Chapter 6 - Chapter 6 - Worth a try!

The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky. I'd spent the last hour searching for anything edible, picking up the least threatening-looking berries I could find—some green ones that at least didn't have visible mold or insects.

Haa…

But now, staring at them from my perch, I couldn't bring myself to eat them.

Every survival show I'd ever half-watched flashed through my mind, full of warnings about poisonous berries and painful deaths. In my world, a mistake meant a bad stomach ache. Here? It could mean death.

'There has to be a way.'

Gurgle…

My stomach cramped painfully. I hadn't eaten since yesterday, and the hunger was getting harder to ignore.

That's when a desperate thought struck me.

I still had four untested apps: , , , and .

and both needed those danger-bars to work. But thinking back to my old phone, those were apps that originally needed network connection.

'Right... too.'

A quick search for '' confirmed my suspicion:

⟨Insufficient network. Try again.⟩

But the other apps... they never needed network before.

'Could they work without the bars?'

It was a thin theory, probably just my hungry mind trying to find hope somewhere. But it made a weird kind of sense—apps that didn't need network in my world might not need danger-bars in this one.

And right now, even that slim chance was better than nothing.

'Let's see what changed with these.'

My trembling fingers - curse this hunger - fumbled through the apps, accidentally tapping . The phone slipped in my sweaty grip—

'FUCK!'

Shutter-!

A photo snapped as I fumbled to catch it, my heart racing for entirely different reasons now. Both from nearly dropping my only lifeline and from what appeared on the screen:

[Blurry image/poor lighting]:

[Photo Description]

Type: Flora

Name: Tall tree (Silver-ish Bark)

Properties:

- Appear to be magical in nature

- Estimated height: 15-20 meters

⟨Clear image needed for detailed analysis⟩

It cost me a percent of battery, 61% now.

But...

'Holy shit.'

I stared at the screen, hardly believing what I was seeing. My clumsy ass had just stumbled into something incredible - the could analyze things. 

Actually analyze them.

'Jackpot!'

My eyes darted to the berries I'd collected. If it could identify trees, then maybe...

Finding a patch of sunlight filtering through the leaves, I carefully arranged the berries and raised my phone again.

'Please be edible...'

Shutter-!

[Clear Image/Perfect Lighting/Full View]: 

[Photo Description] 

Type: Flora - Fruit 

Name: Duskberry (Late Stage) 

Status: Partially Decomposed 

Properties: 

- Edibility: NOT SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION 

- Toxicity Level: Moderate 

- Core: Rotting, black spots visible 

- Outer Shell: Slimy, green-brown coloration 

Effects if Consumed: 

- Severe stomach cramps 

- Possible hallucinations 

- Dehydration 

- Fever 

Note: Fresh Duskberries (purple-blue in color) are commonly used in healing potions. Current specimen has exceeded safe consumption period by approximately 8 days. 

Warning: Decomposition attracts low-level forest creatures. 

⟨Multiple specimens detected in frame.⟩

Three more percent gone. Down to 58%.

'Shit.'

I'd expected some battery drain, but three percent for a single clear photo? That hurt.

Though... considering I'd been about to eat something that could have killed me, maybe it was worth it.

These berries would have been valuable healing items just eight days ago. Now they were not only poisonous but might attract more unwanted attention.

'First priority: Find actual food.'

The was clearly going to be essential for survival, but at 3% per detailed scan, I'd have to be selective. Every percent had to count.

Getting poisoned or eaten wasn't an option.

First, I'd look for obvious signs—fresh color, no mold, no rot. Then a blurry photo to confirm it wasn't immediately deadly. Only if it looked promising would I waste battery on a detailed scan.

Hnn…

I surveyed the forest floor methodically, marking trees with my sharp stone as I moved. The sun was sinking fast—I had wasted another hour or more wandering - I needed a clear path back before darkness fell.

'There.'

A flash of deep red through the undergrowth caught my eye.

Now that I knew what not to pick up, I started noticing patterns. Most of the green fruits were actually overripe or rotting. The fresh ones had brighter colors.

'Worth a try.'

Shutter-!

[Blurry image/poor lighting]:

[Photo Description]

Type: Flora - Fruit

Name: Bloodberry

Properties:

- High color saturation

- Recently fallen

- Ripe

⟨Clear image needed for detailed analysis.⟩

The name wasn't exactly appetizing, but it looked fresh at least. 

Added… It was the first time I saw ripe in the properties.

Worth a closer look.

I moved it to better lighting.

Shutter-!

[Clear Image/Perfect Lighting/Full View]: 

[Photo Description] 

Type: Flora - Fruit 

Name: Bloodberry 

Status: Fresh

[Properties]: 

- Edibility: SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION

- Nutritional Value: High

- Sweet-tart flavor

- Natural energy boost

Warning: Highly attractive to forest creatures when ripe. 

Consume quickly or store safely.

⟨Three specimens detected.⟩

Down to 50% now. 

I had wasted 4% in search of something edible. 

It weighed on me.

But well, it felt worth it - finally found something I could actually eat.

It looked like a large raspberry, but deep red, almost burgundy. 

Rumble…

My stomach growled at the sight, but that warning made me hesitate.

'Attracts forest creatures…?'

Now, that was concerning.

The silver barked tree, my temporary hideout, wasn't far from this place. If it attracted forest creatures and they roamed at my place, I could be in potential danger.

But…

This also spoke of opportunity.

With the monsters lurking around, I could get danger-bars. With that, I could find my location with the help of .

Though, I wasn't ready for the risk.

'I should eat them now…'

Quickly.

Before it attracts forest creatures - whatever they were.

Also… 

The sun would probably set in about 30 minutes or so, I didn't have much time to move. And moving in night light was nothing less of sucide.

Beep!

Just then, my fitness band buzzed.

I could guess what it was about.

It was the third time now.

[Wearer]

∟VIT : ⟪POOR +4⟫ → ⟪POOR +1⟫ 

∟STR : ⟪FAIR -2⟫ 

∟DEX : ⟪POOR +1⟫ 

∟INT : ⟪AVERAGE -3⟫ 

∟WIS : ⟪FAIR +1⟫

⟩⟩ Scale: [POOR < FAIR < AVERAGE < GOOD < EXCELLENT < OUTSTANDING.

The VIT stat had dropped again. Made sense—I hadn't eaten in almost a day, and the morning's exertion hadn't helped.

Well, time to fix that.

I bit into the first Bloodberry. 

The juice burst in my mouth, sweet with a tangy after kick that made my tongue tingle. It tasted better than any fruit I'd had before, though that might have been the hunger talking.

Beep!

A message popped up on my fitness band.

[Temporary Buff Detected: Energy Surge.]

Duration: 30 minutes

Effect: Minor increase to physical capabilities.

'Oh?'

The second berry went down just as easily. The taste was just as good, and that energy boost could be useful. 

Beep!

[Status Effect: Satiated]

∟VIT : ⟪POOR +1⟫ → ⟪POOR +4⟫ 

∟STR : ⟪FAIR +2⟫ → ⟪FAIR +3⟫ 

The VIT returned to normal, and my STR actually went up temporarily. Interesting. So food in this world could provide status buffs—another thing to keep in mind.

Crunch…

I ate the last berry rather than risk carrying it. The 's warning about attracting wasn't worth ignoring, especially with night approaching.

Burp…

'Time to head back…'