Lightning king

Misty Forest

The sun had long since disappeared, leaving the Misty Forest cloaked in an oppressive darkness. Jack pressed on, his search for Lei Han dragging him deeper into the fog-shrouded woods. The trail had gone cold, and now he stood at the heart of the forest, frustration gnawing at him.

The mist clung to him like a second skin, thick and suffocating. It dulled his vision, forcing him to rely solely on his heightened senses. But now, even those were failing. The scent he had been tracking was gone.

Jack clenched his fists, his rage bubbling to the surface. He glanced at his shoulder—it had healed, the pain gone, yet his anger remained.

"Where are you?" he growled through gritted teeth, his voice echoing eerily through the silence. His frustration boiled over, and he punched a nearby tree with all his strength, shattering the bark and leaving a gaping hole.

"Coward! Don't hide! Show yourself!" Jack's roar cut through the mist like a blade.

Suddenly, a sound reached his ears—a faint rustling, growing louder.

Something was approaching.

Without hesitation, Jack bolted toward the noise. His instincts took over, and he moved swiftly, weaving through the mist as if it parted just for him.

Then he saw it.

Emerging from the fog was a massive bear, towering over him at twice his size. Its fur was dark and matted, red eyes glowing with malice. Sharp claws glinted in the dim light, and its body bore numerous scars and fresh bloodstains. The beast had recently fought—and survived.

Jack's breath caught in his throat.This was no ordinary bear.

Before he could react, the bear lunged, claws slicing through the air. Jack jumped back, just in time to see the ground where he'd stood moments ago ripped apart like paper.

Step back.

Another swipe.

Step back again.

Jack retreated, each step precise as the bear's claws gouged deep furrows into the earth. His mind raced.

I can't fight this. I need to get out of here.

Without a second thought, Jack turned and sprinted in the opposite direction. But the bear was fast.

With a thunderous roar, it charged after him, slamming its massive body into Jack and sending him hurtling into a tree. The impact rattled his bones, and pain exploded in his back. For a moment, he feared his spine had snapped.

Before he could even scream, the bear was on him again.

A massive claw ripped across his chest, shredding his clothes and tearing into his flesh. Blood sprayed through the air as Jack was flung backward, crashing into the forest floor. He lay there, stunned, his mind reeling.

Adrenaline surged through his veins.

The pain dulled, replaced by a singular focus on the predator looming over him. The bear bared its teeth, sharp and glistening, as it approached.

Jack rolled to the side, narrowly dodging a devastating bite.

For a brief moment, clarity returned as now in a situation where he is likely to die. He has no idea what to do now as he has never had any real experience in fighting. He even forgot his on martial arts right after the first body slam. He wasn't just angry anymore. He was afraid as this was a battle for survival.

Jack's breath came in ragged gasps. His heart pounded in his chest as the realization hit him.

'I'm doomed'. His mind raced back to his brief encounter with Lei Han. He should never have come here, never have followed him into the forest. He should never have let himself be driven by pride and rage.

'It wasn't like me to throw my life away for some strange seed'. Jack gritted his teeth as regret mingled with despair.

'Why did I try to fight him?' Lei Han had crushed him like he was nothing.

And it all came back to that seed.

The strange, alluring seed that had made him reckless, addicted to its power.

'I shouldn't have touched it. ' jack thought.

'I will never stupidly touch an unknown object in this world' . Jack made a promise to himself but Jack's thoughts were cut short as the bear lunged once more. Its massive jaws snapped inches from his face. Jack dodged again, moving on instinct.

"Is this all I can do?" he muttered bitterly.

"Just dodge and run?"

But he knew the truth. He couldn't keep this up.The bear was relentless, and Jack's stamina was draining fast as he is using all his energy to dodge its attacks. His strength was ebbing.

He needed to fight back.

Jack's eyes darted over the bear, searching for a weakness. The creature was wounded—blood stained its hind legs, and its steps were uneven.

There's my opening.

Jack stopped near a tree, baiting the bear.

With a deafening roar, the bear lunged, claws aimed at Jack. At the last second, Jack dodged, and the bear's claws smashed into the tree, splintering the trunk. The massive tree groaned and toppled, crashing to the ground.

Jack seized the moment. He dashed toward the bear's wounded hind leg, channeling all his strength into a single, devastating punch.

Crack!

The bear roared in pain, collapsing as its leg gave out. It struggled to stand, its balance broken.

Jack turned to flee, his heart pounding. But before he could get far, the bear rose again.

With terrifying speed, it charged, slamming into Jack once more. The impact sent him flying into another tree.

Pain shot through his body. His left shoulder dislocated, and blood dripped from another deep gash across his chest.

Jack gasped for air, his vision blurring. His body trembled with exhaustion . The bear was too strong.

'I can't win'. As his consciousness started to slip, Jack saw something.

In the distance, beyond the bear's hulking form, he saw a flicker of purple light.

It shimmered in the mist, pulsing like a heartbeat. It called to him.

Jack's eyes locked onto it, and he felt a surge of energy, familiar yet foreign, respond to his desperation.