Based on her current magical strength, Arya's maximum flight time was one hour and twenty minutes. However, to avoid accidents, it was best to fly for only an hour before returning.
Though her Talent was flight, Arya felt that this wasn't true flying—it was more like moving in a zero-gravity environment, as if she were floating through space. Without any propulsion, she simply drifted, relying on the wind to carry her. She had to be careful in areas where there was little to no wind; a single miscalculation could land her in trouble.
There was one more important point: she absolutely could not let anyone see her fly. Not because it was a secret skill—skills weren't something one hid in a world active mostly during the day—but because of her legs. For the first period after takeoff, her legs were completely uncontrollable, dangling awkwardly like a "7." Even if someone saw, it would only be mildly amusing. But social death was something Arya refused to risk. One could die physically, but social death—humiliation—was far worse. This was a matter of principle.
"Delicious!"
After her self-heating hotpot was ready, Arya, who hadn't eaten properly for several days, eagerly scooped a potato slice into her mouth. The explosive mix of butter and chili hit her taste buds, and she couldn't help but exclaim in delight. Since her car accident five years ago, hospital meals had been her only diet. She hadn't tasted anything remotely spicy in years, and now she devoured the hotpot ravenously.
While eating, she checked the regional chat messages.
"What are your basic skills? Mine is Gathering Skill, costs 20 magic points, but I only have 50 in total."
"How do you know it costs 20 magic points?"
"I snuck out and tried it at the entrance."
"Amazing!"
"Thumbs up for the brave one."
"Mine is Gathering Skill, too."
"Mine too."
"Seems like everyone's basic magic is the same. Too bad I only have 30 magic points; I can only use it once before resting."
"That's not bad, sis. I'm worse off, with only 1 Spirit and 10 magic points. Guess I won't get to use magic."
"Brother, isn't your Spirit too low?"
"No choice, maybe I'm just not born to be a mage."
"Then how will you gather?"
"My original profession was a lumberjack, so I chose an axe. Tomorrow, I'll just return to my old job."
"I chose a pickaxe. Want to swap tools tomorrow?"
"What a coincidence! Let's add each other as friends and discuss it."
Arya almost choked. She thought her own attributes were just average, but others were clearly on another level. Still, what they said made sense: high Intelligence didn't always equal high Spirit.
But 20 magic points… that meant she could only use Gathering Skill four times before resting. She needed to save enough magic for flight, reducing it to three uses.
"By the way, what resources does your Shelter need to upgrade? Why does mine need 3,100 vines and ten E-grade monster crystal cores? Is this reasonable?"
"It's reasonable. Depends on where you live. My Shelter is in a cave and needs 3,000 stones and 100 wood."
"Wouldn't it be simpler? Mine needs vines, stones, wood, and soil."
Seeing their discussion reminded Arya about her own Shelter upgrade. She quickly checked the requirements:
Tree Hole Shelter (Level 2) Upgrade Requirements:
Wood × 2,500
Stone × 100
Vine × 500
E-grade monster crystal core × 10
Different Shelters required different materials, and Arya wasn't sure how easy these would be to obtain. She stared at her Gathering Skill silently. The World's Will had said higher Shelter levels strengthened the Magic Shield, but that also implied increasing danger in the future.
Never mind. Since she was here, she would make the best of it and worry about the future later.
With a full stomach, her blood focused on digestion, allowing her tense mind to finally relax. Sleep sounded like a luxury she couldn't resist. Although her bed was just a pile of straw, it felt far better than the previous wooden plank she had slept on. At least this wasn't uncomfortable.
Wait… did I forget something?
Lying on the straw, Arya felt the blissful relief of sleep, something she hadn't experienced properly in days. When she opened her eyes the next morning, sunlight streamed through the glass window, bathing the room in a warm glow. She didn't know the exact time, but she quickly cast Light Body Technique on herself.
Gulp, gulp, gulp—after drinking a few sips of cold mineral water, Arya shivered from the chill. She then checked the world and regional channels, grabbed the ham sausage she had left on the desk, and flew out.
Only then did she fully take in her surroundings. She was in a forest, surrounded by towering trees. Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting sparkling reflections on a small stream below. The place looked magical and surreal.
The tree housing her Shelter had an estimated diameter of at least a hundred meters. Compared to the massive trunk, her tree hole Shelter's small door looked like a sesame seed stuck on a watermelon—perfectly inconspicuous. That was actually good; even during the day, no one would suspect a Shelter existed there. It felt like a secret base, which made her a little giddy.
But if this was a tree Shelter, why weren't there any stairs? The door was at least twenty to thirty meters above the ground. Without Light Body Technique, descending would be tricky.
Circling the trunk, Arya noticed vines covering it. If she cleared them, movement would be easier, and she would feel safer. She used Gathering Skill on the vines. With a sharp "snap," part of them collapsed and fell to the ground.
This survival world was harsh—there were no tools, no automatic storage. Holding onto the remaining vines, Arya descended carefully, then returned to her room after collecting the fallen vines.
After selecting Open Shop on the small exchange screen, she tossed the vines onto it. Instantly, they disappeared.
Arya took a moment to breathe. Life in this world was tough, but with each small success, she felt capable. She had food, a Shelter, and some control over her surroundings. The day was just beginning, and she planned to make the most of it.
With a deep breath, she looked out at the forest. Birds chirped, leaves rustled in the wind, and the sunlight glinted across the stream. Despite the danger looming in this world, there was beauty here too. She could survive. She would survive.
Gathering Skill, flight, and determination—these were all she needed to start shaping her new life.