Back in his room, Alex sat on the edge of his bed, staring at nothing. His thoughts were racing, piecing together everything he had learned from the tribe. If they were telling the truth—and deep down, he believed they were—then this world wasn't as simple as it looked. There was more. A lot more. And now that he was awakened, he had no choice but to dive deeper.
If he didn't, he'd be the one caught off guard when it all came crashing down.
The tribe claimed to be the descendants of a lost race. Not just humans—but something else. Something older. Beings that once walked this world beside humans. Only now, these beings were hidden. Or worse… hunting. They were brutal and vicious, and they ate humans.
They weren't just myths.
They were enemies.
It wasn't just unsettling—it changed everything.
Alex had a theory. It had been building in his mind ever since the day of his Awakening. Back when the sentient asked him to choose a class—like in the role-playing games he used to play—and when he picked Druid, it had actually granted him real powers. Skills. Abilities.
That meant something.
Maybe those fantasy games, those epic novels, the movies with magic—maybe they weren't made up after all. Maybe they were just disguised history. Hidden truths from the old world, passed down as fiction. The Guardians, whoever they were, might have been feeding bits and pieces of the past into the media, keeping the knowledge alive… secretly.
Which meant that out there—somewhere—there were more than just humans. Elves. Dwarves. Goblins. Orcs. Or at least something like them.
The details might not be exact, but the idea made sense. Some of the non-human races could've been wiped out. Others might be hiding—just like the tribe's ancestors.
If that was true, Alex needed to be ready. He needed to learn more. Explore. Find out what was real… and what was coming.
Alex looked at his duffle bag. Inside was his kamagong stick and other survival tools. He had been given these powers for a reason. And if answers were hidden in the wilderness, then it was time to start looking.
By mid-afternoon, with the heat of the sun still lingering but no longer unbearable, Alex made his way to the forest's edge. There, he spotted a group of six college students gathered near a dirt path. They looked like they had just arrived—laughing, chatting, and adjusting their backpacks.
"Hey, mind if I join you guys?" Alex asked casually.
A tall, lean guy with a bandana looked up. "Sure! The more, the merrier. We're hiking to the top of the ridge and camping out overnight. You've done this before?"
"A few times," Alex replied, flashing a polite smile. He had no intention of sharing details about his awakened abilities.
The students introduced themselves. Bandana guy was Paolo, clearly the self-proclaimed leader. Juno was quiet, more observant than talkative, his glasses slipping down his nose every few minutes. Bea and Yana were best friends, bubbly and curious, both anthropology majors who giggled at everything. The other two—Mark and Lianne—stuck to the back, exchanging private jokes.
The trail was narrow, shaded by thick trees with sunlight slipping through the leaves. As they started walking, Alex naturally fell into step beside Juno.
"You're not from around here, are you?" Juno asked.
"Visiting," Alex replied simply. "Thought I'd explore while I still can."
Yana caught up to them. "So what's your take on all this doomsday talk? Some people say we're getting powers. Others think it's just mass hysteria."
Bea leaned in. "I want teleportation or invisibility—anything cool and useful."
Paolo laughed from the front. "No way I'm stuck with something lame like photographic memory. That's not even a power—it's a library card."
Alex chuckled along, keeping his real thoughts hidden. "Something peaceful for me. Maybe healing or being able to understand animals."
"Ooh! Druid vibes!" Yana beamed. "Like a forest whisperer!"
Alex shrugged with a smile. "Something like that."
As the trail grew steeper, their pace slowed. They stopped for water breaks, cracked jokes, and took photos of giant trees and oddly-shaped rocks. Paolo played music on a portable speaker while Bea tried to teach the group a TikTok dance.
But Alex, even while laughing with them, never dropped his guard.
He let his enhanced perception do its job. Every snap of a twig. Every shift in the leaves. He noticed when the birds suddenly quieted, and the air felt heavier. His body would stiffen every now and then—not visibly, but enough to signal he was paying attention.
Something was watching.
At one point, while crossing a narrow bamboo bridge, Alex paused mid-step. His vision flickered—Reflex Vision activating briefly—and he caught a blur in the treeline. Not an animal. Too fast. Too smooth.
But when he blinked, it was gone.
He didn't say anything. Not yet. The group was still in high spirits.
By the time they reached the ridge, the sun was already dipping behind the mountains, painting the sky with streaks of orange and lavender. The view was stunning—miles of forest stretching endlessly in all directions.
They set up camp near a small clearing. Tents popped up. Firewood was gathered. Paolo took charge of cooking, and soon the smell of grilled hotdogs and roasted marshmallows filled the air.
They sat around the fire, sharing stories and snacks. Paolo bragged about a ghost he "almost" saw during a beach trip. Yana teased Bea about her ex, and everyone laughed.
Juno spoke up, his voice low but thoughtful. "It's strange. The world's about to change forever, but here we are, pretending things are still normal."
Bea poked at the fire with a stick. "That's all we can do. Enjoy the quiet before the storm."
Alex watched them, appreciating their innocence. He had no plans to ruin it with half-truths or terrifying facts.
"I actually think something exciting is coming," Paolo added. "This is our time. Like in the movies—regular people becoming heroes."
They all nodded. Even Alex smiled.
But inside, he was scanning the forest again. His acute vibration sensitivity kicked in. There were more than just trees out there.
Later that night, after everyone retired to their tents, Alex remained by the fire. The flames had died down, leaving only glowing embers and a few sparks drifting into the dark.
The forest was unnaturally quiet. No crickets. No owls. Just silence.
Alex stood up slowly, eyes narrowing as he focused. His heart rate stayed steady, but his senses were on full alert.
He moved toward the edge of the camp, just beyond the tents, careful not to step on dry twigs. From a distance, he could see the outlines of his companions inside their tents, already deep in sleep.
Too deep.
He frowned.
Even Bea and Yana, who had been laughing five minutes ago, were now in an unnaturally still slumber. Chests rising and falling slowly. No tossing or turning.
He stepped closer to one of the tents and waved his hand in front of the flap. No reaction.
"They're being lulled," he muttered to himself.
His instincts screamed now. Something was doing this. Something with subtle control. Not direct, not harmful—yet—but enough to dull their senses and keep them unaware.
Only he remained awake, thanks to his stamina, perception, and strong constitution.
He looked back toward the trees. That feeling again—the shift in air, the static prickling on his skin. There was more than one. He could feel them encircling the camp, staying just outside the firelight.
Still hidden. Watching.
Alex tightened his grip on his kamagong stick.
No attacks yet. Just an observation.
He knelt down, pretending to adjust the firewood while keeping his senses wide open. His enhanced perception let him catch the briefest glimpses—shadows moving just a bit too smoothly, reflections in eyes that vanished when he focused.
He didn't light another fire. Didn't alert the students.
Instead, he sat by the dying embers, head slightly bowed, eyes closed but ears wide open.
Whatever they were—these watchers of the night—they were curious.
He could feel their intent. He felt their hostility. Definitely not a friendly bunch.
Alex can see them now, observing.
And he watches them back, studies them, waiting for them.