Fushou cautiously approached the group of people around him. Some were already forming alliances, talking about strategies and teaming up to explore this strange new world. As he walked closer, he overheard a tall, muscular man boasting about his newfound strength, flexing his arms as a large sword materialized in his hands.
"We'll take out the monsters easily with skills like these," the man said, his booming voice full of confidence. "I bet we'll be ruling this place in no time."
Fushou hesitated. He didn't have a flashy skill or an obvious combat ability like many of the others. He had no idea how he was going to survive in this world, much less fight monsters. But he knew one thing—he wasn't going to give up just because things looked bleak.
"Hey," a voice called out, snapping him out of his thoughts. A young woman, with striking red hair and a bow slung over her shoulder, was walking toward him. "What's your skill?" she asked, her tone curious rather than judgmental.
"Uh, it's called 'Search'," Fushou replied awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "It's unranked, though. Nothing special."
The woman raised an eyebrow. "Unranked, huh?" She seemed to be thinking for a moment. "That doesn't mean it's useless. What does it do?"
"It, uh... lets me find things. Like monsters, I think."
The woman smiled. "That actually sounds pretty useful. I'm Aya, by the way. My skill is 'Precision Archery'. Seems like you and I could make a good team."
Fushou blinked, surprised. He wasn't expecting anyone to be interested in teaming up with him, especially not someone who seemed confident in their abilities.
Aya's confidence caught Fushou off guard. He glanced at the bow she carried on her back—it was sleek, ornately designed, and certainly not something you'd find in his world. She was looking at him expectantly, and despite his earlier doubts, something about her calm demeanor made him feel a bit more at ease.
"Team up?" Fushou repeated, as if confirming he'd heard her correctly.
Aya shrugged, "Yeah, why not? Your 'Search' skill could help us avoid walking into danger. And if you can find monsters, I can take them out from a distance before they even get close." She gave him a reassuring smile. "Better than trying to survive alone out here."
Fushou considered her offer. She had a point. With his ability to locate creatures and her combat skills, they might stand a chance in this strange new world. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling of being at a disadvantage compared to the others around them.
"Alright, I'm in," Fushou said, forcing a confident smile. He extended his hand. "I'm Fushou."
Aya took his hand and shook it firmly. "Great. Let's start by exploring the area. We need to figure out where we are and how to survive." She glanced around at the trees surrounding them. "This place gives me the creeps. Looks like some kind of enchanted forest."
"Yeah, I noticed," Fushou muttered, eyeing the twisting trees. Their branches seemed to move ever so slightly, as if alive, and the shadows between them felt unnaturally dark. It wasn't like the cheerful, colorful forests from the anime worlds he loved so much. This place felt… dangerous.
They started walking, keeping their pace slow and quiet. Fushou focused on using his 'Search' skill, mentally issuing the command again. The faint glowing dots reappeared in his vision, scattered across the landscape ahead of them. Most were small, but a few larger ones caught his eye.
"There are monsters nearby," Fushou said, his voice low. "Nothing too close yet, but we should be careful."
Aya nodded. "Good to know. Keep me posted."
As they made their way through the forest, Fushou couldn't help but feel a strange mix of excitement and anxiety. This was exactly the kind of adventure he had always dreamed of, but now that he was living it, reality felt far harsher than fiction. The weight of responsibility was much heavier than he had imagined, and the looming threat of danger was very real.
They didn't talk much as they navigated the dense woods. The air was thick, and the only sounds came from their footsteps on the forest floor and the occasional rustling of leaves. Every once in a while, Fushou would warn Aya of a nearby creature, and they would quietly change direction to avoid confrontation.
Eventually, they came to a small clearing. In the center, there was a ruined stone structure, partially covered in moss and vines. It looked like an ancient altar or shrine of some kind, with strange symbols carved into the stone. The sight of it made Fushou uneasy, but Aya seemed intrigued.
"Let's check it out," she said, walking toward the structure without hesitation.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Fushou asked, glancing around nervously.
"It could be important," Aya replied. "Besides, we need to find clues about this world. We can't just wander aimlessly forever."
Fushou followed her reluctantly, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any threats. As they approached the altar, a sudden pulse of energy rippled through the air, sending a chill down Fushou's spine. Aya stopped in her tracks, her hand instinctively reaching for her bow.
"What was that?" Fushou asked, his heart pounding.
Before Aya could answer, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The symbols on the altar started to glow with an eerie blue light, and a low rumbling sound echoed through the clearing.
"Get back!" Aya shouted, pulling out an arrow and nocking it in her bow. Fushou quickly stepped back, his eyes wide as the ground in front of the altar began to crack open. From the fissure emerged a large, hulking figure—an armored beast, its body covered in thick, blackened plates. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent red light.
Fushou instinctively used 'Search' again, but his skill confirmed what he already knew—this was no ordinary monster. It was powerful. Far stronger than anything they had encountered so far.
Aya wasted no time. She released her arrow with pinpoint precision, striking the beast in its chest. The arrow bounced off its armor with a metallic clang, barely leaving a mark.
"It's too strong!" Aya shouted. "We need a plan!"
Fushou's mind raced. He wasn't a fighter. He had no offensive skills. But he had to think of something fast, or they were both done for. His eyes darted around the clearing, searching for anything that could help.
Then he remembered his skill wasn't just for finding monsters—it was for searching, period. He focused on the altar, mentally commanding his skill to show him its secrets.
"Search... shrine," he whispered desperately.
To his surprise, the altar glowed brightly in his vision, revealing hidden text and symbols that hadn't been visible before. His mind flooded with information: the shrine was an ancient seal, designed to contain powerful creatures. The symbols on the altar were a key—a way to reactivate the seal and trap the beast once again.
"Aya, distract it! I think I can reseal it!" Fushou yelled, already moving toward the altar.
Aya didn't hesitate. She fired another volley of arrows, this time aiming for the creature's legs and joints, trying to slow it down. The beast roared in frustration, swiping at her with its massive claws, but she was quick, dodging its attacks with agility that left Fushou in awe.
Fushou reached the altar, his hands shaking as he frantically traced the symbols with his fingers. He didn't understand the language, but his 'Search' skill guided him, highlighting the correct sequence in his mind. He could feel the power building up inside the shrine as he worked, the glowing symbols growing brighter with each movement.
"Hurry, Fushou!" Aya called out, her voice strained as she narrowly avoided another swipe from the creature.
"I'm almost there!" Fushou shouted, his heart racing.
Finally, he completed the sequence. The symbols flared with a brilliant light, and the ground trembled once more. The beast roared in fury as a powerful force pulled it toward the altar, its massive body collapsing as the seal reactivated. With one final bellow, the creature was sucked back into the fissure, and the ground closed up behind it, leaving only silence in its wake.
Fushou collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily. Aya walked over to him, offering him a hand.
"You did it," she said, her voice filled with admiration. "That skill of yours might be stronger than you think."
Fushou looked up at her, a mixture of disbelief and relief washing over him. Maybe his 'Search' skill wasn't so useless after all.