Ethan emerged from the cave with a cautious sense of optimism. The morning sunlight bathed the forest in a warm glow, and for a moment, he almost forgot about the dangers that lurked beyond the trees. Almost. But the new quest was still on his mind—"Gather Food and Resources." He needed to figure out how to survive in this place, and that meant understanding exactly how this strange system worked.
He opened up the system screen, the translucent blue interface flickering in front of his eyes. It was strange, almost comforting now, as if it had become an extension of his senses. He tapped on the screen, and a menu opened up, filled with options—Stats, Inventory, Quests, Skills. Each section seemed to offer a new glimpse into what was now possible for him in this world.
"Stats."
Ethan selected it, and a familiar set of attributes appeared.
Strength: 15 Agility: 15 Vitality: 15 Intelligence: 5 Charm: 0
He frowned at the Charm stat being at zero, wondering briefly what it represented. Was it his ability to talk to people? His general attractiveness? The idea of being quantified like this was almost comical, but Ethan brushed it aside. He had more immediate concerns, like getting some food before hunger drained his newly earned Growth Points right out of him.
Inventory.
The inventory was mostly empty, save for a few slots that contained basic items—a couple of pieces of Raw Meat from the wolf, a Stone Knife, and a small Healing Herb that he had picked up near the stream. He scrolled through, noting that his inventory could hold more than he had imagined—far beyond what any normal backpack could carry.
Skills.
The skills section caught his attention next. Basic Strike was the only skill listed, the ability he had unlocked during his encounter with the wolf. There was something almost poetic about it—his first true fight, his first real success, immortalized as a skill. Ethan felt an odd sense of satisfaction, like he was building something piece by piece, skill by skill.
"Next Quest: Gather Food and Resources."
The system reminded him again. He sighed, taking another deep breath of the fresh forest air. The sense of urgency returned—he needed food, but he also needed more than that. He needed tools, resources, maybe even a plan for the days ahead. He couldn't just keep stumbling around waiting for the next wolf to attack him.
Looking around, Ethan noticed a cluster of bushes nearby. Dark, ripe berries hung from the branches, their color vivid against the green leaves. He hesitated—he didn't recognize the berries, and he wasn't about to risk poisoning himself. But as he stared at them, the system suddenly kicked in.
"Appraisal Activated: Edible Berries. Minor nutrition and hydration boost."
Ethan blinked, surprised at the information. The berries shimmered slightly as the system highlighted them in a faint green hue, indicating they were safe. He plucked a few, carefully inspecting them before popping one into his mouth. They were tart but juicy, and he felt a slight burst of energy as he swallowed.
He gathered more, tucking them into his inventory, grateful for the system's help. Maybe he could make use of this Appraisal ability more often—if it would allow him to discern edible food and helpful resources, it could be the difference between life and death.
With the berries stowed, Ethan made his way deeper into the forest, his eyes scanning for anything else that might be useful. He found a fallen branch that looked sturdy enough to be fashioned into a walking stick—or a weapon, if it came to that. He used the Stone Knife to whittle the branch, smoothing out its rough edges and sharpening one end to a crude point. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
As he worked, he noticed something peculiar—his hands moved more confidently than they ever had back home. It was as if the system's influence wasn't just confined to his stats. It was affecting his instincts, his muscle memory. The knife felt natural in his grip, the motions fluid. He paused, staring at his hands for a moment, marveling at the change.
"Skill Unlocked: Basic Crafting."
A smile spread across his face. Even something as simple as sharpening a stick was now recognized as a skill. The system acknowledged every effort he made, rewarding his progress in a way the mundane world never had. For once, his actions had immediate, tangible results. He felt like he could keep growing, keep improving.
He added the sharpened branch to his inventory, feeling a little more prepared. The forest around him was beginning to feel less hostile, more like a place he could navigate. Still dangerous, sure, but not insurmountable.
Suddenly, he heard the sound of rustling leaves. Ethan's head snapped up, his body going tense as he listened. It was coming from deeper in the woods, the noise growing louder, approaching. He gripped the sharpened stick, his heart pounding once more. Was it another wolf? Or perhaps something worse?
A figure emerged from the treeline—a small creature, barely reaching his knee. Its skin was green, its eyes large and round, with pointed ears and a crooked nose. It wore scraps of cloth, as if it had pieced together its attire from whatever it could find. Ethan's grip tightened, recognizing the creature almost immediately: a goblin.
The goblin looked at Ethan, its eyes narrowing. It let out a low growl, revealing yellowed, crooked teeth. Ethan's screen flashed.
"New Quest: Defeat the Goblin. Reward: 15 Growth Points."
There was no time to hesitate. The goblin lunged at him, a rusty dagger clutched in its hand. Ethan sidestepped, his body moving almost on its own, his newly enhanced agility kicking in. He swung the sharpened branch, catching the goblin across its side. The creature yelped, stumbling back, but it recovered quickly, its eyes filled with a newfound hatred.
Ethan took a deep breath, focusing. This was nothing like the wolf encounter—this creature was intelligent, its movements deliberate. It wasn't just attacking out of instinct; it was trying to kill him. He needed to end this quickly.
The goblin lunged again, and Ethan shifted his weight, bringing the branch down hard on the goblin's wrist. The dagger clattered to the ground, and Ethan followed up with a kick to its chest, sending the creature sprawling backward. He stepped forward, driving the sharpened point of his branch into the goblin's chest. The creature let out a final gasp before going limp, its body slumping to the forest floor.
"Quest Completed: Defeat the Goblin. Reward: 15 Growth Points."
Ethan stood there, breathing heavily, his hands trembling slightly. He had done it. He had defeated an intelligent creature in combat, something he never imagined he'd be capable of. The system's screen flashed again.
"Skill Unlocked: Basic Combat Mastery."
Another skill. Ethan looked down at the fallen goblin, then back at his own hands. This world demanded strength—strength to fight, to survive, to keep moving forward. And with every challenge, he could feel himself changing, becoming something more than he had ever been.
He opened his system screen, taking a moment to allocate his newly earned Growth Points. He put ten points into Strength, feeling the immediate surge of power ripple through his muscles, and five into Intelligence—he needed to stay sharp, to outthink whatever this world threw at him.
Ethan knelt down, inspecting the goblin's belongings. It wasn't much—a crude dagger, a small pouch with a few shiny stones, and a piece of dried meat that looked barely edible. He took the dagger, tucking it into his belt, and stowed the pouch and meat in his inventory. He wasn't sure if the stones had any value, but it was better than leaving empty-handed.
He straightened, looking around. The sun was higher in the sky now, filtering through the leaves in golden rays. He felt a sense of accomplishment, tempered by the realization that this was only the beginning. There would be more creatures, more dangers, and he would need to be ready for all of it.
The system screen flickered again, a new quest appearing.
"Next Quest: Locate a Human Settlement."
A human settlement. The words filled Ethan with a mix of hope and apprehension. If there were other people here—others like him, maybe—then he could find answers. He could learn more about this world, about why he was here, and maybe even find a way back home. But it also meant more challenges, more unknowns.
He took a deep breath, the weight of the sharpened branch comforting in his hand. There was no turning back. He had already taken his first steps into this new life, and each challenge only made him stronger. He was ready to face whatever lay ahead.
"Alright, system," Ethan said, his voice steady. "Show me the way to the nearest human settlement."