Chapter 3: Primordial Surge (2)
Night fell, and Jiho's hunger grew unbearable. He was about to give up hope when he heard a faint rustling sound coming from the direction of his trap. His heart pounded in his chest as he carefully crept toward the noise, moving as quietly as possible.
As he approached the trap, he saw a small creature struggling against the vine. It was about the size of a rabbit, with fur that blended into the surrounding foliage. The animal was caught by its leg, the trap holding it firmly in place.
Relief and excitement surged through Jiho. He had actually caught something! He moved quickly, not wanting the creature to suffer more than necessary. Using the sharp stone he had kept from earlier, Jiho dispatched the animal with a swift, decisive strike.
[Hunting skill: Basic - Acquired.]
The system's notification appeared in his vision, but Jiho was too focused on his task to pay it much attention. He knew he had to make use of every part of the animal. In his previous life, he would have found the process distasteful, but now, it was a matter of survival.
He carried the animal back to his cave, where he set about cleaning and preparing it. The process was messy and difficult with his limited tools, but Jiho persevered. He remembered how the tribe members had handled their kills, and though his movements were clumsy, he managed to get the job done.
After cleaning the animal, Jiho gathered some dry leaves and twigs, attempting to start a fire. He had no modern tools, so he used the friction method he'd seen in documentaries—a painstaking process that took longer than he expected. His arms ached, and his patience wore thin, but finally, a small flame flickered to life.
Jiho fed the fire carefully, nurturing it until it was strong enough to cook the meat. As the scent of roasting meat filled the cave, Jiho's mouth watered. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was until now. When the meat was finally ready, he ate eagerly, savoring every bite. It was tough and gamey, but it was the best meal he'd ever had.
[Energy levels replenished.]
[Strength +1, Stamina +1, Vitality +1.]
Jiho sighed in relief as the system's notifications appeared. He could feel the difference in his body—his muscles felt a bit stronger, his mind a bit clearer. He was still far from being in peak condition, but it was a start.
As he finished his meal, Jiho leaned back against the wall of the cave, staring into the flickering flames. He had survived another day, but he knew he couldn't stop here. The system had given him a path to follow, and he intended to see it through.
His thoughts turned to the tribe that had abandoned him. What kind of world was this? What challenges awaited him beyond the forest? Jiho's curiosity was piqued, but he knew he needed to grow stronger before venturing out. The system's objectives were clear—he needed to secure his basic needs and build up his strength.
But even as he planned his next steps, a nagging question lingered in the back of his mind: What had happened to the original owner of this body? How had he ended up in such a weakened state, discarded by his own people?
The system might have the answers, but Jiho wasn't sure if he was ready to know the truth. For now, survival was his priority.
As the fire died down, Jiho settled onto his bed of moss, exhaustion pulling at him. Tomorrow, he would continue his quest for survival, but tonight, he would allow himself to rest.
Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, the system's interface flickered into view, displaying a new message.
[Warning: Unknown entity detected nearby.]
Jiho's eyes snapped open, adrenaline surging through his veins. His heart pounded as he scanned the darkness outside the cave, straining to hear any sound.
There was a rustling in the bushes, followed by a low growl. Jiho's breath caught in his throat as he saw a pair of glowing eyes staring at him from the shadows. The creature stepped into the moonlight, revealing its massive form—muscular, with sharp claws and teeth bared in a menacing snarl.
[Threat level: High. Escape recommended.]
Jiho's mind raced. He was in no condition to fight something like this. His body was still weak, and he had no weapons strong enough to take down such a beast. Panic threatened to overwhelm him, but he forced himself to stay calm.
He needed to think quickly. The cave had only one exit, and the creature was blocking it. There was no way he could outrun it in his current state. He had to find a way to distract it or scare it off.
His eyes darted around the cave, searching for anything he could use. The fire was dying, but there were still some embers glowing faintly. An idea formed in his mind—a desperate, risky idea, but it was all he had.
Jiho grabbed a burning stick from the fire and waved it towards the creature, hoping the flames would scare it off. The beast hesitated, its growl deepening as it eyed the flickering fire. For a moment, Jiho thought it might retreat.
But then the creature lunged.
Jiho barely had time to react. He threw the burning stick at the creature and bolted for the exit, adrenaline fueling his every step. The beast let out a furious roar as the stick struck it, but Jiho didn't look back. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him, his heart pounding in his chest.
Branches whipped at his face as he tore through the underbrush, the sounds of the beast crashing through the forest behind him. He didn't know where he was going—only that he had to keep running.
But his weakened body couldn't keep up. His legs began to falter, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He stumbled, falling to the ground, his body refusing to move any further.
The creature was closing in. Jiho could hear its heavy footsteps, the low growl rumbling from its throat. He tried to push himself up, but his strength was gone. He was trapped, with nowhere to run.
The beast emerged from the shadows, its glowing eyes locked onto Jiho. It snarled, baring its teeth as it prepared to strike.
Jiho's mind raced, searching for a way out, but there was none. This was it. This was how it would end.
Just as the creature lunged at him, something strange happened. The system's interface flashed brightly in Jiho's vision, and a new message appeared.
[Emergency protocol activated: Primordial Energy Surge.]
Suddenly, Jiho felt a surge of energy coursing through his body, unlike anything he had ever experienced before. It was as if his entire being was being flooded with power, his senses sharpening, his muscles brimming with newfound strength.
Without thinking, Jiho moved. He dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's attack. The beast snarled in frustration, but Jiho didn't give it a chance to recover. He picked up a sharp stone from the ground and struck out with all his might.
The stone found its mark, striking the creature's eye. It let out a pained roar, thrashing wildly as it tried to shake off the attack. Jiho didn't stop—he kept striking, fueled by the primal energy surging through him.
Finally, with one last, desperate blow, the creature collapsed to the ground, its body twitching before going still.
Jiho stood over the fallen beast, panting heavily, his heart racing. The energy surge faded as quickly as it had come, leaving him feeling drained and lightheaded. He staggered back, barely able to keep himself upright.
[Threat neutralized.]
[Survival skill: Advanced - Acquired.]
[New ability unlocked: Primordial Surge.]
The system's messages appeared before Jiho's eyes, but he barely registered them. His vision blurred, and the last thing he saw before he collapsed to the ground was the glowing interface fading into darkness.