With the mysterious figure gone and the night still quiet I decided to do some exploring but figure it would be good to keep track of things. Picking up some branches from the ground near the river I take 10 long strides and stop.
Eden
[Yes Carrots]
I just walked 30 feet with a bearing of -45 degrees, correct?
[Information is not correct]
It didn't say the information isn't available, that means I'm on to something.
I just walked 30 feet, correct?
[You just walked 28 feet]
Another happy dance, the new Rank paying off!
Using this method, I'm actually able to measure out my land parcel over the next few hours. During that time, I was also able to hunt 3 rabbits, 1 deer using my bow and a new creature that looks like a fox with an armadillo head.
In the end, my land parcel is 1.5 miles east to west and 2 miles north to south.
Empowered by my new understanding of what Eden can do I decide to try something else.
Eden.
[Yes Carrots]
What is my current location?
[Information is not currently available]
Eden, how far am I from the center of my land parcel?
[You are 45 yards from the center of your land parcel]
Which direction is the center of my land parcel?
[The center of your land parcel is at a bearing of 15 degress]
So the center of my land parcel is 45 yards to the North East?
[Correct]
A massive grin forms on my face.
Eden, you are able to interface with my auditory senses to make your voice audible to me, that means you are also able to access my other senses, correct?
[Correct]
Because you can interface with my senses, you are also able to project images onto my vision, correct?
[Correct]
Eden, project a map of the region I'm currently standing in over vision.
Stumbling to the ground from the shock I start laughing hysterically. The map looks like it would if I took a physical version and wrapped it over my face. I can't make out anything beyond it.
Eden, reduce the size of the map, so it covers only 5% of my vision in the upper right corner with enough distance from my focal point to let me see it clearly.
Eden listens and places the map at the corner of my view, but when I try to look at it, it keeps moving.
Eden, make the map enlarge when I attempt to look at it.
Now, I have a map! I notice that only the regions that I have seen during my runs throughout the night are actually visible on the map. So it ends up looking a lot like a T shape with a line leading back to Beatrice's cabin.
Another thought crosses my mind. Why would I want to make my vision look like a Heads up display?
Eden, project a holographic display over my forearm when I look at the top of my wrist with interactive controls to zoom in, and out of the map I have available.
Twisting my right arm around as to look at a watch, a holographic display shows up instead. This was going to be a lot easier.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
Using this method, I manage to get an external display that shows my stats, map, current quests and even some visual options for customizing what I refer to as my External Display Interface or EDI.
Attempts to get my Vital status such as Mental Fatigue, Blood Loss, or Endurance to show end up not working. After learning this much, I'm pretty sure it has something to do with my understanding of how those stats are calculated.
Before the night is up, I decide that I need to explore as much of my land parcel as possible to have it fully mapped on my EDI.
I'm near the northeast corner when the dire wolves finally decide to show up.
Running and resting is how I'd been mapping and measuring my land parcel, so at this point, I'm laying on the ground catching my breath and watching the two moons in the night sky.
Eden, the moons in the sky are actually one small moon that is very close to the planet, and another larger moon that is farther away from the planet, correct?
[Information is not currently available.]
Eden, the larger moon in the sky is smaller but closer to the planet, correct?
[Information is not currently available.]
Eden, what is the name of this planet?
[New Terra]
Eden, what is the actual name of the armadillo fox?
[Information is not currently available.]
Lost in conversation with Eden I don't notice the wolves as they surround me until the lead wolf decides to pounce and I hear the leaves rustle.
Throwing up my left arm to protest myself, the wolf clamps down and slams me to the ground with a massive paw on my left shoulder.
The pain is searing, and I'm shocked by the intensity. Screaming out I reach down and pull my Knife from its sheath and stab the wolf in the neck sinking it down to the hilt.
Releasing me, the wolf staggers back as a second wolf kicks up dirt to my right. I can't pull my bow with my left forearm still shredded, so I run.
I know I can't outrun the wolf, but I don't have to beat it. Finding a branch a few feet away, I grab it and turn swinging it as hard as I can and connect with the charging wolf. It's dazed for a moment and I take the chance to run toward the first wolf which I can see is now laying down near where it first attacked me.
Sprinting with all my might, I get to the wolf and pull my Knife from its neck as a third wolf jumps out from behind a tree and snaps at me. Swinging the knife, I connect with its snout, and the wolf yelps then staggers for a split second. Taking the chance, I raise my aching left arm, and with a scream of pain and exertion, I slam the Knife down through the wolf's skull pinning it to the ground.
Panting, I turn and see the second wolf is actually on the run now. Fighting through the pain, I pull out my bow and using my right arm to hold it up and drawback with my left letting loose an Energy arrow that kicks up dirt just the right of the wolf. It lets out a yelp but doesn't stop running.
Gulping down air, I tremble and fall to my knees holding my arm.
The pain is still far more intense than anything I've experienced before other than the time I broke my arm skateboarding during my Junior summer in High School.
Eden, reduce the pain levels by 90%
[Unable to comply]
Eden, reduce the pain levels by 10%
The pain reduces just slightly, but I also notice that when I touch things I feel like I'm wearing gloves. Apparently, decreasing my pain receptors controls all my tactile senses. Mittens are better than sharp stabbing pain from the puncture marks where the wolf's teeth sunk in and tore the flesh.
Using my Knife, I rip the shirt I'd just purchase earlier that day and wrapped my arm to stop the bleeding. The efforts take a toll that's far great than I expect.
Eden, when I experience Blood Loss, my Endurance also decreases, correct?
[Correct]
At least I know the two stats are connected in a way. Perhaps it's like real life. Recalling how I felt back when I broke my arm, I remember the pain and blood loss made me feel faint and weak.
This game was far too real.
Leaves cushion my head as I lay down. The pain in my arm slowly starts to subside, and I can see a faint glow, but it's so vague that I chalk it up to moonlight.
Eden, how long until sunrise?
[That information is not available.]
Eden set the alarm for 15 minutes from now.
[Alarm Set]
Slow breaths and focusing on the air flowing in and out of my lungs start to clear my mind and allow me to experience the pain in a detached way. It was a method I'd learned when I was dating a girl in Altera who was heavy into meditation. It didn't last, but gained some necessary tools for coping with various situations.
After that 15 minutes are up, Eden announces the alarm is sounding and a mellow but distracting sound for a few seconds until I open my eyes.
Closing my eyes and resting was probably not the smartest move with a wolf still out in the forest, but the fatigue and pain are better, so I don't regret it.
My knees wobble as I stand and tear my shirt some more to make some improvised rope. I some branches together and make a rack that I can drag, then the two wolves on it. Then, I start my trek back to Beatrice's cabin.
Along the way, I pick up the wolfadillo creature, my deer and the rabbits.
Dawn starts to brighten the sky by the time I get back to the cabin.
"Good morning sunshine." Beatrice greets me as I walk in. "I was just making breakfast, you up for some... What happened to you?"
My arm is red with blood from the injury, and I'm still tired from making multiple trips across the log that stretched over the river. I noticed my Endurance was taking longer to recover during my breaks. So I'm pretty sure, I look horrible.
"Wolves found me while I doing some prep work."
"Looks like you weren't keeping an eye out."
"Yea..."
"Serves you right for not keeping an eye out.
"Wow, you're so nurturing."
"You're in the Frontier, if you can't keep an eye out for wolves, then it serves you right to get taken by the forest."
Rolling my eyes, I head back outside instead of responding and call out through the door, "I brought some more carcasses back."
"See, you're productive, now take them around back and get your knife ready. It's time to teach you how to skin."
"Show I keep an eye out?"
A piece of toast hits me in the back of the head.