The ground trembled beneath Ethan's feet as the monstrous creature thundered after them, its savage growls ripping through the quiet forest like a jagged blade. Thick branches slapped against Ethan's face and arms as he sprinted ahead, his lungs burning. The girl — Sera — ran beside him, her breathing quick and sharp, her eyes darting back to the shadowy shape closing the distance behind them.
Two guards trailed them, one already limping from an earlier clash with the beast. Their desperate faces were pale with fear as the monster's guttural growls grew louder with each crashing step through the dense undergrowth.
"There!" Ethan suddenly shouted as the dark silhouette of his small cabin appeared through the foliage. "This way! Inside!"
Sera and the guards didn't hesitate. They bolted toward the cabin, boots skidding slightly on the damp moss as they crossed the clearing. Ethan was the last to slam the heavy wooden door shut, quickly lowering the sturdy crossbar. The creature struck the other side almost immediately, sending a shudder through the entire structure and knocking dust loose from the beams above.
Everyone stood frozen for a moment, the air thick with tension and rapid breathing. The muffled growls continued outside, circling, scratching, waiting.
"Is this your home?" Sera finally asked, her voice low but steady as her sharp eyes swept over the interior.
"Kind of," Ethan replied, his voice casual, but inside his heart was pounding. He didn't want to explain how he had simply woken up here earlier that day, completely clueless about where — or what — this place was.
The cabin itself offered little comfort: simple wooden walls, a stone fireplace flickering weakly in the corner, rough shelves stocked with basic tools, and a small bed tucked against one wall. Several sealed containers lined the shelves, containing preserved food, simple medical supplies, and old hunting gear that had been here when he arrived.
Another loud thud rattled the door, followed by the splintering sound of wood beginning to crack.
"That door won't hold forever," one of the guards hissed, gripping his short sword tightly. "We have to fight."
"Do you have any weapons in here?" the other guard asked, his voice tight with desperation.
Ethan's eyes darted to the chest near the hearth. Without answering, he rushed over and threw open the lid. Inside, resting on deep blue cloth, lay a sword — its black steel blade glimmering faintly in the firelight, outlined with silver along the edges. The craftsmanship was far beyond anything Ethan had seen in person on Earth — elegant yet practical, heavy but perfectly balanced.
He stared at it for a moment before reaching out. The moment his fingers touched the hilt, a pulse of warmth surged through his arm like electricity. His phone vibrated faintly in his pocket, and a soft glow briefly illuminated the inside of his jacket.
[The Arkanom System — Weapon Detected: Sword]
[Skill Integration Activated: Basic Swordsmanship Lv. 1 acquired.]
A wave of knowledge poured into Ethan's mind: proper stances, balance, grip, breathing — everything someone would learn after months of training flooded his senses in an instant. His posture naturally adjusted, his hand firmly grasping the weapon as though he'd been wielding swords for years.
He blinked, stunned. "Woah…"
Sera watched him carefully, her gaze narrowing with curiosity. "You've trained before?"
"No…" Ethan shook his head slowly. "It just feels… natural."
The guards exchanged quick glances but said nothing. There was no time to question him.
The creature roared again and rammed the door once more. Long cracks split across the wood, and dust rained down from the ceiling beams. The door wouldn't survive another hit.
Sera stepped forward, voice calm but commanding. "If it breaks through, aim for its head. Its hide is thick, but its eyes and throat will be vulnerable."
Ethan glanced at her, noting again how composed she was — far more than the average person should be. There was a grace to her stance, a confidence in her presence that stood out even amid the chaos. But there was no time to dwell on that now.
The door burst inward with a final crash, splinters flying as the beast lunged inside. The creature stood over seven feet tall on its hind legs, a grotesque fusion of wolf and bear. Its crimson eyes locked onto them with savage intent, foam frothing at its jaws.
The first guard charged with a shout, slashing at the beast's shoulder. His blade barely pierced the thick fur before the creature swatted him aside like a child's toy, sending him sprawling against the wall with a painful grunt.
The second guard followed, aiming for the beast's legs to slow it down. The creature stumbled but retaliated immediately, knocking the sword from his hands with one powerful swipe.
Sera darted in next with remarkable speed and precision, her blade flashing under the flickering firelight. She slashed across the beast's exposed flank, drawing a deep line of blood. Her movements were too practiced, too graceful — far beyond anything Ethan expected from someone who appeared to be a simple traveler. She moved like someone well-trained.
The monster howled in pain but refocused on Ethan, its furious eyes narrowing. With a surge of instinct driven by the newly gained skill, Ethan lunged forward. His sword sliced horizontally across the creature's shoulder, cutting deeper than either of the guards' strikes. The beast roared and retaliated with lightning speed, its claw raking across Ethan's chest.
Pain exploded through his ribs as he was flung backward, crashing into the wooden shelves. Supplies clattered to the floor. His sword clattered out of reach, and he gasped for air.
His phone tumbled nearby, screen facing upward. Suddenly, the screen glowed bright blue.
[The Arkanom — Emergency Combat Defense Protocol Initiated]
[Energy Surge — Level 1 Discharge Engaged]
A pulse of radiant energy burst from the device, invisible arcs slicing into the monster's body. The beast howled, its legs giving way beneath it as it convulsed violently before collapsing into a twitching heap on the cabin floor.
Silence returned, broken only by the faint crackle of the fireplace.
The guards stared wide-eyed at Ethan's still-glowing phone. Sera stood frozen, her chest rising and falling steadily, eyes locked onto Ethan with new, unreadable intensity.
"That... wasn't normal," she said softly.
Ethan quickly grabbed the phone and tucked it into his jacket as the glow faded. "Just... something from where I'm from."
Sera's brows knitted slightly, but she didn't press further. She simply lowered her blade and glanced at the defeated monster, her expression oddly calm.
"Whatever it was... you saved us. That's what matters." She spoke gently but her eyes lingered on him longer than before — curious, but also cautious.
One of the guards finally broke the silence. "We're lucky you were here."
Ethan offered a half-smile, still catching his breath. "Yeah... lucky."
Outside, the wind carried the faint whisper of distant howls, as if unseen forces were already aware of Ethan Cross's arrival in this unknown world.