Adventure of Zero

Zero had been making progress deeper into the forest. His growing skills and hard-won survival instincts made the journey slightly less terrifying. But as he moved further into the unknown, the air became heavier, and the trees grew taller and denser, their gnarled roots twisting like serpents along the forest floor.

"This place just gets creepier the farther I go," Zero muttered, gripping his makeshift spear tightly. "Why does it feel like I'm walking into the monster version of a bad neighborhood?"

The forest had gone eerily quiet again, a telltale sign that something was wrong. Zero slowed his steps, his eyes darting around as he listened for any sign of danger.

Then he heard it—a distant rumble, like thunder rolling through the trees. It grew louder and louder until the ground beneath him started to tremble. The sound of snapping branches and guttural roars reached his ears, sending a chill down his spine.

"Oh no. No, no, no," Zero whispered, his stomach dropping. "What now?!"

From the shadows of the forest emerged a terrifying sight: a massive herd of monsters barreling straight toward him. There were all kinds—wolf-like creatures with glowing eyes, hulking beasts with spiked hides, and even smaller, insect-like horrors skittering alongside them.

It was a stampede, and Zero was directly in their path.

"Are you kidding me?!" Zero shouted, spinning on his heel and breaking into a sprint. "Why do I always find myself in these situations? Is this what second chances are supposed to look like, Oliva?!"

The god, of course, did not answer.

---The chase was a chaotic blur. Zero weaved through the dense forest, his breath ragged and his heart pounding as the deafening roar of the monsters drew closer.

"Just my luck!" he shouted as he ducked under a low-hanging branch. "Of all the things to run into, I had to find *this*. Why couldn't it be a friendly village or—oh, I don't know—a portal back to Earth?"

A tree root jutted out in front of him, nearly sending him sprawling. Zero caught himself at the last moment, leaping over the obstacle. Behind him, the sound of trees being crushed underfoot made it clear the monsters weren't slowing down.

"Think, Zero, think! How do you get out of this mess?" He glanced over his shoulder, immediately regretting it. The herd was closing in, their glowing eyes locked on him like a collective predator hunting its prey.

---As Zero ran, the forest seemed to shift around him, the trees thinning and the ground sloping downward. The air became cooler, and a faint light began to filter through the foliage ahead.

"Wait... is that—" Zero gasped, hope flickering in his chest. "Is that the exit?!"

He pushed himself harder, his legs burning as he sprinted toward the light. But the monsters weren't giving up. One of the wolf-like creatures broke away from the herd, its snarls growing louder as it closed the gap.

Zero heard the beast's claws scraping against the ground behind him. Without thinking, he spun mid-run and jabbed his spear backward. The crude weapon struck the creature in the shoulder, causing it to stumble and let out a pained yelp. Zero didn't wait to see if it recovered—he bolted forward, gripping his now-broken spear like a lifeline.

"I can't believe this is my life now!" Zero shouted as he burst through a thicket of bushes, the light ahead growing brighter. "Running for my life from a monster stampede! What kind of world is this?!"

---The exit was closer now—a steep hill that led to an open field bathed in sunlight. Zero could see the end of the forest, but the ground beneath his feet was loose and uneven.As he reached the hill, his foot caught on a jagged rock, sending him tumbling forward. He rolled uncontrollably down the slope, the broken spear flying from his hands. Dirt and rocks scraped against his skin, and by the time he reached the bottom, he was covered in cuts and bruises.

He groaned, pushing himself to his knees. "Ugh... I'm never complaining about stairs again."But the moment of relief was short-lived. The sound of the stampede was still deafening, and the first of the monsters was already cresting the hill.

Zero scrambled to his feet, panic setting in. "Okay, new plan: run faster!" He darted toward the open field, but the monsters were gaining on him. He could feel their hot breath on his neck, their snarls growing louder.

---Then it happened.

A loud roar, deeper and more resonant than anything Zero had heard before, echoed across the field. The monsters skidded to a halt, their eyes wide with fear. Some turned and fled back into the forest, while others stood frozen, trembling.

Zero stopped in his tracks, his chest heaving as he turned to see what had caused the commotion.

From the treeline emerged a single creature—a massive, lion-like beast with golden fur and a mane that shimmered like flames. Its piercing blue eyes locked onto the remaining monsters, and with another earth-shaking roar, it sent them scattering.

Zero stared in awe, his legs threatening to give out. "What... the hell... is that?"

The lion-like beast turned its gaze to Zero, and for a moment, he thought it might attack him next. But instead, it let out a low growl and disappeared back into the forest, leaving Zero standing alone in the field.

He collapsed onto the grass, his body aching and his mind racing. "I... I survived. Somehow."

As he lay there, the familiar ethereal light surrounded him once more.

*Skill Acquired: Danger Sense.* *Skill Acquired: Accelerated Stamina Recovery.*

Zero let out a breathless laugh, staring up at the sky. "Well, at least I'm getting something out of all this insanity."

He sat up, glancing back at the forest. "Note to self: avoid monster stampedes at all costs. Also, maybe find out what that giant flaming lion thing was."For now, though, he had made it out of the forest alive. The field stretched out before him, a new chapter waiting to unfold. But if his time in the forest had taught him anything, it was that this world wasn't done testing him yet.