A massive beast stood before him, its thick fur matted with rain. Six jagged horns crowned its head. Its slitted yellow eyes burned into him, unblinking.
Shit.
The moment the lightning died, Lucien pivoted and bolted. A thunderous roar split the air, rattling the marrow of his bones. The ground trembled beneath his boots—it was coming.
When the heavy footsteps suddenly vanished behind him, Lucien threw himself into the mire, lurching forward just as a massive thud shook the earth where he had stood a heartbeat before.
"Damn it!" Lucien scrambled to his feet and sprinted as the ground began to shake again.
How the hell do I escape this thing?
He scanned for an exit, but the tree beside him groaned and swayed. The monster had jumped, crouching atop a massive branch above him before lunging down.
Lucien leapt forward. The earth buckled behind him as the beast slammed into the ground, nearly knocking him off his feet.
A deafening shriek tore through the night. The tree beside him groaned and swayed again. The beast sprang onto a tree ahead, then dove toward him. Its claws glinted in the lightning.
He hopped backward, but its talon tore at his face—and the world went blank.
Lucien gasped. He was sprinting again. The vision!
The monster leaped onto the tree ahead. Lucien jumped back earlier this time, but its claws still caught his breastplate. Metal screeched as it split. Pain exploded across his chest, warmth spreading beneath his armor.
The impact hurled him backward, slamming him into a tree. Blood sprayed from his mouth before he collapsed into the mud.
His whole body trembled from the aftershock. Agony rippled through him with every breath.
Lightning flashed overhead. Thunder rumbled.
The monster let out a low, guttural growl and began to stalk toward him. He forced himself upright, only to collapse back into the mire with a groan.
Lucien locked his jaw. Is this the end…?
A flare shot skyward, painting the forest red. In the distance, silhouettes burst through the fog, sprinting toward them. The monster snarled at the movement, then charged. The ground trembled as it thundered past him.
"There's a monster—waa!"
"Watch out!"
Screams and explosions erupted within the veiled forest.
Seizing the chance, Lucien propelled himself upright and staggered into the forest.
Whoever they are… thanks.
Lightning split the sky, bleaching the forest white. Thunder rolled overhead as he stumbled forward.
His breath came in ragged pulls. Pain coursed through his limbs. Rain clung to his soaked clothes, and the cold bit deep into his bones. Dizziness threatened to swallow him—whether from exhaustion or blood loss, he couldn't tell.
Amid the seething storm, a faint rush of water reached his ears. He halted, straining to listen, making sure it wasn't a trick of his mind. When the sound grew clearer, hope flickered within him, and he followed it.
Pushing through the dense foliage, he emerged at the edge of a ravine. Limping forward, Lucien peered down. A furious river tore through the rocks some forty feet below.
The crackle of twigs snapped his attention behind him.
The monster had returned.
Lucien's expression darkened, fists clenched. His eyes darted around for a way out, but found nothing.
It stepped from the tall bushes, a severed arm clamped between its jaws. With a sickening crunch, it bit down and swallowed. Blood dripped from its jagged teeth as it let out a low growl—then lunged.
Lucien leapt down.
Wind tore at his hair, and rain lashed his face as he plummeted. At the ravine's edge, the monster roared and hurled itself after him, talons outstretched.
Then the world exploded into a cloud of bubbles.
The river swallowed him in a violent surge of freezing darkness. Air burst from his lungs as his shoulder slammed into something hard, dislocating it.
Razor-sharp claws sliced past him, missing by a hairbreadth, as the raging current dragged him under and spun him end over end through churning black water. His armor dragged him down like an anchor.
His foot struck rock. He planted it and kicked hard, driving himself upward.
His head broke the surface. He sucked in air greedily, only for water to flood his mouth and nose. Lightning flashed overhead. In the distance, the monster thrashed at the river's edge, howling and clawing furiously at the river.
The current slammed him sideways, trying to drag him under again. His spine collided with a submerged boulder. Bubbles burst from his mouth as pain radiated from his dislocated shoulder. Gritting his teeth, he kicked for the surface, breaking through with a sharp gasp.
Leaning against the rock, Lucien spotted the riverbank. He carefully positioned himself before pushing toward the bank. But a fresh surge swept him off course. His hand scrabbled frantically for a hold as the water tried to devour him again.
Finally, his fingers locked onto a jagged rock at the bank's edge. With a guttural effort, he hauled his waterlogged body onto the shore. He coughed violently, retching up river water as his lungs burned.
He glanced at his dislocated shoulder. It hung at an unnatural angle.
Suppressing the agony, Lucien forced himself upright. Lightning flashed overhead, illuminating a jagged slab of stone leaning against the cliff face. A narrow hollow yawned beneath it.
He staggered toward it and braced his back against the cold rock. Using his good arm, he tore off what pieces of armor he could and shrugged out of the soaked gambeson. He shoved the padding between his teeth and bit down.
Closing his eyes, he seized his injured arm and pulled. A dull pop echoed. White exploded behind his eyes. A muffled groan tore from his throat against the fabric.
Lucien removed the padding from his mouth and let himself slump down. His breath came in ragged gasps; pulse hammered in his ears. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, forcing his breathing to steady.
And then—
A woman's blurred face surfaced in the darkness of his mind. Her hands cupped his cheeks.
"Don't die," she whispered.
Lucien's eyes fluttered open. Exhaling slowly, he rubbed the bridge of his nose. Her reminder again.
Whether on Earth or in this world of fantasy, her voice lingered. And he could never quite defy it.
Lightning flashed, followed by rolling thunder, illuminating a shallow cave. A used campfire sat nearby, firewood scattered around it.
Yes, mother. I won't die and return to earth.