The forest was alive with the soft rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds, but the peace was shattered in an instant. Astrea's heart leapt into his throat as the Level 3 Tier 1 Fledgling Beast lunged from the underbrush with terrifying speed.
He twisted instinctively, narrowly dodging the creature's powerful jaws. Leaves and twigs snapped underfoot, and the beast's claws scraped the earth mere inches from him. Astrea cursed under his breath as he felt the sharp sting of a scratch across his forearm. The wound was shallow but bleeding, a reminder that even a moment's lapse could cost him dearly.
"Shit… shit… shit!" he muttered, hopping over a fallen branch and keeping his eyes locked on the advancing beast. Adrenaline coursed through him, heightening his senses. Every shadow, every rustle, seemed to scream danger.
Instinctively, Astrea reached into his pouch and pulled out the violet beast repellent Michaela had given him. He remembered her instructions: effective against Level 1 and Level 2 Tier 1 Fledgling Beasts. He hesitated for a fraction of a second. This was a Level 3—but he had no other choice.
He flung a handful of powder toward the creature's face. The beast snorted, eyes narrowing, shaking its head in irritation. Astrea took the momentary distraction to sprint deeper into the forest, dodging low-hanging branches and twisting roots. The sharp scent of the powder seemed to slow the creature ever so slightly, but it did not stop its pursuit.
Branches lashed against his face, and his wounds stung painfully as he pressed his bleeding forearm against his side to reduce the flow. Keep moving… can't stop… not here… not now!
Then, like a jolt straight into his skull, the system activated:
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:
Mission Assigned: Survive the Fledgling Beast
Objective: Escape from the pursuing Level 3 Tier 1 Fledgling Beast.
Rewards: 1 Bottle of Healing Potion
Mission Status: In Progress
Special Notes: Caution—failure may result in severe injury.]
Astrea gritted his teeth. "Great… now the system's making it official. As if I needed a notification to almost get mauled."
He zigzagged through the forest, leaping over roots and ducking low branches. His forearm and shoulder throbbed painfully, blood mixing with sweat. He flung another pinch of the violet powder backward, hoping to slow the beast.
[SYSTEM UPDATE:
Objective Progress: 45%
Remaining Distance to Safe Zone: Unknown
Beast Status: Aggressive, Pursuing
Player Condition: Injured (Forearm & Shoulder Bleeding)]
Astrea cursed under his breath. "45 percent? Who measures this stuff anyway? And what's the safe zone?!"
Branches whipped against him, and he stumbled slightly, almost losing balance. But adrenaline pushed him onward, forcing him to sprint harder than ever.
Finally, after minutes that felt like hours, the forest began to thin. He spotted a faint clearing ahead. Taking the risk, he flung the last of the violet powder at the beast's face. It sneezed violently, giving him just enough distance to dive into the denser undergrowth, narrowing the gap between him and survival.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:
Objective Progress: 90%
Danger Level: Critical
Reminder: Maintain sprint and caution: one lapse could result in mission failure.]
Astrea's lungs burned, legs trembling from fatigue. Every step was a challenge, every movement a calculation. He could feel the sharp sting on his shoulder and forearm with every stride. Yet he pressed on, knowing the system's mission would reward him only if he made it out alive.
Finally, he stumbled into a clearing near the village outskirts, heart pounding violently. The sounds of pursuit faded behind him. He collapsed against a tree, pressing his arm to his side and gasping for air.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:
Mission Complete: Survive the Fledgling Beast
Rewards Granted: 1 Bottle of Healing Potion added to Inventory
Player Condition: Injured (Apply Healing Potion Recommended)]
Astrea uncorked the bottle, letting the warm liquid soothe his scratches. Relief washed over him as the stinging pain eased. He allowed himself a short laugh, breathless and bloodied. "Finally… I survived… and I actually got a reward for almost dying. Fantastic."
Before he could fully relax, movement caught his eye. Someone or something was observing him from the shadows deep in the forest. Astrea tensed, muscles coiling. Not now… I can't deal with you right now.
From the direction of the village, hurried footsteps echoed. Relief flooded him as Michaela appeared, flanked by five village guards. Her expression was a mixture of concern and relief.
"Astrea!" she called, running toward him.
"We saw you fleeing! Are you alright? What happened?"
Astrea forced a weak smile, limping toward her. "I… I'm fine… mostly. Just a few scratches." He pressed his arm and shoulder against his side, wincing. "That beast… it was relentless."
Michaela knelt beside him, eyes scanning his wounds quickly. "You're lucky… these could have been much worse. Here, drink some water and take this healing potion." She handed him the bottle from his inventory, noting the label glowing faintly.
Astrea uncorked it, letting the warmth soothe his scratches and ease the throbbing pain. "Thanks," he muttered, still leaning heavily on her. "Couldn't have done it without… well, actually, I wouldn't have survived alone, that's for sure."
The guards exchanged wary glances toward the forest. "It came from the deep woods. Fast creature. Lucky you made it," one muttered.
Astrea's eyes flicked to the shadows again, remembering the unseen observer. For now, he was safe, but the forest had secrets, some watching, some waiting, all unpredictable.
Michaela adjusted her stance and whispered, "You need to rest, but we'll get you home first. Don't move too much."
Astrea nodded, finally allowing himself to limp along beside her, one hand pressing against his forearm and shoulder. The forest behind them seemed deceptively calm now, but he couldn't shake the feeling of eyes following him, silent and patient.
The mission had been completed like a game, objective checked, reward received but the dangers of Astoria remained ever-present. And somewhere in the shadows, someone or something was still watching, waiting for the next opportunity.
Astrea gritted his teeth, determination settling like iron in his chest. He had survived today… but he knew one thing: the world of Astoria would not go easy on him.