Following the native’s directions, Sha Yi quickly found a small lake. The water was clear and shallow, allowing her to see the bottom even from the shore.
The weather was scorching, and the thick, suffocating mud clinging to her body made it even hotter. Once the mud dried, it tightened around her skin and hair, making her unbearably uncomfortable.
With no one around, Sha Yi plunged headfirst into the lake.
After nearly half an hour of blissful relief, she finally felt comfortable—only to realize a belated problem: both before and after teleporting, she had been completely naked!
Now, with the native nowhere in sight, she had no one to turn to for help. This place seemed utterly untouched by civilization, and if she hoped for assistance, she might as well resign herself to dying right there.
Scanning her surroundings, Sha Yi spotted several broad-leafed plants resembling banana trees not far from the lake. Their leaves were enormous, making them a decent temporary cover. Determined, she waded out of the water.
The leaves were absurdly large—one could almost wrap around her like a strapless minidress, with enough length to encircle her body twice. They were also strong and surprisingly soft. Sha Yi tore off some vines to use as makeshift ropes to secure the leaves, but the rough texture scraped her hands raw. Frustrated, she abandoned the idea of tightly fastening her leafy garment.
After some effort, Sha Yi glanced at the setting sun, picked up a sturdy branch from an unknown tree, and headed in the direction where the vegetation seemed densest.
She needed to escape this unfamiliar, primitive wilderness as soon as possible. Even ordinary wild parks carried some danger, let alone this vast, lush jungle—especially after hearing the distant roars of beasts earlier.
With little knowledge or skill for survival in the wild, she knew she stood little chance against unknown threats. She had to push herself to reach the forest’s edge before nightfall, or she might not live to see tomorrow.
Yet, despite her efforts, she kept circling back to familiar spots, unable to escape the dense woods or return to where the native had left her.
Rubbing her sore calves, Sha Yi slumped against the trunk of a massive tree in defeat.
Night had fallen, and the darkness was thick. The low growls of unseen beasts echoed around her, making her tense and shrink in fear.
Regret gnawed at her. Why hadn’t she stayed by the lake? If she had, she might have encountered the native again. But now, exhausted, with blistered feet and no strength left, she was trapped in the worst possible situation.
She couldn’t imagine anything worse than this.
At this point, she’d rather be the native’s captive—at least then, she’d be safe.
Just as despair settled in, a rustling sound from the bushes opposite her sent chills down her spine. Before her heart could stop, a plump, rabbit-like white creature darted past her and vanished into the undergrowth, letting out a shrill cry.
The sound terrified her even more. Instinctively, she grabbed a thick vine hanging from the tree and scrambled up to a high branch, ignoring the scratches from the rough bark.
Seconds later, she realized—she was now perched in a tree.
Staring down at the ground three meters below, she marveled at her reflexes. But her relief was short-lived. The spot where she’d been sitting moments ago was now occupied by a massive, gray-furred beast.
The creature resembled a wolf but was twice the size of any she’d seen on TV or in parks. Its triangular head was sharper, its claws nearly an inch long, and its tail was more like a slender panther’s.
What kind of monstrous animal was this? She’d never seen anything like it.
The beast sniffed the ground, slowly approaching her tree.
Sha Yi’s heart pounded. She pressed herself against the trunk, barely breathing, her mind racing.
Wolf-like head, sloth-like claws, panther-like tail… Can it climb trees?
As if answering her silent question, the beast reared up, placing its front paws against the trunk, clawing at the bark while growling deeply.
The sudden proximity made Sha Yi’s blood run cold. She clung to the tree, trying to hide among the leaves, but she knew most predators relied on smell and night vision.
Still, fear drove her to hide anyway.
The beast continued its relentless assault on the tree—until something cold and soft brushed against her neck.
What the—?
Bark and leaves didn’t feel like that.
Her terror peaked. She refused to look, but then a sinister hiss filled her ears. Her legs gave out, but she grabbed a thin branch just in time, swinging herself to the other side of the trunk before she could fall.
Now facing the opposite direction, she saw it clearly.
Under the dim moonlight, the tree’s canopy was a mass of shadows—except for a coiled, dark-green shape shifting silently. Two glowing green orbs, the size of large marbles, rose slowly, locking onto her.
Sha Yi trembled. This was a nightmare—trapped between a beast below and a serpent above.
Compared to the creature beneath her, the snake horrified her even more.
Without thinking, she flung herself from the tree. Miraculously, she landed on a pile of rotting leaves.
The giant snake, caught off guard, missed its strike. It recoiled, then lunged again, its tail coiled around the tree as it aimed for her.
Sha Yi froze. The snake was easily over three meters long. Escape was impossible.
As the serpent’s head loomed over her, she braced for the end.
Then—suddenly—the snake jerked to a halt.
Before she could process it, the massive body whipped backward violently, smashing into the tree and snapping branches everywhere.
What just happened?
Before she could wonder, a furious roar shook the forest.
Sha Yi turned to see the gray beast—now ignoring her—launch itself at the snake.
The two titans clashed, tearing into each other with savage force. Their battle was brutal, uprooting plants and splintering trees in their wake.
Stunned, Sha Yi snapped back to reality.
Now was her chance to run.
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