"…I can't sleep." (Hikaru)
Conclusion: I couldn't sleep.
My body is tired, and yet, I only doze off a bit and wake up soon after.
Sleeping on top of a tree really wasn't realistic.
It is currently 11:00pm, but I have at least rested for about 4 hours.
The moon is shining in the sky, the moonlight peeking through the trees of the forest created a wondrous sight.
The Avatar of Darkness shouldn't be showing with this…probably.
"Let's walk." (Hikaru)
I confirm with the map and there's 320km.
I have walked 43km. A full marathon.
"[Darkness Fog]." (Hikaru)
I cover myself in darkness and walk.
I don't know where and what danger there will be, so I am trying to use my ability as much as possible.
I haven't met dangerous creatures for a while, so I am aware it is lacking in tension, but that flashy giant monkey isn't the only danger.
I might get shot by an arrow somewhere.
I could encounter a pack of monsters.
I might get caught in a bottomless swamp.
Have my skin rot from a poisonous plant.
A cliff might show up and I won't be able to continue forward.
There's endless possibilities.
An unknown land in an unknown world.
There really is no knowing what may wait ahead.
"…I say that, but no monsters are showing…huh." (Hikaru)
None showing is better, but not a single one showing up is instead making me uneasy.
The fear that maybe I will encounter another giant monster like that monkey.
Can't stop moving forward though.
"Full moon… Are the phases of the moon the same as Earth?" (Hikaru)
God said this world is similar to Earth. At the very least, it should be similar enough that we Chosen can exist in it.
The temperature, atmosphere density, composition, and gravity goes without saying, but even the moon (and most likely the sun) there is almost the same size. The similarities are so many that you could call it a second Earth.
Of course, there's the possibility the bodies of the Chosen have been 'tuned' in some form.
That goes for the Skill, Gifts, and the Status Board, but they are all benefits that would have been unthinkable on Earth, so it is honestly doubtful whether our Earth Self and This World's Self are the same person.
"[Darkness Fog]." (Hikaru)
With just one word, the deep darkness is covered in even deeper darkness.
Can I do this because of the 'world' or because of 'myself', or both? Whichever the case, it should be natural for me to think that I have been recreated as a being that can use Spirit Energy.
I walk in the darkness. Inside this fog of darkness that can block even sound, I felt as if I were walking inside a dream. A reality where I could get eaten by a monster the next instant really does feel like nothing but a dream.
(I am beginning to grow numb…towards this abnormal situation…) (Hikaru)
Even so, I am still alive.
That hint was truly a door for survival. Most likely because God wouldn't find it amusing if we were to die right after the transfer.
This forest certainly doesn't have many monsters that act at night, and by just using dark magic as defense, I have been able to walk with almost no danger excluding the time with the giant monkey.
Of course, it might be because of luck…
While I was thinking that as I walked, there was a place that was releasing faint light within this illusory sight of the moonlight peeking into the forest. It isn't the moonlight, but something that was emitting light on its own. It was sparkling like a firework stick.
"What is it…? A firefly?" (Hikaru)
I tried getting close to it and saw that wasn't it.
"Flower…?" (Hikaru)
At the side of a big tree, there was a single set of two flowers. Lovely blue and white flowers had bloomed there.
And those flowers were releasing a mysterious light.
"…Were there flowers like this in the daytime?" (Hikaru)
I have been pretty careful about my surroundings from the tension of not knowing where a monster might jump out on me, but I don't remember seeing flowers like this.
Are they the type of flowers that don't stand out during the daytime but bloom at night?
"A shining flower, huh… If I pluck them, could I sell them later?" (Hikaru)
I can only imagine a dark future in my livelihood even if I manage to get out of the forest safely. I am almost certain I will be using all of my points in Barrier Stones, I am penniless, and have no weapon.
When considering that, it would be better to get things that will help me in my livelihood outside of this forest even if a little bit. Maybe I could sell Barrier Stones, but I can't even begin to imagine how much they would go for.
…It might be a luxury to think about these kinds of things in a life or death situation, but nothing to lose in picking up what I can.
"…So I say, but is it poisonous? I may have the resistance, but I am in a situation where just getting a little bit sick can screw me over, so I have to be careful here." (Hikaru)
Fortunately, the soil around the flower is soft, so I managed to dig it out with roots and all using the branches around.
Even when I dug it out, the flowers were strangely still releasing light.
The next instant I fearfully grabbed the flowers…
[Congratulations! You are the first Chosen to have obtained a super rare material. You will be granted 3 points as a bonus for being first.]
A voice resonated in my head suddenly.
"! That gave me a scare… My heart was close to stopping…" (Hikaru)
Speaking all of a sudden is bad for my heart. Moreover, in the dead of the night inside a forest.
When I open the Status Board, I certainly do have 3 points more. Looks like this flower is a super rare material, and a special bonus was given because of it.
They didn't tell us about there being bonuses like this beforehand, so is this something like a hidden mechanic?
"3 points… Points…?! Not Crystals?!" (Hikaru)
I didn't expect I could increase my points like this.
That's 90 Crystals. It is massive.
Anyways, 3 points will be unbelievably helpful. Those are my livestocks itself.
Getting 3 unexpected points is good and all, but the details of this flower are unknown. They are going as far as calling it a super rare material, so it must have some sort of effect. It would be nice if it is a good effect, but there's also the chance it is a bad one (just thinking about it gives me the chills, but maybe like attracting monsters?).
I decided to use 1 Crystal to cast [Item Appraisal] on it.
It is also to test how much information I can get from the item appraisal. This investment is absolutely necessary.
I choose the Item Appraisal from the Status Board. 1 Crystal used.
[Mallow Moon Silver Flower: A two flowered plant that only appears in full moon nights deep in a forest. It shines on its own in the darkness, but because it appears in localized purified areas of Spirit Energy, finding one is incredibly difficult. It doesn't wilt even when taken out from the ground, and it is bought at a high price by superstitious people as the symbol of immortality. It has the effect of stabilizing disarrayed Spirit Energy, and you can concoct medicine for spirit bone connection paralysis with the roots. A super rare material.]
So a rare plant that can serve as medicine.
Not only does it not wilt, there's no doubt it has quite the high effect.
I placed the flowers into the makeshift bag.
I have already eaten all the Coral Currant, so I gotta gather some more.
Remaining Points: 9.
Crystals: 11.