"A bow and some arrows is all I need to survive. No, scratch that. I'll thrive in this messed-up world. This is my vow. My hunter's way."
I shouted into the wilds, fist raised to the sun, middle finger aimed at the now-closed gates of my former home. It was a symbol of defiance, a promise to myself that nothing, no machine, no person could keep me down.
But before I could start my new life, there was one thing I needed: shelter for the night. Luckily, the ruins of the old world were scattered across the land, and I knew where to find them. The Nora and the machines avoided these places, so they were safe enough to settle in, though the dead bodies, putrid water, and unbearable stench weren't exactly appealing. But the real treasure was hidden deep inside: an ancient Focus. The problem? Actually finding it.
"Sorry, Aloy, but I'm not even sure if you're alive right now. I need that Focus to survive. But finding those ruins? That's going to take some time... and a lot of exploring."
I sighed, thinking of how to approach this next phase of my journey. "Better stick to the roads for now. Luckily, the cosmic being—or whatever entity—who dumped me in this world gave me a game UI."
While I didn't get superpowers or anything that would make this world quake beneath my feet, the UI was still a blessing. It wasn't perfect, and I had to earn experience points by taking down machines and wildlife, but the map feature was invaluable. At least I wouldn't get lost.
As I moved from one campsite to the next, I finally reached a herd of Striders near Mother's Heart. Time to test the waters. I had a feeling the Derangement the event that twisted machines into hostile, deranged versions of themselves was a future occurrence. The Nora here seemed calm, and the Red Raids were happening far to the north. For now, I was safe.
No Watchers around, so I figured I'd take my chance. "Just three Striders," I muttered to myself. "This should be easy. Alright, Noir, time to man up."
I approached the closest Strider and, with all the might a ten-year-old could muster, screamed at the top of my lungs.
"ROACH, LET ME RIDE YOUR MECHANICAL ASS! BE MY FRIEND! LET'S TRAVEL TO THE UNKNOWN WORLD!"
The Strider blinked, clearly insulted. After a moment, it decided it had had enough of me. It bolted away, taking the other two with it.
"How rude," I muttered. "One can never have too many friends. Maybe it didn't like the name, or maybe it was just too comfortable in its own little world."
I paused, then shrugged. "Well, at least I know the Derangement hasn't happened yet... or I need to come up with a better way to approach them."
Having confirmed my place in the timeline, I turned west and found a small cave to call home for the next few days. I marked the location, knowing it would protect me from the rain and wind. It was big enough for a campfire, which meant I could make do.
Now came the hard part: finding food and water. Luckily, Mother's Embrace was rich in game, berries, and strange plants that tasted like a mix of vinegar and... armpit. I shuddered at the thought, but, hey, it wasn't poisonous. And in this world, you had to take what you could get.
For now, I opted for the safest route—gathering berries and a red fruit that tasted like a sour tomato. That would be enough for the next few days.
Three days of food, and plenty of time to practice my archery. Tomorrow would be the start of my real journey. But tonight, after everything I'd been through, I needed rest. Tomorrow, I'd conquer the wilds. And after that? The world.