I stood over the panther's lifeless body, panting, sword still gripped tightly in my hand. The fight had been close too close but I was alive, and that was what mattered.
The forest had grown eerily quiet after the battle, as if the trees themselves were watching.
I could feel the pressure building in my chest again, that gnawing sense of danger creeping back.
I needed to keep moving. But first, I needed a plan.
"System, show me the map."
A faint holographic map appeared in front of me, highlighting my location in this dense, wild forest.
The ruins of the city I'd left behind were just a small dot on the far left of the map, while this area, marked as the "Darkwood Forest" stretched out endlessly to the north.
There was nothing else on the map that could offer any real help. No landmarks, no safe havens, just more forest.
"Thanks, that's really helpful," I muttered sarcastically. The system, as usual, ignored me.
At least I had a rough idea of where I was now. Darkwood Forest. The name alone gave me the creeps. I didn't want to linger here longer than necessary, especially with more apprentice-level monsters out there.
I had one down, and two more to go if I wanted to complete the hidden task and keep earning rewards.
But the fight with the panther had taken its toll. My stamina was running low, and my arm still stung from the cuts I'd taken during the earlier wolf attack.
I rummaged through my gear and pulled out the last of my healing ointment, applying it to my wounds.
The pain dulled, but I knew it wouldn't be enough to get me through another fight like that.
I still had one item left from the system store purchase, the Basic Combat Gear, which had definitely saved my skin.
But what I really needed was a plan to avoid getting jumped by the next deadly creature.
Fighting was all well and good, but I wasn't trying to be a hero here. I just needed to survive.
[New system task: Reach the edge of Darkwood Forest within 24 hours.]
[Rewards: 100 System Points and Basic Weapon Upgrade.]
"Reach the edge of the forest?" I groaned. "Of course. Why wouldn't the system want me to trek through this nightmare?"
As if things weren't difficult enough, now I was on a timer. I glanced at the faint orange glow of the setting sun.
The shadows were getting longer, the forest darker. Twenty-four hours? I wasn't sure I'd last twelve at this rate.
But then again, what choice did I have? If I want to survive, I have to get stronger, and to get stronger I need the system's help.
I started walking, keeping my sword ready and my ears tuned for any sound of movement.
The trees towered above me, their thick branches casting twisted, eerie shadows across the forest floor.
Occasionally, I'd hear the rustling of leaves or the distant howl of something uncomfortably large moving through the brush.
I pressed on, hoping to avoid another encounter with anything too deadly.
---
Night fell faster than I expected. The forest, already intimidating in the daylight, became a labyrinth of shadows and faint noises in the dark.
I couldn't see more than a few feet ahead of me, and the oppressive silence was broken only by the occasional rustle of unseen creatures.
I found a small clearing surrounded by thick bushes, at least, it looked less exposed than the open road I'd been walking on.
I figured it was as good a place as any to set up camp for the night.
I unfurled the tent from the survival pack and set it up as quietly as possible, trying not to draw attention.
Every sound I made felt amplified in the stillness, and my paranoia was kicking in full force.
As I crawled into the tent, my mind wandered back to the fights I'd had.
One panther, three wolves, and no idea what was next. I needed to get stronger, and fast.
This world didn't care whether I was ready or not, it was sink or swim, and I was barely treading water.
Before I could dwell too much on the dangers of the world, the system pinged.
[New Skill Unlocked: Awareness (Rank F)]
I blinked. "Awareness?"
A faint sensation washed over me, and suddenly, it was as if my senses had sharpened just a bit. I could hear more clearly, and feel the air shift with every slight movement.
It wasn't much, Rank F wasn't exactly impressive, but it was better than nothing.
With any luck, it would give me a slight edge in avoiding surprise attacks.
…
I woke to the sounds of movement outside the tent.
My hand shot to my sword, and I silently cursed myself for letting my guard down.
Slowly, I peeked out from behind the canvas, my eyes adjusting to the early morning light filtering through the trees.
Something was out there, moving through the underbrush, but I couldn't tell what it was. It sounded big, though, too big for another wolf.
I stayed perfectly still, waiting. Whatever it was, it hadn't noticed me yet, and I wasn't in a hurry to change that.
Then I saw it.
A creature, twice the size of the panther I'd fought, came into view.
Its massive form was covered in dark, matted fur, and its face looked like a cross between a bear and some kind of wildcat, with rows of jagged teeth and gleaming yellow eyes.
It sniffed the air, its nose twitching as it searched for something.
Me.
[Enemy detected: Dire Beast.]
[Threat Level: Extremely High.]
Fork my luck. Of course. It couldn't be just a regular monster. No, it had to be something 'extremely' high level, because why not?
I gripped my sword tighter, trying to slow my breathing. There was no way I could take this thing head-on.
My only option was to stay hidden and hope it wandered off.
The beast sniffed the ground, moving closer.
I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my ears, every nerve in my body on high alert.
The slightest movement, the tiniest sound, and I'd be dead before I could even scream.
But then, just as it reached the edge of the clearing, the Dire Beast stopped.
Its ears twitched, and its head turned sharply to the right. Without warning, it let out a low growl and sprinted off into the woods, disappearing into the darkness.
I let out a shaky breath, my body slumping in relief. That was way too close.
I crawled out of the tent, checking my surroundings carefully. Whatever had spooked the Dire Beast, it wasn't something I wanted to meet.
I quickly packed up my tent and started moving again. The clock was ticking, and I still had to reach the edge of the forest.
---
Hours passed as I pushed through the thick undergrowth, my nerves on edge with every step.
The system was silent, but I knew that wouldn't last. The edge of the forest had to be close, I could feel the air thinning, as if the oppressive weight of the Darkwood was slowly lifting.
But then I heard it: the unmistakable sound of heavy breathing, close. Too close.
I turned slowly, and there it was, another monster, crouching low in the shadows. Its eyes glowed red, and its body rippled with muscle.
It was smaller than the Dire Beast, but no less dangerous.
[Enemy detected: Bloodfang Stalker.]
[Threat level: High.]
I tightened my grip on my sword, my heart hammering in my chest. There was no running. It was either me or the Bloodfang, and I wasn't planning on dying today.
The creature let out a snarl and leaped toward me.