After walking for nearly several hours, passing through increasingly dense and somewhat dark trees, he reached the top of a small hill. He stopped to catch his breath, leaning against a tree trunk. And that was when he saw it.
Far on the horizon, piercing through a thin layer of clouds, stood a tower.
The tower was unlike any man-made structure he had ever seen. It appeared to be made of glowing white stone, so tall that its peak was lost in the sky.
Its design seemed ancient, with no windows or balconies, only a smooth surface that rose toward the sky like the finger of a god. The tower radiated an aura of power and mystery so strong that it could be felt even from a distance.
It was the only sign of "civilization"—or something else—in that endless green ocean. A destination. A beacon in the midst of ignorance.
Ars's heart pounded. He didn't know what the tower was, but he knew one thing for sure: he had to get there. It was the only hope he had.
With his gaze fixed on the tower in the distance, Ars forgot his pain for a moment and continued his halting journey. The mystery of the tower had given him something more valuable than strength or weapons: a destination.
The sun began to set, turning the sky into a palette of orange and purple. Ars' journey was much slower than he had hoped.
His ankles had swollen to twice their normal size, and every step was torture. The forest, which had previously only been threatening, now felt truly deadly as the shadows lengthened and strange sounds began to echo among the trees.
He knew he wouldn't survive in the open. A gamer's top priority in survival mode was to find shelter.
After several desperate searches, luck—or perhaps the lingering influence of The Fool—led him to a small crevice between large rock formations.
It was more like a hole than a cave, but it was large enough for him to crawl inside and hide from view.
Inside, the smell of damp earth and darkness greeted him. He sat leaning against the cold stone wall, finally allowing himself to feel the overwhelming exhaustion.
His body trembled, not just from the cold, but also from the lingering adrenaline and sheer fear.
In the silence and temporary safety, Ars's mind began to work. He had to understand what had just happened, understand his powers if he wanted to see the sunrise tomorrow.
Ars pulled out the Gloomfang Fang he had taken before leaving. The item felt real, heavy, and sharp in his hand. The system notification earlier proved that some of the "game" rules still applied. But what about the rest?
"No experience points," he whispered into the darkness. Defeating the wolf, even in an unconventional way, should have granted him EXP. But his status panel hadn't changed at all. He was still a Wanderer without a level.
This meant the progression system in this world was different. Maybe there were no levels at all. Then, how would his [Unlimited Potential] manifest? Does [Probability Manipulation] work? Was it just a poetic phrase to say he could learn anything if he had the time—time he clearly didn't have?
His thoughts turned to [Arcana Shift]. The banana incident.
At first, it seemed like a cruel cosmic joke. But now, after his panic subsided, he began to analyze it from a gamer's perspective.
"The effect is random," he muttered. "But... is it really random?"
He replayed the incident in his mind. He was cornered, his leg injured, unable to run. The wolf was about to pounce. What was on his mind at that moment? What was his most urgent desire?
And what did he get? A banana. A harmless object. But *the effect*? The banana peel was extremely slippery. A trap that literally made him *fall* and *stop*.
Ars felt a shiver down his spine. Perhaps his ability wasn't entirely random. Perhaps Arcana The Fool didn't give him what he *asked* for, but interpreted his *intent* in the most literal, most absurd, and most "foolish" way possible.
It was a conceptual power disguised as a joke. It was terrifying and... fascinating at the same time.
But with a six-hour cooldown, every use had to be carefully calculated. One mistake, and he might end up with a bucket of confetti when facing a dragon.
The thirst that felt like it was burning his throat pulled him back to reality. He hadn't drunk anything since arriving in this world. Water was the next priority.
That night was the longest of his life. Every sound outside the cave made him tense. Distant howls, the chirping of strange insects, and mysterious rustling in the bushes kept him awake.
He clutched the sharp Gloomfang Fang to his chest, the only small comfort in a world that felt like it wanted to devour him. This was no longer a game; this was the real world, where the night could not be passed with a single click.
---
The pale light of dawn finally penetrated the dark cave. Ars had survived his first night. He felt tired and sore, but he was still alive.
He crawled out of the cave, greeted by the fresh morning air. His ankles were still swollen, but the pain had subsided into a dull throbbing. The white marble tower still stood majestically in the distance, unshaken, a silent promise.
He had to find water. Remembering lessons from survival games he had played, he knew that water tended to flow downhill. He began moving down the hillside, using his stick to support his weight.
After about half an hour of torturous searching, he heard the most beautiful sound in the world: the trickling of water. He followed the sound and found a small, clear stream, its water flowing swiftly over smooth rocks.
He almost cried with relief. He lay down on the riverbank and drank his fill, feeling the cold water soothe his parched throat and refresh his weary body. He washed his face and hands, cleaning the blood and dirt from yesterday's battle.
Hunger began to gnaw at his stomach. He spotted some red berry bushes near the river. In the game, they were Sunberries, low-level stamina recovery items.
But this wasn't a game. Were these berries safe? Doubt made him hesitate. One wrong move could mean death from poison.
For now, Ars decided not to take the risk. Water was far more important than uncertain food.
After resting briefly by the riverbank, he continued his journey toward the tower. He moved slowly, always alert, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings, his ears picking up every sound. He had learned his lesson. This world wouldn't give him a second chance.
That afternoon, while resting under the shade of a large tree, he saw something out of place. Among the protruding tree roots, there was a rock that was too regular, too square to be a natural formation.
Driven by curiosity, he approached it. He swept away the moss and leaves covering the stone. It was not just a rock; it was part of a ruined foundation. A ruin.
He looked around and realized he was in the middle of the remains of a small building. Most of it had been swallowed by the forest, leaving only a few foundation stones and one collapsed wall. In the middle of the ruins stood a small, weathered stone altar.
It was an ancient temple.
Ars approached the altar cautiously. On the flat surface of the altar was an engraving. The carving had been worn away by time, but the image was still clearly recognizable.
It was a picture of a young man in traveler's clothes, carrying a small bag at the end of a stick slung over his shoulder.
He stood cheerfully on the edge of a cliff, a small dog jumping at his feet. His eyes were fixed on the sky, as if he didn't care about the precipice below him.
Ars's heart pounded. He recognized the image. It was a classic depiction of the same Arcana card that had appeared in his mind yesterday.
The Fool.
Below the carving, there was a line of writing in ancient script that he should not have been able to read. However, strangely, the words formed clearly in his mind as if he had known them all his life.
The Wanderer began without a destination, Zero was his treasure, and the world was his path.
Ars reached out his trembling hand and touched the carving. When his fingertips touched the cold stone, he felt a faint vibration.
Not a physical vibration, but a deep energy, a resonance that felt familiar at the core of his being. It felt like an invisible string connecting him to this ancient temple had just been plucked.
Suddenly, his system panel appeared before him, displaying a new notification.
[You have found the Seed of Destiny.]
[New ability acquired: Observer's Eye (Passive)]
Ars read the notification with wide eyes. He quickly checked his status panel.
[Observer's Eye (Passive)]: Allows you to see basic information about objects, creatures, or items by focusing your attention. The greater the target's power, the more blurred the information becomes.
To test it, Ars then began to stare at the Gloomfang Fang in his hand and concentrated. A small information window appeared beside him.
> [Gloomfang Fang (Damaged)]
> Quality: Poor
> Description: Fang from a young Gloomfang Wolf. Its serrated edges can be used as an emergency weapon or low-grade crafting material. Damage from improper retrieval has significantly reduced its value.
Then he tried it on a red berry in a nearby bush.
> [Sunberry]
> Quality: Common
> Description: A fruit commonly found in temperate forests. Edible. Restores a small amount of stamina and alleviates hunger. Side effects: none.
Ars felt like he had just been given the key to unlock the entire world. This was analytical ability, a skill that was extremely valuable to a gamer like him.
This was the first tangible proof of his "Unlimited Potential." His ability did not grow by killing, but by discovering... something. Discovering places like this.
He looked back at the carving of The Fool on the altar. His arrival in this world, and the Arcana bestowed upon him, were clearly no coincidence.
There was a pattern, a purpose, even if he couldn't yet see the bigger picture. He wasn't just a lost Nael. He was Ars. He was The Fool. And according to the ancient writing, the world was his path.
The hunger that had gripped him earlier now felt insignificant compared to his hunger for answers. The mystery of his existence here was no longer a frightening burden, but a challenging adventure.
He picked a handful of Sunberries and put them in his mouth. They tasted sweet and slightly sour, and he could feel warm energy spreading throughout his tired body.
With new strength and renewed purpose, Ars stood tall. He gazed toward the marble tower in the distance.
The tower was no longer just a random destination; it now felt like part of the path he must take. Perhaps there, or on the journey there, he would find another Seed of Destiny.