Better Than The Last

Tightly clutching his head, Tega tried to rid himself of the dizziness and buzzing that plagued him. After a few minutes had passed and his head cleared, he took in the scene around him.

He stood in a forest, the trees towering so high they seemed like another sky. The thick, dark brown tree trunks contrasted with the lush, verdant grass below, and the sounds of animals created a peaceful atmosphere.

Yet, despite the natural beauty surrounding him, Tega's gaze didn't linger on the scenery.

Not one for appreciating views, Tega paid attention to his surroundings, but this time, his mind wasn't on the scenery—it was on the animals around him.

Although he called them animals and they sounded exactly as they did back on Earth, Tega could sense a slight trace of ferality from the creatures nearby, even though most of them were herbivores.

Sensing no immediate danger, Tega subconsciously let down his guard after taking in a deep breath of the air around him.

Not only did the air feel fresher, but it also felt a lot lighter than the air back on Earth, and a part of him felt rejuvenated as it circulated through his bloodstream.

Who knows? Maybe the air on Earth was like this during the Stone Age.

"Seems like she reincarnated—or rather created—me in a relatively safe area," he muttered, recalling how the goddess had made it clear that he wasn't meant for this world.

With a small, cynical smile crossing his face, he added, "Lucky me."

"She could have at least given me clothes," he said, looking at his naked lower body and getting a peek at little Tega.

After finding some leaves to cover up, his survival instincts overrode any lingering shame as unbearable dehydration assaulted him.

Find water. Those words echoed in the back of his mind as though they were the decree of some god.

Since in his past life he was a soldier who spent most of his time in the wild, Tega had an idea of what to look out for when searching for water.

Finding water didn't only guarantee him something to drink but also food. All creatures needed water to survive, meaning there would be plenty of herbivores, and if he couldn't kill any, the forest was filled with fruit trees.

Although its advantages were clear, the fact remained that predators needed water too, so they would also come to watering spots. This meant he had to be careful, or he might end up as their meal.

In search of places with lusher vegetation than other areas and focusing on the sound of birds chirping, Tega wove through the forest looking for what he sought.

After a bit of searching, he found a small crystal-clear creek. Kneeling by it, Tega was finally able to see his reflection.

This new face was similar to his old one but sharper, with amber eyes that seemed to see right through the water's surface.

Ignoring his reflection, he washed his face and drank a mouthful of the cold, clear water. It should've felt refreshing, but instead, a shiver ran down his spine.

'Something is watching me.' He thought, shutting his eyes. Straining to listen for the slightest sound, he was met only with an oppressive silence.

No matter how much he tried to locate whatever was watching him, he was met with complete silence—the unbearable kind that usually preceded something deadly.

Unsure whether what was watching him was intelligent or purely driven by instinct, Tega had a weary smile as he muttered, "Why do I always end up in situations that usually get the main characters killed?"

Just as the unease began to become unbearable, he sighed, adding, "Let's hope this works."

In a final bid to scare off whatever was lurking, he called out provocatively, "Come on, then! I'll turn you into stew!"

He tried to radiate confidence, but his mocking grin barely hid the nervousness he felt.

Although running away would have been a better choice, Tega had served in the military and knew standing his ground was sometimes the best option. Retreating would leave him exposed and unable to defend if the enemy attacked.

In short, it was only advisable to retreat if you knew you could outrun your opponent. And if you couldn't outrun it, you'd just be a thrilling meal.

"Screeeeeeech!"

An ear-piercing shriek filled the air, making his head ache as blood slid down his ears and nose.

Crack!

The space around him fractured like glass, shattering the peaceful forest into a nightmare. The beautiful scene in front of him was replaced by one that would make even the toughest men puke, let alone Tega, who had drunk from such a place.

What had been a clean creek was now murky and rotten, filled with corpses and decay. The clear sky seemed somewhat foggy with a visible green tint, and it burned his lungs with each breath. The formerly lush forest behind him had turned into a wasteland filled with barren trees.

"It was all an illusion," he mumbled, eyes widened to the limit as he stared at the giant spider in front of him.

He was so terrified that he forgot he had drunk from a creek filled with corpses and breathed in toxic air.

The spider was about two meters tall, a giant compared to young Tega. It had a jet-black body covered in spikes, glowing purple streaks along it, huge legs like steel poles, and a malevolent yet mesmerizing eye pattern on the underside of its abdomen.

To hell with running or standing his ground, Tega even forgot to breathe as he could only stare with wide-open eyes and an agape jaw that let the poisonous air wreak havoc within him.

If he hadn't provoked it, he would've died without knowing what killed him, most likely from the poison that seemed to dehydrate things.

"Screeeecccccchhhhhh!!!!"

Letting out another malevolent screech, the spider's killing intent shattered Tega's already fleeting consciousness.

Wasn't this the puny human who said he'd make stew with it? Maybe it should shove its leg down the human's throat as punishment for his insolence.

Lifting one terrifying leg, its tip emitted a cold flicker as it plunged toward Tega like a holy judgment sword.

Unable to move due to the suppressive force, Tega could only stare at the lance-like limb with wide-open eyes.

Soon, a scorching pain spread from the center of his chest. Feeling something thick, warm, and oddly sticky flowing out, he groaned.

"Ugh..." Only able to release a light sound, Tega's world went blank after a few seconds.

His final thought carried no grand sentiment, just a bitter resignation. 'At least it was better than the last.'