Absolute instinct

Darian stood at the edge of the makeshift camp, his gaze sweeping over the survivors. The air was thick with tension, but there was no time for hesitation. Every moment felt like it could be the calm before something worse. He exhaled deeply and turned back to the gathered group.

"Everybody, gather up!" he called out, his voice cutting through the murmur of the camp. His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. The survivors responded quickly, gathering in a loose circle around him.

"From now on, you'll organize the new survivors who've joined us," Darian continued, his voice unwavering. "These 500 people must be ready by nightfall. We're moving out tomorrow. We'll be delayed for one day, but that's it. After that, we move on. No exceptions."

The survivors exchanged uncertain looks, but Darian's authority left little room for doubt. He had led them through hell before. He would do it again.

"Combat group, select people from the newcomers who are suitable for your teams. Healing group, start assessing injuries and prepare to treat the wounded. Strategy group, scout out additional resources. Elemental group, teach the new recruits how to refine their Vital Force and train them in any techniques we've learned. We need them ready for what's coming. And the rest of you, scout for vehicles—new ones, find them. We've got 500 to carry, and we need to be mobile."

Darian's voice was calm, but his eyes burned with intensity. "Got that?" he asked, his gaze scanning the group.

The survivors nodded, their expressions a mixture of hesitation and determination. Darian didn't wait for further confirmation. He turned and strode away, his steps purposeful.

As he walked toward the outskirts of the camp, he approached Marcus, who was overseeing a small group of survivors. Darian had a question that needed answering, and he trusted Marcus's judgment.

"Marcus," Darian called as he drew near, "Do you have anyone in your group who knows about all the survivors, where they come from, and the geography of this city? I need details on the situation here."

Marcus nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, we have someone. Jack. He's been with us since the early days and knows this area well." He turned and raised his voice. "Jack! Jack, come here."

A thin man with scruffy hair and a worn-out jacket stepped forward, his eyes cautious but respectful. He looked young, but there was something about his demeanor that hinted at experience. He saluted Darian with a quick, practiced motion.

"Jack, this is Darian. He's got a few questions for you," Marcus said, stepping back.

Jack met Darian's gaze. "Yes, sir," he said, his voice steady. "I'll help with whatever I can."

Darian studied Jack for a moment before nodding. "Good. I'll ask you a few questions about our situation here, and I need honest answers. Got it?"

"Yes, sir. I'll help with the best of my ability," Jack replied without hesitation.

Darian's eyes narrowed, his mind already working. "How's the situation with the monsters around here? I need to know what we're dealing with."

Jack hesitated, then spoke. "Well, sir, before, there were a lot of monsters around here. The survivors came from all over, fleeing from places overrun by them. The numbers were overwhelming. We thought we'd be swallowed up, but it's different now."

Darian's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Jack's gaze flickered nervously. "For the past four or five days, there's been a significant decrease in the number of monsters around here. No one knows exactly why. It's like they just... vanished. Or maybe they're being driven away." He paused, looking around, as if the silence in the air unsettled him.

Darian's mind raced. A sudden drop in monster numbers? That wasn't natural. "Is that so?" he murmured, his instincts tingling. "We'll need to check it out for ourselves. There's got to be a reason."

Jack nodded, eager to provide more information. "According to the survivors who've been scouting at night, there's been talk of something big out in the jungle. A monster, sir. Something unlike anything we've seen before."

Darian's eyes sharpened, the pieces starting to fall into place. A powerful predator in the jungle... could that be the reason for the drop in monsters? Were they being pushed back by a larger, more dangerous force? Or was there something else at play?

"Something big?" Darian repeated, his tone low. "Tell me more."

Jack took a breath, clearly gathering his thoughts. "There have been sightings—just glimpses, really—but they say it's huge. Almost like... like it's marking territory. And it's not the usual kind of monster. It's different. The others have been staying clear of it."

Darian's mind worked quickly, forming theories. A huge monster, perhaps something intelligent, pushing the others away, or controlling the territory in ways the smaller monsters couldn't. Whatever the case, this was no coincidence. "We need to see this for ourselves. If this monster is the reason for the decrease in numbers, then we need to understand it. We'll head out soon. Prepare yourself, Jack."

"Yes, sir," Jack replied, his tone more resolute now. "I'll be ready."

Darian turned to Marcus, his thoughts already focused on the next move. "We need to make sure the group stays in line. We're not leaving until we know exactly what's happening here."

As Darian walked away, he felt the weight of the responsibility pressing down on him. He wasn't just leading them out of this city—he was trying to survive in a world that had shifted, with creatures and forces beyond their understanding. But Darian would face it, as he always did. One step at a time.

 the next phase of the journey was about to begin, and Darian felt a familiar sense of urgency settle over him. He wasn't sure what to expect, but that didn't matter. In a world like this, unpredictability was the only constant.

Darian and Jack made their way toward the outskirts of the camp, where the jungle met the mountain range. Jack's pace was quick, and Darian's mind raced with the possibilities. The signs were all pointing toward something bigger, something dangerous, and Darian would face it head-on.

"Jack, where did you say the monster sightings were?" Darian asked, scanning the area.

Jack led Darian toward the outskirts, where the dense jungle loomed ahead. "The sightings were near a big forest, sir. It's a large expanse of trees before a mountain. There were always a lot of monsters there. The survivors used to fear that place."

As they approached the edge of the forest, the air felt heavier, the scent of damp earth and rotting leaves blending with the eerie silence of the place. It was unnerving—a stark contrast to the usual sounds of the wilderness. Darian's instincts screamed that something was wrong.

"Is this the place?" Darian asked, looking around.

"Yes, sir," Jack confirmed, his voice laced with unease. "This is the spot."

Darian took in the surroundings with a wary eye. "There used to be a lot of monsters here, huh?"

Jack nodded. "Yes, sir. Before, this area was swarming with them. But in the past few days, there's been nothing. It's like they just disappeared."

Darian was silent for a moment, his instincts firing. "I don't see anything here, Jack. No signs, no movement. What could be the reason for all of this?"

Jack shifted uneasily, his eyes darting nervously. "I'm not sure, sir. It's just... strange."

Before Darian could respond, a sudden scream broke the silence. "Sir! Sir, here!" Jack's voice was filled with alarm.

Darian spun around, his senses immediately on high alert. He rushed toward Jack, who had dropped to the ground, pointing toward something in the dirt.

Darian knelt beside him and froze when he saw the massive footprint. It was enormous—at least five feet long—far too large for any ordinary monster. The print seemed to swallow the surrounding earth, its size dwarfing even Darian, who stood at 5'11".

"This... this is huge," Darian muttered, studying the print closely. "A monster this size would be difficult to handle. If it's just eating the other monsters around here, maybe we can manage it. But if it's gathering forces—collecting the monsters..." He trailed off, his mind racing. "That's a different story. We need to move faster."

Jack was looking at the print with awe and fear. "What do we do, sir?"

Without another word, Darian turned and began heading back toward the camp, his pace quickening. Jack followed closely behind, glancing back at the massive footprint one last time.

Without a word, Darian turned and started heading back toward the camp, his pace quickening. His thoughts raced, the enormity of the footprint weighing on him.

Jack followed closely behind, glancing back at the massive print. A sense of dread gripped him as he realized that whatever left that mark was no ordinary monster.