The sun dappled the forest floor with golden light filtering through the dense canopy above. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of pine, damp earth, and just a hint of "something here wants to eat you."
"Wow," Ned muttered, stepping over a mossy log. "Nature sure is pretty when it's not actively trying to kill you."
He paused, holding out his hands like he was addressing an invisible audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first-ever episode of Surviving the Wild with Ned Forester! Today's agenda: not dying. I'll walk you through some of my greatest hits so far, including—wait for it—getting chased by an angry boar for accidentally stepping on its lunch."
He pretended to hold a microphone. "Spoiler alert: I survived. Barely."
A squirrel scurried by, giving him a judgmental look. Ned pointed at it. "Even this guy thinks I'm a clown. Well, joke's on you, buddy, because I've got slime curry for breakfast."
Despite his self-deprecating humor, Ned knew he wouldn't have made it this far without the survival skills he'd learned back at the palace. His father, or ex-father, the king made sure that all the princes were equipped to survive in the harshest conditions. Fire-starting, tracking, basic combat—it all came rushing back when he needed it most.
And need it he did. The past few days had been an unrelenting parade of slimy foes. Slimes were the lowest-tier monsters, but they were perfect for honing his skills and leveling up.
"Yeah, I know," he said to nobody in particular. "Slimes are like the tutorial enemies in every adventure story. But you know what? They pack a punch when you're at Level 0. Not that I'm complaining—this staff of mine has been doing wonders."
He held up his trusty weapon: a stick he'd broken off from a tree. It wasn't glamorous, but it was sturdy and effective. Besides, he'd always had a soft spot for staves. Despite mastering nearly every weapon in the palace arsenal, the staff felt like home—a simple, elegant weapon.
Sitting cross-legged on a patch of soft grass, Ned stirred a pot of bubbling slime curry over his tiny campfire. The smell wasn't… terrible. He'd convinced himself it was gourmet.
"Here's the secret to slime curry," he said, narrating to his imaginary audience. "You add just a pinch of wild garlic to cut through the sliminess. It's practically a delicacy."
He took a bite and grimaced. "Okay, it's disgusting. But it's high in protein. Probably."
As he chewed, he spotted movement in the trees ahead. A chill ran down his spine as a sleek, shadowy figure emerged from the underbrush. A Wild Wolf. Level 4. It prowled toward him, its glowing eyes locked onto his camp.
"Oh, come on!" Ned groaned, dropping his bowl. For the past few days, every time he'd seen one of these beasts, he'd used Talaria—his speed-enhancing skill—to make a hasty retreat. "Best use of my talent so far," he muttered.
But today was different. He'd leveled up to 3 after relentless slime hunting, and he wasn't the same helpless kid who'd first stumbled into the wilderness.
"Alright, Fluffy," he said, standing and gripping his staff. "Let's dance."
Ned stepped forward, planting his feet firmly as the wolf padded closer. It growled, low and menacing, but instead of pouncing, it paused and tilted its head, as if to say, Really? You?
Then, to Ned's utter disbelief, the wolf seemed to scoff. It was subtle—a flick of its ears, a huff of air—but unmistakable.
"Did… did you just insult me?" Ned asked, incredulous. "Oh, that's it. You're going down."
He pointed his staff at the wolf in dramatic fashion, and the fight began. The wolf lunged, its claws flashing in the sunlight. Ned sidestepped smoothly, using Talaria to dart to the side with blinding speed. He struck out with his staff, aiming for the wolf's hind leg. The impact made the creature yelp, but it recovered quickly, circling him with renewed aggression.
Ned's Spectator talent kicked in, analyzing the wolf's movements. He could see the faintest shifts in its stance, the way its muscles coiled before each attack. With this insight, he dodged with precision, landing counterattacks that kept the wolf at bay.
At one point, he vaulted over a fallen log, using it as a makeshift barrier. The wolf leapt after him, but Ned spun mid-air, delivering a strike to its flank that sent it crashing into the dirt.
"Not bad for a weak-ass kid, huh?" he taunted, twirling his staff. The wolf snarled, its pride clearly wounded.
The battle raged on, each side pushing the other to their limits. Ned's moves were a blend of creativity and discipline, honed by years of training in the palace. He used the environment to his advantage, driving the wolf into tight spaces where its size worked against it. His staff became an extension of himself, striking with speed and precision.
But the wolf wasn't done yet.
With a guttural growl, the wolf unleashed its unique skill: Moonlight Howl. The sound was eerie, echoing through the forest and sending shivers down Ned's spine. He didn't need his Spectator talent to know what it meant.
"Oh, great," he muttered. "You called your friends. Typical."
In the distance, he heard the responding howls of other wolves. They weren't close yet, but they were coming.
"Alright, plan B," Ned said, gripping his staff tightly. The wolf, now desperate, lunged at him with ferocity. He sidestepped and delivered a final, decisive blow to its head. The creature collapsed, defeated.
But there was no time to celebrate. The other wolves were closing in. Ned activated Talaria, his body surging with speed, and sprinted away from the clearing. The trees blurred around him as he ran, his heart pounding in his chest.
He didn't stop until he was sure he was safe, collapsing onto a patch of soft moss to catch his breath. His arm throbbed where the wolf had managed to sink its teeth in, but the wound wasn't too deep.
"Well," he said, staring up at the canopy above. "That could've gone worse."
After a moment, he sat up, brushing dirt off his clothes. "Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes today's episode of Surviving the Wild with Ned Forester. Tune in next time to see if I actually survive long enough to level up again."
He chuckled to himself, despite the exhaustion. The wilderness was brutal, but it was also exhilarating. For the first time in a long time, he felt alive.