Princess Qamari cautiously approached the silver rafter, inspecting the area for any abnormalities as she went. The surroundings were eerily quiet and cold, chilling her heart and numbing her limbs. The sword's golden glow was the only soothing comfort to her unsettled heart.
Very soon, she arrived before the silver rafter unscathed and jumped onto the beam without hesitation. Hoisting her golden sword onto her lap, she took shelter under the cluster of lotus leaf umbrellas. It was only then that she realized the silver rafter was nestled in a clear spring that wounded through the ancient trees to a silver lake in the forest.
The lake's surface was as clear as silver moon, purple wreaths and red flower blossoms of various species encircled it, filling the air with the sweet fragrance of flowers. There were silver, gold, red, and gray fishes swimming and hopping around the water, bobbing their heads out of the lake before sinking back in as if shy of staying out too long.
Shells littered the ground with crabs and shrimps laying around. With the addition of the juicy fruit trees and berry bushes, it was the perfect spot to wait out the competition.
"With food and drinking water provided for me, what more could I ask for?" She thought with ease.
Deciding on sheltering here, Princess Qamari wanted to make it a little hidden. Rowing the rafter closer to the ancient magnolia and oak trees, she took advantage of their denseness to position her rafter so that the little distance there was between them, would be covered by the palm trees and lotus leaf umbrellas clusters on her rafter.
Soon, she had a suitable hiding spot that one would not be able to find without having prior knowledge of her position and searching thoroughly.
Feeling satisfied, Princess Qamari gathered some pineapple and coconut fruits, purple berries and tangerines, and some water on large green leaves before settling her golden sword on her lap. Finding a comfortable spot in her lotus leaf umbrellas shelter, she decided to get some rest.
"Roooar...!"
"Roooar...!"
Right at this instant, Princess Qamari startled awake as the vicious roars of wild beasts reverberated throughout the dark primitive forest. Holding her golden sword in her hand, she peeked out of her hiding spot to check her surroundings, hoping her eyes would be able to see in the dark without her having to use her sword.
The bright light from it would be more of a beacon to whatever was out there than help in such a situation. At first, she could not see anything. The forest was so dark that she could not even make out her fingers. But the roars of the beasts resounded again and before she could react, two shadowy figures, one with three heads and one with wings leaped into her sight, the two howling and growling as they clawed and bit.
Entangled, the shadowy figures rolled onto the ground together, the three-headed beast brutally crashing the wings of the other as the winged beast pinned the three-heads onto the ground, crushing its head with a single punch. Soon the air was filled with the metallic scent of blood as the winged beast staggeringly stepped back, dark liquid gathered at his feet, with his head raised towards the sky, roaring victoriously, he thumped on his chest.
The massive roar seemed to split the forest as it pierced the sky, startling many of the smaller creatures nearby as they wailed and fled in panic, while the huger beasts roared back in challenge. With the wails and roars resounding throughout the forest, chaos ensued.
Princess Qamari watched with terror and horror as the shadow of larger beasts stomped and crushed the smaller beasts mercilessly, while beasts of equal stature and strength entangled in a round of power display. The tearing of flesh and splattering of blood consumed the silent forest.
Having roared to its heart's content, the broken-winged beast bent its head and tore off one of the three heads of the three-headed shadow, chomping and swallowing, before starting on the other. This horrific scene continued until only the bones were left. Satisfied, the beast leaped onto a tree before dashing away.
As the rest of the excited beasts defeated their respective opponents, they left the scene after eating them.
The forest restored its previous silence with the departure of the wild beasts, but now, instead of just eerie, the silence made the forest seem especially frightening as if it was a larking beast awaiting to unleash its wrath on any unsuspecting individual.
Shivering, Princess Qamari covered the tiny opening in her make-shift shelter with trembling hands as she numbly settled back into her spot. The reality of her situation hit her only now with full force. This was no game. This was a battle of life and death. If she made even the slightest bit of mistake, it could cost her her life.
Her face pale, teeth clenched, lips bloodless, Princess Qamari held her golden sword in her hand with a firm grip. In this mysterious forest where the dance of life and death was a symphony of nature and blood and flesh the melody of life, the golden sword was the only string of note that filled her heart with peace.
"I have come here not to die, but to win this competition and gain the qualification to get a master. The sight just now opened my eyes. Without sufficient strength or power of my own, I would only be a small creature waiting to be smashed to pieces or crushed into paste. So, to make sure that my own ending is not as pitiful and pathetic as those small beasts, I have to become strong, no matter what! I will win this competition, no matter what!"
Princess Qamari's horrified eyes slowly became sharp as her resolve strengthen, determination radiating from her frail figure like a beam of light shining in the middle of the Black Southern Sea.