Chapter 4: Forest Feast and Fierce Foe
As Emily delicately picked up a bite of the forest-inspired dish with her chopsticks, the aroma alone was enough to stir her senses. The caramelized sweetness of the peamatos mingled with the earthy richness of the mushrooms, creating a symphony of flavors that danced across her palate.
With each bite, Emily savored the burst of flavors, each ingredient perfectly complementing the next in a harmonious blend of savory and sweet.
The thyme’s delicate leaves impart a hint of freshness, balancing the richness of the mushrooms and the sweetness of the peamatos. And the wood sorrel, with its tangy, citrus-like flavor, provides a refreshing contrast to the earthy mushrooms and sweet peamatos, while its vibrant green leaves add a pop of color to the dish. These wild herbs added a subtle herbal note that lingered on her tongue, enhancing the overall depth and complexity of the dish.
Whoa. This is so delicious I can’t stop! I hadn’t had a proper meal for a whole day. I can already feel myself relaxing so much, I didn’t know I needed this so much. Hold on! That’s right, I have to inspect this! I was so hungry and desperate for a proper meal that I almost forgot, despite how excited I was to try my passive cooking skill.
“Inspect.”
"Forest Bounty Stir-Fry:
A light, savory blend of caramelized peamatos, earthy mushrooms, and wild herbs, bursting with flavor and wholesome goodness.
Effects:
[Enchanted Eats]:
[Buff: High Spirits] Boosts mood, reduces stress and uplifts spirits for a limited time [8 hours].”
Oh! So that’s why I was feeling so relaxed, I didn’t even finish my meal and I can feel this much of its effect already.
To think that I can eat such a delight in the middle of a forest, without proper tools and utensils… In my past life, I used to live in Tokyo, one of the biggest cities in the world and despite having all within easy reach, I didn’t have the time or the energy to do anything at all…
But… isn’t this too good? Eight hours of these relaxing feelings, this sounds too good. I needed this so bad, I can feel my soul healing a little bit from everything that I have been through these days.
I feel I’m going to need this dish’s effect for a long time to actually get over it all though. But anyway, I’m loving this skill so much already. I can’t wait to try out new things with it!
Emily kept enjoying her meal as she pondered about all the possibilities that could be out there with her newly discovered skill.
Emily started walking deeper into the forest, where the tall trees made shadows on the ground. She looked around carefully, watching for anything dangerous. She found a small open space with sunlight shining through the trees.
Under a group of tall trees, she found a fallen branch. It was somewhat old and a little rough, but it seemed flexible enough. Emily felt it with her fingers to see if it would work for what she needed.
“Jeez, this is going to be hard without any tools. I’m worried it won’t work at all.”
With her bare hands, she snapped off the smaller twigs and stripped away the bark, shaping it into a rudimentary bow. She worked slowly, using a sharp rock to smooth out rough spots and bending the wood carefully to ensure it wouldn't break.
The sounds of the forest surrounded her, providing a comforting backdrop to her efforts. As the sunlight filtered through the trees, Emily felt a sense of satisfaction as she fashioned a simple yet functional bow from nature's resources.
“Inspect.”
“Rough Wooden Bow:
A basic bow possessing a modest attack power, without any special effects.
Rank: F
Attack Power: 1
Effects: None”
Oh… it seems I don’t have the same luck in crafting as with my cooking… But well, it’s better than nothing. At least I have a ranged weapon in case I need it. Now I need to create some arrows and a quiver to carry them.
With her bow crafted she turned her attention to fashioning a quiver to hold the arrows. Spotting a sturdy branch nearby, she carefully selected it as the base for her quiver. Using the sharp rock, she carved out a hollowed section in the branch, creating a cylindrical shape to hold her arrows.
Next, she gathered strips of flexible vine and woven grass to bind the sides of the quiver together, securing them tightly in place. With each wrap, she reinforced the structure, ensuring it would withstand the rigors of her journey through the forest.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Once complete, she tested the quiver's durability, sliding sticks inside with ease. Satisfied with her handiwork, she slung the quiver over her shoulder, now she just had to craft the arrows.
With no tools at her disposal, she turned to the forest itself for materials to craft her arrows. She searched for straight and sturdy branches, selecting ones with the right length and thickness to serve as arrow shafts. With careful consideration, she snapped off several branches and inspected them for any imperfections.
Next, she needed arrowheads. Scanning the forest floor, she found small stones with sharp edges, remnants of ancient streams that once flowed through the woods. Picking them up one by one, she examined their shapes and sizes, choosing the most suitable ones to serve as arrowheads.
With her materials gathered, she set to work crafting her arrows. Using the sharp rock as a makeshift knife, she carefully stripped away the outer layer of the branches to reveal the smooth wood beneath. Then, with deft fingers and keen eyes, she shaped the ends of the branches, carving them into pointed tips to attach the stone arrowheads.
Once the arrowheads were attached securely to the shafts, she bound them in place with strips of vine, twisting and tying them tightly to ensure they wouldn't come loose during flight. With each arrow completed, she tested its balance and weight, adjusting as needed until she was satisfied with the results.
With her improvised arrows in hand, she felt a surge of confidence coursing through her veins. Though they lacked the finesse and precision of arrows crafted with proper tools, they were a testament to her resourcefulness and determination to survive in the wild.
“Barkbound Quiver:
A rustic quiver crafted from a hollowed-out branch and bound with vines and woven grass, offering a sturdy and reliable means to carry arrows through any journey.”
“Forest Forged Arrows:
Arrows meticulously crafted from straight branches, with stone tips bound by vine. A survivalist ingenuity, designed for precision and reliability in the wilderness.“
As Emily put the finishing touches on her makeshift bow and arrows, she heard a sudden rustling in the underbrush nearby. Startled, she froze, her senses on high alert. She knew this was bad news, and she had only managed to craft three rustic arrows.
The earth trembled subtly under her feet, a sign that something large is moving towards her. She pauses, senses heightened, as the noises grow louder.
Moments later, a wild boar burst in front of her. The boar snorts and paws at the ground, signaling its readiness to charge.
Emily's heart raced as she realized she was facing a formidable opponent. Gripping her newly crafted bow tightly, she prepared to defend herself against the aggressive beast.
My defense is very low and the only advantage I have are my ranged attacks, I have to prevent it from getting close to me. Emily took aim while the boar was still charging and hit it with her first arrow.
“You have inflicted the Thornhide Boar 1 damage.”
After this message echoed Emily’s mind, something resembling an HP bar showed up on top of the beast.
Huh!? Only 1 damage? I can’t even see its HP bar moving at all. And I only have two arrows remaining. This is impossible, I’m done. Should I run? But what if I can’t outrun it? Apparently, I have a bonus in movement speed but I’m not sure I can run away from this beast now that it has come this close… What should I do? Think, think…
Understanding the danger she's in, Emily recalls tales of these creatures, the Thornhide Boars. Known for their aggressive nature and nearly invulnerable hide, fighting them head-on would be foolish. She notices, however, that despite their formidable appearance, the boars' eyes don't hold the same resilience as their skin, suggesting a potential vulnerability.
As it charged towards her with a fierce snarl, Emily’s survival instincts kicked in. She sidesteps at the last moment, using the boar's momentum against it. The creature crashes into a tree, momentarily stunned.
“The Tornhide Boar has inflicted itself 19 damage.”
Oh, it received damage from it as well. Awesome! It seems it has around 60-80 HP as it lost around a third of its HP bar. Alright, let’s see if this works.
With the boar temporarily incapacitated, Emily uses this opportunity to use the dense forest to her advantage.
She takes some distance into the forest, and with a calm focus born of her elven heritage, Emily took aim with her bow, her eyes locking onto the vulnerable spot between the boar's eyes. Despite her low attack power, her elven precision granted her a distinct advantage in accuracy. Drawing back the string with practiced ease, she released the arrow with a swift motion.
The arrow flew true, guided by Emily's innate skill, and struck the boar squarely between the eyes. With a startled grunt, the creature stumbled backward, its charge faltering.
“You have inflicted the Thornhide Boar 22 damage.”
“Yes! I can do this!”
Emily seized the moment, swiftly reloading her bow and taking aim once more. As the boar shook off its daze and prepared to charge again, Emily released another arrow, this time hitting her mark with even greater precision.
“Accurate Shot! You have inflicted the Thornhide Boar 27 damage.”
Oh no! It didn’t die and that was my last arrow. And it's coming!
Emily, desperately facing the charging enraged boar, fell to the floor in fear. She managed to grab a nearby short and weak stick, and put it in front of her as if it was some kind of shield. She closed her eyes as the boar was getting closer.
The fiercely charging boar struck against the stick and broke it into pieces. The boar let out a pained squeal and collapsed to the forest floor.
“You have inflicted the Thornhide Boar 1 damage. Thornhide Boar was defeated.”
“Your dexterity level has increased. You have reached level 2. Congratulations.”
“Oh my…”
I thought I was going to die. I can’t believe it had only 1 HP remaining and that stick defeated it. I honestly didn’t know what I was doing anymore, I could have put grass in front of me if I hadn’t found that stick. Fear took hold of me and I wasn’t thinking straight anymore. I truly believed this was it.
I’m so relieved. I made the right call by crafting that bow today. The forest is dangerous, I need to stock up more arrows and be prepared.
Breathing heavily but victorious, Emily approached the fallen beast, her heart still racing from the adrenaline of the encounter. She felt a mixture of relief and pride, glad to be alive and that I have been reborn as an agile elf.
As she gazed out at the tranquil beauty of the forest, Emily knew that her journey was far from over. But with each challenge she faced and each obstacle she overcame, she grew stronger, more resilient, even more determined to survive in this world.
And with that thought burning bright in her heart, Emily rose to her feet once more, ready to face whatever trials lay ahead with courage and determination.