Leon stood, the massive mammoth at his side, both of them silent and still under the fading light of the sun. Wooly—the mammoth, his mammoth—was an extension of him now, an obedient servant of the shadows, waiting for his next command. Leon didn't know what to make of this power that surged through him, but the one thing he was sure of was that he needed to survive.
His stomach growled, pulling him out of his thoughts. No matter how incredible this new power was, hunger was still his top priority. His hand instinctively went to his stomach as he sighed, pacing a few steps back and forth.
"Alright, Leon, let's get this figured out." His voice was rough, like he was talking himself into something. "Food, water, shelter... let's go."
Leon turned to the mammoth. "Your name is Wooly now. Find me something to eat."
The mammoth let out a deep rumbling sound, acknowledging the command as it began to move forward. Its huge form made the ground tremble, the grass bending under its massive weight. The sun was low, casting long shadows across the land, and the wind had a biting chill to it, making Leon shiver slightly.
Wooly pushed through thick underbrush effortlessly, breaking the vegetation with ease. Leon followed close behind, eyes scanning the unfamiliar landscape. His thoughts swirled, questions piled on top of each other. How did I get here? What kind of place is this? Can I ever get back?
The mammoth stopped abruptly, its massive ears flicking in alert. Leon followed its gaze, spotting a small herd of wild creatures off in the distance. They resembled deer, but much taller, with long spindly legs and sharp antlers. They were grazing near a stream, completely unaware of the danger approaching.
Leon's eyes lit up. "Bingo," he muttered, crouching slightly. His mind instantly connected with the shadows at his feet, directing them with the same instinctive power he had felt earlier. "Take one down."
With a deep grunt, Wooly charged forward, moving faster than Leon expected from such a massive creature. The herd scattered, but one animal—a bulky one with thick fur—lagged behind. Wooly cut off its escape, forcing it toward the edge of the stream.
With a quick, brutal swipe of its tusks, the mammoth sent the animal tumbling to the ground with a loud crash. The poor creature struggled, but Leon's shadows moved faster. In an instant, the shadows snaked around the fallen beast, draining the life from it and turning it into a lifeless puppet.
"Dinner," Leon said, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. He approached the carcass, summoning a knife from the shadows as he crouched down beside it. It flickered into existence—a dark, razor-sharp blade that glowed faintly. He sliced through the tough skin with practiced ease, carving chunks of meat from the creature's body.
Wooly, meanwhile, wasn't idle. It lumbered around, gathering wood with surprising dexterity, tossing large branches aside like they were twigs. Leon had to admit, the mammoth was a solid ally.
The fire crackled soon enough, the warmth pushing back the chill of the evening air. Leon couldn't help but think of all those survival shows he'd watched back in the day—seemed like they had finally come in handy. He glanced at Wooly, who was munching on some grass, unbothered by the world.
Leon stabbed a chunk of meat onto a stick and held it over the fire. The smell of it, smoky and earthy, wasn't what he was used to, but it was better than nothing. The meat was raw, but it settled his hunger pangs. It wasn't gourmet, but survival wasn't about fine dining.
Once he had his fill, Leon leaned back, feeling his muscles loosen and relax. The fire warmed his face as he watched the flames dance. Wooly stood near him, its massive form illuminated by the firelight, a companion of sorts in this strange new world. The mammoth was more than just a tool. Leon felt something—almost like a bond—forming between them. It was a strange feeling, one he wasn't sure how to label, but it was there.
His mind, however, wouldn't stop. Even as his stomach settled, questions piled up. What now? The night was falling fast, the world around him growing darker. He needed shelter. The fire was nice, but it wouldn't last forever, and there was no telling what might come out of the shadows.
"Alright," Leon muttered, standing and dusting himself off. "Let's find a place to crash for the night."
Wooly grunted in acknowledgment, rising to its feet with a groan. Leon led the way, scanning the area as they walked. The landscape stretched out—endless grasslands, dense forests, jagged hills—but no sign of civilization. No towns. No structures. This place felt older than anything he'd ever known.
After walking for what felt like an hour, Leon spotted something in the distance—an overhang in the side of a cliff. A natural shelter. It was small, but it would keep him safe from the elements, and it was the best he could do.
"Looks like we've found our spot," Leon said, pointing to the rocky shelter. Wooly gave a low grunt, clearly agreeing.
As they drew closer to the overhang, a strange feeling settled over Leon. The air felt... off. Too quiet. Too still. Like the kind of silence that made you feel like something was watching you. But Leon shrugged it off. He had no time for paranoia. It was just his nerves getting to him.
He stepped into the small cave-like opening, setting down his things. Wooly grazed nearby, unbothered. Leon started gathering more wood for a fire. There were strange carvings in the stone walls, markings that looked ancient—definitely not something he had seen before.
"Great," he muttered to himself, "More weirdness."
He focused on the shadows again, instinctively. The power surged through him, the energy flowing as the shadows twisted around his hands. "Let's see what else we can do."
The shadows reacted immediately, forming into a jagged sword. The dark blade pulsed with energy, humming as Leon gripped the hilt. He swung it experimentally through the air. It felt... perfect. Strong. Sharper than anything he had ever held. He could feel the power of it, the weight of the shadows making it a part of him.
With a thought, the sword collapsed into nothingness, the darkness swallowing it back into the ground. Leon wasn't done yet.
"Alright, let's try a shield," he murmured.
The shadows obeyed instantly, forming a solid barrier in front of him. He pushed his hand against it, and it didn't budge. Solid, impenetrable. He pressed harder, testing its strength, but it held firm.
"Okay, okay," Leon said, clearly impressed. "That's solid."
He dismissed the shield with a flick of his wrist, and the shadows returned to their resting place. His mind was buzzing with possibilities. Shadows, weapons, armor, barriers—anything I can think of, it's mine. It was a heady feeling. The power of the Shadow Monarch wasn't just in the shadows. It was in his body, too. He could feel it, the way his muscles were growing stronger and more defined, like the shadows themselves were shaping him.
Leon flexed his arm, testing the new strength. He couldn't deny it. He wasn't just a regular guy anymore.
He looked around the cave, the fire casting long shadows on the walls. He wasn't alone anymore. He had power. He had Wooly.