The empty wasteland stretched out in front of Eren Drayce, his breathing still heavy from what just happened.
Standing on the broken road, his clothes were dry now as if the fall never occurred.
He looked around. The place felt a bit like Earth, but the buildings and houses ahead were tall and modern, with shiny metal frames and broken glass windows sparkling under the dull, cloudy sky.
Yet, there was no one around—just silence, broken only by the soft rustle of green vines growing over the ruins.
His stomach growled loudly, reminding him how hungry he was.
---
With no food in sight, Eren started walking down the empty road, his shoes crunching on bits of trash as he looked for clues or something to eat.
He checked overturned carts, old signs, and scattered junk that might have been a market once, but found nothing good—just dust and old stuff.
His hunger grew stronger with every step, making his vision a little blurry and his legs feel weak.
After a long walk, he reached the edge of the city where it turned into a huge jungle.
The trees were massive, ten times bigger than any on Earth, their thick branches forming a dark green roof that blocked most of the light.
The air smelled like wet earth and strange flowers, so different from the city's quiet ruin.
---
Eren stopped, thinking hard.
If I stay here, I might die again—ahh, being this hungry hurts too much.
The thought of feeling that pain again pushed him to move.
I should go into the jungle, he decided, feeling a bit braver.
Stepping into the thick plants, he was amazed by the giant trees—vines as thick as his arm hung down like ropes, and leaves big enough to be blankets swayed in a light wind.
Shocked by how big everything was, he moved forward, touching the rough, warm bark, hoping to find fruit or nuts to eat.
---
Suddenly, a loud cry broke through the jungle's soft noises—a sound like an animal in pain, close to dying.
Eren froze, his heart beating fast.
Should I go toward it or not? he wondered, feeling unsure.
The cry came again, weaker this time, pulling at him.
Against his better judgment, he walked quietly toward the sound, his steps soft on the mossy ground.
---
Pushing aside huge leaves, Eren saw a man—or something like one.
The stranger was tall and strong, wearing a torn, dirty shirt.
He had two black, pointed ears on his head and a black tail still behind him, giving him an odd look at first glance.
But the man moved with a calm grace, his clawed hands empty of any weapon.
Before Eren could think more, the man dashed forward in a blur of speed, striking a bear—five times bigger than any on Earth, its fur wet with blood and its roars filling the air.
A crackle of lightning sparked from the man's claws, striking the bear with a bright flash, and it fell silent in an instant.
---
Eren hid behind a tree, holding his breath, shocked by the power he'd just seen.
Before he could move, a shadow fell over him.
The man stood behind him, his claws lightly touching the back of Eren's neck, a faint hum of electricity tingling in the air.
"Who are you?" the man asked in a steady, deep voice.
"Why are you here?"
---
Eren's mind went blank, his usual I don't care attitude kicking in.
He didn't mind living or dying anymore.
Calmly, he said, "My name is Eren. I… I forgot my memories. I only remember my name."
---
The man tilted his head, his black ears staying still, his golden eyes narrowing as he studied Eren.
His tail hung motionless, showing no sign of excitement.
I'll just act like I believe him, the man thought, his calm mind turning over the strange story.
"Why should I believe you?" he asked, his voice firm but even. "You might be a Syntharae."
---
Eren's eyes flickered, a hint of unease crossing his face before he masked it.
"What? Syntharae… I don't even know what that is," he said slowly, his voice steady but his mind racing.
They can tell what I'm thinking—don't let it show.
"I'm not one of them, okay? I'm not spying or anything."
---
The man's eyes narrowed further, the electric hum from his claws growing stronger.
"Then prove it," he said coolly.
Eren frowned, unsure.
"How should I prove it?" he asked, his voice steady despite the threat.
---
The man paused, then said, "Why don't we cut off one of your hands or legs? That should show if you're telling the truth."
Eren's mind raced.
I don't have a problem with that, but I don't want to show my abilities to him, he thought, remembering how his body healed before.
"Come on, you can't do this to me!" he said aloud, his voice rising slightly.
"Are you really going to do this, or are you weaker than that Syntharae?"
---
The man's calm broke for a moment, a flash of anger in his eyes.
"Watch your mouth, brat," he growled.
"I am one of the guardians of this jungle…"
---
Eren swallowed, his apathy cracking just a bit under the pressure.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he said quickly, his voice flat.
"I told you already—I'm not a Syntharae."
---
The man—Korran—held his gaze for a long second, his golden eyes scanning Eren's face like he was solving a puzzle.
I don't sense any threat from him, Korran thought, his mind calm and logical.
Most Syntharae are weaker than me anyway. I think I'll just observe him for now. He might be a human.
He lowered his claws, the electric hum fading.
"Okay then," Korran said evenly. "I'll believe you—for now."
---
Eren let out a quiet breath, his shoulders relaxing.
That's easy, he thought, a small spark of relief cutting through his numbness.
But his stomach twisted again, louder this time.
"Can you help me get out of this jungle?" he asked, his voice weak.
The growl echoed in the quiet air.
"Ohh… I'm hungry too. Please, some food and water?"
---
Korran stared at Eren, frustration flickering across his face.
His tail twitched once, the only sign of annoyance.
This human is more trouble than a storm, he thought.
But he sighed, glancing at the massive bear corpse.
"Fine. We have to eat this bear first. Help me with the cutting."
---
Eren nodded, but as he stepped forward, his legs wobbled.
He had no experience with skinning or cutting meat, and his body felt too weak from hunger to even lift a claw.
Ahh, I'm already too hungry to stand, he thought.
Pretending to trip, he let himself fall against a nearby tree, slumping down with a groan.
---
Korran shot him a sharp look.
"Hey, don't lay down anywhere!" he warned, his voice stern but not harsh.
"You might get eaten by the trees or some animals. The vines here are alive—they grab anything that moves slow."
---
Eren leaned back against the rough bark, his eyes half-closed like he was drifting off to sleep.
This man looks like he doesn't care, but he's too soft, he thought, a sly plan forming in his mind.
I can make good use of him. I'll ask all the questions about this world—but first, I have to eat something.
"Eren… please protect me," he mumbled, playing up the weakness, his eyelids heavy.
---
Korran shook his head, muttering under his breath as he turned to the bear.
With calm efficiency, he sliced off one massive leg using his lightning-charged claws—the air crackled with blue sparks, the cut clean and quick.
He broke the bone with a sharp twist, then peeled back the thick skin like it was paper.
Grabbing nearby branches, he slashed them into firewood with lightning speed, the strikes so fast they blurred.
In moments, he had a pile of wood, which he sparked to life with a single claw zap.
The fire roared up, warm and steady, filling the air with the smoky scent of roasting meat.
---
Korran sat back, turning the leg over the flames, waiting for it to cook.
As the meat sizzled, Korran glanced at Eren, his mind turning.
My intuition tells me he's no threat, he thought.
But I can't ignore a stranger in these woods. The beasts' kingdom is very far from here. I'll just help him get out of this jungle, then be on my way.
---
Korran settled near the fire, poking at the flames with a stick, his black ears twitching at every jungle rustle.
The leg browned slowly, juices dripping into the fire with a hiss.
After what felt like forever to Eren's empty stomach, it was ready—tender and steaming.
Korran stood and gave a loud shout right in Eren's ear:
"Wake up!"
---
Eren jolted upright, his eyes wide with surprise, heart racing.
"What—?" he stammered, rubbing his eyes.
Korran tossed him a chunk of the cooked leg, keeping the rest for himself.
"Eat. It's ready."
---
They tore into the meat in silence at first, the warm, savory flavor hitting Eren like a wave.
It was tough but filling, the juices running down his chin as he devoured it.
Strength returned slowly, his vision clearing, the hunger fading to a dull ache.
Korran ate methodically, his bites precise, watching Eren with quiet interest.
---
After a few minutes, Eren wiped his mouth on his sleeve, feeling bold enough to speak.
"If you don't mind… can you tell me about the Syntharae? What are they?"
---
Korran paused, mid-bite, his golden eyes thoughtful.
Ahh, he really has lost his memory, he thought.
I guess I can tell him that much.
He set down his chunk of meat and leaned forward, the firelight dancing on his black ears.
"The Syntharae… they're machines that think like gods. Born from the old wars, before the parasites came."
"They look like humans—silver skin, glowing eyes—but inside, they're all wires and cold logic."
"They rule their metal cities, reading faces, catching lies, and hunting anyone who gets in their way."
"We guardians keep them out of the jungle, but they're always watching."
---
Eren listened, his mind spinning with the words.
The fire crackled between them, the jungle whispering around their small camp, as the weight of this new world settled a little heavier on his shoulders.
---