I lay there, gazing at the sunny blue sky, a smile still lingering on my face. The rush of adrenaline was gone, and I could feel myself gradually calming down.

The leaves on the trees swayed and danced gracefully with the wind, accompanied by the melodious chirping of birds. It was a scene of tranquility, except for the gruesome pool of blood and guts surrounding me.

"God, it stinks," I remarked as I rose to my feet.

I checked the time before nightfall :

3 hours and 14 minutes

"I should start moving."

Swiftly, I examined the loot and managed to collect some valuable fur and meat. Judging by the description, the fur would fetch a decent price. I looked at the remains of the bear I had last killed, its head shattered into fragments, revealing the brain splattered like pudding. I finally noticed my crossbow, drenched in blood and broken beyond repair. I attempted to use FOCUS on it, but to no avail.

With my last weapon, a knife, buried in another bear's chest, its torso torn open like a piñata, I knew I had to retrieve it.

"Here goes nothing," I murmured.

I cautiously approached the bear's carcass, crouching down. I hoped that looting the body would restore my weapon, but it was not the case.

Grimacing, I delved into the chest cavity, pushing aside organs as a wave of nausea washed over me. My vision remained quite blurry as I was still extremely low on health. After a few tense moments, I finally managed to grasp the blade. I cleaned it off and secured it in its sheath.

Standing up, I consulted my map. Green Tree Village should be approximately 2 miles away, perhaps a bit more, according to the fish woman's estimate of 3 miles when I met her. However, the village was not yet visible on the map. I needed to move fast. Despite the pain coursing through my body and the pounding migraine in my head, I needed to move now. I hoped to avoid any further encounters and decided not to waste any more time, opting to run towards the village.

I began jogging along the path, occasionally glancing at my map to check for the village's appearance. Unfortunately, luck was not on my side thus far.

During the run, my mind wandered, pondering about Chaos ; it had triggered twice within a few hours. Calexa told me it was rare, yet it triggered twice and it had affected me both positively and horrifically. Normally, in games, such systems followed specific rules, similar to luck-based probabilities, triggering events based on multiple variables. I wondered what triggered Chaos in this world.

Memories of a game I had worked on years ago resurfaced. In that particular game, if players ascended levels too rapidly, we would introduce a chance of encountering more challenging enemies based on their luck stats. These encounters were more difficult but provided a thrilling challenge instead of mere low-level boring grinding. As players progressed deeper into the game world, enemies would scale accordingly. The system took into account the players' levels and stats, triggering encounters based on specific actions, like staying in the same area grinding for a certain time, or going back and forth between the two same points over and over. At these moments, the trigger would check against their luck stats and if succeeding would trigger an encounter. Each unsuccessful trigger would increase the chances for the next attempt making certain to trigger it at least once.

It was highly likely that a similar system was at play here. I had chosen the class with the highest Chaos points. But what had triggered the evaluation against my stats?

Pausing for a moment to catch my breath, my body throbbing with pain, I decided to take a break. I seized the opportunity to check my map once again. No icon for the village yet. I glanced at the countdown :

3 hours and 8 minutes remaining.

"I've barely run for 6 minutes!" I exclaimed, feeling defeated.

This would not work. I was out of shape, tired, in pain, and dangerously low on health. I needed to reach the village as quickly as possible. I needed a better way.

Suddenly, I slapped my forehead as a realization dawned on me.

I examined my armband, and to my delight, the Gem was already recharged. Four hours had passed since its previous use. I tapped the Gem eagerly, summoning my hoverboard. Slowly, I stepped onto it, trying to maintain my balance.

"Okay," I said, steadying myself. "Let's not go too fast this time."

The hoverboard gradually gained speed as I grew more accustomed to its controls. The wind caressed my face, and though my vision remained imperfect, I managed to follow the path ahead. I made sure not to push the speed beyond my limits, opting for safer travel.

"This is much more efficient," I remarked as the vehicle glided along the path pushing dust around.

Using FOCUS , I checked the remaining time before the Gem would deactivate :

41 seconds.

"Fantastic!" I exclaimed.

Coming to a gentle stop, I consulted the map, ensuring I didn't attempt to navigate while in motion. A green triangle caught my eye.

"That must be it," I thought.

I switched to the Info tab, confirming that the green triangle represented the "Friendly Village." I was almost there. Closing the map, I accelerated once again, knowing I would reach the village within a matter of seconds.

As planned, I arrived in front of the village entrance in less than 10 seconds. I gradually slowed down, dismounting the hoverboard.

The village sprawled before me, it was big even from this distance. I observed the wisps of smoke billowing from chimneys, while the towering metallic walls encased the entire place. It was a fascinating blend of fantasy and post-apocalyptic elements, lending the village a unique look. At the center, a magnificent colossal tree stood, adorned with structures built upon its branches. The tree emitted a gentle but visible greenish glow, presumably the source of the village's name.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Approaching the entrance, I noticed a pair of tall wooden doors, matching the scale of the surrounding walls. They stood ajar, offering glimpses of movement within. However, my vision remained somewhat blurry, preventing me from discerning more details inside.

I tapped the Gem on my armband, expecting that it would bring back the hoverboard inside. It did. Unfortunately, the Gem still turned into charcoal.

I pressed forward, making my way toward the entrance. Approaching huge opened doors, my eyes caught sight of two guards stationed there. They were not human, much like the elderly woman I encountered earlier - a species resembling a flat-faced fish. Wearing white ceramic armor embellished with intricate blue designs, each guard gripped a tall spear topped with a luminous blue crystal. Busy in conversation, they paid little attention to me.

"Stay calm," I reassured myself, summoning the courage to pass by the guards and enter the village.

To my relief, they didn't seem to care as I walked past them.

"All good," I thought, comforted by their indifference.

The village opened up to a long street stretching directly toward the magnificent tree, but my imperfect vision hindered me from perceiving further details.

My first priority was finding a safe place to spend the night - a motel or an inn. Glancing at the countdown, I noted the dwindling time before night :

3 hours and 4 minutes.

The hoverboard really was a good idea.

Consulting my map, I found only the icon representing the village itself. I had hoped for a local map or some guidance to navigate the area. Deciding to seek directions, I observed the bustling entrance filled with numerous NPC who, too, were absent from the map. It seemed that the map did not account for the village's interior - I took a mental note.

Every NPC seemed to be from the same species. I decided to first use FOCUS to know more about them. Beside me was what looked like a male sitting on a bench engrossed in a newspaper. I used it on him :

"Daluu Dekai, Level 3, NPC,

Specie : Enki.

Enkis are a fish-like species that live peacefully. Their technology isn't much advanced and relies a lot on magic. They inhabit the lower floor of the Tower. Moving out of a marine life many eons ago, the specie adapted well to living on solid ground. Most of them still kept the old water belief and worship Abzu.

Enkis are known for their potion making and their food ; with many people travel to their village just to eat their famous algae snacks - Tiwuiwui ."

"Enki," I muttered, sensing a flicker of recognition, though unable to place it precisely.

Abzu was the same name that was written on the knowledge tablet the old lady gave me. It reminded me of a game I played a few years prior.

Approaching Daluu, I politely inquired :

"Excuse me, could you point me in the direction of the nearest motel or inn?"

Daluu glanced up from his newspaper, a warm smile lighting up his face.

"You mean the one right behind you?" he replied, gesturing towards the inn.

Turning around, I indeed spotted the inn, its name still indiscernible from this distance. Expressing my gratitude to the fish-like man, I made my way towards the place.

As I arrived, I could read the name ;

"The Drunk Fish," as revealed upon closer inspection of the inn's ornately carved entrance adorned with fish motifs and beer jugs.

To my surprise, a panel was on the door, stating :

"No Watoo Allowed."

I had no idea what a Watoo was but I was hoping it wouldn't be a problem. With a sense of anticipation, I pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The place was packed with Enkis, occupying tables as they engaged in lively conversations while enjoying food and drinks. The smell that came directly on my nose made my belly growled. I didn't realized until now how hungry I was. It was smelling SO GOOD. A blend of spices and warm dishes that evoked the faint essence of bell peppers.

The inn itself proved to be quite spacious. On one side, a bar stretched, while multiple tables occupied the other. Two sets of stairs flanked the enormous room, inviting further exploration.

Noticing a woman positioned near the entrance, likely the hostess or an employee, I approached her and politely asked, :

"Hi, I was wondering if you had any rooms available."

"Oh, helloooo there," she greeted me in a melodic voice. "Of course! Single or double?"

"Single, please," I replied.

"Alrighty then! It's either 5 gold coins for just the room, but," she raised her index finger, "if you add 2 gold coins, you'll get dinner and breakfast included! And that comes with two Tiwuiwuis!"

Suddenly, the realization struck me - I had no money!

She stood there, staring at me with a big smile on her face.

"Would you accept fur or bear meat?" I ventured, hoping for an alternative arrangement.

Her smile vanished completely.

"Listen, stranger, if you're selling things, Duwa over there is your guy," she pointed towards another Enki seated at the bar, casually sipping what appeared to be a beer.

Nodding, I made my way toward Duwa. As I approached, a small icon depicting a gold coin materialized above his head - a clear indication that he was a vendor.

"Hi," I greeted him. "I would like to sell some meat and fur."

Duwa looked at me and nodded.

"Sure. Show me your wares."

Placing the fur and meat - obtained from the bears and wolf - on the bar, I awaited his assessment.

"By Abzu! Angry bear fur!" exclaimed Duwa, setting his beer on the counter.

I nodded in agreement.

While examining the fur, he mumbled to himself before finally locking eyes with me and stating :

"300 gold for the lot."

Accepting his offer on the spot, I found myself relieved to finally possess some money. Returning to the hostess, I secured a room along with dinner and breakfast. She handed me a key and instructed me to follow her to a table.

"Food will be with you shortly," she informed me, her smile reappearing.

Taking in the surroundings, I marveled at the fantastic atmosphere. It was a world I had always dreamed of, and for a fleeting moment, the pain and hardships of my journey faded away as I immersed myself in the vibrant scene.

In less than a minute, a waiter approached my table and set down a bowl of soup, accompanied by a slice of dark green bread and a jug of beer. Without uttering a word, the waiter swiftly moved on to attend to other patrons.

The soup, a rich, dark brown concoction with algae and what appeared to be fish balls, looked and smelled like miso soup. The green bread had an unmistakable scent of seaweed, and the beer was a beer! Before to try it I decided to use FOCUS to gather information about my dinner:

"Dara balls soup: Heals for 50, regenerates health slowly for 15 minutes.

Abzu Bread: Heals for 25, regenerates health slowly for 15 minutes.

Wheat Ale: Heals for 5, -5 Dexterity for 1 hour."

The food smelled heavenly, and I dug in. I had no idea what these Dara balls were, but it was delicious. It neither tasted like fish nor meat. I didn't care. As I was eating, my health refilled, I felt better, my pain going away and my vision coming back.

Finishing the meal promptly, I leaned back in my chair, savoring the lingering satisfaction. Slowly but steadily, my health regenerated, bringing me closer to my maximum vitality of 145. I glanced at the countdown for the night :

1 hour and 45 minutes

"I made it," I whispered to myself. "I made it on time."

As I surveyed the surroundings, observing the joy and merriment, I stopped for a second - I could have sworn I glimpsed another human among the Enkis. I stood up, scrutinizing the scene, only to find that there were no humans present, just Enkis.

With a final sip of my beer, I shifted my attention to the room key in my hand.

Number 17.

Moving away from the table, I ascended the stairs and entered my cozy yet compact room. It looked comfortable, complete with a small sink and electric lights controlled by a switch. It represented a peculiar amalgamation of the old and the new. Collapsing onto the bed, exhaustion overtook me within seconds, and I fell asleep.