The World Of Infinity - Ultimate Setup

Ch. 1o - Beast

      Further into the forest the scenery started resembling the real world only by a long shot. While the base structure was the same but everything seemed so much healthier. 

Ground was covered by various things, like leaves, moss and a variety of plants. Every now an then they would reach a sand bed with only few plants on it all the while the surrounding area was covered with thick layer of bryophyte, still occasionally showing slight glimpses of the bedrock...

 Hael was home. He was ever so slightly getting carried away from the task of tracking the source of the sound sound through his memory, with every step, while feeling the embrace of the nature. 

The roar was not heard again but the direction where it came from before was still clear to Carmel who tried to keep Hael on the right path. Even in this situation he appeared as his usual easygoing and lively self.

In between finding something interesting to investigate, he explained possible battle strategies and theories about what could be awaiting them, for the duo to be ready whatever was going to face them, but in the end it was decided that both would just do their own thing. 

Hael would go into close combat fight and Carmel, who was undoubtedly still weak would, bombard the enemy from further... While weak, her spells were not devoid purpose. She definitely could still deal damage and if nothing else, disturb the enemy. 

It wasn't much of a tactic but Hael was a solo player at heart and Carmel didn't really have objections either, so the conclusion was inevitable. 

It took about 20 more minutes for the landscape to start presenting changes. The ground was getting harder and trees grew fewer. They had reached the end of the forest. 

Stepping out from the last shades before them spread a hole. Or rather it looked like a sideways bowl gouged to the bedrock at the root of a mountain. Looking carefully you could also see that the forest didn't continue after that point. Behind the bowl you could see the mountains slowly rising up from the ground. 

Hael and Carmel both looked the view amazed. The mountains looked majestic from the perspective of a small human even though this was only the root. 

Slowly they ascended to the corner of the bowl. Looking carefully you could see something shining from the other side... light... there had to be a path. Carmel realized this as well and jumped straight into the bowl, using her slightly developed levitating skills and shouted, 

"Its a path! Lets go see if the sound came from within the mountains!" 

Forgetting all they had talked about. 

As soon as she took another step Hael realized what was going on, and instantly another loud roar was heard fro much closer. 

"Pathway sure... but it was a layer as well."

From the other side of the bowl a large creature jumped down crashing in the middle of it, sending dust flying from below its impressive form. 

With towering height of more than 2 meters on all fours, it looked something similar to a bear and a hyena with much aggressive appearances. The most catching features would be its, really stiff looking metal grey fur soaked with uneven black dots. Along with sharp blade like nails and large fangs among its other projecting needle like teeth poking from its jaws. 

Hael jumped in the bowl as well and instantly saw to Carmel who had lost her footing and was shaking on the ground. She clung onto him like the last stronghold of life...

"My my, now is not the time to be scared. We were going to fight this battle in the first place no matter what it was so lets not judge the book by it's cover, ok?"