Girik gasped for air as he regained consciousness, feeling as though he was suffocating. He began to cough violently, his body instinctively fighting for air. Breathing was difficult at first, but as his coughing subsided, he managed to draw in steady breaths.
His thoughts were a tangled mess, disjointed and incoherent, as he struggled to understand what was happening. Slowly, as his breathing normalized, clarity began to return, allowing him to gather his scattered thoughts.
Blinking several times to adjust to his surroundings, Girik glanced around. Towering trees loomed above him, their canopies casting dappled shadows on the dense vegetation below with thick and humid air indicating that he was in a jungle.
Still dazed, Girik tried to piece together what had happened. The last thing he remembered was floating in space, confined within a protection bubble as the oxygen slowly ran out. And now, here he was, lying on the jungle floor with no memory of how he had arrived.
How was he even alive? The question gnawed at his mind. He was certain the oxygen in the bubble had been depleted. Yet, against all logic, he was here, breathing and conscious once again.
Groaning softly, Girik attempted to sit up. Pain flared through his body, though it was far less intense than before. Using the nearby tree trunk for support, he propped himself against it, wincing slightly as he adjusted his position.
As he moved, he noticed the picture of his family still clutched tightly in his hand. Dirt smudged its edges, and he quickly brushed it off before tucking it into the breast pocket of his leather armour, ensuring it was safe.
Finally sitting upright, Girik's first instinct was survival. Reaching for the dagger strapped to his thigh, he pulled it free from its sheath, gripping it tightly. His gaze darted around the jungle, scanning for any immediate threats.
Now that his mind was clearer, Girik noticed something that sent a chill down his spine which was the surrounding sounds, or rather, the distinct and eerie lack of them. No insects buzzed, no leaves rustled, and no distant animal calls echoed through the trees. The silence was unnatural and oppressive.
He forced himself to calm down, taking measured breaths to focus as he opened his status screen to check his current condition.
___
[Status]
Name: Girik Sharma
Species: Human
Affiliation: None
Title: None
Tier: 0
Job: None
Level: 3
[Attributes]
Health : 23/27
Stamina: 16/19
Mana: 16/18
Strength: 21
Magic: 8
Speed: 30
Dexterity: 25
Perception: 26
Toughness: 16
Resistance: 7
Willpower: 13
Free Attribute Points: 15
[Active Skills: Combat Focus (T0)]
[Passive Skills: Trained Combatant (T0), Predator's Instinct (T0), Poison Resistance (T1)]
___
His health, stamina, and mana were partially depleted, but what truly caught his attention was the increase in Poison Resistance, now Tier 1.
The realization unsettled him. Resistance evolved only through exposure to something strong enough to push his body to its limits. A disturbing implication surfaced: at some point, he had been poisoned.
A single memory surfaced: the moment he lost consciousness before waking adrift in space. Could that have been when it happened?
Girik shook his head, forcing himself to cast aside the thought. Now wasn't the time or place to dwell on the past. His focus had to remain on survival, especially since, at his level, being in a jungle was extremely dangerous.
Gripping the dagger tightly, Girik stood up. Though the pain had almost subsided, exhaustion weighed heavily on him, as he had been awake for several days. Perhaps it was the lingering effect of the poison that had been used on him. The good news was that the poison no longer appeared on his ailments list, which meant he was no longer under its influence.
After steadying himself, Girik once again surveyed his surroundings. Apart from the trees and dense foliage, there was nothing noteworthy in sight.
Holding the dagger firmly, he began formulating his next steps. At the very least, he needed to find a source of drinkable water, as his thirst was becoming unbearable.
Lacking a compass, Girik was unable to determine which direction to take. He even climbed a tree in an attempt to use the sun for guidance, but its position high in the sky offered no clues.
Perched at the top of the tree, he tried to make sense of his surroundings. As far as his vision extended, all he could see were endless treetops. However, on the far left, he noticed what seemed to be a clearing. Though he couldn't be certain, the absence of trees in that area stood out.
As he scanned the horizon, something shook him to his core. He saw three moons scattered across the sky. The realization struck him like a thunderbolt: he was no longer on Earth. Yet, this planet bore some resemblance to Earth, at the very least it had a breathable atmosphere.
Girik's thoughts spiralled as he tried to make sense of the situation. How had he ended up here? He felt a small measure of gratitude for surviving the catastrophe that had greeted him when he first awoke. But now, on an entirely different planet, how in the world was he supposed to return to Earth?
What about his family? What were they going through now? How would they feel when he didn't return? Did they even know he was missing? How much time had passed since his disappearance? These questions flooded his mind, threatening to push his already fragile mental state into chaos.
Suddenly, a wave of calm washed over him, inexplicably soothing his frantic thoughts. He took a deep breath, grounding himself. No matter how dire the situation, his top priority now was survival.
He recalled the miraculous abilities the system offered. Some skills related to space magic could allow a person to travel anywhere on a planet. That gave him a sliver of hope that if he could acquire something similar, maybe he could find a way back to Earth. But none of that would matter if he didn't survive.
With renewed determination, Girik descended from the tree. After some deliberation, he began walking in the direction of the supposed clearing he had spotted earlier with vigilance.
As he walked, Girik recalled the calming sensation that had washed over him when his mind was on the verge of breaking. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced. He had encountered healing magic before, and while the sensation was somewhat similar, he was certain this wasn't the same.
Lost in thought, Girik suddenly stopped. A strange unease crept over him. Perhaps it was due to his high Perception stat, but he felt a strong sense of danger ahead. Something wasn't right.
Unfortunately, Girik didn't have many options in his current situation. He had to check if the clearing he was heading toward contained any water, as finding a source of drinkable water was a pressing necessity.
Moving cautiously, Girik stepped back and took cover behind a nearby tree. Deciding to err on the side of caution, he began climbing the tree to get a better view of the area. He wasn't sure he would spot anything, but it was a far safer option than charging blindly forward.
Once he had climbed high enough to see clearly, Girik scanned the area.
To his astonishment, he spotted a creature with black and brown coloured fur or maybe scales and roughly the size of a medium-sized dog. It had a single horn protruding from its head and appeared to be eating something. Whatever it was devouring had already been mostly consumed, making it difficult for Girik to identify.
The creature suddenly paused and sniffed the air, as if sensing something. After a moment, it returned to chewing, seemingly unperturbed.
This was an important discovery for Girik. If there was a living creature in this Earth-like atmosphere, it likely needed water to survive. That meant there was a high chance of a water source nearby.
Though he wasn't entirely sure his reasoning was sound, Girik felt he had no choice but to take this gamble, his survival depended on it.
Now, he faced three choices.
First, he could fight the creature to test how strong it and by extension, other beings in this world might be.
Second, he could wait and see if the creature eventually moved, hoping it might lead him to water.
Lastly, he could avoid the creature altogether and continue toward the clearing, sticking to his original plan.
Each option had its pros and cons. Fighting an unknown creature or relying on it to lead him to water were both risky gambles. However, Girik decided that confronting the creature wasn't worth the risk, and waiting might waste precious time.
Resolving to stick to his original course, Girik carefully descended the tree and resumed his journey toward the clearing while taking a slightly longer detour around the creature.
Girik continued moving forward, maintaining vigilance as he pressed on. After about an hour, he noticed the dense trees and foliage gradually thinning, signalling his approach to the clearing.
When he finally reached the clearing, a strange twinge of emotion stirred in his chest. Before him lay a serene lake surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
To his left, on the edge of the lake, Girik spotted a group of about ten small rabbit-like creatures drinking water. The critters moved cautiously, pausing now and then to scan their surroundings. Not wanting to spook them or cause a commotion, Girik decided to wait until they left before approaching the water.
After about ten minutes, the rabbit-like creatures retreated to the cover of the trees, seemingly satisfied after quenching their thirst.
Girik waited another five minutes, and when nothing else approached the water, he cautiously made his way to the lake's edge.
He had finally found water, but the question remained, was it safe for human consumption? He had no way to test it. His only option was to take a gamble and hope it wouldn't harm him.
Girik removed his gloves, scooped up some water in his hands, and prayed that nothing bad would happen. The water was crystal clear, slightly cool to the touch, and free of any noticeable smell. Steeling himself, he closed his eyes and took a cautious sip.
To his relief, the water tasted slightly sweet but otherwise ordinary. Encouraged, Girik crouched at the lake's edge, plunged his face into the water, and drank deeply, quenching his overwhelming thirst. After a moment, he pulled his head back, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, he felt truly refreshed.
With his immediate need for water resolved, Girik lifted his head from the lake and took a moment to catch his breath. His body felt reinvigorated, but he knew he couldn't afford to relax just yet.
His next priority was to find a safe place to spend the night. The eerie quiet of the jungle during the day suggested the presence of nocturnal predators, and Girik had no intention of facing them when he would be at a severe disadvantage in the darkness.
Even with three moons, he doubted their light would penetrate the dense tree canopy enough to illuminate the ground. Time was of the essence; he needed to find shelter before nightfall.
***********
Author's Note:
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