but that didn't mean he had a solution for everything.
He glanced around again. The surroundings weren't comforting. Broken stone walls. Dead trees. The air smelled of burnt flesh and ash.
Zane shifted the broken shard of wood in his hand, thinking. The Void had given him an ability—Voids Eye. He could use it to see information about things, but he wasn't about to waste it on the dead wreckage around him.
"God, I really don't want to die here," he muttered to himself.
> [Quest Timer: 3:45]
The Thornhide was definitely getting closer. Zane could feel the ground vibrate with its heavy steps. But there was something else... something odd in the air.
A faint shimmer. Just beyond his sight.
Zane froze, his mind going into overdrive.
No. It couldn't be. Could it?
A shape—barely visible—flickered in the distance. Was it another monster? Or something else entirely?
Stay calm, he reminded himself. Don't do anything rash.
He forced himself to crouch low, peering through the debris. The figure in the distance was cloaked, its movements smooth and controlled. They didn't seem to be in a hurry like Zane had been, but they weren't walking aimlessly either.
Zane's grip on the shard tightened.
This wasn't good. No one walked through this kind of destruction without being prepared. And the last thing he wanted was to meet someone who might recognize him—or worse, ask too many questions.
He checked the timer again.
[Quest Timer: 2:30]
That was all he had left. Two minutes. Damn it.
Zane's mind raced as he weighed his options. If the figure was hostile, he'd have to deal with that. If they were just another survivor, then maybe he could get some answers.
But either way, he couldn't trust them—not yet. He couldn't trust anyone.
Zane shifted back behind a stone pillar, watching the figure, making sure to stay out of sight. He needed time. He needed more options. This wasn't like the world he had come from, where he could just get away with talking to people without worrying about what was hiding behind their eyes.
The figure stopped moving and stood still for a moment. Too still.
Shit.
Zane ducked behind the rubble, heart hammering in his chest. He held his breath. The last thing he needed was some strange person spotting him.
[Quest Timer: 1:20]
No time to waste.
Zane glanced over his shoulder. The Thornhide was right behind him, its shadow stretching across the ruins as it lumbered closer.
He couldn't outrun it.
Without thinking, Zane darted to the side, heading for a pile of old crates. His feet pounded against the ground. If he could just—
The Thornhide roared.
Zane stumbled, his heart nearly stopping in his chest. It was close. Too close.
He dashed into the shadows, praying he'd blend in. The seconds felt like hours, but his breathing was loud in his ears. His heart pounded like a war drum.
Then, a deep breath.
The Thornhide's heavy footsteps stopped.
What the hell is happening?
Zane peered from his hiding spot, only to see the beast had turned away from him, its massive head swinging toward the figure who had just appeared.
The figure was standing still. Not moving. Not running. Just... watching.
Zane's eyes widened.
"Wait... What?" he whispered. How did it ignore me?
The figure, still cloaked and calm, raised their hand—just one hand—and from their palm shot a bright beam of light. It blasted the Thornhide's face, but it didn't seem to harm it. Instead, the creature flinched, confused by the unexpected light.
Zane didn't wait for the beast to recover. This was his chance. He bolted toward a gap in the ruins, ignoring the aching pain in his side.
His heart raced, but he didn't look back. There were too many unanswered questions. Too many dangers. And he wasn't about to stick around to get caught by the first weird person who showed up.
He would figure it out. But not here. Not now.
For now, he had to survive. Alone.