A rustle broke the silence.
From the underbrush, three rabbit-like creatures hopped cautiously into view, their leafy ears twitching as they sniffed the air. Their eyes glowed faintly green, reflecting the dim light as they padded toward the scattered berries.
Karl's chest tightened. He held his breath, spear ready, palms slick with sweat. Just a little closer.
The first rabbit stretched its neck to nibble on a berry—its paw brushed the snare.
Snap!
The vine whipped taut, yanking the creature's leg. It squealed, thrashing violently, dirt spraying as it kicked.
Karl burst from cover, driving his crude spear down—but the point hit stone buried beneath the soil. the shaft jolting in his hands. The tip skittered, grazing fur, drawing a thin line of blood.
No!
The rabbit twisted, muscles bunching with unnatural strength. With a sharp jerk, the vine snapped, and the creature bolted, dragging its bloodied paw, vanishing with the others into the brush.
"Damn it! Hours of work… gone." he hissed,
I thought I was clever, but I can't even kill a rabbit.
A low growl rolled through the trees, made him froze in his tracks.
He staggered back, throat dry, the forest's hum pressing against his skull. His blood turned to icy.
He turned slowly, eyes straining in the dim light. Between the trunks, two amber eyes glowed, unblinking, locked on him. The wolf.
A limp rabbit dangled from its jaws, blood dripping dark into the dirt, the scent sharp and coppery. Karl's breath caught, every hair on his arms rising.
His body screamed to run, but his legs locked, by sudden realization that It could've been him in jaw of the beast.
That wolf… it's circling around my camp. Watching me. Waiting for me to come outside.
The wolf stepped forward, silent, deliberate.
And then… it stopped.
Predator and prey locked eyes in the thinning night. The wolf snorted, low and dismissive, before fading into the trees, its amber eyes vanishing like embers in ash.
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Karl sagged to the ground, his spear clattering from numb fingers. His chest heaved in ragged bursts. The snare had failed. The rabbit had escaped. And he'd been spared only because the wolf hadn't bothered to kill him.
A broken laugh escaped him, bitter and thin. "I'm alive… but that wasn't survival. That was mercy."
[6 days, 6 hours, 45 minutes].
His fingers tightened around the spear, its rough wood biting into his palm, grounding him against the rising panic. His fingers tightened around the spear, its rough wood biting into his palm, grounding him against the rising panic.
The failed snare, the escaped rabbit, the wolf's mocking presence—they clawed at his confidence, leaving it in tatters. I thought I could outsmart this place, but it's outsmarting me.
His stomach growled again, the ache sharp, relentless. He staggered to his lean-to, the mossy ground cold beneath his boots, and checked his dwindling supplies. The golden fruits would last until morning, but the vine pouch of water was nearly empty, its contents seeping through the crude weave. Water's leaking. I'll need to refill it soon. But that wolf…
It's circling my camp. Watching. His talent confirmed it—the wolf's vitality lingered, a heavy pulse just beyond the barrier. Wolves hunt in packs, don't they? I've only seen one, but what if there are more? The thought tightened his throat, his pulse spiking. I'm too weak. I need to get stronger. Fast.
He fumbled for the pouch at his belt, fingers brushing the warm, humming Essence Crystals. These could change everything. Knowledge surfaced, unbidden: Absorbing Essence Crystals takes time and focus, but boosts strength. He hesitated, the memory of the failed snare burning in his mind. I was saving them for summoning—companions to help hunt, gather, build. But if I can't survive, what's the point?
He sat cross-legged beside the Territory Seed, its fragile shoot trembling in the dim light. Its vitality was stronger now, the cracks in its shell narrower, but still far from sprouting. If I can heal this faster, I'll have the Sanctuary. A real base. He placed his hands over the seed, the soil gritty and cold against his skin. The warmth in his chest stirred, sluggish, then flared as he focused. A faint green glow seeped from his palms, sinking into the shoot. It quivered, stretching upward a fraction, its cracks glowing as they knit together.
The drain hit hard—his stomach twisted, his vision blurred, sweat beading on his brow.
A new prompt flickered:
[Evolution Countdown: 4 Days, 12:50:07]
Four days. He exhaled, a spark of hope flickering. I'm getting there. But his body ached, heavy with exhaustion. He ate a golden fruit, its sweet, nutty flesh easing the hunger but not the fatigue. The water in the vine pouch was barely a sip, its faint essence tingling on his tongue. I'll need more tomorrow. But first, strength.
He pulled out an Essence Crystal, its green glow pulsing like a heartbeat. One to start. He focused, the crystal's warmth seeping into his palm, spreading through his chest. It took half an hour, his muscles tensing as the energy burned through him, sharp and electric. The prompt updated:
[Status Panel]
Name: Karl Varn
Lord Level: Bronze I (3/10)
Strength: 7.4 [+0.2]
Agility: 8.4 [+0.2]
Vitality: 10.4 [+0.2]I
ntelligence: 6.4 [+0.2]
Abilities: Breath of Spring
It's working. His limbs felt lighter, his senses sharper. If I absorb more… He glanced at the pouch—12 crystals left. Bronze I, 3 out of 10. If I hit 10, something will happen. A level-up, maybe a new skill. The thought ignited a surge of determination. I need every edge I can get.
He settled in, absorbing the crystals one by one, each one a grueling half-hour of focus. The forest's hum grew louder, a restless drone that set his teeth on edge, but he pushed through, the glow of each crystal fading as its energy merged with his. His body thrummed, a strange mix of pain and power, like flexing a muscle too long dormant. By the seven crystals, his head pounded, his fingers trembling, but the prompt flared:
Lord Level: Bronze I (10/10)
A surge of energy washed over him, electric and warm, like sunlight breaking through clouds. His muscles tightened, his senses sharpened, and a new strength settled in his bones. The prompt updated:
[Status Panel]
Name: Karl Varn
Lord Level: Bronze II (0/10)
Strength: 10 [+2.6]
Agility: 11 [+2.6]
Vitality: 14 [+2.6, +1 from talent]
Intelligence: 9 [+2.6]
Abilities: Breath of Spring
Slightly accelerates wound healing (self + others).
Sense vitality in plants, beasts, and people (detect illness, weakness, or impending death).
Skills:
Herbal Resonance: Instantly sense the medicinal value, toxicity, and maturity of herbs.
Vital Touch: Restore stamina in self/ally with direct qi infusion.
Bronze II. Karl's breath caught, a grin tugging at his lips. My sensing ability's a skill now. And Vital Touch… I can restore stamina? Excitement surged, but he tempered it. It's not endless energy. It's tied to Intelligence, isn't it? He frowned, the realization sinking in. No wonder I don't feel smarter, even with the boost. It's not brainpower—it's qi, or whatever this energy is.
He flexed his hands, feeling the new strength in his grip. The wolf's amber eyes flashed in his mind, its growl echoing. I'm stronger now, but not enough to fight that thing head-on.
I'll need better traps. Better weapons. He glanced at the broken snare, its torn vine a reminder of his failure. Tomorrow, I will try to hunt it.