Chapter 2: The Edge of Reality

  Alex didn’t give himself time to think. There was no room for hesitation, no luxury of wondering why or how he had ended up in this strange forest. His training had always been to act, assess, and adapt. He was alone now, but that was nothing new. A soldier in combat—whether in a desert or a foreign world—knew only one thing: survival.

  He checked his gear one more time. Weapons intact. Ammo sufficient. But the nagging voice in the back of his mind told him that this wasn’t going to be as simple as a firefight. This world wasn’t one he understood, and that uncertainty gnawed at him.

  He needed to get moving.

  His boots crunched softly on the forest floor as he moved between trees, keeping his back straight and his eyes scanning the surroundings. His mind raced, organizing the flood of information that had been injected into him. The terms that had flashed before his eyes—runic symbols, arcane energy, monsters, and kingdoms—were as foreign as the air itself. But his experience in combat allowed him to compartmentalize the chaos in his head, focusing only on what he could use to survive.

  "Demon."

  The word echoed in his mind. The figure he had shot earlier, the one who had called him a demon—what had that meant? Was he mistaken for some kind of monster? Or was it possible that…? No. That thought didn’t sit right. He was a soldier. Not a demon. He had to remain objective. Stay focused.

  A crackle of leaves broke his concentration. His reflexes were immediate—he ducked behind a thick tree trunk and flattened himself against it, pressing his rifle to his chest. He waited, listening.

  It wasn’t another enemy soldier. The sounds were different, more deliberate. Heavy footfalls, slow but steady. A low, guttural growl resonated through the forest. Whatever it was, it was close.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Alex didn’t hesitate. Move. Silent. Tactical.

  He pulled his knife free, a smooth, silent action, and began to move in the direction of the sound. His M4 stayed at the ready, but the knife was for close-quarters—just in case. He knew the forest. He knew how to use it to his advantage.

  The source of the noise came into view: a massive creature, at least seven feet tall, with dark, matted fur and glowing red eyes. Its mouth opened in a snarl, revealing rows of sharp teeth. It was some kind of beast, a predator that could easily rip him apart if he wasn’t careful.

  He didn’t wait. No hesitation.

  In one fluid motion, Alex raised his M4 and fired. The sound of the shot echoed through the trees. The beast screeched, its head snapping back as the bullet tore through its skull. It stumbled, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud. The growl turned into a dying hiss as it thrashed on the forest floor.

  [+20 Skill Points Earned.]

  Another prompt appeared in his vision, but Alex barely noticed. His pulse was still racing, his mind operating on pure instinct. This was his world. This was combat.

  He moved forward, cautiously approaching the fallen creature. It was dead. No more threats. But something in him couldn’t help but linger, studying the body. Fur. Claws. This wasn’t just a wild animal. This thing was different. Almost… unnatural.

  Before he could investigate further, the pain returned—sharp and sudden, like a hundred volts coursing through his brain.

  [Skill Store Unlocked: Creature Analysis]

  [New Skill: Beasts of the Wild - Level 1]

  [Monsters Identified: Beast-Type - Strength, Regeneration, Aggression]

  More information. More skills. His mind struggled to keep up as more knowledge flooded in. He didn’t have the luxury of sitting idly and processing every detail. The creature had been just one of many things lurking in this new world.

  Another prompt flashed in front of him.

  [Skill Points Available: 30]

  [Tactical Armor – 50 Points]

  [Deploy Heavy Weaponry – 100 Points]

  The Skill Store was starting to make sense now. It was like an arsenal—weapons, equipment, and skills—ready to be unlocked. But the catch was that the points were limited. He had to use them wisely.

  He didn’t have time to shop. Not yet. The forest was still full of potential threats, and he needed to keep moving.

  Alex took a deep breath and slung his rifle back over his shoulder. He needed to find out more about this world. To gather intel. To learn how it worked.

  He didn’t know why he was here, or why he had been chosen. But he was a soldier. He had a mission. And that mission was simple: survive.

  The knowledge that had flooded his mind wasn’t just about the world he had been thrown into. It was also about him. About his new abilities, his new role. He wasn’t just a Marine anymore. He was something more. A Transdimensional Combatant, whatever that meant.

  As he moved through the forest, a strange, uneasy feeling settled in his gut. He had no idea how to get back to the life he knew. No idea how to return home. But in this moment, there was only one thing he could control: the present.

  Focus. Survive. Adapt.

  The forest stretched on, and Alex Graves, Marine elite, walked forward into the unknown.