The cold night air bit into Ian's skin as he stood motionless, dagger clutched tightly in his trembling hand. Garrick's footsteps faded into the distance, but his words lingered: "You won't last a day out there."
Ian sank to the ground, his legs giving out beneath him. The adrenaline that had fueled him moments ago was gone, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion. His hands ached, his body was battered, and his mind refused to slow down.
"Won't last a day," he muttered, staring at the rusted blade in his hand. "He's probably right."
The system screen flickered to life in front of him, its glowing text filling the darkness with an eerie light.
Quest Complete: Survive Human Encounter.
Rewards: 15 XP, New Skill Unlocked—Basic Combat Reflexes.
Next Quest: Rest and Recover. Time Limit: 8 Hours.
Ian frowned, reading the prompt. Rest? In this place? The forest was alive with sounds—distant growls, rustling leaves, the faint buzz of insects. He wasn't sure how anyone could sleep here, let alone feel safe.
But the timer at the bottom of the screen was already counting down, a silent reminder that he didn't have a choice.
---
Ian scanned the ruins, his eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering through the cracks in the stone. The structure was old, crumbling in places, but it felt solid enough. The altar at the center still glowed faintly, a quiet hum emanating from its surface.
"Guess this is as good a place as any," he muttered, dragging himself to a corner where the walls met. He sat with his back to the stone, keeping the altar and the entrance in his line of sight.
The dagger rested in his lap, its weight oddly comforting despite its crude appearance. Ian's fingers brushed against the blade, tracing the jagged edges.
The system screen appeared again, this time displaying his status:
> Name: Ian Carter
Level: 2
Class: None
Health: 85/100
Stamina: 50/100
Abilities: Basic Combat Reflexes
Ian stared at the numbers, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Level 2," he muttered. "Big deal. I can't even take on one guy without nearly dying."
His eyes drifted to the new ability listed under his stats. Basic Combat Reflexes. He selected it, and a brief description appeared:
Basic Combat Reflexes:
Enhances reaction speed and reflexes during combat.
Provides a slight boost to physical agility.
Ian let out a bitter laugh. "So I'm a little less useless now. Great."
He closed the screen with a wave of his hand, the faint glow disappearing as quickly as it had come. The room plunged back into darkness, the only light coming from the altar.
---
The minutes dragged on, each second feeling like an eternity. Ian's mind refused to quiet, replaying the fight with Garrick over and over. He thought of the scavenger's words, the look in his eyes as he'd swung his sword.
"Survival of the fittest," Ian whispered, his voice barely audible over the sounds of the forest. "That's what this place is, isn't it?"
His thoughts drifted to the altar. The power it had granted him—Shockwave—had saved his life, but it had drained him completely. Whatever this system was, it wasn't free. Everything came at a cost.
Ian's gaze shifted to the entrance of the ruins. Shadows danced along the walls, the faint moonlight casting eerie shapes that seemed to move of their own accord. He tightened his grip on the dagger, his knuckles turning white.
"You'll need more than luck to survive," Garrick had said.
Ian clenched his jaw. "Then I'll find more," he said aloud, his voice firmer this time.
---
Hours passed in uneasy silence. Ian drifted in and out of sleep, his body too exhausted to stay awake but too tense to fully relax. Each sound jolted him awake, his heart racing as he scanned the room for threats.
Eventually, the system screen reappeared, its soft chime pulling him from his restless slumber.
Rest Period Completed.
Health Restored: +10 HP.
Stamina Restored: +20 Stamina.
Ian blinked, rubbing his eyes as the text disappeared. He stretched his stiff limbs, wincing at the dull ache in his muscles.
"Not exactly a full recovery," he muttered, checking his stats.
> Health: 95/100
Stamina: 70/100
It was better than nothing.
---
The system displayed a new quest:
New Quest: Explore the Forest. Objective: Discover Points of Interest. Reward: 20 XP, Map Fragment.
Ian frowned. A map fragment? The idea of wandering aimlessly through the forest didn't appeal to him, but the reward was tempting. A map could mean the difference between life and death in a place like this.
He stood, sliding the dagger into his belt. The ruins felt less threatening in the daylight, but they offered little in the way of answers. Ian's gaze lingered on the altar one last time before he turned toward the entrance.
---
The forest was a different beast during the day. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled patterns on the ground. The sounds of the night had faded, replaced by the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the breeze.
Ian moved cautiously, his eyes scanning his surroundings for any signs of danger. The forest was beautiful, in its own wild, untamed way, but it was also treacherous.
The system screen popped up occasionally, offering vague hints and updates as he moved.
Hint: Pay Attention to Your Surroundings.
"No kidding," Ian muttered, stepping over a gnarled root.
After what felt like hours of walking, he stumbled upon a small stream. The water was clear, reflecting the sunlight in shimmering patterns. Ian knelt beside it, cupping his hands and drinking deeply. The cool water was a relief, washing away the dryness in his throat.
As he drank, the system screen appeared again.
New Resource Discovered: Fresh Water. Added to Inventory.
Ian blinked. "Inventory?" He opened the menu, finding a new tab labeled Resources. The stream was listed, marked as a waypoint he could return to.
"Well, that's useful," he said, standing and wiping his mouth.
---
He followed the stream for a while, the sound of running water calming his nerves. But the tranquility didn't last.
A low growl echoed through the trees, stopping Ian in his tracks. He turned slowly, his heart sinking as a pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows.
Another beast, larger than the one he'd faced before, stepped into view. Its fur was matted, its claws caked with dirt and blood.
The system screen flashed urgently.
Threat Detected: Forest Predator.
Level: 3.
Recommendation: Avoid Combat.
Ian took a shaky step back, his mind racing. He wasn't ready for another fight, especially not against something stronger than him.
But the predator wasn't giving him a choice. It lunged, and Ian did the only thing he could—he ran.