Twelve more hours in this cursed forest. I could hardly believe the system was throwing another challenge at me right after nearly getting crushed by a stone giant.
My body was screaming in protest, but I had no choice. The system was relentless, and failure wasn't an option.
I tightened my grip on my newly upgraded sword.
The blade felt more balanced in my hand, the edge sharper. The Apprentice Sword (Rank D) was definitely a step up from what I had before, but it was still just a tool.
The real battle would be surviving long enough to use it effectively.
The temple behind me had collapsed into a heap of rubble after my fight with the Guardian, so there was no sense in sticking around.
The air in the Darkwood Forest felt heavier than before, like the trees themselves were closing in on me.
The wind whispered through the branches, carrying with it the distant sounds of howling creatures.
"Great," I muttered to myself. "Twelve hours in a place where everything wants to eat me."
I could feel the weight of my exhaustion pulling at my limbs, but I couldn't stop.
The system had a habit of throwing deadly surprises my way whenever I slowed down.
If I wanted to survive, I needed to stay alert, keep moving, and avoid anything that seemed too dangerous.
Easier said than done in a forest filled with monsters.
I made my way through the dense underbrush, using my sword to clear the path ahead.
The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor.
The deeper I went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.
The trees seemed to stretch higher, their branches twisting in unnatural ways. Every now and then, I'd hear the distant crack of something moving in the darkness.
The system was keeping quiet for now, but I knew better than to think that meant I was safe.
…
As I trailed forward, I stumbled across a small clearing, barely big enough to be called one, but it offered a brief moment of respite from the claustrophobic woods.
I took the opportunity to check my surroundings, scanning for anything that looked useful.
The area was dotted with a few wild plants, none of which I recognized, and a small stream trickled through the center.
I knelt by the stream and splashed some water on my face, letting the coolness soothe my aching muscles.
The cut on my shoulder had stopped bleeding, but the pain was still a dull throb under the surface. I needed real healing soon, but there wasn't much I could do without more supplies.
As I drank from the stream, my mind wandered back to the system's latest task: survive for twelve hours.
That was it. No monster to hunt, no specific challenge. It felt… off. The system never made things this simple. There had to be something waiting for me, something I couldn't see yet.
"System, show my stats."
[Host: Zen Mu]
[Life Form: Earth Human (Reincarnated)]
[Rank: Apprentice Warrior, Rank 2]
[Combat Power: Rank E]
[Weapon: Apprentice Sword (Rank D)]
[Skills: Combat Basics (Rank E), Awareness (Rank F)]
[System Points: 5]
[Status: Fatigued]
[Time Remaining in Darkwood Forest: 9 hours]
I was still Rank 2, but I had come a long way from the weakling who could barely fight a wolf.
The Guardian had been a serious wake-up call, I was improving, but this world wasn't going to slow down for me. I had to get stronger. Much stronger.
The system's clock ticked down mercilessly. Nine hours left. I had to keep going.
…
The light was fading fast now, and the forest was starting to come alive with nighttime creatures.
The once-quiet atmosphere was filled with strange calls and eerie howls.
My skin prickled with a sense of being watched, but I couldn't tell where the feeling was coming from.
My new skill, [Awareness], helped slightly, it heightened my senses enough to catch the faintest of movements in the underbrush.
As I moved deeper into the woods, I spotted a small cave located between two large trees.
It was partially hidden by thick vines and moss, but it looked sturdy enough to offer some shelter.
I approached cautiously, listening for any signs of life inside. The last thing I wanted was to stumble into another monster's den.
Nothing. It seemed empty.
Relieved, I ducked inside, feeling the temperature drop immediately.
The cave was just wide enough for me to stretch out a bit, and I could set up my tent near the entrance, keeping a low profile while still having some protection.
I quickly set up camp, unrolling my mat and leaning my sword against the wall.
The stone floor was cold and uncomfortable, but it was better than sleeping out in the open where anything could sneak up on me.
I sat down with a sigh, trying to ignore the aches in my body.
The system's tasks were grinding me down, but I couldn't help but feel that it was all part of a bigger plan.
The system wanted me stronger, but why? And for what?
As I chewed on one of the ration bars from my survival pack, I thought back to my life before this.
What was I even doing back then? It was all starting to feel like a distant memory, another life that didn't quite belong to me anymore.
The system chimed softly in my mind, pulling me out of my thoughts.
[Warning: Enemy approaching.]
[Threat level: Moderate.]