From a bird's-eye view, a dense forest sprawled below—damp, mossy, vine-covered, and nearly impossible to cross on foot.
In its center stood a lone figure, unmoving. He scanned the area, weighing his options. Raising a finger to feel the breeze, he turned toward its source with a stern expression.
He had been in this forest for half a day. He wasn't from this world.
The how or why of his arrival eluded him. No warning, no explanation—just trees, soil, and the suffocating quiet.
To stay safe, he activated one of the skills he had chosen. Despite the rough terrain, so different from the cement roads he was used to, he felt oddly at ease. This wildness… it felt familiar.
…
"Where am I?" I asked myself, surveying the uneven road ahead. I was surrounded by a forest I never knew. The air felt thick, making it hard to breathe.
Most concerning of all, I was scared. I don't know if anyone could hear me right now, but my current situation was far from enjoyable.
Stuck in an unfamiliar forest, with no signs of intelligent life around, the tree canopy above showed no sign of letting in sunlight.
It was challenging to see where I was stepping, except when I was back in a more open area where the sun shone down upon me.
But in my current position, I was enveloped in darkness. Sigh... If I hadn't carefully chosen my abilities, I would have given up by now.
Thankfully, I opted for the [Dark eye] effect. And temperature control for this robe—or whatever this garment is called.
It had a pin near my throat that allowed me to put it on and take it off easily. The color was dark green, helping me blend into the environment. It also featured a hood that I could use… Ugh, this is pointless.
Let's go back a few hours, when I first got here.
***
I was back home, enjoying the dinner I had made for myself. It wasn't much, just the same old dinner for myself.
Well... Not really a "normal" dinner for me as well. I'm gonna be honest, once a month, I have this unbearable urge to eat nonstop.
And when this happened, I would eat without caring for myself or my money. So the last meal I had back on my world is, don't hate me and judge me.
Two servings of spicy noodles, three boiled eggs, two large buns, an entire bottle of soft drink, a kilogram of rice, and a jug of ice-cold water.
Yes... I ate all of those on my own without anyone else, — fu-ck! Now I said that I'm feeling embarrassed on my own.
Anyway...
After going through everything, I looked at my phone and opened an app, hoping to find something entertaining. Just as I was about to sit on my couch, I suddenly found myself in the middle of a forest.
In front of me was a system panel instructing me: [Choose "3" skills, Items, magic stones, and traits.]
Although I was terrified, I focused on the panel and decided to pick the best combination that could save, warn, and protect me from danger.
First, I chose my skills. When I tapped the panel, hundreds of skill options appeared, each displaying its name, mana cost, and description.
At that moment, I was tempted to select the [Absorption] and [Copy] skills, but I held back and took my time making my decision.
In the end, it took me three hours to finalize my choices. I wanted to ensure I selected the best skills to help me survive in this world with minimal effort.
The final skills I chose were [Search], [Auto Barrier], and [Purify].
The [Search] skill would be useful for locating various objects, and importantly, it allows me to scan for enemies. This way, I can find a route away from those monsters. In other words, I picked this skill so I could avoid monsters rather than confront them.
Next, I chose [Auto Barrier]. This skill creates a barrier using my energy, which includes stamina, mana, vitality, and mental strength. While the system didn't provide a detailed description of how it works, one line caught my attention:
"Create a barrier. Note: When the barrier is created, a special effect will be applied to it. This effect will impact anyone who attacks the barrier."
This intriguing line was enough for me to select it.
For my third skill, I chose [Purify], which is self-explanatory.
After selecting my skills, I moved on to the magic stone.
This part was straightforward, so I'll just mention the one I picked: I chose the water, fire, and wind magic stones. These stones would allow me to conjure the respective elements.
Next, I needed to choose my item. The items I chose are a robe, boots, and a weapon.
The robe I am currently wearing has several impressive abilities. First, it can self-repair and self-clean. Additionally, it can adjust its temperature to be either warm or cold, depending on my preference.
Finally, it can inflate to serve as a cushion, making it useful for sleeping or providing protection when falling from heights.
The second item I chose is the boots. When I was back in my home, the clothes I was wearing were a black shirt, long pants, and black boxer shorts.
Since I was home, I didn't use my slippers at all, and being in the forest where the ground might be filled with sharp rocks that could cut me. So I chose it even when the system could have given me a growth-type item.
Ability; auto-size and soul-bound item type. If I grow or get smaller, the boots would change according to the size of my foot. When destroyed or lost, I can summon it back to me and recreate it with my mana.
Third item: weapon. When the system provided this to me, it appeared as a sphere. The system simply stated, ["Sphere of creation; you can create ten types of items and weapons."]
The first items I chose were a shovel and a pan. The shovel is useful for digging and cutting, and it can also serve as a good blunt weapon. The flat pan is intended for cooking—if I can find anything to cook.
Lastly, regarding the traits, the first trait, "[Dark Eye]," enables me to perceive the outlines of objects in my surroundings.
It's not a night vision ability, but it helps me see the edges of the people and objects around me, which might seem useless compared to night vision, but seeing an outline of a moving creature is better than seeing the surroundings clearly.
I don't know if people realize this but sometimes we are oblivious to the obvious thing happening in front of us. Ever experienced looking for your phone while using the flashlight on it? Yeah, that's the situation, I think.
My vision might be a 10/10, but my mind will not always be at 10/10. I might see a beast within my sight, but my mind won't perceive it as danger till the last second. So seeing the outline of a moving creature towards me will make my mind perceive the danger faster.
Second trait, [Terrain Master]. This trait allows me to adapt to any type of terrain, allowing me to get used to it and overcome it. I'm confident in my ability to move through terrain, but being in another world where monsters can chase me while I move is not an easy task. So, having a trait that allows me to adapt faster within the terrain I'm in increased my survival.
Then, finally, the third trait [Master of none], the ability to know everything with an experience of doing this act for one week at best. So if I tried to swim, which I had never done all my life, I can now do it.
...
Slowing his pace, the man heard something ahead of him and stopped to focus his senses.
"Hmm? What's that? I can hear something... that's the sound of flowing water!" Once he identified the source, he sprinted toward it with all his might.
He burst through the forest, pushing past vines and bushes that scratched at his skin, leaving him with splinters and an itchy sensation. But he didn't stop to take notice.
With a leap of joy, he emerged from the forest and finally reached the water he had been hearing, only to find himself at the ocean.
The man was confused by the sight before him; he had expected to find a river or a creek, but instead, it was the vast ocean stretching endlessly before him.
As he gazed toward the horizon, all he could see was the unbroken ocean surface. In that moment, he thought to himself, "This is dangerous." Being at sea with no sign of land was not the ideal situation for him.
In the ocean, danger could strike without warning. If an earthquake were to happen, he might be faced with a tsunami. He worried about rain and how he would find food; did the island he was on even have any resources?
Watching the waves wash over the sand, he looked up at the sky and questioned his luck:
"What's with my luck!?"
After grabbing a handful of sand, he glanced back at the forest and made a decision: he needed to find food immediately.
Before nightfall, he had to locate sustenance and shelter if he wanted to survive until he could find a way to escape this place.