Notifications came at me like a storm but I was too exhausted to pay it any mind. I slumped on the wall and passed the fuck out.

When I came into consciousness I was afraid to open my eyes, hoping it was all just a bad dream. I don’t want to be here, I don’t want to fend for myself, and I want it to go back to my normal mundane family. Just when I was about to wallow in even more self pitty my stomach reminded me that I have been neglecting it.

GROWWWWLLLLLL

I decided to open my eyes to look for something edible. There were slightly burnt bunnies strewn about. How will I eat these? I definitely don’t know how to skin let alone debone anything. Won’t find anything out by doing nothing. I just try and cook the raw parts a little with ignite and completely catch the piece on fire. Well fuck, let’s try a different method. I go outside to find some firewood, or whatever the equivalent is here.

….. I’m in plains….. I wonder about until I spot a bush, it appears to be a common stereotyped bush you’d see in just about any anime. Although it seems odd that it is the only one here I go and check it out. The moment I get around 2 meters of it, something wraps around my leg and tries to pull me under the ground.

“FU-”

...The end.

I use ignite on whatever is coiled around my leg repeatedly until I almost faint. It finally falls away as I desperately dig myself back to the surface only to be dragged back under. I can almost hear “shhh don’t struggle, it’ll all be over soon”. So obviously I struggled more, fuck that. I somehow broke free and climbed out after what seemed like an eternity. I backed up 4 meters away from the bush and rested, examing it. When I felt a little better I decided to try out my new skill fireball.

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I willed the natural feeling to summon a fireball. A tiny 2-inch wreathing mass of fire came in front of me. Flicking it at the bush, I waited to see what would happen. Immediately it caught on fire and started screaming in what I can only assume is the sound of 50 chalkboards being scratched all at once.

I fumble to get out my rabbit meat and throw it on the fire when I had a thought, am I immune to fire? Walking up to the fire I put out the rabbit and let it sit until it was a good color, noting I was indeed at least resistant to fire. I cook as much meat as I can and as I am about to head out I get a notification.

< Lesser treant (bush type) slain, 30 experience >

That… that actually explains a lot. When I arrive at my cave thing I immediately start eating but halfway through my meal I realize I should save some for later.

As I sit there lost in my thoughts I start to wonder, do I have an appraisal skill?

< No. >

Doesn’t every mc of an isekai have an appraisal to guide them?

< Usually yes but you do not. Deal with it and figure things out on your own. Guide your own hand, make your own judgments. If you have a problem with it, get strong enough so you won’t have to worry about it, clever enough to know on your own. If you are feeling particularly desperate though. I suggest using the summoning. I will only be helpful for so long, after all. >

Do I have levels for my skills?

< Yes and no, yes in a sense that they can get stronger the more you use them, no in that they don’t have a specified level system. They have a system that the higher your understanding and personal level will determine such things. >

Thank you system thing.

After thinking about what the system thing said, I tried to practice all of my skills for the rest of the day. I started with shadow manipulation instantly thinking of Shikamaru, I was sorely disappointed. From what I gather I am only able to make my own shadow wiggle a little. I shake it off and train the rest of the day

At the end of the day, my ignite is a lot more controlled. My fireball has become a few inches bigger or smaller depending on what I want. Lastly, my shadow manipulation was able to make massive progress in that it can now jump from one shadow to another.

Thinking that’s enough for the day, I head to sleep.