Chapter 8A: A world of her own
“Delicious.”
The word repeated in cadence within Alex’s mind over and over again.
“Delicious, absolutely delicious.”
A slightly browned piece of meat roasted away above the campfire. It basked in the orange glow of the flames, enticing Alex with its next savory bite. Still biting and chewing the piece of meat on the skewer in her hand, Alex already anticipated the next one. The flavor of the meat oozing from the little amount of reduced fat stimulated her underdeveloped taste buds like an elixir of life to a dying man. Never before had she eaten something with such strong flavor.
It completely and utterly wiped away the fear of killing from her mind. If she can experience such delicious foods, why not kill? Perhaps a switch had been flipped in her mind at that moment. A switch that all humans instinctually have. The desire to eat good food.
Alex wanted to save some of the meat for tomorrow and the long days afterward, but she feared it would spoil. She read about how organic foodstuffs can spoil and cause serious stomach problems. Such a problem can spell death in a survival situation where one needs to retain as many nutrients as possible. There was only one thing left to do.
She will try to make snake jerky. It was said in the past that when humans needed to preserve food, they salted and dried it. But what Alex lack was salt. Luckily, she only needed to meat to last the remaining five days. It was now the night of her second day. Two days down, only five to go.
“Damn, I really should have read up on food preserving techniques…,” Alex sighed. “I only remember some words I heard my history teach mention.”
Faint memories passed through her mind like wisps of ephemeral ghosts. Even with her great memory, at best she could only grasp a glimpse of what the teacher said on that day.
“Perhaps I should try pickling…No that would take far too long.”
Alex was at a lost. Her mouth moved nonstop, constantly chewing on the meat. Suddenly, the feeling of nausea washed over her. It would seem she ate far too much. She curled up on the ground groaning. It was going to be a difficult night. The lack of self-control really screwed her over this time, but who can resist such delicious things after years of crap?
______
The following morning, Alex woke up feeling more refreshed than ever. With renewed vigor, she went over to where she stored the meat only to find it swarmed by ants.
“What a waste…” Alex sighed. She knew she couldn’t keep the meat for long, but she honestly didn’t expect that it wouldn’t even last the night.
With ants already covering it completely like a set of black armor, there was a high chance other insects have already invaded the meat. She could only toss it away now.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea popped up in her head. If she couldn’t eat the meat herself, why not use it as bait?
With a sharp stone, Alex began tearing a small piece of meat off the corpse. The skin was already laid aside for other uses. With her crude tools, she didn’t have anything to really properly take care of it. But it also felt like too much of a waste to just toss the thing.
Taking some sinews and a stick, Alex fashioned an improvised fishing rod. She saw some small fish swimming about around the waterfall. If she could catch some, perhaps she could have enough food for the day.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
The sun was out in full force today. Blaring down with burning intensity, the midday sun loomed overhead like an ever watchful satellite. The moisture and heat were sapping the strength from Alex as she walked towards the waterfall. Thankfully most of the water had evaporated leaving only the lake and the waterfall intact as a body of water. With the other areas are no longer flooded, the mud dried up and became cracked as new life sprouted from washed away seeds. Tiny green leaves absorbed as much sunlight as they possibly can before the next torrential downpour battered their tiny bodies. Plants that survive the next rain will grow strong enough to survive the next and so on. Even plants lived by the rule of nature.
Alex sat upon a rock jutting out of the water’s edge. She took a fang from the snake and used it as a makeshift hook. Piercing a piece of meat on the fang, she tossed the line deep into the pool. With a small wooden stick tied to the middle of the line, she used it as an indicator of when she got a bite.
Now, the waiting game began. But Alex can’t stay still. She had to do something productive otherwise her mind will wander.
While trying to think of something to keep her busy, a thought suddenly came to her.
“This world is mine.”
She remembered Mr. Gerald’s talk on Agraria. He said it was her own personally pocket dimension. If she survived the trials, the entire world would be hers to mold to her liking.
“A world of my own…” Alex looked around at her surroundings. The lush green trees, the giant leafs, the lake glimmering under the sun, and the sound of insects and creatures stirring about in the wilderness. This entire world will soon be hers, a wondrous playground of her very own.
But Mr. Gerald also mentioned that she must make this place her own. Alex understood that as she remembered the scene from last night. There are predators here. Ones that may even eat her. Once she becomes the top of the food chain, this world will be hers.
“My goal for this world is to eat at least one of every single edible species out there,” Alex said with determination.
As if realizing her intention, a screen popped out in front of her. The top was labeled [Quests]. A single sentence was now displayed underneath it.
[Conquer your world. Goals: Eat at least one of every edible species in the surrounding biome. Current progress 1/127]
She was far from her goal, but at least she took the first step.
Alex smiled at the new development. Looks like this world is a lot more interesting than she thought.
______
Meanwhile, in a world covered in large protruding granite spikes, a lone teen stood in the cover of the shadows.
Nell was shaking uncontrollably as fear overwhelmed all her senses. She barely survived two days by avoiding all the giant carnivorous creatures, but her luck didn’t last that long. A giant creature snuck up on her while she was asleep. Thankfully, its roar woke her up in time and she ran away. Now it was tracking her. Nell could only hide as pray that it doesn’t find her.
“What kind of shitty world is this!?” She cursed in her mind. Her thoughts turned to her friends. Hopefully, they are having better luck than she does.
______
Kurt wiped the sweat from his brow for the umpteenth time. The underground magma around him was bubbling like a pot of soup. Bits of igneous chunks floated above the blazing ooze.
He didn’t have any predators to worry about, but he also didn’t have much in the food and water department either. The world he ended up in was a volcanic mess. He had been trying to get down from the volcanic mountain for two days. If he doesn’t find water soon, he will collapse. Running on sheer will alone, he has persisted for two days. Dehydration was causing his head to hurt and his movement to waver. If he makes one major mistake in his step, he may fall headfirst into a pool of lava.
Off in the distance, he could see the end of lava zone and the beginning of a lush forest. The forest must be full of abundance due to the volcanic ash. If he could make it there, he might have a chance of surviving.
With his mind muddled, Kurt couldn’t help but wonder how his friends are faring. He would send his regards if he weren’t in such a shitty situation right now.
______
A single snowflake fell on top of Ruri’s nose. The chill ticked him as he breathed out a cloud of white fog. He shivered as the wind blew gently. Around him was a winter wonderland. The trees were covered with a fine layer of white snow. Every step he took gave off the satisfying crunch of snow compacting. Taking a tiny handful of snow, Ruri melted it in his mouth and drank. It provided water to his body, but the cold was sapping his stamina. He needed food, or he will freeze to death.
Off in the distance, a single white furred four-legged mammal stared at him. It taunted him with its large antlers. Ruri almost though it was sneering at him.
“I will eat you one day, mark my words!” Ruri yelled at the beast. But to the creature, it only seemed like a small kitten roaring at it. It sneered even more.
______
Every teen faced with their own trial. Every world is harsher than the next. Will they be able to take what they were given and make it their own? Only time will tell.