Chen Zi leaned against a massive tree, staring at the fractured hilt of the sword that had saved his life. His breathing was shallow, his limbs shaky from surprise. The beast lay motionless a few meters away, clearly dead.
He exhaled, rubbing his temples. "First kill, and it's a monster twice the size of a horse. Not bad for someone who couldn't even do corporate presentations..."
The reality of his situation, however, was starting to settle in. He wasn't in his cramped apartment anymore, and this wasn't a dream he could wake up from.
Chen Zi crouched by the corpse of the beast, wrinkling his nose at the scent of blood. A faint glow caught his eye—a small, round object stuck in its chest. Without thinking, he reached out and plucked it out.
The orb was warm in his palm, its surface marked with intricate patterns that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight.
"Is this... valuable?" he muttered, turning it over. He remembered something vague about cores being important in cultivation novels. "Alchemy, cultivation, forging… or a decoration."
His stomach growled, reminding him of his primary concern.
"Right," he sighed, slipping the orb into his robe. "Priority one: find food."
---
The forest was vast, its towering trees casting long shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly. Chen Zi trudged through the underbrush, careful to avoid anything that moved or looked alive.
Despite his exhaustion, he couldn't help but admire the beauty of his surroundings. The leaves glowed faintly in the twilight, swaying side to side in the wind.
"If this were a vacation spot," he sighed, "I'd probably be too broke to afford it."
He pushed forward until he stumbled upon a small clearing. In the center stood a tree unlike any other he'd seen. Its bark shimmered with golden light, and its branches were heavy with bright orange fruit.
Chen Zi's eyes lit up. He approached cautiously, plucking one of the fruits and sniffing it. It smelled sweet, almost intoxicating.
"Too good to be true," he muttered. "But then again..."
What could be so bad about a golden tree with delicious fruit?
His stomach growled louder, and he took a hesitant bite. The flavor exploded in his mouth—sweet, tangy, and unlike anything he'd ever tasted. He quickly devoured the rest, sighing in satisfaction.
For a moment, he felt rejuvenated. The fatigue in his limbs melted away, and his mind cleared.
"Finally, something good happens—"
A sharp pain lanced through his stomach, cutting his thought short. He doubled over, clutching his abdomen.
"You've got to be kidding me," he groaned, collapsing to the ground.
The pain was unbearable, like his insides were being rearranged. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as he writhed on the ground, gasping for air.
Minutes passed, though it felt like hours. Gradually, the pain subsided, leaving behind an unfamiliar warmth circulating in his body.
Chen Zi sat up slowly, his breaths ragged. He flexed his fingers, noticing a faint glow emanating from his skin.
"What... just happened?"
He felt stronger, faster, as if his body had been rebuilt from the inside out. He looked back at the tree, then at his hands.
"So," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow, "the fruit didn't kill me. Thank god..."
The thought sent a chill down his spine. This could've ended very differently. Food can be second, leaving is the first priority!
---
Night fell, and Chen Zi found himself a hold beneath the roots of an ancient tree. The air was cool, and the sounds of unknown creatures echoed through the forest.
He sat with his back against the trunk, chewing on a few berries he'd scavenged earlier. They were tart and barely any good, but better than nothing.
As he stared up at the star-filled sky, a sense of unease gnawed at him.
"This world... it's way to dangerous," he muttered. "That thing I killed was probably low-tier, and it nearly wiped me out. If something bigger shows up..."
He shook his head, trying to banish the thought. Survival came first.
Chen Zi closed his eyes, hoping for a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. But the forest had other ideas.
A distant rustling snapped him awake. His heart pounded as the sound grew louder, closer.
Grabbing a branch from the ground, he held it tightly, ready to defend himself.
From the shadows emerged a creature—a rabbit.
Chen Zi squinted, lowering his makeshift weapon. "A rabbit? Seriously?"
The animal hopped closer, its silver fur glinting in the moonlight. Its red eyes locked onto his, unblinking.
Something about it felt... off.
The rabbit crouched, and before Chen Zi could react, it leaped at him with terrifying speed.
He barely dodged, the creature's claws grazing his arm.
"You've got to be joking!" he shouted, scrambling to his feet.
The rabbit lunged again, faster than before. Chen Zi swung the branch wildly, managing to deflect the attack.
The rabbit spun in the air before landing on the ground. Barely a scratch on its body.
"Not just a rabbit," he muttered through gritted teeth. "A strong one.."
The fight was chaotic. Chen Zi dodged and swung, relying on pure adrenaline to keep up. The rabbit was relentless, its movements erratic, yet flowed into each other like a river.
Finally, with a desperate swing, he struck the rabbit square in the head. It squealed and collapsed, motionless.
Chen Zi stood over the creature, panting heavily. His hands were trembling, his legs almost collapsed.
Physical combat will be the end of him one day! This is definitely not his future path!
He glanced at the branch in his hand—it had snapped in half during the fight.
"This world really doesn't want me to live," he muttered, dropping the broken stick.
Exhausted, he collapsed against the tree, his body aching from head to toe. The rabbit lay a few feet away, its silvery fur now dull and lifeless.
Chen Zi stared at it for a long moment, then sighed.
"At least I won't be starving tonight."
---
Morning came, and with it, the scent of roasted rabbit. Chen Zi sat by a small fire, gnawing on a leg.
The meat was tough and gamey, but it was the first real meal he'd had since arriving. As he ate, he felt that strange warmth return, spreading through his body.
"Guess even deadly rabbits have their perks," he said, wiping his mouth.
He stood up, stretching. His muscles felt stronger, his mind clearer. It was as if his body was adapting.
"Alright," he said, looking out at the endless forest. "No more complaining. Time to figure out what I'm supposed to do here."
The forest, as if answering him, let out a low, distant growl.
Chen Zi sighed, picking up what was left of his rabbit and slinging it over his shoulder.
"I'll have to speed up my plans."