The morning light barely touched the forest floor, long streaks of gold struggling to break through the thick trees. My body ached all over, but it wasn't the kind of pain that made me want to stop—it was the kind that reminded me I was still alive. I pushed myself off the ground, brushing off some dirt and blood from yesterday's hunt.
"Guess this is my life now," I muttered, stretching my sore arms before grabbing my sword and shield.
After what happened yesterday, I needed to get stronger. I couldn't keep barely scraping through every fight. I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and started walking. The forest was quiet, too quiet, but maybe that was good. I needed some time to think.
While walking, a faint flicker appeared in front of me. At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, but when I blinked, a faint blue glow hovered midair. My body tensed as I raised my hand toward it.
It wasn't an illusion. It was… a window.
Name: Scott Broustlin
Level: 2
Class: Unawakened
Strength: 9
Agility: 10
Endurance: 8
Mana: 7
Perception: 9
Skills: Basic Swordsmanship [Beginner]
I stared at it for a few seconds, unsure whether to laugh or panic. "Okay… either I've finally gone insane, or this world really does run on game logic."
The window faded out as soon as I willed it to, and when I focused again, it reappeared. I tested it a few more times, opening and closing it until I was convinced it was real. "This might actually make things easier," I said, smirking.
With a bit more confidence, I continued deeper into the woods. My goal was simple: fight, learn, and survive. Every kill would give me a chance to understand how this world worked, and maybe—just maybe—get one step closer to not dying early like the Scott Broustlin from the game.
The first creature I encountered was another wild boar, slightly larger than the one before. I tightened my grip on my sword and shield. "Alright, round two."
It charged at me, tusks aimed straight for my gut. This time, I didn't hesitate. I rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the charge, and slashed across its hind leg. Blood splattered, and the boar screamed in pain, spinning around to face me again. I ducked under its next lunge and slammed my shield into its snout with all the force I could muster.
The impact made my arm throb, but the boar stumbled, leaving its neck exposed. I didn't waste the chance—I thrust my sword forward, straight into its throat. Warm blood sprayed onto my arm, and after a few seconds of struggle, the beast fell.
I breathed heavily, staring at the corpse.
"Still gross…" I muttered, but this time, I didn't feel sick.
The window flickered again, and a new line appeared.
Level Up: 3
I grinned. "So it's not just for show."
After cleaning my sword, I dragged the body aside and pulled a mana core from its chest. The glow inside the crystal pulsed faintly. I held it for a second before crushing it in my palm, letting the mana flow into me. It burned slightly, like hot water spreading under my skin, but it felt good—empowering.
The forest wind blew gently as I sat down to rest, checking my stats again.
Name:Scott Broustlin
Level: 3
Strength: 10
Agility: 11
Endurance: 9
Mana: 8
Perception: 10
"Not bad for a day's work," I whispered, smirking as I sheathed my sword.
But as I rested, I couldn't shake the thought of the cave—the one I ran from. Those goblins had been coordinated, too well-trained for random monsters. If there was a leader in there, it meant stronger enemies, better loot… and more danger.
Still, I couldn't just run forever.
I stood up, wiping sweat from my forehead. "I'll need to be ready before I go back," I said to myself. "A few more fights… and I might stand a chance."
I spent the rest of the day hunting smaller beasts—wolves, low-tier goblins, and even a few strange birdlike creatures. Each battle was brutal but taught me something new: how to move faster, how to predict attacks, how to control my mana flow better.
As the sun began to set, the sky turned orange, and the forest quieted again. I set up a small camp under a tree, lighting a fire with flint I bought earlier. The heat felt comforting.
I leaned back against the trunk, staring at the flames.
"I used to spend nights like this staring at my screen," I said softly. "Now I'm living the game."
For a while, I just watched the fire dance, lost in thought.
Then the status window appeared on its own, glowing faintly in front of me. At the bottom, a new line had appeared.
New Skill Acquired: Mana Sense [Passive]
I blinked, confused. "Mana Sense?" I whispered, but I didn't feel anything different. Maybe it'd take time to kick in.
Either way, I smiled. Step by step, I was getting stronger. And for the first time since coming to this world, I felt like maybe—just maybe—I could win against fate.
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