Chapter 2: The City of Shadows
The morning dawned, bringing with it a new set of challenges. Hiroki's stomach rumbled, a constant reminder of his hunger. He activated the Foraging skill, focusing on the surrounding area.
"[Dandelion: Edible leaves and roots. Nutritional value: Low. Potential for medicinal uses: Moderate.]"
"[Wild Berries: Ripe and plentiful. Nutritional value: Moderate. Potential for food poisoning: Low.]"
He spent the morning gathering dandelions and berries, carefully identifying and avoiding any poisonous plants. The berries, though small and tart, filled his stomach and gave him the energy he needed to continue.
He decided to head towards the city, a sprawling metropolis that loomed on the horizon. He had heard rumors of abandoned supermarkets and warehouses, potential treasure troves of supplies.
The journey was arduous. He had to navigate through overgrown fields, dodge packs of feral dogs, and avoid the watchful eyes of the city's inhabitants, a shadowy group known as the
"Scavengers."
As he neared the city limits, he encountered his first encounter with the Scavengers. A group of three, clad in tattered clothes and armed with makeshift weapons, emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger.
Hiroki activated the Observe skill.
"[Scavenger 1: Malnourished, aggressive. Weaknesses: Right leg injury, poor eyesight.]"
"[Scavenger 2: Experienced, cunning. Weaknesses: Overconfident, relies heavily on his knife.]"
"[Scavenger 3: Young, inexperienced. Weaknesses: Easily intimidated, low stamina.]"
He assessed the situation. He was outnumbered, outgunned, and outmatched. But he had an advantage: information.
He feigned weakness, limping slightly and clutching his side. "Please," he croaked, his voice trembling, "I'm just looking for food. I haven't eaten in days."
The Scavengers exchanged glances, their leader, the one with the knife, a sneer playing on his lips.
"Well, well," he sneered. "Looks like we have a stray dog here."
"Please," Hiroki pleaded again, "I'll do anything. I can scavenge for you, I can... I can sing!"
The Scavenger leader, a hulking man with a jagged scar across his face, burst into laughter.
"Sing? You think we want to listen to some pathetic tune?"
Hiroki, using his Observe skill, noticed the Scavenger leader flinching slightly as he spoke.
He had a sensitive left ear.
"I, I can sing very loudly," Hiroki stammered, "It might... it might scare away the... the... the..."
He feigned a sudden fit of coughing, clutching his throat. "The... the... the..."
He coughed again, this time directing the sound towards the Scavenger leader's left ear. The man recoiled, his hand instinctively covering his ear.
Seizing the opportunity, Hiroki sprinted past them, his legs burning with adrenaline. He heard a roar of anger behind him, but he didn't look back. He ran as fast as he could, weaving through the debris-strewn streets, the city a maze of crumbling buildings and forgotten alleyways.
He finally collapsed in a narrow alleyway, gasping for breath. He had escaped, but the encounter had shaken him. The Scavengers were a dangerous threat, and he was just one man, weak and inexperienced.
He activated the Game Master System.
"[Experience Points: 25]"
"[Level Up!]"
"[Status: Weak]"
"[Available Skills: Observe (Level 3), Foraging (Level 2), Deception]"
"[Deception: Manipulate others through lies, tricks, and illusions. Initial Level: 1]"
Hiroki smiled. The encounter with the Scavengers, though terrifying, had yielded a valuable reward. The Deception skill. He could use it to his advantage, to outsmart his enemies, to survive in this harsh new world.
He spent the rest of the day exploring the city, cautiously, always on the lookout for Scavengers. He discovered an abandoned supermarket, a skeletal frame of concrete and steel, its shelves long bare. But amidst the rubble, he found a treasure trove: a crate of non-perishable food, untouched and undamaged.
He also found a small, hidden workshop, filled with tools and discarded machinery. Using his newfound Foraging skill, he gathered scraps of metal and salvaged parts, his mind already working on a plan to create a more effective weapon.
As the sun began to set, he found a small, abandoned apartment building, its windows boarded up and its walls graffitied. He cautiously made his way inside, his heart pounding with anticipation.
The apartment was dark and dusty, the air thick with the smell of decay. He activated his flashlight, its beam cutting through the gloom. He explored the rooms, finding nothing of value except for a tattered blanket and a half-empty bottle of water.
He was about to leave when he noticed a faint glint of metal in the corner of the room. He approached cautiously, his hand hovering over the activation button for his Observe skill.
It was a small, intricately crafted dagger, its blade gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen. He picked it up, the weight surprisingly light in his hand.
"[Antique Dagger: Crafted from high-quality steel. Sharp and balanced. Potential for combat: High.]"
Hiroki's eyes widened. This was a valuable find. A weapon worthy of a true adventurer. He slipped the dagger into his belt, a newfound confidence surging through him.
He had survived another day. He had faced danger, overcome obstacles, and even acquired a valuable weapon. He was slowly but surely becoming stronger, more resilient.
He lay down on the cold, hard floor, the dagger tucked securely within reach. He had a long way to go, but he was no longer afraid. He had the Game Master System, and he would use it to overcome any challenge that came his way. He would become the champion of this "Real Life" game, no matter what the cost.
The next morning, Hiroki awoke with a renewed sense of purpose. He had the dagger, a valuable weapon that would give him a significant advantage in any encounter. He also had the
Deception skill, which he could use to navigate the treacherous social landscape of the city.
He decided to venture into the heart of the city, to the infamous Shadow Market. It was said to be the center of trade for the Scavengers, a place where anything could be bought and sold, from stolen goods to forbidden knowledge.
He approached the market cautiously, keeping to the shadows and observing the activity from a distance. The market was a chaotic scene, a cacophony of shouts, bargaining, and laughter. Scavengers, their faces hardened by years of hardship, haggled over scraps of metal.