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They knew better than to damage the “merchandise” during the initial phases of the Mating Games.
It would be bad for business and bad for the spectacle they aimed to create.
Still, the sudden jolt of the crash landing, expected though it was, sent adrenaline pumping through my veins.
I was on high alert, ready to face whatever this iteration of the Mating Games would throw my way.
The jungle arena grew large in my vision and within two blinks, I was among it, my capsule smashing into it.
Thump!
The hissing sound signaled the door was about to open, and I was in motion even before the barrier had fully retracted.
Emerging from the pod, I found myself surrounded by dense foliage, the cacophony of alien sounds signaling that I was very much not alone in this jungle.
Vibrant, bioluminescent plants lit up the immediate vicinity, casting an eerie glow on the ground.
Oversized fern-like structures waved with a gentle breeze, and the air was thick with an unfamiliar, musky aroma.
This was no ordinary forest — this was a meticulously designed and carefully curated arena meant to challenge and entrap.
My priorities were clear.
Get a lay of the land, ensure I wasn’t being immediately pursued, and then focus on the primary objective — the female human.
I needed a vantage point, and I had to find it fast.
Through the dense canopy, I could make out a rise in the distance — a hilltop.
Elevated terrains were a tactical advantage in most situations, and in this case, they would offer me an unparalleled view of the Mating Games’ arena.
I dashed towards it, every muscle in my body propelling me forward with urgency.
Reaching the base of the hill, I began my ascent.
The ground beneath was uneven, strewn with rocks and thick roots.
Every step had to be precise, every move calculated.
Despite my expertise in various terrains, I felt the weight of the situation slowing me down.
But there was no room for hesitation.
As I neared the top, my breaths came fast and heavy, the exertion palpable.
But when I finally stood at the summit, the sight that greeted me was worth every ounce of effort.
The vastness of the jungle stretched out before me, a tapestry of greens, blues, and luminous yellows.
The sky overhead was a canvas of glittering stars, each one shimmering more brightly than any I had seen before.
Constellations unfamiliar to me formed intricate patterns, painting stories of civilizations long gone and legends from galaxies far, far away.
It was breathtakingly beautiful and yet, in this context, ominously foreboding.
Casting my eyes below, I tried to make sense of the terrain.
The layout seemed to converge towards the center, almost like the spokes of a wheel leading to its hub.
