Keitaro's breath came in shallow gasps as he pressed his back against the cool stone of the narrow crevice. Outside, the Darkwood Beast paced back and forth, its glowing red eyes scanning the gap where Keitaro had hidden. The massive creature let out a low, frustrated growl, swiping at the entrance of the crevice with claws the size of short swords. Each swipe sent small rocks tumbling to the ground, but thankfully, the beast couldn't reach him.
For now.
The darkness of the forest had deepened, the shadows stretching long as the last traces of daylight faded. The air was thick with tension, and Keitaro's heart pounded so loudly in his chest he was sure the beast could hear it. Every part of him screamed to stay still, to stay quiet, but he knew that hiding here was only a temporary solution. The beast wasn't going to leave, and sooner or later, it would find a way to get him.
"I need a plan," Keitaro whispered, his voice barely audible as he leaned his head back against the stone. "I can't keep hiding forever."
The system chimed in, as calm and indifferent as ever.
New Quest: Defeat the Darkwood Beast
Objective: Eliminate the Darkwood Beast and secure the area.
Rewards: 400 XP, System Shop Unlock, Skill Upgrade.
Penalty: Death.
Keitaro grimaced. The penalty was a stark reminder of how real this was. No respawns, no second chances, he thought grimly. If he didn't deal with this beast, he wasn't going to survive much longer in this world.
But the question remained: how?
He was low on mana, his body was still sore from the river and the chase, and the Darkwood Beast was clearly stronger than anything he had faced before. Running wasn't an option, and neither was waiting it out. His only option was to fight, but to do that, he needed to be smarter and more resourceful than he had been so far.
"Alright, system," Keitaro said quietly. "What's my best shot at beating this thing?"
The system responded instantly, providing him with a list of potential strategies based on his current abilities.
Combat Strategies:
Close Combat: Use Shunpo to move at high speeds and strike with precision. Recommended only if mana reserves are restored.
Ranged Attack: Utilize Spirit Gun to weaken the beast from a distance. High mana consumption—requires strategic use.
Environmental Advantage: Lure the Darkwood Beast into a trap or exploit terrain to incapacitate it.
Keitaro mulled over the options. Close combat was out—he didn't have the strength or stamina to go toe-to-toe with the beast, and Shunpo drained too much mana. The Spirit Gun was a powerful ranged attack, but he'd barely have enough energy to fire it again, and even then, it wasn't guaranteed to stop the beast.
That left one option: the environment.
"Environmental advantage… a trap," Keitaro murmured, glancing around the crevice. The forest was dense and wild, full of tangled roots, thick trees, and uneven ground. It wasn't much, but maybe he could use it to his advantage. The beast was fast and powerful, but it was also huge and clumsy. If Keitaro could lure it into a position where it couldn't use its full strength, he might stand a chance.
A plan began to form in his mind, and though it wasn't perfect, it was the best he had. He would need to be fast, precise, and a little bit lucky.
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Alright, let's do this."
First, he needed to recharge. Keitaro focused, trying to gather the last remnants of his mana. It wasn't much, but it might be just enough to execute his plan. As he concentrated, a faint warmth spread through his body—his mana pool slowly refilling, bit by bit.
"Come on, come on…" he whispered, feeling the energy build inside him.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he opened his eyes. He didn't have much, but it would have to be enough.
Keitaro steeled himself, mentally preparing for what he was about to do. If this failed, he wouldn't get a second chance. He glanced toward the entrance of the crevice, where the Darkwood Beast was still pacing, its massive bulk blocking most of the view.
"Hey, ugly!" Keitaro shouted, his voice echoing through the forest.
The beast's head snapped toward the sound, its glowing red eyes locking onto Keitaro's hiding spot. It let out a deafening roar, shaking the trees around it, and lunged at the crevice with terrifying speed. Its claws scraped against the stone, sending sparks flying as it tried to force its way inside.
But Keitaro was already on the move.
"Shunpo!"
In a blur of motion, Keitaro dashed out of the crevice and reappeared behind a nearby tree. The beast roared in fury, crashing through the crevice's entrance, but by the time it realized Keitaro wasn't there, he was already several yards away.
"Over here, you overgrown mutt!" Keitaro taunted, waving his arms to get the creature's attention.
The Darkwood Beast snarled, turning to face him, its red eyes burning with rage. It charged, its powerful legs tearing up the ground as it thundered toward him.
Keitaro's heart raced, but he forced himself to stay calm. This was part of the plan.
Just before the beast reached him, Keitaro darted behind a cluster of thick trees, weaving between them with quick, agile movements. The beast crashed after him, but its massive size made it difficult for it to navigate the narrow spaces between the trees. It slammed into a tree trunk, splintering it with the force of its impact, but Keitaro was already moving again.
Just keep it following me, Keitaro thought, glancing over his shoulder. The beast was enraged now, its movements more reckless as it tore through the forest in pursuit of him. But its size was working against it—the thick trees and tangled roots slowed it down, forcing it to make wide, lumbering turns.
Keitaro continued to lead the beast deeper into the forest, weaving between the trees and using the terrain to his advantage. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever—his mana and stamina were almost completely drained—but he was getting close to the spot he had scouted earlier.
Finally, Keitaro spotted it: a large, gnarled tree with thick roots that jutted out from the ground like natural barriers. The area around the tree was uneven, with large rocks and fallen branches littering the forest floor. It was the perfect place to set his trap.
Keitaro sprinted toward the tree, his lungs burning from the effort. The beast roared behind him, gaining speed as it closed in for the kill. But Keitaro wasn't planning on getting caught.
At the last second, Keitaro dove to the side, rolling across the ground as the beast lunged toward him. The creature's massive body slammed into the gnarled tree with a thunderous crash, its claws digging into the thick roots.
For a moment, the beast was disoriented, its massive form tangled in the roots of the tree. Keitaro scrambled to his feet, panting heavily as he watched the creature struggle to free itself.
Now's my chance.
Keitaro raised his hand, gathering the last of his mana into his fingertip. The energy crackled in the air around him, a familiar blue glow forming at the tip of his finger.
"Spirit Gun!" Keitaro shouted, aiming directly at the beast's head.
The energy blast shot from his finger, streaking through the air like a bolt of lightning. It struck the beast square in the side of the head, sending a shockwave rippling through its massive body. The creature let out a deafening roar of pain, its red eyes flashing with fury as it thrashed against the roots.
But it was too late.
The force of the blast caused the ground beneath the tree to shift, and with a loud crack, one of the large branches above snapped, falling directly onto the Darkwood Beast. The creature let out one final, enraged roar before the massive branch came crashing down, pinning it to the ground.
For several long moments, Keitaro stood there, panting heavily as he watched the dust settle. The beast lay motionless beneath the fallen branch, its red eyes dimming as the life slowly drained from its massive body.
Keitaro's legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. His entire body ached, and his mana was completely drained, but he had done it. He had defeated the Darkwood Beast.
"Holy… crap," Keitaro muttered between gasps. "I… actually did it."
The system's voice chimed in, as calm and detached as always.
Quest Complete: Defeat the Darkwood Beast
Rewards: 400 XP, System Shop unlocked, Skill Upgrade.
Congratulations! You have leveled up to Level 5.
Keitaro couldn't help but grin, despite the exhaustion that weighed on him. "Level 5, huh? Not bad for a guy who barely knew how to survive a couple of days ago."
He opened his status screen, eager to see the changes.
Name: Keitaro Yamada
Level: 5
Health: 100/220
Mana: 10/140
Strength: 16
Dexterity: 17
Intelligence: 14
Endurance: 15
Skills:
Negotiation (Level 1)
Shunpo
Shadow Clone Jutsu
Spirit Gun
Endurance Boost
Basic Survival (Level 1)
System Shop (Unlocked)
Keitaro's eyes lit up when he saw the new addition to his skill list. "System Shop unlocked, huh? Let's take a look."
With a thought, he accessed the System Shop, and a new screen appeared before him, displaying a wide array of options—everything from weapons to armor to new abilities. Some items were locked behind higher levels, but there were plenty of useful options available to him now.
System Shop
Basic Healing Potion: 100 XP
Mana Restoration Elixir: 120 XP
Basic Weapon (Sword, Dagger, Staff): 150 XP
Skill Unlock (Tier 1): 200 XP
Bloodline Power (Tier 1): 500 XP
Keitaro's grin widened. "Now we're talking. Looks like I'll be able to gear up and power up even more."
But as much as he wanted to dive into the shop and start spending his hard-earned XP, Keitaro knew he needed to rest first. His body was still screaming for recovery, and his mana was nearly depleted.
"Alright one thing at a time," Keitaro muttered, glancing back at the fallen beast. "First, I need to find somewhere safe to crash for the night."
With the Darkwood Beast defeated, the forest felt eerily quiet. The danger had passed, but Keitaro wasn't about to let his guard down. He knew there were still plenty of threats out there, and he needed to stay sharp if he wanted to survive in this world.
But for now he allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. He had faced down a powerful monster and come out on top. He was getting stronger, smarter and with the System Shop now unlocked, he was ready to take the next step.
Keitaro stood up wincing as his sore muscles protested, and began making his way back through the forest. His journey was far from over, but for the first time since arriving in this strange world he felt like he was finally gaining some control.
And with the system at his side Keitaro knew one thing for sure:
He wasn't just going to survive this world he was going to conquer it.