Keitaro stood victorious over the remains of the wolf-like creature, his chest heaving with adrenaline. His first real battle in this new world had been a success but as the excitement wore off reality started to settle in. He had no idea where he was what kind of world he had been dropped into or what dangers might still be lurking in the shadows.
But none of that mattered right now.
"Dude" he said to himself eyes wide with awe. "I just used Shadow Clone Jutsu and blasted a monster with a Spirit Gun. This is peak otaku living right here!"
The breeze blew through the trees rustling the leaves and carrying with it a strange, yet soothing scent of nature. The forest around him was alive with subtle noises chirping insects, rustling leaves and the occasional distant growl that made his hair stand on end. It was surreal, like being in an immersive fantasy RPG.
But unlike the games he had no HUD(Head-Up-Display), no mini-map, and no sense of direction. He had only the system screen floating in front of him and the strange new world around him.
New Quest: Find Civilization
Objective: Leave Darkwood Forest and find the nearest town.
Rewards: 200 XP, Basic Map Unlock.
Penalty: None.
Keitaro sighed in relief at the "no penalty" part. "Finally, a quest that doesn't involve 'death' as a consequence. Thanks system.
He swiped away the quest screen and glanced around scratching the back of his head. "Okay so I just need to find a way out of here. Easy right?"
The thick trees loomed all around him their branches intertwined like some sort of natural barrier. The light filtering through the canopy was dim casting long shadows across the ground. If he hadn't been so hyped about his new powers this place would have creeped him out. Darkwood Forest wasn't just a name it was as ominous as it sounded.
Keitaro took a deep breath. "Alright, time to channel my inner RPG hero. Which way do I go?"
The system, always one step ahead, chimed in.
"Host would you like to use your new skill unlock?"
"Oh yeah!" Keitaro had completely forgotten about the reward for completing his last quest. "Let's see what I can get!"
Another screen popped up in front of him, showcasing his options. He had one free skill unlock, and he needed to choose carefully.
Available Skills:
Flight (Basic): Grants the ability to fly short distances. Speed and duration will increase with mastery.
Kamehameha: A powerful energy blast from the Dragon Ball universe.
Water Bending (Basic): Control and manipulate water for combat or utility purposes.
Shunpo: A high-speed movement technique from Bleach.
Instant Transmission: Teleport to any location as long as you've been there before.
Keitaro's eyes lit up. "Kamehameha? Are you serious?! I could blast people into oblivion with just my hands? Or… or fly around like Goku?"
He had to resist the urge to pick Kamehameha right off the bat. As tempting as it was he needed something a bit more practical for his current situation. He was stuck in a massive forest with no idea where he was going, and there was no guarantee that his anime-fueled luck would save him from whatever dangers lurked deeper in the woods.
After thinking it over for a moment, he settled on Shunpo. "I mean, who wouldn't want a high-speed movement ability? It'll help me dodge enemies and travel faster. Plus, I always wanted to move like Ichigo."
"Skill Unlocked: Shunpo You now have the ability to use high-speed movement to travel short distances instantly."
Keitaro grinned. "Oh yeah, let's go."
Excited to test out his new skill he prepared to take his first leap. He focused on a spot about thirty feet ahead of him imagining himself vanishing from his current position and reappearing in the blink of an eye. He'd seen it done a hundred times in Bleach it couldn't be that hard right?
"Shunpo!"
In a flash Keitaro vanished from his spot and reappeared exactly where he had aimed. The rush of speed and the sensation of moving so quickly felt exhilarating. His grin widened.
"Oh man this is the best thing ever! I'm like a real-life anime protagonist now!" He looked at the trees ahead and decided to push his luck. "Let's see how far I can take this."
With a burst of energy, Keitaro started using Shunpo repeatedly, dashing through the forest with blinding speed. He felt unstoppable, weaving between trees, jumping over roots, and dodging obstacles with ease. Each time he used Shunpo he covered more ground the forest was looks a blur around him.
But after the tenth or so Shunpo, the excitement started to catch up with him, and a wave of dizziness hit. He stumbled and fell rolling to a stop against a tree.
"Ow, okay maybe, I was too fast," he muttered, holding his head as the world spun around him. He'd forgotten the basic rule of any game mana. He needed mana for his skills and apparently, he had burned through it faster than he thought.
"Warning host mana has depleted the use of skill Shunpo will be restricted until mana is restored."
Keitaro let out a long sigh. "Of course. I'm still level one. Can't just go around using high-level abilities right off the start."
He sat up and dusted off his clothes realizing he was tired as hell. The initial thrill of using his new powers had worn off and now the reality of the situation hit him again. He was still stuck in this giant forest with no clear way out and no clue where civilization might be.
"Guess I'll have to do this the old-fashioned way." He stood up adjusting his shirt "Walking."
As he trudged deeper into the forest Keitaro kept his guard up watching for any more of those wolf-like creatures. The system hadn't given him any specific information about this forest but judging by the name and the fact that his first encounter with a massive monster it was safe to assume that this wasn't some low-level starter zone.
Every now and then he glanced at the horizon hoping for a sign of civilization a town, a village or even just a road. But the deeper he went the more isolated and wild the forest became. Thick twisting roots covered the ground and strange plants glowed faintly in the shadows giving the whole place an eerie and otherworldly vibe.
"I guess the name Darkwood wasn't just for show," he muttered.
Time passed and Keitaro's initial excitement was slowly being replaced with frustration. He was getting hungry, tired, and annoyed with how massive the forest seemed. The sun was beginning to set and the once bright and vibrant forest was now cast in deep shadows. The temperature dropped and the chirping of insects turned into low growls and the occasional howl of a far-off predator.
"This is not good," Keitaro muttered his eyes darting nervously around him. "I've seen this movie before. It's the part where the guy gets eaten because he wandered too far into the spooky forest."
"Host would you like to access the basic survival guide?" the system chimed in helpfully.
"Wait, I have a survival guide? Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" Keitaro asked cursing the system for not telling him sooner.
"The guide is available upon request. Would you like to review it now?"
Keitaro groaned. "Yes, system show me how not to die in the woods."
A new screen appeared before him filled with basic tips and instructions for wilderness survival. The guide outlined everything from building a basic shelter to finding safe water sources. It even included a section on how to identify edible plants and avoid poisonous ones.
Basic Survival Tips:
Shelter: Always seek shelter before nightfall. The forest becomes more dangerous after dark.
Fire: Use basic mana to ignite small fires for warmth and protection.
Food: Some plants in Darkwood are edible. Look for blue-leaved bushes with red berries. Avoid glowing mushrooms.
Danger: Stay alert. Predators roam at night.
Keitaro frowned at the part about predators. "Yeah, I kind of figured that out already. Thanks, system." He said in a sarcasmistic way.
Still the survival guide was helpful. He scanned the forest around him searching for a place where he could set up a temporary shelter. The sun was almost completely gone now and the forest was quickly becoming a dark, foreboding maze.
After walking for a few more minutes he stumbled upon a small empty plain surrounded by large twisted trees. It wasn't perfect, but it would do. He could use the trees as natural barriers, and with a bit of luck, he might be able to make it through the night.
"Alright, let's do this."
Keitaro followed the survival guide's instructions, gathering fallen branches and leaves to construct a crude shelter. It was nothing fancy just a lean-to made of sticks and leaves but it would keep him out of the open. The next step was to make a fire. According to the system, he could use his mana to ignite small flames which was good since he didn't have any matches or a lighter.
"Okay time to test out my fire-starting skills," he said, rubbing his hands together. He concentrated on a small pile of twigs and leaves, focusing his mana just like the guide instructed. "Fire magic activate!"
A small spark ignited in his palm and with a flick of his hand the spark leapt onto the pile setting it ablaze. A small crackling fire sprang to life casting a warm glow over the clearing.
Keitaro sat back with a satisfied grin. "Not bad for my first day in a fantasy world. Survived a wolf attack unlocked some awesome skills and now I've got a fire going. If I keep this up I'll be a legend in no time."
He leaned back against a tree letting the warmth of the fire wash over him. The night was growing colder and the sounds of the forest had taken on a more ominous tone. Every crack of a branch or rustle of leaves made him tense but the fire gave him some comfort. The guide had mentioned that most predators avoided fire which was a relief.
As he sat there watching the flames dance his mind wandered to what might come next. This world was vast far bigger and more dangerous than he had imagined. He had only scratched the surface, and already he had encountered creatures that could kill him in an instant if he wasn't careful.
But then again he had the system. The Multiversal Ascension System the ultimate cheat code.
"I'm gonna be fine," he said to himself, his confidence returning. "I've got anime powers a leveling system, and a whole universe to explore. What could possibly go wrong?"
As if on cue a distant, bone-chilling howl echoed through the forest.
Keitaro froze his heart skipping a beat. That didn't sound like the wolf he had fought earlier. No this was something bigger. Something much bigger and strong.
Slowly, he stood up scanning the shadows beyond the reach of his fire.
"System," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "What… what was that?"
"Warning: High-level predator detected nearby.
Recommended action: Run."
Keitaro's eyes widened. "Wait, what?! Run where?! I'm in the middle of a forest!"
But before he could argue with the system the bushes at the edge of the clearing rustled violently. Something was coming something huge was coming toward him. He could hear the heavy footsteps, the sound of branches snapping under the weight of the approaching creature.
"Oh crap… oh crap…"
Without thinking Keitaro turned and ran leaving his small fire behind. He sprinted into the dark forest his heart pounding in his chest as the sound of the predator's footsteps grew louder and closer.
"Shunpo!" he shouted, activating his high-speed movement skill. He vanished in a flash, reappearing several yards away but it wasn't enough. Whatever was chasing him was fast far faster than he expected.
The ground shook as the creature roared its massive form crashing through the trees. Keitaro didn't dare look back. He just kept running using Shunpo whenever he could though his mana was dangerously low.
"Come on, come on!" he muttered, his breath ragged as he dodged between trees and leapt over roots.
But no matter how fast he ran the creature was closing in.
And then just when he thought he was done for the forest opened up. Keitaro burst out of the trees and stumbled into a vast clearing skidding to a halt on the edge of a steep cliff. Below him a river roared rushing through the valley.
He glanced back his heart racing as the creature finally stepped into view.
It was massive easily twice the size of the wolf he had fought earlier with dark matted fur and glowing red eyes. Its claws were as long as swords and its snarling maw was filled with razor-sharp teeth.
"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me," Keitaro whispered, backing away from the beast. He had no more mana, no more tricks up his sleeve. All he had was the cliff at his back and the monster in front of him.
The creature let out a deafening roar and charged.
Keitaro's mind raced. He had only one option left.
"Time for a leap of faith!" he shouted, turning and jumping off the cliff.
As he plummeted toward the rushing river below, the last thing he heard was the system's calm voice.
"Quest complete: Survive the Night."
And then everything went black.