As Keitaro awoke he felt his entire body aching from the events of the night before. For a moment he didn't know where he was. The darkness of the cave around him made it feel like he was still caught in a dream or maybe a nightmare. His last memory was of collapsing inside this cave after barely escaping the river and Rafe's men. Now his muscles screamed in protest and his head throbbed with exhaustion.
Groaning he pushed himself upright blinking against the dim light that filtered through the cave's entrance. The events of the past few days played over in his mind like a bad movie getting thrown into a new world ,fighting off monsters, being chased by a mysterious group led by Rafe and narrowly avoiding capture by diving into a freezing river.
Keitaro ran a hand through his messy hair sighing. Just a few days in this world, and I'm already running for my life. This is turning out to be a real great adventure he muttered sarcastically.
His stomach growled loudly reminding him of another problem food. He hadn't eaten anything since the meal at Garret's tavern and his body was running on fumes. He needed to find something to eat and fast or he wouldn't have the energy to deal with whatever new dangers this world decided to throw at him.
Keitaro shifted to stand but his legs buckled sending him stumbling back to the ground. Damn it. I'm more beat up than I thought.
The system's voice chimed in startling him.
"Host's physical condition is suboptimal. Recommend rest and nourishment to restore energy."
Keitaro rolled his eyes. Yeah no kidding, system. I figured that out when I could barely stand.
Still, he forced himself up using the cave wall for support. His muscles protested with every movement but he knew he couldn't just sit around waiting to recover. If Rafe's men were still looking for him they might eventually track him down to this cave. He had to keep moving.
System, show me my status he said hoping that at least something had improved overnight.
A familiar screen appeared in front of him.
Name: Keitaro Yamada
Level: 3
Health: 90/180
Mana: 30/120
Strength: 13
Dexterity: 15
Intelligence: 12
Endurance: 13
Skills:
Negotiation (Level 1)
Shunpo
Shadow Clone Jutsu
Spirit Gun
Endurance Boost
Keitaro frowned at the numbers. His health and mana were still too low for comfort. He wasn't in any shape to fight or use his abilities, and if Rafe or another predator came after him, he wouldn't last long. He needed time to recover but he also needed to be proactive if he wanted to survive in this world.
System Keitaro said rubbing his temples as he thought is there any way I can speed up my recovery or find some food, I'm not exactly built for wilderness survival.
The system responded immediately.
"Host has gained a new quest: Gather Supplies."
New Quest: Gather Supplies
Objective: Forage for food and water in the surrounding area.
Rewards: 200 XP, Basic Survival Skill (Level 1).
Penalty: Starvation or injury.
Keitaro sighed. "Starvation. Great. That's exactly what I needed hanging over my head."
But the quest at least gave him some direction. He didn't know how to forage but maybe the system could guide him through it. If he could find some food and water it would give him the strength he needed to continue.
Slowly he made his way to the mouth of the cave and peered outside. The forest surrounding the cave was dense, its thick canopy letting only small shafts of light through. The towering trees cast long shadows on the ground, and the underbrush looked wild and untamed. The sound of birds chirping filled the air, along with the occasional rustle of leaves. It was peaceful but Keitaro knew better than to let his guard down.
Alright, let's do this he muttered stepping out of the cave and into the forest.
As he walked the system provided him with helpful tips.
"Look for berries, fruits, or nuts that are common to forests. Avoid anything brightly colored or strange in appearance these may be poisonous."
Keitaro glanced around at the vegetation, unsure of what he was looking for. The forest was full of greenery, but none of it seemed familiar. He saw bushes with small blue berries, but he hesitated. Are these safe?
"System, are these berries edible?" Keitaro asked, pointing at the bush.
"Scanning… Berries are safe for consumption."
Keitaro let out a sigh of relief. "Finally, some good news." He quickly picked a handful of the berries and popped a few into his mouth. They were tart but juicy, and though they weren't particularly filling, they gave him enough energy to keep going.
As he foraged for more berries, he found a small stream nearby, the clear water trickling over smooth rocks. He knelt down and cupped his hands, drinking deeply. The cool water refreshed him, and he splashed some on his face to wake himself up.
"Better," he murmured, standing up and stretching his sore muscles. He felt a little more alive now, though the fatigue still weighed on him.
The system chimed again. "Quest Complete: Gather Supplies."
Quest Complete: Gather Supplies
Rewards: 200 XP, Basic Survival Skill (Level 1) unlocked.
Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 4.
Keitaro smiled, feeling a slight surge of energy as his stats increased. He quickly opened his status screen to check the changes.
Name: Keitaro Yamada
Level: 4
Health: 110/200
Mana: 40/130
Strength: 14
Dexterity: 16
Intelligence: 13
Endurance: 14
Skills:
Negotiation (Level 1)
Shunpo
Shadow Clone Jutsu
Spirit Gun
Endurance Boost
Basic Survival (Level 1)
"Level 4 already, huh?" Keitaro muttered, feeling a small sense of accomplishment. "At least I'm making progress."
But even with the progress, Keitaro knew that leveling up wasn't enough. He needed more than just skills and numbers if he was going to survive in this world. He needed information—about the world, about Rafe and his group, and about why the system had brought him here in the first place.
Keitaro leaned against a tree, his thoughts swirling. "I've been on the run since I got here, but I need a plan. I can't keep running blindly."
The system chimed in again, offering another quest.
New Quest: Seek Allies
Objective: Find a source of knowledge or allies who can assist in your journey.
Rewards: 300 XP, System Shop unlocked.
Penalty: Continued isolation and lack of resources.
Keitaro's eyes lit up at the mention of the "System Shop." He had read enough isekai manga to know what that meant. A shop could mean access to weapons, gear, abilities—everything he'd need to power up quickly. But to unlock it, he needed to find allies or someone who could help him.
"Alright," Keitaro said, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "Time to find some friends. Or at least someone who doesn't want to kill me."
He stood up, stretched, and started moving through the forest, heading away from the river and deeper into the trees. He wasn't sure where he was going, but he figured that if there was a village nearby or any sign of civilization he'd eventually find it by walking in a straight line.
As he walked, the forest around him grew quieter. The cheerful chirping of birds faded, replaced by the low rustle of leaves and the occasional snap of a branch. Keitaro's senses went on high alert. Something about the air had changed it felt heavier, darker.
Suddenly, the system's voice chimed in with a warning.
"Danger detected. Host is entering a high-level area."
Keitaro's heart skipped a beat. "High-level area? What does that mean?"
Before he could get an answer, a deep growl echoed through the trees. Keitaro froze, his eyes darting around the forest. The growl was low, menacing, and far too close for comfort.
"System," he whispered, his voice tight with fear. "What's out there?"
"Scanning… Host is being targeted by a Darkwood Beast."
Keitaro's blood ran cold. He didn't need the system to tell him that this was bad. He had barely survived his encounter with a wolf-like creature in the forest on his first day here. If this "Darkwood Beast" was anything like that, he was in serious trouble.
Another growl came, louder this time. Keitaro slowly turned his head toward the sound and saw it a massive, hulking shape moving through the trees, its glowing red eyes locked onto him. The beast was twice the size of the wolf he had fought earlier, its fur black as night and its claws gleaming in the dim light. It looked like something out of a nightmare.
Keitaro's heart raced. He had to act fast.
Without thinking, he called on his skills. "Shunpo!"
In a flash, Keitaro vanished from his spot and reappeared several feet away, narrowly avoiding the beast's pounce. The ground where he had been standing exploded as the creature's massive claws slammed into it, tearing up dirt and roots.
Keitaro didn't stop to admire his escape. He took off running, his legs pumping as fast as they could carry him. The beast let out a roar and charged after him, its heavy footfalls shaking the ground.
"Crap, crap, crap!" Keitaro gasped, weaving between trees as he tried to put some distance between himself and the monster. But the beast was fast—too fast. It was gaining on him, its snarls echoing through the forest.
Keitaro's mind raced. He couldn't outrun this thing forever. He needed to fight, but his mana was low, and his health wasn't much better. He couldn't afford to make a mistake.
He glanced over his shoulder and saw the beast closing in, its jaws snapping at the air. He needed to slow it down give himself some breathing room.
"Spirit Gun!" he shouted, turning and firing a blue energy blast from his finger.
The shot hit the beast square in the chest, knocking it back a few steps, but it wasn't enough to stop it. The creature shook off the hit and charged again, angrier than before.
"Okay, bad idea," Keitaro muttered, turning to run again. His mana was almost completely drained now, and he didn't have enough energy left for another Shunpo or Spirit Gun. He needed a plan, and fast.
That's when he saw it a fallen tree, its massive trunk lying across the forest floor, forming a natural barrier. It wasn't much, but it might give him a chance.
Keitaro sprinted toward the fallen tree, vaulting over it just as the beast lunged at him. The creature's claws raked through the air, missing him by inches as it slammed into the tree with a deafening crash.
Keitaro didn't wait to see if the tree would hold. He scrambled to his feet and kept running, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The beast let out a furious roar behind him, but the tree had slowed it down for now.
His mind raced. He couldn't keep running like this. He had to find a way to lose the creature or take it down.
And then, just ahead, he saw it a narrow crevice between two large boulders. It was a tight fit, but if he could squeeze through, the beast wouldn't be able to follow.
With no other option, Keitaro dove for the crevice, sliding into the narrow gap just as the beast crashed through the underbrush behind him. The creature let out a frustrated growl, but it couldn't reach him.
Keitaro pressed himself against the cool stone, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. His entire body trembled from the adrenaline, and his mana was completely drained. But he was alive.
For now.
The beast paced outside the crevice, snarling and snapping its jaws, but it couldn't get to him. Keitaro allowed himself a moment of relief, but he knew this wasn't over. He was still trapped, and the beast wasn't going to give up.
"System," Keitaro whispered, his voice barely audible. "What do I do now?"
The system chimed in, its voice calm and unwavering. "New Quest: Defeat the Darkwood Beast."
Keitaro groaned. "Of course. Because that's exactly what I want to do right now."
But he didn't have much of a choice. If he wanted to survive in this world, he couldn't keep running forever. He had to get stronger.
And that meant taking down this beast.