Kael exhaled sharply, his breath misting in the cool morning air, his body still ached from the previous day's work, but at least he no longer felt like he would collapse with every step, his stats were improving, however slowly, and the system's rewards—though meager—were proof that he was making progress.
His wooden platform, now reinforced with thicker branches, swayed slightly beneath him as he stretched, the structure wasn't much, but it was a far cry from lying on the forest floor, vulnerable to every predator lurking in the shadows.
He checked his status once again:
HP: 5.4/3.4
MP: 5.4/3.4
Level: 1 EXP: 0/100
Strength: 2.82
Vitality: 2.7
Agility: 1.05
Intelligence: 2.7
Luck: 0.28
Skills: Crafting lvl.1 (5%), Identify lvl.1 (5%)
Achievements: System Unlocked (+1 INT), Edible (+1 VIT)
Titles: None
Multiplier: x0
Kael's grip tightened around his makeshift spear, he still wasn't strong, if anything, he was barely scraping by, but the system rewarded progress, and he had no intention of staying weak, his survival depended on pushing forward—on grinding his way to real power.
The next step was clear, while his platform offered a temporary safe zone, it wasn't a true home, his wooden spear was serviceable, but against larger threats—like the wolves—he needed something better. A real weapon.
Kael climbed down from the tree, landing softly on the damp forest floor, the morning air carried the scent of wet earth and leaves, he needed materials—wood, stone, and something to bind them together, his goal was simple, craft a stone-tipped spear.
He moved carefully through the undergrowth, his senses on high alert, the last thing he wanted was another unexpected encounter with predators, his Identify skill, though rudimentary, was his first line of defense.
Kael picked up a jagged rock and focused.
Item Identified: Sharp StoneUse: Can be used for crafting, cutting, or as a crude weapon.
A grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "Perfect."
After an hour of scavenging, he gathered what he needed—sturdy branches, vines, and a few sharp stones, he sat beneath a large tree and began his work, stripping the bark from a strong branch, he shaped it into a rough spear shaft, he chipped the stone to refine its edge before using the vines to lash it tightly to the wood.
Crafting Success! Stone Spear Created (Basic).+1% to Crafting Skill
Kael inspected his new weapon, it was crude, but a vast improvement over the broken stick he had before, he gave it a few test thrusts, feeling the weight and balance.
"Better," he muttered. "Not great, but better."
Now, he needed to test it.
Kael scouted near the stream, where smaller animals might be drinking, he spotted a rabbit-like creature nibbling on some leaves, its ears twitching at every sound, he crouched low, gripping his spear tightly.
"Breathe. Aim. Strike."
He lunged, his spear cutting through the air, the creature sensed danger and bolted, but Kael had anticipated it, his agility might be low, but his instincts were sharp, he adjusted mid-thrust, the stone tip grazing the animal's side, it let out a sharp squeak before collapsing.
Hunt Successful! +25 EXP
Kael exhaled, wiping the sweat from his brow, it wasn't a clean kill, but it was his first true hunt, he had food.
New Achievement Unlocked: First Hunt+1 STR
Kael felt the slight boost ripple through his muscles, he was improving, little by little, back at his tree platform, he used sharpened stones to clean the meat, then set up a makeshift fire pit using dry branches and flint he had gathered earlier, after repeated attempts, sparks finally caught the kindling, and flames flickered to life.
New Skill Unlocked: Fire making (lvl.1 5%)
He roasted the meat carefully, turning it over the flames, the scent of cooked food filled the air, and his stomach growled in anticipation, taking a bite, Kael felt warmth spread through him, the meal, simple as it was, tasted like victory.
Achievement Unlocked: Cooked Meal +1 VIT +1 INT
Kael leaned back against the tree, staring at the fire as it crackled, he wasn't just surviving anymore, he was adapting, learning.
Kael leaned back against the tree, staring at the fire as it crackled, while his gaze shifted to the glowing blue text hovering in the air.
Skill Unlocked: Fire Making lvl.1 (5%)
Kael frowned. "Fire Making, huh?" He tapped the skill's description, expecting a simple explanation about lighting fires with kindling and friction, but as the details unfolded, his eyes widened.
Fire Making (lvl.1): Grants the ability to create, at higher levels of efficiency and control increase.
He read the words again, his pulse quickening. "Create fire?" That didn't sound like regular fire-starting—it sounded like magic.
His mind raced, could the system really allow him to wield fire? The thought sent a thrill through his body, if this was more than just rubbing sticks together, then maybe—just maybe—he could cast fire like in the mages.
He exhaled slowly and sat up, glancing around to make sure he was alone, his heart pounded as he extended his hand toward the fire pit. "Alright… let's test this."
Kael focused on the flickering flames, he imagined the warmth flowing into his fingertips, visualized the fire bending to his will, he took a deep breath and whispered, "Ignite."
Nothing happened.
His fingers twitched slightly, but the fire continued to crackle undisturbed, he frowned, flexing his hands. "Maybe I need to put in more effort"
He steadied himself, closing his eyes to concentrate, this time, he focused on the feeling of heat, the memory of fire's warmth against his skin, he pictured a spark forming in his palm, willed it into existence. "Ignite."
For a split second, something flickered at his fingertips—a tiny ember, barely noticeable before it fizzled out, Kael's eyes snapped open, his breath hitching. "I saw that."
Excitement surged through him, it was possible, he had seen the ember, the system wasn't lying—Fire Making could be more than just rubbing sticks together, he just needed to figure out how to use it properly.
A notification appeared before him:
Fire Making lvl.1 (7%) → (9%)
Kael grinned. "So, even trying increases proficiency. That means if I keep at it…"
Determined, he adjusted his posture and tried again, his mind ablaze with possibilities, if he could master this skill, fire wouldn't just be a means of survival—it would be a weapon, and in this world, where death lurked behind every tree, a weapon was exactly what he needed.
The night stretched on, and Kael continued his attempts, each failure fueling his resolve, the path to power had never been clearer.
Trying to increase the skill proficiency he kept lighting a small fire, like a match, but unfortunately for him his MP were not much, his MP plummeted.
A sudden wave of exhaustion crashed over him, his vision blurred, his body felt impossibly heavy, and before he could react—darkness swallowed him.
Morning light filtered through the trees as Kael stirred, his body ached, and his head throbbed as if he had been crushed under a boulder, groaning, he forced himself to sit up.
"What… happened?" His memories slowly pieced together—the ember, the attempt to control fire, the sudden blackout.
His eyes flicked to his status.
MP: 3.7 / 7.4
It had recovered slightly. He scrolled through his stats, frowning. Then he noticed something.
MP Recovery Rate: 0.1 per 1 INT
His eyes widened. So that's how it works… His INT was 3.7, meaning he recovered 0.37 MP per hour. That meant it took roughly twelve hours to regain all his lost MP.
He let out a tired sigh. "I need to be more careful with this."
But despite the exhaustion, a small smirk formed on his lips, he had managed to increase proficiency of fire making, even if it was by little bit.
And that meant it was possible making magic skills sooner or later.
Fire making (lvl.1 15%)