Morning sunlight filtered through the ranger station's windows, filling the rustic room with a gentle warmth. As Aren woke, fragmented memories from the day before flooded his mind: the chaotic train wreck, meeting Tom, and the eerie confrontation with the infected passengers. A flicker of excitement surged within him as he remembered the strange skill he had unlocked.
He joined Tom and Elara at the small wooden table in the kitchen. Tom was sipping coffee, his eyes focused on a map spread across the table, while Elara sorted their supplies, organizing them by need and availability.
"Morning," Aren greeted, his voice still rough from sleep.
"Good morning," Elara replied, her face brightening with a warm smile. "Did you sleep well?"
"Better than I expected," Aren admitted, taking a seat beside them. He glanced at Tom, who looked up from the map with curiosity. "Actually, something interesting happened last night."
Tom raised an eyebrow, a hint of interest breaking his otherwise calm expression. "Oh? What was it?"
Aren leaned forward, his eyes earnest. "After practicing those survival techniques you showed us, I received a message. For a moment, I wasn't sure if I was imagining things—my heart skipped a beat, and I felt this rush of disbelief mixed with excitement. It was like the one from when we first woke up—only this time, it said I had learned a skill: [Survival Lv.1]."
Elara's eyes widened, and she paused her sorting. "Really? That's incredible!"
Tom's expression shifted, his intrigue evident. "So, the System recognizes when we develop new abilities?"
"Seems like it," Aren nodded. "I thought it was important to share this with both of you."
Tom leaned back, contemplative. "You know, it reminds me of those role-playing games my sister used to play—games where characters have stats, levels, and skills. In those games, everything could be accessed through a 'Status' screen."
Elara tilted her head, curiosity clear in her gaze. "Do you think we might have something like that?"
"Only one way to find out," Tom said, a flicker of excitement breaking his normally steady tone. "Try thinking 'Status'—maybe we can access it that way."
Aren closed his eyes, focusing on the word. "Status."
To his amazement, a translucent screen materialized before his eyes, displaying detailed information about himself.
[System]
[Name]: Aren Hayes
[Title]: None
[Race]: Human
[Talents]: None
[Level]: 0
[EXP]: 0
[HP]: 68/70
[Mana]: 80/80
[Strength]: 3
[Agility]: 2
[Dexterity]: 4
[Vitality]: 2
[Endurance]: 2
[Intelligence]: 3
[Wisdom]: 3
[Stat Points]: 0
[SP]: 0
[Skills]: [Survival Lv.1]
"It's here," Aren said aloud, scanning the screen. "I can see stats, levels, skills—everything."
Elara's eyes lit up. "What does it show?"
"Name, level, experience points, health, mana, stats, and skills," Aren explained. "It even names my System—just [System]."
Tom looked intrigued. "Let me try." He closed his eyes in concentration, while Elara followed suit, her expression determined.
After a moment, Elara's eyes widened, amazement and excitement reflected on her face. "I see mine too! It's called the [Healing Light System]."
Tom nodded, opening his eyes. "Mine's the [Beast Whisperer System]. Makes sense, considering my background working with animals and my time spent in the wilderness."
Aren smiled. "It looks like these Systems are personalized to each of us."
Elara scrolled through her status screen, her fingers trembling slightly. "I don't have any skills yet—just says I'm Level 0, with zero experience points."
"Same here," Tom added. "But at least now we know how to access our status screens."
Aren nodded thoughtfully. "I think I unlocked my skill because I was actively practicing survival techniques. Maybe skills are unlocked when we engage in activities that align with our Systems."
Elara's face brightened, her eyes wide with realization. "Maybe if I practice some first aid techniques, it'll trigger something for me."
"That makes sense," Tom agreed. "I could focus on interacting with animals, see if it triggers anything."
Tom's gaze shifted to Elara, and his expression grew resolute. "We should all try to learn [Survival Lv.1]. It could be beneficial, even if it's not directly tied to our specific Systems."
"Definitely," Elara said, her enthusiasm evident. "It might take time, but it'll be worth it."
Tom folded the map on the table, looking serious. "Before we dive into that, I have a suggestion."
Aren and Elara turned their attention to him.
"My family's cabin is about a day's walk from here," Tom explained. "It's remote but stocked with supplies. I think we should head there. We can regroup and make a plan."
Aren nodded, feeling a sense of relief at the thought of a more secure location. "That sounds like a solid plan. We need a place where we can stay safe and gather what we need."
Elara agreed. "And it's familiar to you, which could be an advantage."
Tom sighed, his shoulders relaxing. "Alright. Let's gather what we need and get moving."
They spent the next hour packing essentials—food, medical supplies, tools, and clothing. Tom found sturdy backpacks for each of them, and they filled their canteens to the brim.
Once they were ready, Tom and Elara practiced survival skills outside. Tom demonstrated how to set up a snare trap and identify edible plants.
Elara watched attentively, asking questions and mimicking his actions. Despite her best efforts, no new skill notifications appeared.
"Don't worry," Tom said reassuringly, noting her slight disappointment. "It might take time or require a different approach."
Elara smiled, unfazed. "I'll keep at it."
With their packs secured, they began their journey into the forest. The morning sun was bright, and the crisp air filled their lungs—a stark contrast to the chaos of the previous days.
Tom led them confidently through the terrain. Aren walked beside Elara, doing his best to stay alert despite the limited vision on his left side. Moving through the woods like this, he had to keep his head slightly turned, an awkward adjustment to his new blind spot.
As they moved, Tom pointed to animal tracks in the soil, gesturing at a set of hoof prints. "See these prints here? Deer passed through recently."
"How can you tell?" Elara asked, curious.
"The depth and sharpness of the prints. They're fresh," Tom explained. "And the spacing shows they weren't in a rush—just moving steadily."
Elara smiled, clearly impressed. "You're really good at this."
Tom gave her a modest nod. "It's mostly practice. Sometimes, I feel like I can almost sense the animals." He paused, frowning slightly.
"Everything alright?" Aren asked, catching the change in his demeanor.
Tom nodded, though a hint of confusion lingered. "Yeah... it's just, I feel more aware of them, like it's part of my System."
"Maybe it is," Elara suggested thoughtfully. "You could be developing a skill."
They continued, and as they did, Tom grew even more attuned to the forest. He predicted when birds would take flight and when small animals would dart out of sight. After a while, he heard a soft chime echo in his mind.
[Passive Skill [Animal Awareness Lv.1] Learned]
[Enhances perception of animal behaviors and movements by 10%]
Tom grinned, looking back at the others. "I just unlocked a new skill: [Animal Awareness Lv.1]."
"That's amazing!" Elara exclaimed. "What does it do?"
"It enhances my perception of animal behaviors and movements by about ten percent," Tom said, excitement lacing his voice. "It's like I can read them more accurately."
Aren nodded. "That could be really useful."
They pressed on, the forest becoming denser. Tom continued to share his knowledge—pointing out edible berries, herbs with medicinal properties, and signs of larger animals. Aren felt a sense of reassurance knowing they had someone with Tom's skills leading the way.
Suddenly, Tom halted, raising a hand. "Wait."
Aren and Elara stopped immediately, their senses on high alert.
"What is it?" Aren whispered.
Tom's eyes swept the forest, his posture rigid. "I don't know. Feels like we're being watched."
Before they could react, a creature leaped from the underbrush—a rabbit, but its fur was patchy and its eyes glowed a sinister red. It hissed, its teeth unnaturally sharp.
Elara gasped, stepping back. "What is that?!"
The mutated rabbit lunged at them. Tom stepped in front of Elara, gripping his makeshift spear and thrusting it at the creature. The spear pierced the rabbit's side, and it let out an eerie screech before collapsing.
Tom breathed heavily, staring at the creature. "What on earth...?"
Aren approached cautiously. "Is it dead?"
Tom nodded, though his face was still pale. "Yeah. But... rabbits don't look like this."
"It must have been affected by whatever's happening," Elara said, her voice trembling. "Mutated somehow."
Tom didn't respond immediately, catching his breath. Then, a sudden surge of energy coursed through him, a warmth spreading from his chest to his limbs, leaving a tingling sensation in its wake. A chime echoed in his mind.
[Level Up!]
[Beast Whisperer System has reached Level 1]
[Stat Points gained: 2]
[Skill Points gained: 1]
Another notification followed:
[Active Skill [Beast Sense Lv.1] Learned]
[Allows temporary synchronization with nearby animals to perceive their senses for 30 seconds]
[Cost: 15 Mana]
Tom's eyes widened. "I... I just leveled up and got a new skill."
Aren frowned. "What do you mean?"
"More messages," Tom explained. "It said my System reached Level 1, and I got an active skill—[Beast Sense Lv.1]. It lets me connect with animals for a while, but it uses mana."
Elara was taken aback. "First skills, now levels and mana... it really is like a game."
Tom nodded. "Yeah, but it's very real."
Aren thought for a moment. "Maybe defeating that creature gave you experience points and triggered the level-up."
"That would make sense," Tom agreed, though his tone remained uncertain. "We still don't fully understand how any of this works."
Elara glanced at the surrounding forest, her eyes wide with anxiety. "If that rabbit was mutated, there could be more. We have to be extra careful."
"Agreed," Tom said firmly. He paused briefly, checking his status screen.
[Beast Whisperer System]
[Name]: Tom Willis
[Title]: None
[Race]: Human
[Talents]: None
[Level]: 1
[EXP]: 0/100
[HP]: 90/90
[Mana]: 60/60
[Stat Points]: 2
[SP]: 1
[Skills]:
[Passive]: [Animal Awareness Lv.1]
[Active]: [Beast Sense Lv.1]
Tom quickly allocated his two stat points—one to Strength and one to Agility—hoping it would help in future encounters. He felt a subtle but real shift, a readiness in his muscles.
"Are you alright?" Elara asked, noticing his distant expression.
Tom nodded. "Yeah, just getting used to the changes. I think it'll help." He glanced down at his status screen again. "After leveling up, I got something called 'stat points and skill points.' I had two stat points, and I allocated them to Strength and Agility. Figured it might give me an edge if we run into more of those creatures."
Aren looked ahead, the forest seeming darker with each passing moment. When Tom mentioned the 'stat points,' Aren couldn't help but feel a rush of both surprise and confusion. The idea of gaining physical strength just by deciding where to put points felt unreal, like something from a fantasy. It stirred something inside him—a mix of envy and hope. Maybe they could use this to get stronger, to have a real shot at surviving. The idea felt surreal, yet strangely empowering. "We need somewhere safe to rest.""
"I agree," Tom said. "But we should keep moving for now—staying in one place feels too risky."
They continued with heightened caution, every sound seeming amplified by the surrounding tension. After another hour, they came upon a small clearing, ringed by tall, protective trees.
"This seems like a good place to camp," Tom suggested.
The others nodded, and they began setting up. Aren gathered firewood, Elara prepared the food, and Tom built makeshift barriers using fallen branches.
As the campfire crackled, the day's events seemed to weigh on them. The flickering light cast long shadows, and an uneasy silence settled over the group.
"This is all so overwhelming," Elara said softly. "Skills, levels, mutated animals... it feels like we're living in a nightmare."
"I know," Aren replied. "But we have to adapt. We need to understand these Systems, use them to survive."
Tom nodded, his face set with determination. "We need to share everything we learn. Every skill, every bit of knowledge. If we work together, we might figure this out." He paused, his expression softening for a moment. "I've seen how going it alone can lead to disaster. My time in the wilderness taught me that. We survive better when we have each other's backs."
Elara looked thoughtful. "Tom, do you think your new skill could help us sense danger in advance?"
"Maybe," Tom replied, his brow furrowed. "But I haven't tested it, and it drains mana. I need to be careful."
Aren studied Tom, concern etched on his face. "We need every edge we can get, but there's no point in taking unnecessary risks. We have to be smart."
Tom took a deep breath, exchanging a glance with Elara and Aren. "You're right. But it's worth trying. Just... be ready in case something goes wrong."
Elara smiled, her voice full of encouragement. "We've got your back."
Tom nodded. "Alright. I'll give it a shot."
He closed his eyes, focusing inward. He felt his mana—a pool of energy within. Concentrating on the skill [Beast Sense Lv.1], he directed 15 mana toward its activation.
A soft glow enveloped him, and suddenly he became aware of the creatures around them. He sensed a squirrel in a nearby tree, curious but cautious, and a bird above them, calm but observant. Beneath it all, there was an undercurrent of tension—an instinctual unease that the small creatures couldn't ignore.
Tom opened his eyes, the connection fading as the glow receded. He felt a wave of exhaustion. "That was... incredible."
"What did you sense?" Aren asked.
"I could feel the emotions of the animals," Tom explained. "There's no immediate danger, but there's definitely a sense of unease."
Elara nodded, her face softening slightly. "That's good to know, at least for now."
"Yeah," Tom agreed, though the fatigue was clear. "But using mana drains me. I'll have to use it sparingly."
Aren looked up at the darkening sky, his good eye scanning the surroundings. "We need to set up a watch schedule tonight. We can't take any chances."
"Good idea," Tom said. "I'll take the first watch."
They agreed on the order, each of them settling down for what they knew would be a long night. The unknown pressed heavily on their minds, but they were determined to face it together.