Chapter 2: The First Night
The forest loomed around Alex, its dense canopy blotting out the sky and casting everything into a perpetual twilight. The air felt thick with moisture, and every step he took seemed to stir the weight of the silence. The deeper he moved into the woods, the more alien and unsettling it became. The trees, with their twisted branches and knotted roots, seemed to watch him, their dark outlines faintly shifting in his peripheral vision.
His stomach growled, a reminder that survival would be as much about finding food as it would be about staying hidden. Alex couldn't afford to waste any more time. He had to find shelter, some place to rest, before the night took full hold.
He paused by a cluster of strange, violet berries growing near the base of a large tree. His stomach twisted with hunger, and the thought of food was too tempting to ignore. Without thinking twice, he activated his Inspect skill.
Inspecting…
Moonberry Bush
Properties: A rare plant found in forests infused with dark mana. The berries provide a minor boost to stamina and mana when consumed. Handle with care, as the leaves are mildly toxic if ingested.
Alex let out a relieved breath. The berries were safe to eat. He carefully picked a few and popped them into his mouth, the sweet taste a brief moment of comfort amidst the unease. His body felt a small surge of energy as the berries did their work, though it wasn't enough to quell the deeper hunger gnawing at him.
The forest remained eerily still, and Alex's mind drifted back to the strange events of earlier. The undead bird he had summoned had disintegrated into dust once dismissed. That power, fleeting as it was, had given him a glimpse of what he could do. But now, he couldn't rely on that skill anymore. It was gone—used up and spent.
He pushed that thought aside. There was no point in dwelling on what he couldn't do. For now, he had to focus on surviving. He needed shelter. Mana, food, and safety would come later.
Just then, a rustling sound made him freeze. His eyes darted around the shadows, every sense on high alert. Slowly, he crouched, blending into the dark as best as he could. The faint noise grew louder, and soon a massive shape appeared from behind the trees.
It was large—too large—and it moved with heavy, deliberate steps. Its body was covered in thick, spiked armor that reflected the faint light of the dying day. Its four legs were muscular, built for power, and its glowing yellow eyes scanned the area as it snorted. Alex's heart skipped a beat. It wasn't just any creature—it was a predator, and from the looks of it, a dangerous one.
He stilled, his breath barely making a sound as he crouched lower, trying to remain unseen. The creature's head turned, its eyes sweeping across the space in front of it, narrowing slightly. Alex's pulse thundered in his ears. It was close. Too close.
The creature's nose twitched. It sniffed the air, then took a step forward. Alex's body tensed, ready to bolt, but his mind raced for options. He had nothing left to defend himself. His mana was drained, and the undead bird he'd summoned earlier was gone, turned to dust. He was on his own.
The creature took another step, moving even closer. Alex's breath hitched as he stayed as still as possible, praying the creature wouldn't spot him. The creature's glowing eyes scanned the area once more, its gaze lingering just a few feet away from his hiding spot. The tension felt like it would suffocate him.
For what felt like an eternity, the creature sniffed the air, its massive form standing still as it examined the surroundings. Then, with a low growl, it slowly turned and lumbered deeper into the forest, the sound of its footsteps slowly fading into the distance.
Alex let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. He stayed hidden, frozen in place, until he was sure the creature was gone. It had been too close—way too close. He couldn't keep putting himself in these situations. He needed a plan, and more importantly, he needed to learn how to fight back before he faced something like that again.
With trembling hands, he stood, moving deeper into the woods. The sun had fully set now, and the world around him had become a sea of shadows. The air had turned colder, and his hunger, though slightly abated by the berries, gnawed at him relentlessly.
He eventually came upon a hollowed-out tree, large enough to fit inside. It wasn't much, but it would provide some cover from the cold night air. Alex crawled inside, his limbs aching from the constant tension, and wrapped his arms around his knees.
As he sat in the dark, listening to the sounds of the forest, he felt the weight of his situation settle on him. He was alone in an unfamiliar world with nothing but a few basic skills and an uncertain future. But he was alive, and that had to count for something.
He closed his eyes and focused on what he could control—his thoughts, his mana, and his next move. Surviving the night would be just the beginning. Tomorrow, he would explore more, learn more, and perhaps discover a way to make this strange world work for him. But for now, he needed rest.
And in the quiet of the forest, Alex realized one important truth: survival was his only goal now. Everything else would have to wait.