Multiverse Chronicles: From Dinosaurs To Heroes And Beyond

(Ethan's POV)

By the second day, my throat felt like sandpaper.

I'd survived the night by some miracle, tied to a tree like a terrified koala, watching the jungle below shift and writhe with life. The sounds of growls and screeches had become the soundtrack of my existence, and each one sent a shiver down my spine.

But now, as the first light of dawn filtered through the trees, the reality of my situation hit me harder than any predator could. I needed water.

Desperation clawed at my mind. I was already feeling the effects—dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness. If I didn't find a source soon, I wouldn't have to worry about dinosaurs. Dehydration would take me first.

The system flashed again.

[Survival Tip: Water is essential. Locate a freshwater source and purify before drinking.]

"Yeah, thanks, genius," I muttered, my voice hoarse. "How about telling me where to find it?"

The system remained silent, leaving me to figure it out on my own. Typical.

I climbed down from the tree cautiously, my limbs stiff and aching. Every movement felt like a risk. The jungle was alive with sounds—distant roars, rustling leaves, and the occasional thud of something large moving through the underbrush.

I had no map, no guide, and no clue where to start. But I had to try.

---

(3rd Person POV)

Ethan moved carefully, every step deliberate as he scanned his surroundings for danger. The jungle was an oppressive maze of towering trees and thick undergrowth, the air heavy with humidity. In this hostile world, even the smallest mistake could be fatal.

The raptors were still nearby, their tracks fresh in the mud. Small claw marks and deep, three-toed imprints suggested a pack, their movements erratic as they hunted for prey.

But Ethan's focus was elsewhere. His eyes darted between the ground and the horizon, searching for any sign of water—a stream, a pond, anything.

---

(Ethan's POV)

After what felt like hours of trudging through the jungle, I heard it. A faint gurgle of running water. My heart leapt, and I quickened my pace, shoving aside branches and stumbling over roots.

The sound grew louder until I found it—a narrow stream cutting through the jungle floor. The sight of it was enough to make my knees weak.

I fell to the ground, scooping up a handful of water. But before I could drink, I froze.

"Wait," I muttered, my survival instincts kicking in. "You don't know what's in there."

The water was clear, but that didn't mean it was safe. Bacteria, parasites—drinking it straight could kill me just as quickly as dehydration.

I forced myself to think, going over what I'd learned from survival guides back home. I needed to purify it, and for that, I needed two things: a filter and fire.

The filter was easy enough. Making my way to the direction with signs of struggles. I grabbed a sizeable hollow log and stuffed it with layers of charcoal from a burnt tree, sand, and grass. It was crude, but it would have to do. To bad the air is so damp there was no more fire, not even an ember.

'Now how can I boil water?' That was another story.

---

(3rd Person POV)

Ethan's hands trembled as he gathered dry leaves and small twigs, stacking them into a makeshift fire pit near the stream. He crouched low, using a jagged piece of rock and a piece of metal he'd scavenged from the ruins of Edwardstown.

Sparks flew, but the dampness in the air fought against him. Sweat dripped down his face as he struck the metal against the rock over and over, his breathing quick and shallow.

The jungle around him seemed to close in, every sound amplified in his ears. He couldn't stop glancing over his shoulder, half-expecting a predator to leap out of the foliage at any moment.

Finally, the leaves caught, a small flame flickering to life. Ethan fed it carefully, coaxing it into a steady fire.

---

(Ethan's POV)

I let out a shaky laugh as the fire crackled in front of me. It was small, but it was enough.

Using a battered tin can I'd found earlier, I filtered the water through the stick, then set it over the flames to boil. Watching the bubbles form was like seeing a miracle.

My triumph was short-lived.

The rustling in the bushes started softly at first, barely audible over the crackle of the fire. But it grew louder, closer.

I froze, every muscle in my body tensing.

---

(3rd Person POV)

A pair of glowing eyes appeared in the shadows, followed by a low, guttural growl. A raptor emerged from the underbrush, its sleek, muscular body glistening in the dim light.

It tilted its head, sharp eyes locking onto Ethan.

---

(Ethan's POV)

My brain screamed at me to run, but my legs wouldn't move. The raptor's gaze pinned me in place, its claws clicking against the ground as it stalked closer.

I glanced at the fire, my only source of light—and my only weapon.

The raptor lunged.

I grabbed a burning branch and swung it wildly, the flames creating an arc of light in the dim jungle. The creature recoiled, hissing as it backed away.

"Yeah, that's right!" I shouted, my voice cracking. "Back off!"

But it didn't leave. It circled me, its movements slow and deliberate, like it was testing me.

My mind raced. Fire might keep it at bay for now, but I couldn't hold out forever.

Then I remembered something from one of the survival documentaries I'd watched: predators don't like competition. But this is not always the case, sometimes they attack in defiance.

Heart pounding, I puffed out my chest and let out the loudest roar I could muster, swinging the flaming branch again. It wasn't much, but it seemed to work. The raptor hesitated, then let out a sharp bark before retreating into the shadows.

I didn't wait to see if it would come back. Grabbing the can of boiled water, I doused the fire and ran.

---

(3rd Person POV)

Ethan stumbled through the jungle, his chest heaving and his hands shaking. The raptor's retreat had been a small victory, but the encounter left him rattled. He knows they are pack animals so it most likely went went back to its pack. What Ethan is not sure of is if he will be hunted by a whole pack of raptors.

He found another tree and climbed it, clutching his makeshift canteen like a lifeline. As he drank the water, still warm from the fire, he allowed himself a moment to breathe.

But the jungle around him offered no solace. The distant roars and screeches were a constant reminder: he was an intruder in a world that didn't want him.

For now, he had survived. But deep down, Ethan knew this was only the beginning.