The jungle loomed around Ethan like a living, breathing predator. Twisted trees spiraled into the sky, their glowing bark casting an eerie, phosphorescent light. Alien insects buzzed in discordant rhythms, and every step through the dense underbrush sent ripples of sound that seemed to echo for miles.
He gripped the sharp rock he had used to kill the predator, his only weapon. The beast's blood had dried on his pale hands, the blackened stains highlighting the glowing blue lines etched into his skin. His body ached, a reminder of how close he had come to dying in that first encounter.
The system's voice broke through the oppressive silence.
New quest: Discover the Void Elf Battleship. Objective: Locate the source of the Void energy signal. Reward: Void Tech Knowledge (Basic Engineering Module).
Ethan exhaled sharply. "A battleship? And here I thought this day couldn't get weirder."
The idea of a Void Elf battleship was enough to spark a flicker of hope in his otherwise grim situation. If he could find it, maybe there'd be tools, supplies—something to give him an edge in this hostile world. But first, he had to survive the trek through the jungle.
The system added another chime.
New function unlocked: Map Integration. Local topography accessible via Void energy scan.
Ethan paused. "Map? Show me."
A translucent blue hologram blinked into view before his eyes, projected by some invisible mechanism tied to the Void System. It displayed a rough outline of the jungle around him, a pulsing beacon marking his destination several kilometers away. The thought of walking that distance in a place teeming with predators made his stomach twist, but he didn't have a choice.
"Better than wandering blind," he muttered, brushing a strand of white hair from his face. His pointed ears twitched at the faint sounds of movement in the distance. He adjusted his grip on the rock and started walking.
The Weight of SurvivalHours passed. Every step was a calculated risk. The jungle's terrain was as dangerous as its predators—thick roots curled like tripwires, and the ground occasionally gave way to hidden sinkholes. Ethan's sharp eyes picked out glowing spores clinging to some of the trees, which the system identified as Void Rot, a parasitic fungus deadly to organic matter.
He avoided those trees.
The system periodically chimed with helpful—or irritating—observations.
Tip: Void Rot can be harvested for alchemical crafting. Requires: Basic Void Harvesting skill.
"Yeah, let me just scoop some up with my bare hands," Ethan muttered, stepping wide around the fungal patches. The sarcasm felt like a lifeline, grounding him in the face of his unfamiliar reality.
The first encounter with another predator came shortly after. It wasn't as massive as the six-eyed beast he'd killed earlier, but it was no less dangerous. A sleek, reptilian creature with mottled skin and rows of serrated spines had slithered silently into his path. Ethan froze, his mind racing.
Warning: Threat detected. Recommended strategy: Void Shard precision strikes.
He gritted his teeth. "I'd love to. Maybe if I wasn't running on fumes after the last fight."
The creature hissed, its long, forked tongue flicking out as it coiled to strike. Ethan raised his free hand, summoning what little Void energy he could muster. The glowing lines on his arm flared weakly, and a small Void Shard formed in his palm. It was unstable, flickering like a dying ember.
"Guess we're doing this the hard way," he muttered.
The creature lunged, and Ethan hurled the Void Shard with all his strength. It struck the creature's side, exploding in a burst of black energy. The blast wasn't strong enough to kill it, but it staggered the predator, giving Ethan just enough time to close the distance. He drove the rock into the creature's exposed neck with all the force he could muster.
Warm blood spattered across his face as the creature thrashed and fell still. Ethan collapsed to his knees beside it, panting. His whole body trembled, the effort of using Void energy draining him faster than he expected.
Threat neutralized. Minor XP gained.
"Minor?" Ethan spat. "I just killed a goddamn death lizard with a rock."
Despite his frustration, the kill reinforced a hard truth: if he wanted to survive, he needed better tools and more power.
The SignalSeveral hours later, the jungle began to change. The dense vegetation thinned, giving way to a clearing filled with towering crystalline structures. Their surfaces glinted in the dim light, radiating faint waves of energy. The system chimed.
Void Energy detected. Source: Void Elf Battleship (buried). Distance: 300 meters.
Ethan's heart raced. He was close.
The air grew colder as he approached, and the hum of Void energy became a physical sensation, vibrating through his bones. The crystalline formations grew denser, forming jagged spires that jutted from the ground like frozen lightning. Ethan carefully navigated through them, his sharp eyes scanning for any signs of movement.
Then he saw it—a massive structure half-buried in the earth. It was sleek and angular, its dark metal surface etched with glowing blue runes similar to the lines on his skin. The Void energy radiating from it was palpable, tugging at something deep within him.
"Holy crap," Ethan breathed. It wasn't just a battleship—it was a masterpiece of engineering, alien and impossibly advanced. His engineer's instincts kicked in, his mind already racing with questions. How did it work? What powered it? And more importantly, could he fix it?
The system chimed again.
Objective complete: Discover the Void Elf Battleship. Reward unlocked: Basic Void Tech Knowledge (Engineering Module).
Ethan staggered as a flood of knowledge filled his mind—schematics, blueprints, and a deeper understanding of Void Tech principles. He saw flashes of designs for energy conduits, shield systems, and mana integration. It was overwhelming but exhilarating.
"This…this could work," he muttered, a grin spreading across his face. If he could repair this ship, it would be more than just a lifeline—it would be his fortress, his weapon, and his home.
But his excitement was short-lived.
A guttural roar echoed through the clearing, and Ethan spun around. Emerging from the crystalline forest was a creature far larger than any he'd faced before. It was a towering, reptilian beast with armored scales and glowing eyes, its body crackling with latent Void energy.
Warning: High-level threat detected. Immediate action required.
Ethan's heart sank as he backed toward the ship. His Void energy reserves were nearly depleted, and the rock in his hand felt pitifully inadequate against something this size. The beast roared again, its eyes locking onto him.
He glanced at the battleship, then at the charging predator. "Well, this is going to suck."