The forest seemed endless, the silver-barked trees stretching on for miles. Jace moved cautiously, every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves sending his senses into overdrive. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, though whether it was paranoia or something real, he couldn't yet tell. He tightened his grip on the sword in his hand. The weight was becoming familiar, though his fingers still ached from gripping it too hard during his first fight.
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Jace's stomach growled loudly, a reminder that he hadn't eaten since… well, since he'd died. That thought sent a shiver down his spine. He had no idea how long he'd been drifting in the void before Myrr intervened, but his hunger felt very real now.
"Alright, focus," he muttered to himself. "Step one: find food. Step two: don't die."
A soft chime interrupted his thoughts. A glowing interface appeared before him, its pale light illuminating the dim forest.
Quest Initiated: Foraging Basics
Objective: Find a source of food and water.
Reward: Basic Survival Kit.
"A quest system," Jace murmured, squinting at the floating text. "At least it's straightforward." He swiped his hand through the interface, and it disappeared, leaving him with only the rustling trees for company.
Jace wandered for what felt like hours, keeping his eyes peeled for anything edible. His only finds were strange, glowing mushrooms that pulsed faintly in the shadows and vines with berries that looked suspiciously poisonous.
Eventually, he stumbled upon a small clearing with a bubbling stream running through its center. Relief washed over him as he knelt beside the water, cupping his hands to drink. The cool liquid was refreshing, soothing his parched throat. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, letting the sound of the stream drown out the tension in his mind.
Something moved in the corner of his vision. Jace froze, every muscle tensing. Slowly, he turned his head. Standing on the opposite side of the clearing was a small, deer-like creature. Its fur shimmered with an iridescent glow, and its antlers looked like crystalline branches. The creature watched him cautiously, its ears twitching.
Jace's stomach growled again, louder this time. He glanced at his sword, then back at the deer.
"Sorry, buddy," he muttered. "But I'm starving."
He rose to his feet, moving slowly to avoid startling the animal. The deer took a tentative step back but didn't flee. Jace gripped his sword tightly, heart pounding. He'd never hunted anything in his life, let alone killed something so… magical-looking. But survival didn't leave room for sentimentality.
Taking a deep breath, Jace lunged forward. The deer's eyes widened, and it leapt to the side with an agility that made his attack look clumsy. He stumbled, nearly falling into the stream, but quickly regained his balance.
The deer bolted, disappearing into the trees. Jace swore under his breath, frustration bubbling up. "Great. Just great."
Another chime echoed in his mind, and the interface reappeared.
Skill Unlocked: Sprint
Description: Temporarily increase your movement speed to close distances or evade danger.
"That would've been useful five seconds ago," Jace muttered. Still, the notification lifted his spirits slightly. At least the system seemed to reward effort, even if the results weren't ideal.
As dusk began to fall, Jace stumbled upon a crumbling stone structure partially overgrown with vines. It looked like it might have been a shrine or waystation once, though time and nature had worn it down to little more than a roofless ruin.
He decided it would do for the night. The walls, though broken, would provide some cover, and the stream wasn't far. After gathering a few fallen branches, Jace managed to start a small fire in the center of the shrine. The warmth was a welcome comfort as the temperature dropped with the setting sun.
While the flames crackled, Jace examined the ruin more closely. Strange symbols were carved into the stone, their edges worn smooth by time. He traced a finger over one, feeling a faint hum of energy beneath his touch.
Analyze Activated.
Object: Abandoned Waystone
Description: A relic of an ancient civilization. Used to mark safe resting places for travelers. Residual magic lingers, offering minor protection against hostile entities.
"Minor protection," Jace repeated, glancing at the dark forest surrounding him. "Better than nothing."
Satisfied that the shrine wasn't about to collapse on him, Jace sat by the fire and gnawed on a piece of bark he'd peeled from a tree. It was bitter and tough, but it kept his mind off his hunger.
His thoughts drifted to Myrr and the deal he'd made. What kind of game was the so-called god playing? The promise of a second chance sounded great in theory, but Jace couldn't shake the feeling that he was a pawn in some larger scheme.
"You'd better not have screwed me over," he muttered to the empty air.
Jace woke to the sound of growling. His eyes snapped open, heart racing as he scrambled to his feet. The fire had burned down to embers, casting faint light across the shrine. Standing just outside the crumbling wall was a pack of creatures. They looked like oversized wolves, but their fur was matted and black as coal, and their eyes glowed a sickly yellow.
The waystone's protection seemed to be holding, as the wolves hesitated at the edge of the clearing, snarling and pacing. But their numbers were growing; more shadows emerged from the forest, drawn by the scent of human prey.
Jace gripped his sword, sweat slicking his palms. The interface appeared again, unbidden.
New Quest: Defend the Waystone
Objective: Survive the night.
Reward: Level Up.
"Survive the night," Jace whispered. "No pressure."
The first wolf lunged through the barrier. A faint shimmer of light slowed it, but the creature pushed through with a snarl. Jace stepped forward to meet it, his sword slashing down in a clean arc. The blade bit into the wolf's neck, cutting deep. It collapsed with a yelp, its body dissolving into black smoke that drifted upward before vanishing.
There was no time to celebrate. Another wolf breached the barrier, and then another. Jace fought desperately, his movements growing more fluid as the system seemed to guide his actions.
"Twin Strike!" he shouted, his sword flashing twice in quick succession to dispatch two wolves at once. His stamina was draining fast, but adrenaline kept him moving.
The pack circled, wary now. Jace's chest heaved as he held his ground, blood—both his own and the wolves'—staining the stone beneath his feet. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever. The barrier flickered, its protective magic weakening with each breach.
"Come on," he growled, gripping his sword tightly. "Who's next?"
A low, guttural roar silenced the pack. The wolves parted, making way for a much larger creature. It stepped into the firelight, and Jace's stomach dropped. The beast was easily twice the size of the others, its fur bristling like jagged spikes. Its glowing eyes locked onto him with an intelligence that made his blood run cold.
Analyze Activated.
Entity: Alpha Shadowfang
Level: 8
Description: A pack leader imbued with dark magic. Highly dangerous.
"Highly dangerous," Jace muttered. "Yeah, I got that."
The Alpha charged, its massive form moving with terrifying speed. Jace barely had time to react. He dove to the side, the beast's claws missing him by inches. Rolling to his feet, he swung his sword in a desperate counterattack. The blade glanced off the Alpha's thick hide, barely leaving a scratch.
The beast roared, swiping at him again. Jace ducked, his heart pounding as he scrambled to think of a plan. He couldn't take this thing head-on; it was too strong, too fast.
"Analyze," he whispered, hoping for some kind of weakness.
Weakness: Exposed underbelly during leap attacks.
"Great," he said. "Now I just have to not die long enough to exploit that."
The Alpha lunged again, its claws tearing through the air. Jace dodged, rolling across the ground as the beast's momentum carried it forward. For a split second, its underside was exposed.
"Twin Strike!" he shouted, driving his sword upward. The blade pierced the Alpha's belly, sinking deep into flesh. The beast howled in agony, its body convulsing as black smoke poured from the wound.
Jace yanked his sword free and stumbled back, watching as the Alpha collapsed. Its form dissolved into smoke like the others, leaving only silence in its wake.
Quest Complete: Defend the Waystone.
Reward: Level Up.
A surge of energy flooded through Jace, washing away his fatigue. His interface reappeared, displaying new stats and abilities. He'd survived the night, but just barely.
Collapsing onto the stone floor, he let out a shaky laugh. "Well… that's one way to start an adventure."