The next day, I woke up feeling cold, tired, and exhausted, yet hopeful. Today, I was determined to build myself a decent shelter and finally get some peaceful sleep. Nearby, I noticed a berry bush and, hoping the berries weren't poisonous, decided to test them out. I'd read in a survival guide that you could check for poison by rubbing the berries on your skin, so I did just that. After no adverse reaction, I ate a few, and they seemed safe enough. They weren't exactly delicious, but they were filling, so I felt a little more energized.
I started gathering large tree branches and used a jagged piece of metal I'd found in the sand to cut their bottoms so I could stab them into the ground. After securing the base of my shelter, I collected sturdy sticks to support a makeshift roof made of leaves and an old metal sheet I'd discovered in the desert. I then found a moss-like material that seemed soft enough to use as a bed.
By the time I'd finished setting up my camp, it was already noon—I hadn't realized how long it would take to build my little fort! With the structure set up, I started a campfire and went out to look for food. While wandering through the desert, I spotted a few Nigels nearby. They weren't the tastiest, but food was food. I steeled myself and decided to hunt them down.
The Nigels were level two, but I was level four and armed with a blunt weapon—a trusty rock. I was sure I'd come out on top. I crouched behind a bush and watched as the Nigels fought over another rock, chewing on it like it was food. It seemed they were among the dumbest creatures around. I threw my rock as hard as I could, hitting one Nigel square on the head, which exploded into a red mist. I hadn't realized just how strong my throw could be.
The other two Nigels turned towards the bush, thinking my rock might be food, and charged. I leaped out, kicking them both into a tree, where they slumped unconscious. Tying them up with a vine I'd found, I dragged them back to my camp, cooked them over the fire, and had a modest meal. They weren't the best-tasting, but they would have to do.
To preserve the extra meat, I wrapped it in leaves and vines and left it near the campfire to cook overnight, hoping it would turn into a sort of jerky by morning—less likely to be stolen by scavengers. I was hopeful that tomorrow, I'd expand my shelter, maybe find a better setup, and eventually, I could recruit a level one noob to help me build my house while I went on adventures. After all, if I was level four and someone made me their butler, surely I could find someone lower level to lend me a hand.
I lay down in my makeshift bed, only to realize I didn't even have a toothbrush, and my teeth felt uncomfortable. Just as I was adjusting to that, I felt something crawling on my back. I jumped up, looking around in panic, and saw a ginormous spider. I screamed like a little kid, and in a fit of panic, I ended up burning my entire fort to the ground.
Can I really not keep a home? Feeling sorry for myself, I turned to the jerky I'd made the night before, but of course, it had already been stolen by scavengers. It hit me then—I really need a level one noob to pick up all the slack around here. I almost felt bad for him, but if he wants to learn from a truly high-level master, he'll have to handle the chores just like I have.
Resolving to rebuild again, I gathered a bunch of sticks and ripped up some trees for good measure (because, obviously, I'm that strong). I've been doing so many strenuous activities that my strength has skyrocketed. Out of curiosity, I opened up my inventory and checked my stats:
Overall Level: 6
STR: 8.00
SPD: 4.00
DEX: 4.00
HP: 7.00
Wow, I've really leveled up. I must've missed that, though I have been through some pretty intense moments. I guess I should remember to check my stats more often; honestly, I kind of forgot about them.
After building another fort (this time making sure not to disturb any spider nests), I finally lay down and went to sleep.