Chapter 18: Untamed Land
Lex cautiously made his way through the abandoned fishing village, seeing smashed windows and old blood stains everywhere.
A once-bustling harbor was now eerily silent, with empty houses and weather-worn rowing boats rocking gently in the breeze.
Entering one of the dilapidated houses, Lex searched through the dusty shelves. Most of the containers were empty or long past their expiration dates.
But then, hidden in the corner of a dimly lit pantry, he discovered a treasure – a stash of tin cans.
His heart quickened as he examined them. They were still sealed and appeared to be in good condition.
Lex wasted no time storing them in the ring that the academy gave him. It wasn't a feast but sustenance, and in these bad times, that was a small victory.
Once done with that, he left the house, went to the dock, and found a place to sit down.
He pulled out one of the tins and ate while watching the sea. As he sat there, he spotted something moving under the water.
It was heading toward him, so Lex jumped back as chiton spikes slammed into the previous spot.
Lex looked at it before pulling out his Gearhearts and firing into the water, which caused mini-explosions everywhere.
The spikes kept coming, but he ran off because he couldn't hit the monster attacking him.
As Lex exited the village, he was greeted by an untamed wilderness that lay uncharted before him.
Soon, he chanced upon a spectacle that filled him with awe as he saw a vast grassland that seemed to have been plucked straight from the pages of Earth's ancient history.
The rolling plains extended as far as the eye could see, dotted with towering ferns, prehistoric-looking cycads, and lush, oversized vegetation that towered over him.
But what truly captured his attention lay in the distance—a massive forest that looked like something out of the Jurassic period.
Gigantic, ancient trees with colossal trunks and thick canopies loomed on the horizon.
Their branches, adorned with enormous leaves, rustled in the gentle breeze, creating a soft, melodic symphony that resonated with the distant calls of unknown creatures.
The atmosphere was thick with primal energy. Lex couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and reverence as he gazed upon this prehistoric landscape.
It was as if he had returned to an era when colossal beasts roamed the Earth.
Lex ventured further into the ancient, untamed land, his senses heightened and his heart racing with excitement and apprehension.
As he journeyed deeper, the lush grasslands gradually gave way to the towering trees of the primordial forest.
The forest was moving, and Lex soon realized he was not alone. Unlike anything he had ever seen, monstrous creatures roamed freely in this prehistoric realm.
Gigantic reptilian creatures, resembling massive lizards with serrated crests along their backs, lumbered through the underbrush, their heavy footsteps causing the ground to tremble.
Above, in the dense canopy, winged beasts with leathery, bat-like wings glided from tree to tree, their sharp eyes scanning for prey.
Lex watched in awe as they soared gracefully through the ancient foliage. In the distance, he heard immense creatures' guttural roars and trumpeting calls.
The towering ferns and prehistoric vegetation hid them. Lex knew he had to tread carefully, for this land was home to beasts that had existed long before the age of man.
Despite the inherent dangers, he couldn't help but marvel at the sheer variety of life in this untamed wilderness.
Each step brought him face to face with creatures that defied imagination, and every rustle in the undergrowth held the promise of an encounter with something new and wondrous.
As he traveled, he got a bad feeling as something lunged at him from a bush. Lex quickly jumped to the side.
He raised his weapons and started firing into the monster resembling a giant praying mantis.
But his bullets tore through it, causing it to shriek. That's when Lex heard the same shrieks heading in his direction.
He holstered one of his guns as he started sprinting away. Lex's heart pounded as he sprinted through the ancient forest.
The towering trees and dense undergrowth created a labyrinthine path that seemed to go on endlessly.
Behind him, a group of mantis-like monsters gave chase, their long, spindly limbs propelling them with astonishing speed.
The forest became his playground as he leaped over gnarled roots, vaulted fallen logs, and swung from low-hanging vines.
Each step was a calculated move, and each leap a dance with danger. The lush vegetation and tangled foliage provided both obstacles and opportunities for his escape.
Lex navigated the forest terrain with agility, his body moving with fluid grace. The mantis-like monsters pursued him relentlessly, their clicking mandibles snapping just inches behind him.
He pushed himself to the limits, using his environment to his advantage. He sprinted up the trunk of a massive tree and leaped from branch to branch, evading the creatures below.
The forest became his ally, concealing him in its deep shadows and offering him escape routes through thick underbrush and over rocky outcrops.
Despite the relentless pursuit, Lex's adrenaline-fueled free-running allowed him to maintain a lead over the mantis-like monsters.
He knew he had to keep moving and pushing himself to survive this perilous chase.
Lex turned back as one of the monsters closed in on him, and he decided to scan it.
[Mantarix]
[Rank D]
[Common]
The Mantarix got closer, but he aimed a gearheart at it and pulled the trigger, sending the mana bullet flying forward.
It connected with the monster and sent it sprawling to the floor, but Lex didn't stop to look as he sprinted deeper into the forest.
[A/N - Leave some comments, power stones, and gifts. It all helps support the book. Artwork in the comments or discord]
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
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Editor: Ayce-o-Spade.
https://www.webnovel.com/book/a-journey-that-changed-the-world._26048832306064405
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