Adam’s gaze shifted toward Sophia, noticing the way her eyes sparkled with wonder as she stared at the unicorn-like horse below.

  A faint smile played on his lips—she was completely captivated. It was rare to see such pure admiration on someone’s face, and for a brief moment, he hesitated to break the illusion.

  Still holding her waist, Adam gently tapped her side with his finger.

  The light touch startled Sophia, snapping her out of her trance. She blinked and turned to him, her cheeks still slightly flushed from excitement. “What?” she whispered, confused by the sudden gesture.

  Before she could ask anything, Adam leaned in closer, bringing his lips near her ear.

  Her breath hitched, and her thoughts spiraled in unexpected directions. Why is he getting so close? And why here, at the top of a tree?

  Her heart pounded against her chest, and for a brief moment, she completely forgot about the unicorn below.

  But then, Adam’s calm voice reached her.

  “The thing you’re looking at… it’s an illusion.”

  Sophia’s blush vanished instantly, replaced by shock. “What?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

  She turned back toward the creature below, her gaze filled with doubt. An illusion? But it looks so real…

  The unicorn stood there in the clearing, its horn glowing faintly, its shimmering hooves barely making a sound as it shifted its weight. Everything about it screamed beauty and grace. How could this be fake?

  Her fingers instinctively tightened against Adam’s sleeve as she struggled to understand.

  Before she could question further, Adam reached for a small branch nearby. It was thin and brittle, barely strong enough to hold its own weight. He snapped it off effortlessly, the sound almost inaudible against the jungle’s background noise.

  He held the twig over the edge of the branch they stood on. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he tossed it downward.

  Sophia’s eyes followed the twig as it tumbled through the air.

  The moment it reached the white unicorn, something horrifying happened.

  The unicorn vanished.

  Gone in an instant, as if it had never been there.

  But in its place, two massive, green, claw-like limbs shot up from the ground. They were thick and gnarled like twisted tree branches, yet they moved with terrifying speed.

  The claws sliced through the air where the twig would have landed, cutting it apart before it even touched the ground. The splinters scattered in every direction, barely making a sound.

  Sophia’s breath caught in her throat.

  She could only stare in horror as the illusion completely shattered, revealing the real monster beneath.

  It was no unicorn.

  It was a giant mantis.

  The monstrous insect stood nearly eight meters tall, its elongated limbs swaying slightly as it scanned its surroundings. Its exoskeleton shimmered between a bark-like texture and a deep green hue, camouflaging it perfectly among the trees.

  Its enormous head tilted from side to side, its bulbous eyes reflecting the dim jungle light. The creature’s mandibles twitched, releasing a low, eerie clicking sound that sent shivers down Sophia’s spine.

  Sophia’s lips parted in shock, but before she could make a sound, Adam’s hand shot up, covering her mouth.

  Her wide eyes darted toward him, her breathing uneven. He locked gazes with her, his expression calm yet firm. Slowly, he lifted a finger to his lips—a silent command to stay quiet.

  Sophia swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay still.

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  Below, the mantis twitched, sensing something in the air. Its massive legs shifted, pressing into the damp earth as it scanned the area for movement.

  And then, to their astonishment, its color began to change.

  Its body, once a mix of wood and green, darkened into a deep forest hue. Within seconds, it blended seamlessly into the jungle, becoming almost invisible among the dense vegetation.

  Moving with eerie precision, it crawled forward on six spindly legs, each step measured and silent. Its movements were calculated—this was a predator at the top of its game.

  Sophia’s pulse pounded in her ears. She had never seen such a terrifying creature in her life. If Adam hadn’t noticed the illusion, she would have walked straight into its trap.

  The mantis continued scanning its surroundings, but then something small caught its attention.

  A rat scurried out from beneath the undergrowth, its tiny paws barely making a sound against the damp earth. It moved quickly, searching for food, completely unaware of the danger that lurked nearby.

  The mantis reacted instantly.

  In a blur, it vanished from sight.

  Sophia barely had time to process what happened before she saw it—two razor-sharp mantis limbs piercing straight through the rat’s tiny form. The poor creature was impaled before it even knew it was being hunted.

  Sophia’s stomach churned. She immediately shut her eyes, unable to watch any longer.

  The jungle fell silent again, as if nothing had happened. But now, Sophia knew the truth—this place was far deadlier than she had ever imagined.

  Sophia felt deeply disturbed by the scene she had just witnessed. The gruesome sight of the rat being impaled had shaken her to the core. The jungle, which once seemed mysterious and full of adventure, now felt suffocating and terrifying.

  Her hands trembled slightly as she clutched the rough bark of the tree they were perched on. The image of the mantis’s razor-sharp limbs slicing through the helpless rat replayed in her mind, making her stomach churn. Is this what the world outside my village is really like?

  Sensing her distress, Adam once again leaned close to her ear and whispered, “This is why I told you to stay in the village.”

  His words carried no arrogance, only a calm certainty, as if he had expected this all along. There was no mocking tone, no attempt to belittle her—just a quiet statement of truth.

  Sophia, however, refused to accept defeat so easily. I can’t let this scare me. She slowly opened her eyes and met Adam’s gaze, shaking her head in silent defiance.

  Adam sighed. He had expected this response.

  Tightening his grip around her waist, he made his next move without warning.

  In one swift motion, he leaped from the tree branch, soaring toward another tree.

  Sophia barely had time to react before the ground below blurred into streaks of green and brown. Her instincts kicked in, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around Adam’s neck, holding on tightly.

  They continued moving this way—Adam jumping from one tree to another, carrying Sophia effortlessly through the air. His movements were precise, each leap measured perfectly. He landed on branches without making a sound, barely disturbing the leaves around them.

  Sophia could only hold on as they traveled swiftly, avoiding the dangers lurking below. Despite her earlier fear, she couldn’t deny the strange sense of security she felt in Adam’s arms. He moves so easily… as if this jungle is his home.

  Finally, after covering some distance, Adam landed gracefully on the ground.

  Sophia remained in his arms, her hands still gripping his shoulders tightly. She had shut her eyes the moment they began descending, bracing for impact.

  It took her a moment to realize that they had already landed.

  Adam looked at her, his face only inches from hers.

  “We’ve landed,” he said calmly. “You can let go now.”

  Sophia’s eyes flew open. Realizing how close they were, she quickly released him and stepped back, her movements hurried and awkward.

  “I’m sorry!” she blurted out, turning her head to the side in embarrassment. Her cheeks had turned a deep shade of pink, and she instinctively raised a hand to cover them. Why did I hold onto him for so long?

  Adam, however, remained composed. “We should stay focused,” he said, his voice steady.

  Sophia hesitated for a moment before glancing back at him. Seeing his serious expression, she took a deep breath and nodded in agreement.

  The two continued walking through the forest, moving cautiously through the thick foliage.

  Sophia’s heart gradually steadied, but the lingering discomfort in her chest remained. She wasn’t sure if it was from the terrifying creature they had escaped or the close proximity she had just shared with Adam.

  Either way, she pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the path ahead.

  After some time, they reached a peculiar area—an open path cutting through the dense jungle.

  Unlike the rest of the forest, where trees and vegetation grew wildly, this path was completely clear. It wasn’t a man-made road, but rather a natural formation. The trees on either side stood tall, their thick trunks framing the passage perfectly. Despite the uneven ground, the open stretch allowed them to see far ahead, unobstructed by trees.

  Sophia was stunned.

  “A path… in the middle of the forest?” she murmured in disbelief.

  She had never imagined leaving her village, let alone witnessing something like this. The sight before her felt almost unreal, like a hidden secret of nature that no one had ever uncovered.

  As they stepped onto the natural pathway, Sophia’s eyes wandered across the landscape. Lush plants and vibrant flowers bloomed along the sides, adding bursts of color to the earthy tones of the jungle. Some plants had bright golden leaves, while others had deep violet stems that twisted elegantly toward the sky.

  One particular plant caught her attention—a striking red flower, its petals almost glowing under the faint light filtering through the trees.

  The color was unlike anything she had ever seen before. It wasn’t just red—it pulsed with an inner glow, as if the flower itself was alive.

  Drawn to its beauty, Sophia moved closer, her fingers reaching out to touch it.

  Just as her fingertips were about to graze the petals, Adam’s voice rang out behind her, calm yet firm.

  “Don’t touch that.”

  Sophia froze instantly.

  A chill ran down her spine.

  And at that moment, to a sudden, chilling end.