The early morning light broke through the dense canopy, casting long shadows across the rugged terrain. The three chosen ones—Liam, Nina, and their companion, the ex-special ops veteran—had spent the past few hours settling into their surroundings. They had only just begun to comprehend the strange world they had been summoned to, and the weight of their responsibilities already felt heavy on their shoulders.
The system had flooded their minds with the knowledge of how to interact with this new world, its mechanics, and the abilities they now possessed. It was overwhelming, but for now, survival took precedence.
Liam, the 21-year-old special ops newbie, was the first to break the silence. He had been exploring the nearby forest, testing the newfound abilities bestowed upon him by the System. As he walked through the dense underbrush, the air seemed to hum with energy.
He looked around, seeing the trees, the rocks, the wild plants, and even a few small animals skittering around, He moved swiftly, picking up a fallen branch, examining the weight, and mentally calculating the quickest way to harvest it. In under 10 minutes, he had gathered 5 lbs of oak wood, one of the most abundant resources in the forest.
The system flashed another notification:
Achievement Unlocked: Resource Harvesting (One-Time, Per Person)
Description: Each individual can harvest up to 5 lbs of any resource in under 10 minutes. The resource harvested is sent back to the country, with the reward being 500 lbs of the same material sent back.
Resource Harvested: 5 lbs of Oak Wood
Reward: 500 lbs of Oak Wood delivered to the country. Gained: +1 Strength +2 Stamina +25 HP
Liam couldn't help but grin at the success. He quickly turned to Nina and their third teammate, the ex-special ops veteran, who had been observing nearby. "Hey," Liam said, a little breathless, "I just harvested some oak wood. Apparently, we can each do this once. We should use it wisely, though. We don't know how long we have, or if there are other resources we can gather."
Nina, who had been scanning the area for any potential dangers, looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean 'use it wisely'?"
Liam quickly explained. "This is a one-time thing for each person. We harvest something, and the country gets 500 lbs of it. For example, if I harvest 5 lbs of oak, 500 lbs are sent back. But, it's limited to us. After this, we can't do it again."
Nina nodded, her face thoughtful. "So, we should make sure we're gathering something useful." She looked around at the dense forest. "We'll need food, materials, and tools for survival."
Liam agreed. "Exactly."
As the group continued to explore, the sun climbed higher, and the strange noises of the forest grew more intense. The air was thick with the unfamiliar scent of the wild, and the chosen ones knew that they had to stay vigilant. They weren't just exploring; they were preparing for the challenges ahead.
Nina was the next to trigger an achievement, though it was entirely by accident. As she carefully stepped forward to examine a patch of unusual plants, her foot landed on something soft, and a sharp hiss echoed through the air.
Before she could react, the small snake wriggled out from under her boot, its fangs flashing for a brief moment before it crumpled to the ground. She quickly stepped back, startled, but a new notification popped up in her mind.
Achievement Unlocked: First Blood
Description: Be the first to kill another lifeform.Reward: +3 Strength +2 Endurance +1 Strength to 500 random people back at home country +40 Feet more Land to the Home Country +50 lbs of Snake Meat sent to the Home Country
Nina stared at the notification in stunned silence, glancing down at the small garden snake she had just accidentally killed. "Well... that was unexpected."
Liam looked at her in surprise. "First blood? I didn't think that was part of our survival plan, but I guess it's good that you've already made an impact."
Nina was still processing what had happened. The notification was a lot to take in, especially with the idea that her strength had increased, as well as the fact that her accidental kill had sent 50 lbs of snake meat back to the country.
But it wasn't just that. She had gained 40 feet of additional land for her home country—a curious benefit. And to top it off, her action had given strength to 500 random people back at her home country. It felt strange, like her actions were already affecting a much larger world than just the small patch of land they stood on.
"Looks like I didn't just get a meal," Nina said, her voice tinged with awe. "We're getting land... and apparently, the people back home are getting stronger. This is... way bigger than we thought."
The First Day Continues:
With their achievements under their belts, the trio continued to explore, trying to make sense of the strange world they found themselves in. They harvested resources, encountered wild animals, and slowly began to understand the depth of the System's influence.
The resource harvesting achievement had been a welcome surprise. They knew now that they could gather essential materials and send them back to their countries, but they also realized that these new abilities came with consequences. As Liam and Nina pondered the implications of their achievements, the ex-special ops veteran stood off to the side, scanning the horizon with a serious look.
"These abilities... they're powerful," he said, his voice calm but serious. "But they're only as useful as how we apply them. We've got to be smart about it. One wrong move, and we could find ourselves in a world of trouble."
Liam and Nina nodded in agreement. They had been thrust into an unfamiliar world, one that was full of dangers and uncertainties, but they also had the tools they needed to survive.