The soft, pulsating light of the fire within the ruins cast flickering shadows against the ancient stone walls as Yuuto woke up, feeling slightly more rested. He stretched out, his muscles sore from the previous day's trials. As he blinked away the grogginess, the reality of his situation came flooding back.
A different world… a world where monsters roam and magic is real.
His hand instinctively clenched as he recalled the battle with the wolf-creature. The faint warmth of the mana he had channeled for the Mana Bolt still lingered in his memory. This world—Aetheria—was dangerous, and Yuuto had no idea how long he could survive in it. But now, he had something he didn't before: a system that was helping him stay alive.
The Ascendant System. It had saved him twice already, and now, as he stared at the flickering display hovering in front of him, he realized that this System wasn't just a tool—it was his lifeline.
[Current Quest: Survive the Day – Progress: 12/24 hours]
Halfway through. So far, he had managed to make it this long. The first half of the day had nearly killed him, but he had found shelter, and the rest of the night had passed quietly. He could feel the lingering tension in the air, but for now, the ruins around him felt like a sanctuary—a small reprieve from the dangers that lurked in the wilderness.
Yuuto stood up, brushing off his clothes and taking a few cautious steps outside the protective barrier. The forest was still dark and dense, the towering trees forming a natural canopy that blocked out much of the sky. But through the breaks in the leaves, he could see faint rays of sunlight peeking through, signaling the arrival of a new day.
His stomach growled loudly, reminding him of a more immediate concern.
"Right… food," he muttered, glancing around the ruins. He had been too busy fighting for his life the previous day to even think about it, but now, hunger gnawed at him. There was nothing edible in sight—no fruit-bearing trees or plants he could recognize—and the thought of hunting one of the creatures that roamed the forest sent a shiver down his spine.
But he didn't have much choice, did he?
The System seemed to read his thoughts as it chimed in.
[New Quest Unlocked: Find Food]
Objective: Locate a source of food in the wilderness. Time remaining: 6 hours.
Reward: 15 EXP, Basic Skill: Foraging
Failure: Hunger penalty applied (reduced stamina and health regeneration).
"Hunger penalty, huh?" Yuuto muttered. That wasn't something he could afford. Reduced stamina and health could be the difference between life and death if another creature showed up.
He glanced at the forest, already filled with the sounds of birds—well, bird-like creatures—and other animals stirring. The sooner he found food, the better. Reluctantly, Yuuto stepped outside the safety of the ruins, activating his newly unlocked Sprint skill to move more quickly through the dense underbrush.
[Skill Activated: Sprint]
Mana: 15/50
His body surged with energy as the skill took effect, and his speed increased dramatically. He darted through the trees, weaving between roots and thorny bushes. The dense forest blurred past him as he covered ground quickly, searching for anything that looked like a source of food.
After about ten minutes, he slowed down, breathing heavily as he scanned his surroundings. His mana was running low after using Sprint, and he knew he couldn't rely on it too often. But so far, he had found nothing.
"Come on, there has to be something…" Yuuto muttered. His stomach rumbled again, louder this time, and he cursed under his breath.
Just as he was about to turn back, a faint rustling in the bushes ahead caught his attention. He froze, his heart pounding. Another creature? He quickly crouched behind a tree, watching the area closely. Slowly, a small animal emerged from the underbrush—a rabbit-like creature, but with long, sharp horns protruding from its head. Its fur shimmered faintly, glowing with a soft blue light.
Yuuto's stomach growled louder, but he hesitated. That thing… it's not a normal rabbit, is it? Nothing in this world seemed normal, so he had no idea if it was safe to eat. But the longer he stared at the glowing creature, the more desperate he became. Food is food, right?
His mind raced, considering his options. Mana Bolt had taken down the wolf-creature, but it drained a significant amount of his mana, and he was already running low. He needed something more efficient.
"I need something quick," he whispered, focusing on the System. "Show me skills related to hunting."
To his surprise, the System responded.
[Available Skill Unlocked: Quick Strike]
Description: A fast, low-mana physical attack designed to strike small or weak enemies. Mana cost: 5.
Do you wish to learn this skill?
Yes / No
Yuuto didn't hesitate.
"Yes!" he whispered urgently.
[Skill Unlocked: Quick Strike]
The warm sensation of power surged through him once again, and he felt his body grow lighter, more precise. The Quick Strike ability would let him conserve mana and deal with the small creature quickly.
Silently, Yuuto crept closer, his eyes locked on the rabbit-like creature. It was still nibbling on the plants, completely unaware of his presence. With one swift movement, Yuuto dashed forward, calling upon the skill.
[Skill Activated: Quick Strike]
Mana: 10/50
Yuuto's hand shot out, striking the creature with pinpoint accuracy. The attack was faster than he had expected—his body reacting almost instinctively. The rabbit-like creature let out a faint yelp before collapsing to the ground.
Yuuto panted slightly, staring down at the creature. His hands were trembling. Did I just… kill it?
The thought sent a wave of nausea through him, but he quickly shook it off. I didn't have a choice. This world was dangerous, and if he didn't do what was necessary to survive, he wouldn't last long.
After a moment, the System chimed again.
[Quest Complete: Find Food]
Reward: 15 EXP, Basic Skill: Foraging unlocked.
A new skill flashed across his vision.
[Skill Unlocked: Foraging]
Description: Increases the chance of finding edible plants and resources in the wilderness.
Yuuto felt a small wave of relief wash over him. This skill would make it easier to find food in the future, and he wouldn't have to rely solely on hunting strange creatures. But for now, he needed to figure out how to prepare the one he had just caught.
The glowing creature was still lying on the ground, its body limp. Yuuto crouched beside it, examining its shimmering fur and sharp horns. It was strange—otherworldly—but it looked similar enough to a rabbit that he figured it was safe to eat. Still, it was better to be cautious.
Using the Foraging skill, Yuuto quickly found a few plants nearby that seemed to have medicinal properties, as well as some herbs that looked edible. He wasn't an expert on magical creatures or plants, but the System seemed to be guiding him in the right direction.
[Time remaining until the end of the quest: 10 hours.]
As he worked, Yuuto couldn't help but feel a small sense of accomplishment. He had completed another quest, and more importantly, he had found food. The System had given him the tools he needed, and it had saved his life once again.
But there was still a long road ahead. The day wasn't over yet, and he had no idea what other dangers this world held. For now, he would cook his meal, rest, and prepare for whatever challenges came next.
As he gathered the glowing herbs and prepared the creature for cooking, Yuuto felt a growing sense of determination. This world isn't going to beat me. I'll survive, and I'll get stronger. The System had given him a fighting chance, and he wasn't about to waste it.
He glanced up at the sky, where the strange, swirling colors of Aetheria continued to shift and pulse. This was his new reality—his new life.
And with the Ascendant System guiding him, Yuuto knew one thing for certain:
He would survive.