After searching for a considerable amount of time, Girik climbed a tree and sat on a rather wide branch. His efforts to find a place where he could spend the night with relative safety proved unsuccessful.
At one point, Girik discovered a burrow under a tree. It seemed secluded enough and was just the right size, small enough to feel hidden but spacious enough for him to lie inside without feeling cramped.
However, he quickly dismissed the idea. While the space might have been adequate, spending the night on the ground made him decidedly uncomfortable.
During his search, Girik noticed that the sun had shifted only slightly, suggesting that the day lasted for an extended period. This, in turn, implied that the night might also be unusually long.
One intriguing discovery Girik made was the remarkable toughness of the trees in the area. He realized this when examining the burrow and attempting to cut the roots.
Despite activating 'Combat Focus,' which boosted his strength, the roots proved resilient. Without the skill, his dagger left only shallow marks even when he exerted his full strength.
Another observation was the distinct lack of creatures in the vicinity. Aside from the horned beast and the rabbit-like animals he had encountered earlier, he only saw a few small creatures, none of which gave off a dangerous feeling.
This absence of dangerous wildlife suggested that he might be in the territory of a powerful creature, a realization that made him even more reluctant to spend the night on the ground.
Ultimately, Girik decided to rest on a high tree branch, far from the dangers of the forest floor. He couldn't help but wish for a watch; at the very least, it would have helped him estimate the length of the day and prepare for the long night ahead.
Although it wasn't an ideal solution, Girik had managed to find a way to spend the night. Now, his next priority was solving his food problem, he couldn't survive on water alone.
For food, he considered two main options: finding edible fruits or hunting creatures. He wasn't confident about identifying safe fruits to eat, nor did he know where to find them. On the other hand, he was certain he could locate the small creatures he had seen earlier, as he remembered their last location.
Looking up at the sky, Girik noticed the sun still hadn't noticeably shifted, or if it had, he couldn't tell. With a sigh, he climbed down from the tree to begin his hunt for food.
After about an hour of searching, he spotted a creature that resembled a mouse but was as large as a house cat. It was busy digging into the ground, seemingly looking for something.
Girik moved toward it cautiously, doing his best to remain stealthy. He got within two meters of the creature, which continued digging, oblivious to his presence.
Focusing solely on his target, Girik discarded all other thoughts and slowly prepared to throw his dagger. Suddenly, as if sensing danger, the creature stopped digging and raised its head.
At that moment, Girik launched the dagger with all his strength. It flew like a bolt of lightning, piercing the creature's skull and embedding itself firmly.
[You have acquired the soul energy of level 1 Raguar.]
[+4 Speed, Strength, and Perception.]
[+2 Health, Stamina, Mana, Magic, Dexterity, and Toughness.]
[+1 Willpower.]
Approaching the raguar's corpse, Girik crouched down to retrieve his dagger from its skull. As he reached for the handle, he noticed two small, glowing white orbs, each about half the size of his fist, lying next to the body.
Girik was ecstatic.
Letting go of the dagger handle, he quickly picked up the two glowing orbs. Clutching one tightly, he squeezed it while silently praying for something useful that would aid in his survival. The glowing orb disappeared and a skill runestone appeared in his palm.
Girik focused on the runestone, willing it to reveal the skill it contained.
[Passive - Nimble Reflex (Tier 0): Learning this passive skill will increase Speed and Dexterity by +2 points permanently.]
Without hesitation, Girik crushed the runestone, and it disintegrated into a fine powder. A faint white glow enveloped his body for a brief moment.
[You have learned the passive skill "Nimble Reflex (T0)".]
Opening his eyes, Girik barely noticed any difference. His Speed and Dexterity were already high, so an additional +2 points didn't produce an immediate effect.
Still, Girik wasn't disappointed. Passive skills were always good, and there was no limit to how many he could have. Besides, as the skill level and tier improved, the stats it granted would also increase.
Girik squeezed the remaining glowing orb, silently praying once again. The orb vanished, and in its place appeared a kukri, sheathed in a weathered leather covering. With a swift motion, the blade was drawn, revealing its jagged edges that gleamed ominously in the dim light, ready to spill blood at the slightest touch.
Looking at the kukri Girik willed and its stats appeared before him:
[Jagged Kukri]
[Type: One-Handed Weapon]
[Grade: Standard]
[Attack Power: 30 ~ 45]
[Critical Chance: +5%]
[While Wielding Bonuses: +8 Perception, +6 Dexterity, and +3 Strength]
[Special Effect: 3% chance to inflict Bleed on hit (if the creature can bleed)]
[Durability: 80/80]
[Wielding Requirements: Perception 15+ and Dexterity 10+]
[Description: A dark steel kukri with serrated edges for deep cuts. The handle is wrapped in a weathered black leather for a secure grip, and a faint crimson glow emanates from the blade.]
Girik resheathed the kukri, securing it on his belt on his left side. He then removed the dagger from the raguar's head, wiped it clean, and resheathed it in the sheath strapped to his right thigh.
Afterwards, he picked up the raguar's body and walked back to the lakeside to clean and prepare it. He couldn't help but wish he had some seasonings, or at the very least, some salt.
Once at the lake, Girik skinned the raguar and cleaned out its innards with the dagger. The task was tedious, and the dagger wasn't ideal for the job, but he managed. Afterwards, he found a sturdy stick to skewer the meat.
As Girik got ready to cook the meat, he faced a new problem: fire. While he had matchsticks, most of the jungle wood wasn't suitable for a bonfire.
Girik facepalmed. After all the trouble of hunting and preparing the raguar, he realized he had overlooked the basics: firewood. With a sigh, he started searching for dried wood.
It took a while, but he eventually gathered enough firewood to cook the meat. Whether the meat would be edible was another question entirely.
After building a small fire pit, Girik cooked the meat. The smell was decent enough to make his stomach grumble. Once satisfied it was fully cooked, he cautiously took a bite. The meat was slightly rubbery with a peculiar taste, not something he'd eat by choice, but it was edible and filled his stomach.
After finishing his meal, Girik extinguished the fire and climbed back up the tree he had chosen for shelter. Though the sun was still high, it had shifted a bit more to one side indicating which way was west which allowed him to say with confidence which way was which
As Girik sat on the branch, contemplating what to do next, a peculiar sensation tugged at him. His gaze instinctively turned north. It was as if there was something in the north that he wanted.
At first, he dismissed the feeling, but it grew stronger, like an itch he couldn't scratch. Frustrated, Girik eventually gave in, climbed down the tree and started walking as stealthily as possible towards the unknown pull.
Before long, he found himself in a darker part of the jungle, where the thick canopy of the trees blocked most of the sunlight. He could only navigate because of glowing moss growing on the tree trunks, casting just enough light to illuminate the surroundings.
The strange sensation had now morphed into an odd sense of anticipation as he drew closer to whatever was pulling him.
After walking for about 20 minutes, Girik arrived at the entrance of a small cave. The opening was pitch black, even though patches of glowing moss grew around its edges and on the ground nearby. The anticipation he had felt earlier suddenly vanished, leaving him with an unsettling calm.
Girik instinctively knew that whatever lay ahead was far from ordinary.
Looking around, he picked up a small stone and tossed it toward the cave's entrance. The stone passed through the darkness, but as it did, faint ripples spread across the air; like disturbances on the surface of still water.
Girik's eyes narrowed. He immediately understood what it was: an entrance to a dimensional rift.
Suddenly, as if in a trance, Girik raised his right hand and pressed it against the shimmering ripple. The moment he did, some information about the dimensional rift appeared in his mind.
[Tier 0: Temple of the Forgotten One]
[Limit: 1 participant]
The sudden influx jolted Girik out of his trance. He stepped back, his mind racing.
First, he had somehow survived space and arrived on this planet. Then came the strange feelings and now this. Nothing made sense. Frustration and helplessness crept in, but Girik knew there was little he could do about these mysteries for now. Survival was his only priority, and perhaps, in time, he'd find the answers he sought.
One thing was certain: he needed to grow stronger. Dimensional rifts were one of the best ways to do so. Yet this rift felt different. Normally, rifts didn't reveal their tier or name until entered, and Girik's instincts told him that stepping inside would benefit him in some way.
With a deep breath, he decided to take the risk. A tier 0 rift had to be safer than the jungle with its unpredictable dangers.
Steeling himself, Girik stepped into the rift. The world around him shifted abruptly, and he found himself standing in the middle of a dilapidated corridor.
Cracked tiles stretched beneath his feet, and damaged stone pillars lined both sides of the hall. Some of the pillars held torches carved from stone, their ethereal flames flickering weakly, casting shifting shadows across the desolate space.
Girik scanned his surroundings. Aside from the torches, the corridor appeared barren, stretching endlessly in both directions, forward and back, with no visible exits.
Carefully, Girik adjusted his equipment. He removed the sheathed dagger from his right thigh and strapped it to his left, freeing his dominant side. Holding the dagger in his left hand, he drew the newly acquired kukri with his right.
After a steadying breath, Girik turned to face the direction he had been facing when he arrived here and began walking forward. The faint glow of the torches guided him deeper into the ominous Temple of the Forgotten One.
***********
Author's Note:
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