[Day 30: Your mind has become impaired due to lack of vitality…]

The signs that Lem's simulated self was beginning to lose his reason had already begun to show when Lem saw the information from the screen.

As the day passed, his behavior had become even more aberrant. He would chuckle to no one in particular, and make exaggerated stretching motions every few hours.

Lem knew that the signs would only get worse in the future, but he was still hopeful that there were more benefits to come from the current simulation. At the very least, there was still information that could be learned about the western part of the forest.

Despite the changes to his mind, his body was mostly in good health, and he was making progress every day.

Through no small measure of luck, his rations had not yet run out.

When Lem thought back on what had happened in the simulation so far, he could not help but feel pleased. Not only had he managed to survive the initial period of waiting without encountering the deathbear, but he had also outlasted all of his former projections.

The longest he had lived in previous simulations was twenty-four days. Currently, he had added nearly a week to that total, and it had yet to finish.

He had eaten the seed again, this time while safely digesting the spiritual energy.

He had come across many new and unusual sights, giving him a better understanding of the forest.

He had even continued his search for Lang Town, eliminating another direction entirely.

Even if he died on the spot, Lem would still be pleased with the result.

Suddenly, Lem was brought back into awareness of his surroundings by a loud growl.

His simulated self turned abruptly, and saw a deathbear charging towards him through the forest. It was smaller than the others he had fought before, but this should not have made it any less frightening.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

However, to his simulated self, who was becoming mentally impaired, it was not frightening at all.

“You bastard,” he cried out fiercely, glaring at the deathbear. He pointed his spear at it in an outward display of anger.

His response surprised the deathbear somewhat, as it slowed down for a brief moment.

“Just wait until I get ahold of you,” his simulated self bellowed out as he used a nearby tree as cover. He angled the spear between him and the deathbear. “Damn bear, watch me impale you!”

Lem was pleased to see that he was at least waiting for the right moment to strike instead of charging directly at the beast, or worse, ignoring the threat entirely.

If the initial stage of the fight went wrong, he would almost certainly die from his injuries, even if he eventually won.

[As you are walking you hear a loud growl. A juvenile deathbear approaches you without giving any warning.

You are forced to engage the beast in a fight, and you prepare to use the [Nine Bull Fist].]

A moment later, the deathbear drew close to the tree Lem’s simulated self was hiding behind.

As it moved around it, he leapt out, throwing his spear as he began punching with his quickest attacks, sacrificing power for speed.

“Ha!”

The deathbear was slightly hesitant, ducking away from the spear.

After a second of indecision, it swung its paw at Lem’s simulated self, but he managed to land two hits on it before the paw reached him.

Smack! Smack!

Two rounds of vibration force impacted the deathbear, one on its chest, and the other on its arm, deforming and cutting up it up in an explosion of pain.

Ouugh!

The deathbear was startled and it forcefully pulled itself backwards, as the impact pushed them away from one another. Its paw scraped against Lem’s chest out of momentum, but nearly all of the force was gone.

After regaining its feet, the deathbear backed up several meters in a hurry. It was already seriously hurt and frightened, with no desire to engage.

[When the deathbear enters your range of motion, you punch several times, landing strikes on the beast’s torso. At the same time, one of its paws scrapes your chest. Luckily, the punches push you away from the bear as you are hit, and the scrape is minor.]

Lem’s simulated self picked up his spear and chased after it like a man possessed.

“Scrape me with your claws! Scrape me with your claws! Do you want to die?”

His fearless attitude pushed the deathbear’s fear over the edge. It immediately bolted, taking off into the forest in a four-legged sprint.

Lem’s simulated self had no ability to catch up, so he screamed instead as he ran.

“Haha, you damn bastard! Run away! Coward! Come back here!”