The Ironhide Boar lay still on the shattered road.
But the forest—
Was no longer quiet.
Somewhere deep within Blackwood Forest, a distant roar echoed again.
Lower this time.
Heavier.
The sound pressed against their chests—
Low.
Unsettling.
Alice stiffened.
"That thing again…"
Ryan didn't look away from the tree line.
The forest swayed gently.
Almost peacefully.
But beneath that—
He could feel it.
A presence.
Not close.
But not far.
"Yeah."
Alice swallowed.
"Please tell me it's leaving."
Ryan crouched beside the boar and pulled the small hatchet from his belt.
"Hard to say."
He swung.
Crack.
The impact echoed.
Too loud.
Too sharp.
Alice flinched.
"That's… really loud."
Ryan raised the hatchet again.
"If it wanted us dead…"
Crack.
"…we already would be."
Alice looked back toward the forest.
Still nothing.
But the feeling remained.
Watching.
Waiting.
Ryan continued working.
The hatchet struck again—
Crack.
The blade bounced slightly.
Alice frowned.
"…Is that normal?"
Ryan leaned closer, inspecting the tusk.
Barely a mark.
"Yeah."
A small pause.
"Beast materials are tougher than steel."
Alice stared at the massive corpse again.
"So that means…"
Ryan lifted the hatchet once more.
Crack.
This time—
The tusk split free with a dull, heavy snap.
The force jarred his arm slightly.
He caught it in one hand.
It was massive.
Curved.
Dense.
Nearly the length of his forearm.
Alice stepped closer.
"That's going to be a weapon?"
Ryan turned it slightly, testing the weight.
"For now."
Inside his mind—
[That looks rather crude.]
Ryan smirked faintly.
It'll work.
[You ruled an entire world…]
Iris paused.
[…and now you're crafting weapons from animal bones.]
Ryan ran his thumb along the edge.
Adaptability.
A quiet giggle echoed in his mind.
He raised the hatchet again—
Carefully this time.
Each strike shaved fragments from the tusk.
Small splinters scattered across the asphalt.
Alice watched in silence.
"You've done this before."
This wasn't improvisation.
It was experience.
Ryan didn't look up.
"Something like that."
Minutes passed.
Slow.
Methodical.
Then—
Ryan stood.
The tusk had been shaped.
Rough.
Jagged.
But sharp.
He walked back to the SUV and opened the rear hatch.
Supplies filled every inch of space.
Water.
Medical kits.
Fuel.
Tools.
Prepared.
He pulled out a long metal pipe.
Alice leaned against the car.
"You really planned for everything."
Ryan positioned the tusk against the pipe.
"Experience helps."
He tied it down tightly.
Layer after layer of cord.
Secured.
Reinforced.
A few minutes later—
He stepped back.
A crude spear rested in his hands.
Simple.
Brutal.
Effective.
Alice crossed her arms.
"…Okay, yeah. That's dangerous."
Ryan tested it.
One thrust.
Then another.
The balance wasn't perfect—
But it didn't need to be.
"Good enough."
Alice glanced toward the forest again.
Still watching.
Still waiting.
"So…"
She hesitated.
"How many more things like that are out there?"
Ryan rested the spear across his shoulder.
"Plenty."
Alice sighed.
"Great."
Ryan glanced toward the trees.
"In the early days, most awakened beasts stay near their territory."
Alice tilted her head.
"Territory?"
"Instinct doesn't disappear."
Ryan gestured toward the forest.
"That boar lived here."
Alice's unease deepened.
"So there could be more."
Ryan shrugged.
"Probably."
She immediately moved closer to the car.
"Fantastic."
Ryan tossed all the materials he could get from the boar into a container.
"Relax."
He closed the lid.
"Most avoid roads."
Alice narrowed her eyes.
"…Most?"
Ryan shut the rear hatch.
"Let's go."
They got back into the SUV.
The engine rumbled to life.
Ryan guided the vehicle forward.
Slow.
Careful.
The forest pressed in on both sides.
Thick.
Endless.
The sunlight barely reached the road now.
Shadows layered over everything.
Alice stared out the window.
Something felt wrong.
Not just quiet.
Empty.
"Do you hear that?" she asked.
Ryan glanced around.
"Hear what?"
"…Exactly."
Ryan nodded slightly.
"Predators."
Waiting.
Watching.
Alice tightened her grip on the door.
"That's not comforting."
The SUV rolled forward.
Abandoned cars littered the roadside.
Some dented.
Some broken.
Some still with doors hanging open.
Ryan maneuvered around them carefully.
Minutes passed.
Silence stretched.
Then—
"Ryan."
Alice leaned forward.
He followed her gaze.
Far ahead—
Movement.
Between the wrecked vehicles—
Figures clashed.
A man swung a metal pipe wildly.
Another fired a pistol—
The shots cracked through the air.
Weak.
Ineffective.
One of them screamed as a Fallen grabbed their arm—
The Fallen surrounded them.
Closing in.
Alice's voice dropped.
"…People."
Ryan slowed the SUV.
His eyes narrowed.
One of them stood out.
Different.
The man stepped forward—
And drove a glowing fist straight through a Fallen's chest.
Ryan's lips curved slightly.
Interesting.
Inside his mind—
[Another awakened.]
Ryan opened the door.
"Looks like we're helping."
Alice grabbed her bag immediately.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Ryan stepped onto the road.
Spear in hand.
His posture shifted.
Subtle—
But dangerous.
Ahead—
The survivors were losing ground.
And the Fallen—
Were multiplying.
Ryan exhaled once.
Then stepped forward.
And this time—
He wouldn't be holding back.