The frosty air sent my hand reaching instinctively for the duvet, but I didn’t find it. Instead, my fingers grazed something unfamiliar. A jolt of confusion shot through me as I opened my eyes, shaking off the grogginess. The world around me was wrong—no soft bed, no familiar walls. Instead, I lay on the cold, damp ground of a forest.
I sat upright, reaching up to brush a tangle of twigs from my hair, fingers snagging in the wavy mess. It was heavy with damp from the forest floor. My eyes darted helplessly over the alien landscape around me. Colossal trees towered above, their immense trunks reaching towards a canopy so dense it blocked out most of the sky. Faint beams of light filtered through the leaves, revealing not one but two moons hanging in the night sky. The light from them scattered silver patterns across the forest floor.
“What… the… f—,” I whispered, my voice trembling. I hugged myself, as the chill wind sliced through my thin pajamas. Stumbling to the base of a large tree, I crouched down, trying to shield myself from the cold.
The silence was deafening. No rustling leaves, no chirping birds—just the sound of my unsteady breathing. My thoughts spiraled. If this was a dream, it was the most vivid and terrifying one I’d ever had.
A flicker of blue light caught my eye, its glow cutting through the surreal fog clouding my mind. I froze, blinking hard to clear my vision, but the light persisted, coalescing into a floating box right in front of me.
Welcome, descendant of Salodar!
You have been selected at random to return to Aetlantas. You will now be integrated into the system.
This process will take 48 hours to complete, at which point you will have full system access.
Current progress: 47:58:17.
“What the…” I whispered, staring at the message. A timer appeared at the bottom of the box, its numbers ticking down steadily. I rubbed my eyes and even slapped my cheeks, but the glowing message didn’t disappear. Waving my hand through the air, I tried to swat it away, and to my surprise, the box minimised. A small countdown timer appeared in the corner of my vision instead.
“Okay, this is weird. A really, really weird dream.” I muttered, trying to stay calm. Another gust of wind sent shivers through me. “But then, if I’m dreaming, why am I so cold?”
I hugged my knees to my chest, my teeth chattering. My bare feet were already numb and bluish from the cold. I tried to process what was happening, and another notification popped up.
Condition: Cold. (-1 Physical, -2 Mental).
Recommendation: Seek warmth.
“I refer to my original comment,” I told the air, waving my hand in irritation to close the box, “What the hell is going on?!”
My teeth chattered uncontrollably as I hunkered down against the tree’s base, hugging my knees to my chest and rubbing my hands together to try to stop them from turning into icicles.
The screech that tore through the air shattered the silence like glass. My entire body froze, in fear as the sound echoed through the forest, reverberating in my bones. Far above, the canopy exploded with movement as a flurry of wings erupted, scattering startled birds into the night sky. My chest caught, as my heart pounded so loudly it might break through my ribcage. Whatever made that sound was out there, somewhere, and it was close.
“What the fuck was that?!” I scrambled to my feet, not waiting to find out. Springing to my bare feet, I bolted in the opposite direction, the forest floor tearing at my soles as I ran. Twigs snapped beneath me, and sharp rocks jabbed into my heels, but I didn’t dare slow down. Panic surged through me, and the forest blurred as I ran, branches clawing at my arms and face.
“This isn’t real!” I yelled, half-hysterical. “Why am I not waking up?!”
I pinched my arm, hard enough to make my eyes water. The pain was sharp, undeniable, and real. This wasn’t a dream. Another glowing notification appeared, floating obnoxiously in my field of vision and causing me to stumble.
Condition: Elevated heart rate. (-1 Physical).
Recommendation: Slow down to conserve energy.
“Oh, slow down, huh? Sure, let me just take a leisurely stroll while some nightmare thing chases me through the murder forest!” I swatted at the message, frustration spilling over as I pressed onward. Adrenaline kept me moving even as my legs burned and my lungs felt like they were on fire. I stumbled over a root and skidded on my knees, scraping my palms on the rough ground.
For a moment, everything was still. My breath came in ragged gasps, and my body trembled with exhaustion. Looking back over my shoulder, I saw nothing but darkness. Whatever it was hadn’t followed me—at least not yet.
I staggered to my feet, wiping the dirt off my hands.
The countdown timer in the corner of my vision ticked down steadily. Forty-seven hours, forty-six minutes. Somehow, I knew I had to survive until this so-called “integration” was complete. What happened at the end of that, I had no idea.
“Okay, Harriet,” I told myself, forcing steadiness into my voice. “You’ve played survival games. You’ve got this. Step one: find food and shelter. Step two: don’t die.”
With that half-hearted pep talk, I trudged forward into the unknown, every shadow around me making me wonder at what might be lurking just beyond my sight. Every so often, the system would send me another helpful notification.
Condition: Poor nutrition. (-2 Physical).
Recommendation: Seek food immediately.
“No kidding. I skipped dinner before I fell asleep, so I’m starving,” I clutched my growling stomach. “What next? Are you going to tell me I’m tired too?”
I scanned the forest floor for anything that might help me survive. Hunger gnawed at my belly, sharp and insistent, but my feet ached so badly I could barely think straight. I limped forward, wincing with each step, and kept my eyes peeled for something—anything—I could eat.
As I pushed through a dense patch of underbrush, a faint glimmer caught my eye. I crouched cautiously, my heart pounding. A bush covered in dark red berries stood out among the greenery, its fruit almost too perfect. I hesitated, knowing better than to eat random berries in the wild, no matter how hungry I was. They did look pretty juicy though…
“Don’t die,” I muttered to myself again as I reached for a cluster of berries, stopping when a familiar blue box appeared in my vision.
Talent unlocked: Basic Identify.
Would you like to activate this talent? Yes/No.
“‘Basic Identify’? Like, identify what’s edible? That’s… actually useful. Thanks, I guess.”
I focused on the prompt, and the word “Yes” pulsed faintly, as though responding to my thoughts. My vision shifted, and some weird runes or hieroglyphics hovered over the plants around me. They slowly shifted and changed into English.
Sorrowberries: Toxic. Consumption may result in paralysis and gastrointestinal distress.
Taste: sweet but acidic
“Oh, for—of course they’re poisonous.” I threw my hands in the air. “Why wouldn’t they be?”
I turned away from the berries, “Yeah, no thanks. Next.” Scanning my surroundings, my gaze eventually fell on a ring of mushrooms growing at the base of a tree.
Forest Mushroom: Edible. Provides minimal nutrition.
Taste: bitter
“Minimal nutrition? Well, beggars can’t be choosers, I guess.”
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
I picked one of the mushrooms and nibbled its edge. The taste made me gag, but I forced it down. As I ate, a new prompt appeared.
Talent unlocked: Basic Survival Instincts.
Would you like to activate this talent? Yes/No.
“Basic survival? Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Sighing, I again focused on the word ‘yes’, which pulsed faintly, and the notification disappeared. I popped another mushroom in my mouth, grimacing at the terrible flavour. “Ugh. Well, let’s hope that means I don’t end up dying in the middle of… wherever the hell this place is.”
I looked around the forest floor, this new ability casting a faint glow over every nearby plant. "Edible" notices reassuringly labeled the mushrooms I had just eaten, while toxic warnings practically screamed danger from the Sorrowberries. I kept moving, occasionally stopping to pick an edible mushroom and put it in my pyjama pocket for later. My feet throbbed with each step, and the biting cold continued to sap my strength. Hunger clawed at my belly despite the disgusting snack I had forced down.
The silence of the forest pressed in on me, broken only by the crunch of twigs beneath my bare feet and my own occasional muttered complaints. I glanced at the timer in the corner of my vision: 47:23:06. Still over 47 hours left of… whatever this was.
Condition: Cold. (-1 Physical, -2 Mental).
Recommendation: Seek warmth immediately.
“Still cold? No shit, Sherlock!” I growled, My teeth were chattering again, and the thin fabric of my pajamas did nothing to protect me from the biting wind. I needed shelter, and soon.
After what felt like hours of stumbling through the trees, I spotted a massive fallen log lying across the forest floor. Its hollowed-out base looked just large enough to crawl into.
“Not exactly a five-star hotel,” I muttered, peering inside. The air smelled of damp rot, and the interior was dark and uninviting. The idea of crawling into a dark hole didn’t exactly scream safety, but it was better than freezing to death in the open.
With a deep breath, I crawled inside, wincing as my knees scraped against the rough bark. Once tucked inside, I curled up as tightly as possible, wrapping my arms around myself in a desperate attempt to conserve warmth.
The system chimed again, its clinical tone feeling almost smug.
Status Update: Shelter acquired.
Condition: Cold (-1 Physical, -2 Mental) remains active but stabilised.
“Stabilised. Fantastic. I feel so much b-better now. I’ll just ignore the fact that I f-feel like an icicle.”
My body trembled uncontrollably as the cold seeped into my bones. The log did little to block out the cold, and my body trembled uncontrollably as exhaustion dragged me down. I closed my eyes, desperate for sleep, even though every instinct screamed at me to stay alert.
I finally drifted off, but my dreams were chaotic and fragmented—shadows chasing me, glowing symbols swirling in the dark, and the unrelenting sound of a timer ticking down.
When I woke, the faint rays of dawn filtered through the cracks in the log. My entire body ached from shivering through the night. As my vision cleared, a new notification filled my view.
Status screen unlocked.
Condition and attributes trackers unlocked.
Title, Class, and Profession systems have been integrated.
Information on gained Titles, Classes, and Professions will become available via your Status screen.
I groaned, rubbing my temples as the floating text refused to go away. “Great. More game mechanics. Because that’s exactly what I need right now.”
Swiping the notification aside, I crawled out of the log. My muscles screamed in protest, and when I put them on the cold ground, my feet felt like raw, shredded pulp.
Another notification blinked into view, its clinical tone only adding to my irritation.
You have been awarded 2 Attribute Points.
Distribute points to adjust your Physical, Mental, or Social Attributes.
I frowned, the glowing words both confusing and tantalising. “Wait, distribute points? Like leveling up in a game?” A circle of blue light flashed in the top left of my vision, and I poked it, opening what looked suspiciously like a video game character sheet. My name hovered at the top, followed by a series of stats that made me wince.
Name: Harriet Price
Age: 24
Type: Human
Titles: None
Classes: None
Professions: None
Talents: Basic Identify, Basic Survival Instincts
Condition: Cold (-1 Physical, -2 Mental), Poor nutrition (-2 Physical, -1 Mental), Stress (-3 Mental, -2 Social, -1 Physical), Low muscle density (-3 Physical, -2 Social)
Attributes:
Vitality: 44/50
Physical: 10(-7)
Mental: 14(-6)
Social: 7(-4)
Luck: 10
Available Attribute Points: 2
Experience: 0/100
“Low muscle density? Ouch. That’s just mean… and what’s this about experience? Why’s that zero?”
I hovered over the Physical stat, “Okay, I’ve got two points. Physical’s in the toilet, but Mental isn’t much better. Social? Useless out here—I’m not exactly going to be making friends with the mushrooms.”
With a resigned sigh, I tapped on Physical, watching the number tick up slightly. The second point I allocated to Mental, hoping it might help me think clearly.
Physical: 11(-7)
Mental: 15(-6)
“Not much of a difference, but it’s better than nothing.”
A faint warmth spread through my limbs, subtle but comforting, as the changes took effect. The system chimed again with another of its customary unhelpful reminders.
Condition: Poor nutrition (-2 Physical, -1 Mental).
Recommendation: Locate sustenance immediately.
“Yeah, I know. Believe me, I know.” I glanced toward the corner of my vision, where the timer continued its relentless countdown. 40:21:06.
“Still over 40 hours,” I muttered, my voice hoarse. “What’s the endgame here, system thingy? What’s integration? Is this some weird game? Am I in a coma? Was I kidnapped? What even is this place?”
I rubbed at my arms, to try and coax some warmth into my body as the morning sun weakly filtered through the towering trees. The countdown in the corner of my vision steadily ticked on, oddly soothing, like a metronome keeping time in a symphony of silence. Except the silence wasn’t comforting. It was oppressive. No birds chirped, no insects buzzed. All I could hear was my own ragged breathing and the faint creak of swaying branches high above.
I had almost managed to convince myself that the screech from last night was my imagination—or at least, that whatever made it had gone far, far away. But the sensation of being watched, that prickling on the back of my neck, hadn’t gone away. I shifted my weight lower, peering out past the trees that encircled the clearing. For a moment, all seemed calm.
Then I saw it. The creature stood at the edge of the clearing, its silhouette blotting out a patch of sunlight. It was massive, nearly the size of a horse, with a hunched posture that made it look almost humanoid, though its elongated limbs suggested otherwise. Its skin—or was it scales?—was a mottled grey-green that blended unnervingly well with the forest floor, and its face…
My stomach dropped just looking at it. Large antlers with multiple prongs that came to razor sharp points grew from its forehead, and as its mouth opened slightly, rows of needle-like teeth were revealed as it sniffed the air.
Creature: Greater Leshi
Danger level: Moderate
Recommendation: Flee
Dismissing the helpful box informing me that I was in terrible danger, I slowly hunched down, my breath caught in my throat. It’s just looking around. It doesn’t know I’m here. It doesn’t know I’m here. But then its head jerked, and its gaze locked onto mine.
“Shit!” I didn’t wait to see what it would do. Scrambling back into the log, I kicked a hole out of the other side, ignoring the sharp pain as my bare feet crashed through the rotten wood. I scrambled out the other side of the log, hoping it would create some obstacle to the thing coming after me. The creature let out a screech—louder, more piercing than the one last night—and launched itself forward. I didn’t think, I just ran.
Condition: Elevated heart rate. (-1 Physical).
Recommendation: Slow down to conserve energy.
“Are you kidding me?!” I screamed at the system, swiping wildly at the air until the window minimised. The pounding of my feet matched the drumbeat of my pulse. I dodged between the towering trees. A branch caught my arm, tearing at the thin fabric of my sleeve, but I didn’t stop. The screeching behind me grew more frantic, the sound drilling into my skull as I ran away from the terror that chased me.
The adrenaline kept me running even though I had no energy, even though I was bone cold and my feet were sliced to ribbons. I ran and ran, swiping away notifications without reading them in order to keep running without tripping as my vision became partially obscured by their glowing blue.
I stumbled and fell to my knees, having nothing left to fuel my escape. My breaths came as ragged wheezing, and my heartbeat thudded loudly in my ears.
All was quiet again.
“I’ll just rest here for a bit…”
The forest stretched endlessly around me, a maze of towering trees and dense underbrush. I scanned my surroundings; my Identify talent highlighted potential food sources. Identify labeled most of the flora with grim warnings, but I found enough scraps of edible plants within crawling distance to dull the hunger pangs just enough to keep me going.