In the dim light of the ancient forest, Terry moved silently, his footsteps careful to avoid drawing attention. The rustling of leaves underfoot and distant calls from unseen creatures were his only companions. As he advanced cautiously through the dense underbrush, he suddenly paused to check his system. To his astonishment, his level had mysteriously reset to Level 1. Despite this setback, his accumulated stat points remained unchanged, with each attribute—Strength, Agility, Intelligence, and Constitution—now resting at 15. And still, his legendary ability, Gluttony, shone as a permanent reminder of his past progress.
Perplexed yet undeterred, Terry continued his search for food, his stomach rumbling in protest. Suddenly, a desperate cry cut through the stillness of the forest:
"Help... please, help!"
Alert and focused, Terry crept toward the sound, using thick bushes as cover. Peering through the foliage, he saw the source of the cry: a strikingly beautiful girl, her face contorted with pain, cowered as a vicious wolf prepared to pounce. The creature's eyes burned with feral intensity, and in its grasp, a glint of a knife revealed that it was no ordinary beast.
A thought flashed through Terry's mind, tinged with both admiration and determination: "What a beautiful girl." His protective instincts surged as the wolf, momentarily distracted by the gleaming blade, focused its attention on her.
In that critical moment, Terry sprang into action. With swift precision, he emerged from his hiding place and lunged at the beast. His strike was calculated and fierce—a powerful blow delivered straight to the wolf's neck. The creature yelped in shock, recoiling and retreating into the dark depths of the forest.
The girl, still trembling, looked up at him with wide, grateful eyes. "Thank you," she managed, her voice weak, as she winced at the sight of the bandaged wound on her arm.
Realizing that the night in this dangerous forest was not a safe time for either of them, Terry suggested they set up camp until dawn. Under the flickering glow of a makeshift fire, they began to talk.
"I'm Janet," she introduced herself softly, a hint of nervous laughter escaping as she added, "I thought that blue screen was just a prank—I never imagined it would actually teleport me here."
Terry offered a small, reassuring smile. "Neither did I, Janet. But it seems fate has brought us together in this strange place."
As they settled in for the night, the forest whispered with unknown secrets. Amid the eerie silence, two souls—bound by circumstance and the need to survive—found a fragile moment of solace, preparing themselves for the challenges that lay ahead.
[SYSTEM STATUS]
Level: 1
Strength: 15
Agility: 15
Intelligence: 15
Constitution: 15
Legendary Ability: Gluttony
Unfortunately, they couldn't keep a fire burning through the night—Terry explained that fire was only permitted for cooking, to avoid attracting unwanted wildlife. As darkness fell, Terry and Janet gathered some branches and draped them over themselves, using them as makeshift camouflage to blend into the natural surroundings. Fortunately, Terry had come prepared; Terry pulled out a thermal blanket.
"Luckily, I managed to recover this from my office," Terry said, his tone a mix of relief and gratitude.
As they settled into their concealed spot, Terry's mind began to churn. Terry couldn't help but wonder why everything had started so prematurely. In that quiet moment, memories of his encounter with the humanoid flooded back. Why did it choose me? Terry pondered silently. And then another thought struck Terry—his ability to generate heat wasn't listed on his system.
"Wait, let's try again," Terry murmured under his breath.
Focusing intently, Terry concentrated and emitted a gentle burst of warmth. The heat washed over Terry, and, to his astonishment, Terry's heat ability magically upgraded to Level 2.
What? So abilities aren't simply given by the system—they must be earned, unlike the one I got from that humanoid! Terry thought, a mix of confusion and excitement stirring within him.
Ahh, what a mess, Terry mused. Shaking his head, Terry decided it was best not to dwell on the mysteries of the system now. "Let's just try to get some sleep," Terry whispered.
And so, beneath the ancient canopy of the Forest of Beginnings, the night passed quietly, offering Terry and Janet a fragile sense of security until dawn would bring a new set of challenges.