"Chronicles of the Ember Sovereign"

Chapter 1: Falling into Fire

The last thing the protagonist, Yuuto Takahara, remembered was the cold grip of water pulling him down. He had been hiking along a riverbank when he slipped, the rushing current claiming him before he could even call for help. His lungs burned, and the world went dark.

But he didn't die.

When Yuuto awoke, the sky above him was impossibly blue, untainted by pollution, and the sounds of life were raw and untamed. He sat up, groggy and disoriented, only to find himself surrounded by thick forest. The air smelled of fresh earth and wood smoke, and primitive huts dotted the clearing ahead.

Before he could gather his thoughts, a sharp pain exploded in his head as a crude club struck him from behind. He crumpled to the ground, hearing guttural voices arguing in a language he didn't understand. When his vision cleared, he was locked in a rough wooden cage.

Yuuto's captors were unlike anything he had expected. They were primitive, clad in animal hides and covered in streaks of paint. Their muscular builds and wary eyes screamed survival in a harsh, unforgiving world. He quickly realized he had fallen into the clutches of a Neolithic tribe.

A hunk of raw meat was tossed into the cage, the stench making Yuuto gag. Hunger clawed at his stomach, but the idea of eating uncooked meat was revolting. He scanned the clearing, observing how the tribe members moved around a central fire pit.

He needed a plan.

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End of Chapter 1