Rize located a tree that seemed climbable and then put his bag down before he grabbed onto a branch and started climbing it. He was quite light with considerable physical ability; he knew how to climb trees with ease. So, in less than two minutes, Rize was already at the top, pushing leaves to the side as he tried to reach the peak. Eventually, he emerged at the very top and looked all around him.
Trees stretched into the distance as far as he could see. He felt like he was in the biggest natural maze ever. Every direction looked the same as the other, and he felt completely lost in it.
'If I didn't have my trusty compass and coordinates, I would be totally screwed.' He mused as he looked left and right, analyzing the terrain. Eventually, his eyes located what seemed ot be an opening in the woods. Something that stood out in this vast canopy of trees.
'That could be a lake.' He thought to himself before he went down the tree and picked his bag up. 'I was planning to dissect the wolf and take some meat, but then again… I really don't have any tools… And also, I don't know if wolf meat is even edible here.'
Rize knew the risk of suffering from stomach pain here. Any illness would be his death as he had no medical attention.
A few minutes later, Rize finally reached the open area he located earlier.
"Woah…"
There, he found a gorgeous lake, big enough to stretch at least 50 meters to the other side. It was crystal clear, reflecting the light of the sun into the trees. The sight was gorgeous beyond reason and appeared completely untouched by human hands… So sacred and pure.
For a second, Rize stopped to admire the scene before he finally walked toward the water's edge and leaned down as he took a sip. The water was fresh, cold, and very rejuvenating. Rize immediately started drinking fast.
'I don't know if I should drink or not, but I'm very thirsty.' He thought to himself. After getting his fill of it, he pulled a small bottle from his bag and filled it with water to the brim.
"This should be enough for at least a couple more days. Geralt said I have a week, but I don't want to stay in this forest for that long. I should be able to make it back in a few days at most."
After that, he turned around and saw a bush filled with berries not that far away from him. Walking toward it, he checked the berries.
"Hmm, they look… edible? I mean… One shouldn't kill me, right?" He asked himself before he threw one in his mouth. Instantly, an explosion of sweetness filled his mouth. "Woah, this tastes so good."
Immediately, Rize grabbed several and threw them in his mouth. For the next minute or so, Rize collected all the berries and ate them.
"*Lick* Not too shabby. This should be enough energy for me to continue moving." He muttered before he turned around, ready to leave.
However, as he was about to walk away, he saw something move in the water. "Hm?" Rize frowned. "What's that?"
It appeared like bubbles of some sort. However, it was deep into the lake, so it was very hard to gauge what it was.
'Yeah, there is no way I'm going to wait to see what that is. Nope.' He turned around and started walking away from the lake. Whatever that was, it was none of his business… Or so he thought, until suddenly.
*Swish*
He heard a movement in the water as he quickly turned around, only to see something truly horrifying. The bubbles suddenly shot toward him at extremely high speeds. Cutting the distance between them in less than three seconds. Then, a large silhouette emerged out of the water, flying in the air.
"... Wha…" Rize could not believe his eyes as droplets of water fell on his face while the looming figure moved over his head. But as the figure started descending toward him, Rize realized the horrendous situation and sprang into motion, dashing to the side as fast as he could.
*BOOOOM*
The monster slammed to the ground right as Rize leaped and rolled out of danger. The debris flew everywhere as Rize landed on his feet. "What the actual hell?!!"
The monster before him was a very large fish with massive scales, fins, and a disfigured, terrifying face. It stared at him with its dead eyes and its wide-open mouth filled with sharp fangs. Their eye contact was brief, but it was enough to shake Rize to the core. Then, the fish sprang into motion, shaking its body as it tried to close the distance between them.
"Oh no!!" Rize turned around and started running toward the trees to avoid the monster. 'Why the hell is a thing this massive living in a small lake?! Is it treating it like an aquarium?!'
As he rushed toward the trees, limping and tired, he felt the looming shadow approaching. As he looked over his shoulder, all he could see were two wide, dead eyes and a very huge mouth ready to swallow him whole.
Rize instantly turned around and used his sword to slash at it. He targeted the monster's nose that was somewhat within range. The sword cut through the flesh, leaving a mark behind on the monster's face.
However, suddenly, the monster leaped forward using all its power. Rize instinctively tried to get out of the way, but when he did… The hit made him fall to the ground, losing his balance.
The monster opened its mouth and latched onto his leg with its lips.
"Shit!! Let go!!" Rize yelled as he tried to swing his sword at it. However, before he could, the monster yanked its head, sending him flying in the air. Rize's vision spun around several times before he found himself falling into the lake.
*SPLASH*
The cold water wrapped around his body, and the shock made him lose control of his body for a second. However, the lack of oxygen snapped him back to reality as he frantically started swimming to the top.
"Buh!!" He emerged and took several deep breaths. "This is insane! This is utterly insane!" He yelled as he looked to the shores of the lake. There, much to his horror… He witnessed the monster turn around and submerge itself in the water.
At that moment, he realized… He was in the heart of the lake, where this monster thrived the most, and the shore felt so far away from him.