Chapter 20: Oh No, Where Am I Now?

As the morning sun beamed down on the Bloodfang Forest, a layer of sweat covered Raegar's body while dashing through the underbrush while being chased by an enraged massive rhino-like beast that was trying to kill him. The oppressive aura radiating from the creature told him it was a Tier Two monster known as a Razorhorn which was the size of a small car, its sheer presence weighing down on his body. Yet, thanks to years of training, Raegar pushed through the paralyzing fear. As he ran through the forest, his mind raced, searching desperately for an opening to strike and create an opportunity to escape the nightmare he'd stumbled into. But the beast moved relentlessly, denying him a chance. 'How the hell is this thing keeping up with me?' he thought in annoyance while skidding to a stop and pointed his hand at it. Raegar started casting Stormfire Bullets that sliced through the air, lighting up the forest before slamming into the monster. But to his shock and horror, the spells just bounced off it while leaving behind a scorch mark. ''What! How aren't they slowing it down!'' he exclaimed with wide eyes as memories started returning to him. During his earlier years of studying, he had learned a little about these creatures from the Monster Compendium that the Vaelthorne Family owned. Just like their namesake; its horn was extremely sharp and could slice through trees like it a hot knife through butter. One thing that caught his attention was the thick, rugged hide on the monster's massive frame could withstand most attacks. That's why his spells did nothing to it. Panic surged through him as the realization hit. Neither his magic nor his blades would harm the beast. Desperation clouded his mind as he thought, 'My spells won't do a damn thing against this thing! Maybe... maybe I can lose it somewhere?' When thinking that, he noticed its pitch-black eyes locked onto him, radiating pure hatred as its movements were shaking the ground. Moments later, it started letting out a roar that shook everything around him and nearly forced his body to stop moving. Raegar could tell the monster's fury was genuine and he couldn't blame it, as there were baby versions of it when he stumbled upon them. 'I fucked up! I shouldn't have continued down that path,' he internally panicked. Moments later, the beast was uprooting trees and flinging them in his direction. He yelped before using Flash Step to dodge the massive projectile that flew above his head and crashing nearby. That's when he soon realized the monster wasn't just defending its territory. It wanted him dead for intruding on its home, accident or not. The sheer hatred in its relentless pursuit sent a chill down his spine. Realizing he couldn't overpower it, Raegar stopped attacking and broke into a sprint, weaving through the underbrush. Branches scratched at his skin, but he didn't stop until he burst through the treeline, only to find himself at the edge of a cliff. Below him stretched an endless expanse of forest, the drop steep and unforgiving. Seconds later, the Razorhorn appeared a few meters away from him. With a smug gleam in its eyes, it stopped, knowing he was trapped. Time felt like it was slowing down as Raegar's head snapped to the monster, who was getting ready to charge. He quickly thought as his heart hammered. 'I need to jump and use the blades to slow my fall.' The Razorhorn unleashed a deafening roar as it burst forward with terrifying speed. Raegar's instincts screamed at him, and he leapt to the side, barely avoiding the beast, but slipped off the side. 'Oh, fuck!' he thought while gritting his teeth, steeling his nerves as he drew his daggers and drove them into the stone, sparks flying as they bit into the rock, slowing his descent. He gritted his teeth, his breaths ragged as he glanced upward. The Razorhorn stood at the edge of the cliff, its black eyes locked on him with a predatory glare. It let out a huff, as if dismissing him, before turning and vanishing. Following that, he continued to fall as the jagged rocks scraped at his boots, every second feeling like a lifetime. The wind howled around him, and he had only a moment to adjust before it leveled out, hurling him into the thick treetops below. Raegar crashed through branches; the leaves whipping past him in a blur, until he landed hard on the forest floor, breathless but alive. As he staggered to his feet, he froze. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. ''Oh no! Where am I now?'' he asked himself in a low voice. The air felt heavier, charged with an ominous presence. Glancing around, he realized too late he had stumbled straight into the heart of a monster's nest. Massive, twisted trees stretched high above him, their trunks gnarled with age. In the shadows, he could just make out the glint of eyes watching him. Hundreds of them. Raegar's muscles tensed as he readied his blades as every instinct screaming in anticipation while the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. From the shadows, a massive spider lunged at him, its monstrous fangs gleaming in the dim light as it surged forward with unnatural speed. Without hesitation, Raegar deflected the attack with a sharp metallic clash. His muscles strained, causing him to think, 'Fuck! These things are powerful.' The spider hissed in fury at its failed attack, but before it could strike again, he unleashed his strongest spell that slammed into the monster, ''Lightningfire Blast!'' A violent explosion of searing flame and crackling lightning erupted from his hands, sending the spider flying across the forest floor, its body crashing through trees and rocks in a whirlwind of destruction. But as the creature writhed, chaos erupted around him, other monstrous shapes emerged from the darkness. When Raegar saw this, he gulped, as there were so many, even if they were Tier One monster. ''I need to get out of here,'' he muttered just as another spider lunged at him. Raegar's body moved quickly as he sidestepped the oncoming arachnid, his daggers flashing in the dim light. With a blur of motion, he slashed the creature a dozen times, his blades cutting through its thick hide, sending its legs scattering in every direction. Before he could fully recover, another spider lunged at him, its fangs snapping dangerously close. Without missing a beat, Raegar hurled one of his daggers, sending it flying with deadly precision. The blade sank deep into the creature's face, piercing its monstrous eyes, and it collapsed to the ground with a final, sickening thud. This gave Raegar a chance to rush out of the nest with a trail of monsters chasing him. An enormous spider appeared on the path he was taking, forcing him to throw the second dagger into its head just before casting Stormfire Bullets that burned holes through the creature's carapace. His heart pounded as the horde of spiders surged forward, their legs scraping against the ground. The air thickened with the stench of venom and decay, but he wasn't about to let them close in. With a burst of speed, he sprinted through the dense forest, the underbrush tangling at his feet as the monsters continued chasing him. His breath was sharp, his mind focused only on survival. 'I need to get to a river or something,' he thought while casting more spells into the monsters. Minutes later, Raegar spun, tossing his daggers into the air, each blade finding its mark in the twisted bodies of the spiders. Their screeches filled the air as they crumpled to the ground, but the horde was endless. More kept coming, their eyes burning with bloodlust. He didn't wait as his daggers flew back into his hands. He cast a quick glance behind, only to yelp as a spider was right there. ''Oh shit!'' he exclaimed. Without thinking, he cast Lightningfire Blast into the monsters that sent both of them flying in opposite directions. Raegar landed on his feet before using Flash Step to get ahead of the horde. Ten minutes later, he felt his Aether running low, which put a strain on his body just as he stopped at the banks of a raging river. He turned around only to see the treetops shaking because of the numbers of monsters. Raegar's heart raced as he activated Flash Step, vanishing just as a massive spider slammed into the spot he'd just abandoned. He reappeared on the opposite bank, but the momentum sent him crashing against the muddy slope. His feet slipped beneath him, and the slippery mud threatened to drag him back into the river. Desperation fueled him. With his fingers digging into the wet earth, he clawed his way up the bank, every movement a battle against gravity. [Drop some powerstones, comments, and gifts to help the novel grow; I appreciate all the support you can give]