Entering The Realm (Again)

Rose couldn't stop her heart from racing as she stood at the entrance of the gateway, her hands trembling in anticipation and fear. She never imagined that she would willingly enter a realm - a twisted dimension filled with varying terrains, climates, and beasts. 

Yes, you read that right. Beasts, monsters, horrible creatures - call them whatever you like. Some of them resemble the animals on earth, yet changed in a twisted way, some are so different from the living beings we know that it was difficult to make heads or tails of them. Yet, what they all had in common was their ferocity and bloodthirst, hunting anyone who dared to enter their domain.

Facing one of these monsters not rarely led to death, especially if one ventured alone and without any abilities - as Rose did.

She was aware that what she was about to do bordered insanity, but she had a good reason for taking this risk - she knew with certainty that she would not only survive, but also gain an ability without which her future survival was less than unlikely.

How could she know that? Because she had entered this realm before - in her previous life. Yes, she had died and been brought back in time to the dawn of Earth. The very same day when portals to the realms began appearing all over the world.

Across the globe, mysterious sightings began to occur, shimmering doorways to unknown realms. The people of the world soon realized that these were portals, and only humans had the power to travel through them. The monsters that lurked on the other side were unable to pass through, preventing chaos and destruction from overtaking the defenseless population.

In the early days of these portals' appearances, many unsuspecting individuals stumbled upon them by accident - just as Rose had back then. Those who survived their journey back emerged changed, possessing new abilities to aid them in their ongoing struggle for survival. This was exactly what Rose was after - to gain these powers and use them in her fight against the dangers lurking within the realms and outside of it.

Having gotten a second chance at life, she would treasure it. Who knew if in addition to a 'past life' and her 'current life', there would be a 'next life'? Thus, she vowed herself to do better, to not repeat the same mistakes and keep herself and her loved ones alive. For that she needed power, more than she possessed in her past life.

Before stepping through the portal, Rose took a look at her watch and set the timer to five hours. 

Why?

For humans, entering these realms carried risks beyond the fierce beasts guarding them. Exactly twenty-four hours after appearing, a portal would vanish.

Rose wasn't certain when this portal had appeared, but she was confident it couldn't have been more than nineteen hours ago. She'd been at this exact spot then, and the portal hadn't existed yet. Hence, the five-hour deadline.

What happened to those who didn't make it out in time? Some believed they were trapped inside the realm forever, while others thought the entire space collapsed upon itself. No one knew for sure, as no one had ever returned from such a fate.

Rose took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. She knew the exact path she needed to take, the precise monster she needed to face, and the ability she would gain if she succeeded. But knowledge alone wasn't enough. She had to execute her plan flawlessly. It had been so many years ago, and she had been so panicked at the time, that her memory was fuzzy. If she lingered too long in one place or arrived too early at another, who knew what might await her? She would need to retrace her exact footsteps from back at that time to survive. 

Taking another breath, Rose stepped through the shimmering gateway. The world around her warped and twisted, colors blending into a kaleidoscopic blur. When her vision cleared, she found herself standing in a dense, primordial jungle. The air was thick and humid, filled with the cacophony of insects and the distant roar of the unseen beast.

Rose's heart pounded as she took in her surroundings. Though she had done this before in her past life, the fear and awe were just as potent now.

She knew she couldn't afford to waste time gawking. Every second counted. Rose quickly oriented herself, spotting the towering red-barked tree she remembered from before. That was her first landmark. She set off at a brisk pace, careful to step lightly and avoid rustling the dense underbrush.

Thankfully, the area was rather small, and as far as she knew, only one ferocious beast roamed here. Though she had never entered another realm, she'd heard stories from others that, over time, the realms evolved—growing larger and more dangerous, as if trying to stay ahead of humanity's increasing strength.

If she remembered correctly, and there were no changes to her previous life, she would cross a small stream after passing the tree, encountering a path that would lead up a hill. At the end of it, would she find a cave and at its entrance, wedged between two rocks, lay the crystal core containing the ability.

Crystal cores were the primary goal for those venturing into the realms. While these realms also held other treasures like rare elements and spirit liquid, it was the abilities granted by the crystal cores that enticed most people to risk the danger. The origins of these cores remained a mystery, but absorbing one would bestow its contained ability upon the user.

In her previous life, Rose had been panic-stricken, stumbling aimlessly through the alien environment. As she climbed the hill, she discovered the cave—hoping for shelter but unwittingly entering the beast's lair. It was sheer luck that saved her: when the creature returned home, Rose fell backwards in terror, accidentally touching the crystal core. This granted her the ability that then saved her life.

If Rose arrived at the cave at the exact moment she had in her past life, she would be safe. The challenge lay in her pacing. How fast or slow had she been? In her panic-stricken state, had she run quickly or stumbled slowly? She couldn't be entirely certain and could only estimate. 

Rose pushed through the dense foliage, her eyes darting nervously from side to side. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig beneath her feet made her flinch. She tried to calm her racing thoughts, reminding herself that she knew what was coming. But knowledge didn't quell the primal fear that gripped her.

As she approached the red-barked tree, a distant roar echoed through the jungle. Rose froze, her breath catching in her throat. It was closer than she remembered. Had she moved too quickly? Or was her memory playing tricks on her?

There was no time to second-guess. She pressed on, her pace quickening despite her efforts to maintain control. The stream came into view, its waters gurgling softly. Rose paused at its edge, torn between the urge to rush across and the need to match her previous timing.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and counted to ten before stepping into the cool water. The stream was shallow, barely reaching her ankles, but each step felt like an eternity. As she reached the other side, another roar split the air, closer this time. Rose's heart leaped into her throat.

The path up the hill stretched before her, winding through dense vegetation. Rose started the climb, her legs trembling with each step. Despite her efforts to remain calm and reassure herself, panic still gripped Rose with its icy fingers, making her quicken her pace. On the slippery ground she slipped more than once, her hands and knees brown with mud. 

Rose didn't even register it. Her gaze was fixed above, praying for her timing to be right. When finally the cave entrance came into view, she couldn't help but exhale in relief. Only a few steps left -!

Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the ground beneath her feet. Rose's blood ran cold as she realized her mistake. She had arrived too late.