Nagumo Hiroto walked through the unfamiliar land with careful, uneven steps, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings. The memory of his first encounter still lingered in his mind, making every rustle of grass and shift in the wind feel like a threat. He had no map, no direction—only the instinct to keep moving. The world around him felt too quiet, too empty, and that silence made everything even more terrifying.
As he pushed through a stretch of tall grass, something caught his attention. A subtle movement in the distance made his body stiffen, and his breathing slowed as he focused. There, partially hidden among the grass, stood a creature. Its body was low and hunched, its dull green skin blending almost perfectly with its surroundings. Its glowing eyes scanned the area as if searching for prey.
Hiroto froze where he stood, his heart pounding loudly in his chest. His mind told him to run, but his body refused to move. Fear rooted him in place as he stared at the creature, unable to look away.
Then its head turned.
Their eyes met.
In that instant, a surge of pure fear shot through his entire body. The creature let out a low growl, lowering itself as if preparing to pounce. Hiroto didn't wait any longer. His instincts finally took over, and he turned around and ran.
He ran as fast as he could, his legs pushing beyond their limits as adrenaline surged through him. The tall grass whipped against his body as he forced his way forward, his breathing becoming sharp and uneven. Behind him, the creature let out a piercing shriek and gave chase without hesitation.
His lungs burned almost immediately, but he didn't dare slow down. The sound of the monster's pursuit grew louder with every second, its movements fast and relentless. It was gaining on him.
Panic began to take over his thoughts as he stumbled slightly on uneven ground, barely managing to keep himself from falling. He pushed forward, ignoring the pain in his legs as fear drove him onward.
He didn't want to die.
Not here.
Not like this.
The creature roared again, much closer now. The sound sent a chill down his spine, and without thinking, he glanced back. The monster was right behind him, its glowing eyes locked onto him as it lunged forward with its jaws wide open.
Hiroto snapped his gaze forward again, his heart racing uncontrollably. His thoughts were breaking apart under pressure, leaving only one desperate wish.
Someone—anyone—save him.
Then he heard it.
Voices.
Faint, but real.
His eyes widened with hope as he forced his exhausted body to move faster. He turned toward the sound, ignoring everything else as he ran straight toward it.
"Help!" he shouted, his voice filled with desperation. "Please, help me!"
The trees ahead broke apart as he burst through them, and suddenly, he saw them. A group of armored men stood nearby, clearly caught off guard by his sudden appearance.
Their expressions shifted immediately.
"A civilian?!" one of them shouted.
"There's something behind him!" another warned.
The monster crashed through the trees seconds later, its roar shaking the air as it charged toward them.
"Formation!" a knight commanded.
They moved instantly, as if they had done this countless times before. Shields were raised, swords drawn, and they stepped forward together without hesitation. Hiroto stumbled past them, his legs finally giving out as he collapsed onto the ground, completely drained.
He could barely move, barely breathe, as he watched what happened next.
The first clash echoed loudly as steel met the creature's attack. One knight blocked its strike with his shield, while another moved swiftly to slash at its side. The monster roared in pain, lashing out wildly, but the knights remained calm.
They fought with precision.
With discipline.
With experience.
Each movement was controlled, each strike purposeful. They worked together seamlessly, covering each other's openings and attacking at the perfect moments. The monster tried to break through their formation, but it couldn't. It was strong, but it was not coordinated.
The knights were.
A final strike was delivered—clean and decisive.
The monster collapsed.
Silence followed.
Hiroto lay on the ground, staring at the scene as his breathing slowly steadied. The creature that had nearly killed him was now lying motionless, defeated in moments.
Footsteps approached him, and one of the knights knelt beside him.
"You're safe now," the man said calmly.
Hiroto looked up at him, his vision still slightly blurred.
"…thank you," he managed to say.
The knight gave a small nod before standing.
"You shouldn't be out here alone," he said. "This area is dangerous, especially for someone unarmed."
Hiroto let out a weak, breathless laugh.
"I figured that out," he replied quietly.
The knights exchanged glances before one of them spoke again.
"Where are you from?"
Hiroto hesitated. There was no simple way to answer that question.
"…somewhere far," he said at last.
It wasn't entirely a lie.
The knight studied him briefly but chose not to press further.
"We're heading back to the kingdom," he said. "You're coming with us."
Hiroto blinked in surprise.
"A kingdom…?"
"Yes," the knight replied. "It's not safe for you to wander alone."
Hiroto slowly nodded. He didn't have the strength—or the reason—to refuse.
As they helped him to his feet, he glanced back at the fallen monster. His hands clenched slightly as the reality of the situation settled in.
He had been completely helpless.
If those knights hadn't been there, he would be dead.
That truth weighed heavily on him.
"I need to get stronger," he whispered under his breath.
Because next time, there might not be anyone to save him.
With that thought, Hiroto turned away and followed the knights, leaving behind the place where he had nearly died. Ahead of him lay something new—a kingdom, a chance to survive, and perhaps the beginning of something more in this unforgiving world.