The system's gentle voice broke the silence, bringing Elren back to the present.
"Let's find food for now," the system suggested softly, its tone calm and patient.
Elren nodded, standing up from the rock and glancing around. The forest was dense and wild, a sprawling labyrinth of trees, bushes, and undergrowth. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and fresh leaves, the shadows of the towering trees providing cool respite from the warm sun. A few birds fluttered overhead, their wings rustling the branches, while small creatures scurried in the underbrush. It was a peaceful, quiet place, but Elren knew better than to let his guard down entirely.
He slowly made his way through the dense foliage, his bare feet lightly touching the forest floor. He moved carefully, listening to the sounds of the woods as he searched for anything that could sustain him. His mind was still spinning from the shock of his new life, but the hunger in his stomach was more immediate, more pressing.
After a few minutes of walking, he noticed something—a tree, its branches thick with round, orange fruits hanging from them. The fruits weren't large or particularly extravagant, but they looked ripe and juicy, the sunlight glinting off their smooth skin. The tree's bark was rough and gnarled, but its leaves were lush and green, casting a pleasant shade around it.
"That tree," the system's voice chimed in, "has fruit that should be safe to eat. Pick one, and eat it to replenish your strength."
Elren looked up at the tree and reached for one of the fruits. The system, ever helpful, provided a description as Elren held it in his hand.
"This is a 'Solan Fruit,'" the system explained. "Not rare, but sweet and nutritious. It'll help you regain a bit of energy."
The fruit was a vibrant orange, with a smooth, soft skin that gave way to a juicy interior. Elren took a careful bite, savoring the sweet, slightly tangy flavor as the juice dripped down his chin. It wasn't much, but it was enough to settle his stomach, and he felt a small burst of energy from the simple meal.
He wiped his mouth on his sleeve, turning back to the system for further guidance.
"Now, Elren," the system's voice broke in again, more serious this time. "Use your bow. Let's practice some more."
Elren felt the familiar weight of the bow strapped to his back. He had grown accustomed to it in the short time since he'd first held it, the strange yet powerful connection between him and the weapon growing stronger with each passing moment. He drew it from his back, examining the sleek wood, the string taut and ready for use.
"Aim carefully. Focus your thoughts," the system continued, a hint of encouragement in its tone. "Your bow may not have physical arrows, but you can shoot with precision. You must learn control. Focus."
With a deep breath, Elren nodded and pulled an imaginary arrow from the air, drawing the string back. He concentrated, as the system had instructed, and let the bowstring snap forward. He felt the surge of energy course through him, though no arrow appeared. Instead, a burst of force shot out from the bow, striking a tree a few meters away. The bark splintered slightly from the impact.
The system's voice came, gentle yet approving. "Good. You are learning. Trust in the bow's power and in your own strength. This world is full of dangers, but you have the means to protect yourself now. Use it wisely."
Elren lowered the bow, a sense of accomplishment filling him. It wasn't much, but it was a start. And for now, that was enough.
The system's voice returned, calm as ever, yet carrying a deeper tone—one that hinted at ancient knowledge.
"Elren… you hold in your hands not just a weapon, but a legacy. Let me show you something passed down through the blood of Elves—something rare, and once only taught to those destined to protect, not destroy."
Elren blinked, breath caught in his throat as the air shifted around him. The forest, the wind, the very moment—everything grew still.
"Raise your bow slowly," the system instructed. "Feel the string under your grip… the tremble isn't fear—it's the pulse of awakened energy."
His hands moved as guided, steady, though he felt the tremble—an invisible pressure surging through the bow like a river just beneath the surface.
"Now draw... and focus. Feel the energy gathering. Let it travel along the arrow's path. It will begin to crackle, distort the air around it. That power you feel? That is Heavenpiercer."
The arrow shimmered to life—no ordinary projectile, but a sliver of light pulled from the breath of the world itself.
"Each heartbeat strengthens it—silent… focused… merciless."
Elren's fingers twitched, the string near breaking with pressure.
"When you let go," the system whispered like a father teaching a sacred truth, "you aren't releasing an arrow. You are delivering judgment. A flash from the heavens. A truth that cannot be denied."
He released.
The arrow soared—a gleaming bolt that shattered the wind, streaked across the forest like a shooting star, and struck with a soundless impact that made the trees quake in reverence.
The system's voice returned softly.
"Heavenpiercer… a rare gift once taught only to elven guardians. Use it wisely, Elren. When you aim with your heart, the world will listen."
The system's voice was soft again, but now there was a deeper reverence in its tone, as though it were inviting Elren to experience something sacred, something ancient.
"Elren, there is another skill, a gift of the earth itself. It is called Forest's Blessing—a skill known only to those who walk the path of the elves, those who stand as protectors of nature."
Elren's hands instinctively gripped the bow, but the system's voice shifted, guiding him to a different kind of connection.
"Now, Elren, lower your weapon for a moment. You are about to call upon the very heart of the forest."
Confused but trusting, Elren placed the bow gently at his side and extended his hand toward the ground, his palm open. He felt the coolness of the earth beneath him, the steady pulse of life that seemed to beat just under the surface.
"Feel the earth, Elren. Close your eyes and listen to the pulse of the forest beneath you. The world around you is more alive than you realize—the moss, the oak, the very roots stretching deep into the soil."
Elren did as instructed, his fingertips brushing the ground, feeling a subtle vibration deep beneath the soil. The air grew thick with the scent of damp earth, moss, and oak—a sweet, grounding fragrance that filled his senses.
"Now, focus. With each breath, draw the energy of the earth into you. Feel the wave of ancient power rise from the roots, flowing up through your arm and into your chest."
A warm sensation spread through his veins, like nature itself was infusing him with its life force. The energy swirled around him, primal and pure, steady and unstoppable. It felt like the entire forest had opened its heart to him, as if the trees were speaking, urging him forward.
"This is the blessing of the forest, Elren. It is nature's boundless strength. With it, you are not simply a part of this world—you are its protector, its chosen."
His muscles surged with newfound power, and as the rush of energy filled him, Elren could feel the change in his body. He was faster, more in tune with the world around him. Every movement felt lighter, more precise.
"When you strike, Elren, let the power of the forest guide your hand. Swift, precise, and devastating. It is the will of the trees, and they have chosen you to wield their might."
Elren felt the power course through him, and he instinctively reached for his bow once more. He raised it, the pull of the string almost effortless, and with a focused breath, he released the arrow.
The arrow shot forward with a burst of unnatural speed and accuracy, the forest seeming to open before it like a path of wind. It struck the nearest tree with a deep, resonating thud, the bark splintering in a wide arc, as though the tree itself had felt the force of the shot.
"Forest's Blessing," the system murmured softly, its voice warm. "You are now one with the forest, Elren. Use this gift well, for nature's might is a force few can wield. Let the world feel your strength."
The system's voice broke through the calm, filled with an almost playful tone.
"Shall we hunt, Elren?" the system asked, its words like a whisper on the wind, a challenge hidden in its soft cadence.
Elren stood there, his heart still racing from the surge of power. The forest around him seemed to breathe with him, and the faint echo of the arrow's impact still vibrated through the air.
He glanced around, his new senses sharper than ever. The world felt alive with possibilities—an unspoken promise of what was to come.
With a determined breath, he clenched his fists at his sides, the energy of the forest still pulsing within him.
"Yes… let's hunt."
The tension in the air thickened, and the world seemed to hold its breath. As if the forest itself was awaiting his next move.