[Standing Torch] = Wood (Any, 1.2-1.8m) + Bark (Any, 0.1-0.5kg) + Leaves (Dry, 0.05-0.1kg) + 2 Flint (0.5-1kg)
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Not much time left.
Jay could feel the dwindling sunlight closing in yet again. Just like on that first night, the beats were all the same. He rushed around the woods with little more than a knife, preparing for a threat he did not understand. While he hadn’t known what Natura was on the first evening, all he worried about now was how much stronger it would rise against him.
He entered another clearing and breathed easy, seeing the next freebie. Where a Tasmanian devil had once stood tall, only its split torso remained. The rest had disintegrated into a pile of exposed bone and muscle.
Thanks, Naomi. It had taken a bit to catch her meaning, but she had murdered everything without consequence on her way to his camp, and because the monsters were so low-level, she hadn’t bothered to take anything from them. Only a small amount of time had passed since she left, so none of their corpses had despawned yet.
From predator to scavenger. Not the best shift to take, but beggars couldn’t be choosers when the stakes were this high.
But still, would this be enough? He checked the Guide, straight to its very first entry.
Welcome to your Tutorial, Expatriate! You have 7 days to complete this phase before Natura attacks in full force. To get started, grab some materials and craft yourself a [Crude Axe].
Except he’d never gotten a tutorial, the Expat core that came with it, and his seven days were almost up. Reaching the spot he’d started at the beginning of the day was hard enough. How the hell was he supposed to face Natura at its full force?
He sighed, knowing the truth.
He couldn’t.
The sun trickled down another degree, and the beads of sweat rolled down anew. Even this late in the day, the heat wave had turned this entire part of the jungle into an open-aired furnace. With the lack of humidity in the air, it felt like the slightest spark would set the whole world ablaze.
Jay grinned, an idea forming. Yes, he was thinking about this all wrong. Mindless grinding had never been the answer until now, and it wouldn’t be his only chance to live.
He’d just have to use Natura’s very world against it.
* * *
The sun crested on the horizon, once again shrouding the sky and ocean under a haze of orange and yellow. A cloudless horizon melded with a growing twilight while the chaotic ocean beneath fractured against its design. Like yin and yang, the two opposing planes only had the thin horizon as a buffer. Eternal foes, forever destined to be at odds.
And Jay stood tall in the middle of his base, his tiny campfire burning hot. There hadn’t been much time to get the needed retrofits in, but he’d managed it in the end.
What had once been an acre of dense forest was now smoothed into an open field. All the wood had been broken down and cleared out, with many heaped at the base of his ridge as a wall of fortifications. The rest of the area was surrounded by a massing ring of torches, each an equal one meter tall and one-meter distance apart.
The endless bed of dehydrated leaves left behind by today’s heat wave was highlighted by this ring of fire. There was no way for any enemy to come for him that he couldn’t see a mile away, and he’d filled out fuel for the torches to maximize burn time.
Hopefully, that would be enough.
Stats time. It had been a while since Jay took a deep dive into the progress of his skills and levels, but if this was the hardest fight yet, he had to make sure there were no gaps.
Name: Jay Reis (Primal Age)
Vitality – 33/33
Hunger – 72/72
Thirst – 22/24 (Sweltering+2)
Fatigue – 34/48
Sanity – 97/100
Main Crafts: Armor Crafting 1, Base Building 1, Cooking 0, Medicine 0, Tailoring 1, Tool Crafting 1, Weapon Crafting 1.
Weapon Crafts: Axes 0, Bows 1, Spears 3.
Armor Crafts: Heavy Armor 2, Light Armor 2, Shields 2, Medium Armor 0.
Armor Skills:
Heavy Armor: [Push]
Light Armor: [Dash]
Shield: [Brace]
Weapon Skills:
Spears: [Thrust]
More importantly, he needed to double-check his current gear before the fight. Jay flipped the page and frowned.
[Fur Helmet+1] (Reinforced). This [Fur Helmet+1] has been modified for extra durability.
[Fur Chestpiece+1]
[Fur Leggings]
[Fur Boots]
[Flint Spear+1] (Reinforced). This [Flint Spear+1] has been modified for extra durability.
[Bone Dart Pouch+1]. This [Bone Dart Pouch] contains 12 [Bone Darts] (Poisoned) + 8 [Bone Darts]
[Wooden Bow]
20 [Flinthead Arrows] (Poisoned). These [Flinthead Arrows] have been modified with [Basic Poison Grease].
[Flint Knife]
[Stone Axe]
[Stone Hammer]
Overall, fine. Jay had collected everything he could with the time available, and his current kit reflected that. Aside from the bow, his weapons and tools were leftovers from his attempted raid in the cairn. He’d managed to throw together some fur armor by scavenging from the bodies that Naomi left in her wake. That still left a missing shield and several other cores to complete what he’d lost, but he could still eke out a couple skills if he timed them well.
He breathed deep, knowing his plan. No matter what came next, Jay would do whatever was required to see it through.
The sun twinkled out, once again heralding night. The sky turned black for an instant before shifting to a mosaic of bright stars twinkling through an abyssal sea. The red planet glared down like a giant eyeball bathed in blood.
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Darkness rose within the forest beyond his ring of torches, and the air grew still. Jay relished a mouthful of cool air as the heat wave died out, but that was all the respite he was given.
Out from the blackened palms and the shifting shadows, howls formed. Not one or two like he’d been used to hearing, but over a dozen in these opening seconds, each of a different tone and pitch. Screeches followed in equal measure, and roars came soon after. All at once, a choir of sinister, primordial ululations erupted from the forest beyond as Natura manufactured its next army of soldiers.
Jay quaked despite himself. Just how many were in there? He squinted into the veil and saw nothing but a wall of black spindles beneath a starlit sky.
Then the eyes started lighting up. Pairs of pale green candles whisked into existence, forming parallel constellations against the stars above. But where Annwyn’s night sky showed an organic mosaic of diverse colors and lights, these machinations were ordered, ugly things. All green. All monstrous. All ready to march forth.
Jay watched as dozens – no, hundreds – formed. So many!
The first silhouette materialized from this void. Humanoid, hunched over, its pale green eyes flashing as its monkey-like body scampered up and down. As it moved past the first torch, it glared in Jay’s direction, revealing a mouth filled with sharpened stone. It raised an arm and hissed.
More came. Many, many more. Though these were smaller in shape than the clay gorillas, there were at least twenty marching as a single unit, gripping sticks and rocks as primitive weapons.
Other creatures followed. There were the usual suspects. Vined coyotes marched forth like attack hounds, and a handful of clay gorillas moved like commanders for the smaller monkeys. A group of wooden owls swooped overhead the main force. But they weren’t alone either. Deer, boars, snakes, lynxes… All made of the same natural elements, with those same pale green eyes. Even the verdant wolves had exploded in number, with at least ten in their ranks.
Jay gawked against the insurmountable force in front. How the hell was he supposed to beat this!? Even if he’d still had all his best gear ready, he wouldn’t be able to make a dent against this many enemies at once. There were hundreds of monsters now!
Then the general marched forth. Towering over everything else, this monstrosity was composed of a fusion of lichen-covered stone and bark crunched over itself. It moved on all fours, crunching into the dried leaf floor with gargantuan paws. When it reached the center of the mass, it stood on two legs, rising over ten feet tall. Those same pale green eyes narrowed onto Jay, burning hatred from a sunken, granite brow.
A bear made of bark and stone now? And yet, Jay’s cheeks locked into a mad grin at this new sight. He knew it was the drop in sanity by facing so much Natura at once, but who really gave a shit? All life ended in death, and this death made him so alive! Why not have some fun with speedrunning this game too?
Jay grumbled, rubbed his eyes, and went for his waterskin. The taste of his last lifeberry tea wet his tongue, and his mind cleared at once.
Again, he shifted back to battle mode, now with his insanity in check.
The stage was set. Natura’s armada stood in front, ready to charge. Jay remained alone, atop his fortress with nothing to save him than that which he’d crafted himself. Would that be enough?
The bear roared, and the monsters charged.
At once, Jay ditched the spear and drew his bow. The pile of flinthead arrows stood at the ready, their surfaces dull and oily where the basic poison grease had been applied. He quickly drew one and fired, then followed with another. And another. And another. Painful gasps erupted from the shifting mass of monsters, but he did not bother to see where they landed. Too little time. Jay moved mechanically as he launched the arrows forth, refusing to stop until he was out.
Another roar broke the spell, and Jay watched without hope as the monster army remained unchanged from his volley. The main force pressed against the base of the ridge.
He tossed the bow and went for his next trap. With a snap of his spear against twine, the logs were released. They barreled down the hill, crashing into the vanguard of monkeys.
But the rest had already spread to the side before they could land, and the deer merely leapt over the incoming obstacle. Jay grit his teeth as monsters barreled for him.
He reached his spear just as the first came in range.
[Thrust].
Ichor exploded as the flint spearhead burst through a motley of vines and brambles. The deer groaned, and its eyes dimmed.
Another rammed Jay before he could recover, sending him aside. A kick from a third launched him back. His body tumbled into the dried leaves below, their sharpened edges chaffing against his flesh where exposed.
He coughed up dust and rolled back upright, spear still in hand. The deer snorted, ready to charge again.
Just a little more, he reminded himself. He only needed to hold out against this confrontation for slightly longer.
The deer attacked. Jay danced to the side, using his heightened vitality to keep ahead of these lesser enemies. He need not waste the skills. With a thrust of his spear, more monster blood gushed free.
The two sides danced back and forth. More manifestations trickled over the log trap, now disoriented from the main force. Jay slaughtered all he could with ease, relying on a [Thrust] when necessary, but mostly vaulting around his workshop to keep them at bay.
Wooden owls swooped down from above, adding a new dimension to his strife. Jay yelped as their talons ripped into his fur armor, but their craftsmanship held firm. He leapt into the air and swept his spear around, cleaving through a few where able. Their bodies flopped lifelessly below.
Then the wooden wall of his workshop sundered in two. Jay watched without words as the giant bear monster began to claw through like a child opening a present.
It wasn’t alone either. Everywhere Jay looked, his defenses were crumbling. While many of the monsters had gone through the main entrance, plenty more were willing to cut through the steeper ridge, using the weight of their numbers to disassemble these pitiful traps.
The fight was over. Though Jay had managed to kill his share of monsters, it was a mere fraction of what remained. After so much time to organize, Natura had formed an inner wall of bodies around his collapsing base. Where the outer ring of torches still burned bright, this one was a darkened mass of wood and mud, woven together with vines and roots. They clawed against all in sight, tearing down the fortress that he had spent the week constructing.
His brilliant bastion was getting crushed like an ant against an elephant.
Jay breathed deep, watching dried leaves drift through the air where the turmoil had disturbed their spot.
This fight might have been over, but the real battle was about to begin. As the giant bear limbered forth, he gripped his spear and bent low. The general of this hideous army stood on its hind legs again, claws readying to kill.
And Jay turned on his heels and sprinted the other way.
A clay gorilla raised an arm to block his escape, but a [Thrust] staggered its defense, and his [Dash] burst through the opening created. A verdant wolf growled to its flank, but a second [Dash] was all he required to evade this foe.
He reached the edge of the ridge and plunged forth with all might. His feet buckled against the bed of dead leaves but did not break.
Jay kept running. The howls of his enemies grew quieter as he made a healthy distance. But not for long; the crunches of leaves erupted behind, and Jay didn’t need to look to know that the squad of verdant wolves would be hot on the chase.
He heaved and [Dashed] quickly in rapid succession, hoping to buy himself more time. His body nearly gave out from the sudden use of so many concurrent skills, but he blinked through blurring vision and pressed on.
There could be no mistakes. No moment of weakness. He had to make this end.
Jay reached the ring of torches, marking the edge of the plateau. His limbs screamed for rest.
Only then did Jay allow himself to turn back. The monstrous army was hot in pursuit, their shrill bleating elated for the prize they would soon claim. The wolves pushed forth as an advance force and would be on him within moments. A veil of dust and dried leaves kicked into the air like cavalry on the move. All a giant blob, ready to smite their minuscule, puny enemy.
Exactly as planned.
He tipped over the nearest torch. The bed of dried leaves ignited at once, courtesy of the heat wave that had plagued him all day.
Before the moment could be lost, he knocked over the torches to the left and right. They fell into their neighbors, knocking them over like dominoes, one after another. Where each of these torches struck the ground, more fires sprung up.
The abominable howls evolved to fearful shrieks as the wall of fire spread, but it was too late. No measure of redirecting could save them. In less than a minute of the first torch triggering another, the ring had all fallen, sprouting fires that quickly enveloped the free tinder beneath. The Natura spawn glowered as the odds tilted so suddenly against them. Their organized charge gave way to chaotic dissonance, each falling over themselves to find an escape that was not there.
The fire exploded in height, the heat forcing it inward like a furnace, torching the contents within. Nothing could get out now.
And Jay beamed from the safety of a nearby boulder. He had cobbled this plan a mere two hours before dusk. By removing all signs of shade, the climate had been turned into its most arid state possible, and with all the heat pressing down, what had once been a lush jungle floor had instead turned into an open sheet of kindling, just waiting for a light.
The monsters began to cling to the very workshop that Jay had abandoned, hoping to avoid the fire until it died out. Again, there was no hope. His workshop was made of wooden fortifications and would burn like anything else. Their painful screams climaxed as the flames licked their forms.
Jay no longer saw an army of monsters, but the bullies he’d known from a life on Earth. All those classmates and coworkers and adults who told him that he’d never go anywhere with his life if all he cared about was games. Just like these monstrous creatures, they had looked down on him like he was a loser. Like he couldn’t win at life. Destined to forever be trapped in mediocrity. What would they all have said if they could see him now?
Jay knew where this would go next. Natura would rise again tomorrow night, but he would just come up with another trick before then. He might have gotten the toughest card in the deck with this rough landing, but that would never be enough to stop him for good.
Jay would survive in this chaotic realm. No, he’d thrive. Whatever evils wished him dead… Whatever dice rolls worked against him… He would use every cheat he could to get the upper hand. Not even the gods of this world would get in his way.
Jay Reis would earn this second chance at life, no matter the cost.
He cackled. Against the unfairness. Against the unfettered challenge. Against the hysteria of it all!
Annwyn. An entire world built around video game mechanics. His lifelong dream. His most terrifying nightmare. Somehow combined as one.
As the manifestations all gave way to a dazzling, brilliant flame of his own making, Jay consulted the Guide one last time. His laugh burst into a guffaw as he watched the Stat in front. For the first time since his arrival, his mind finally felt in sync with the anarchic world he’d been presented with, and here was the proof.
Sanity – 100/100