There was only one reason that Nick hadn’t already set off to claim his prize. The sparkling speck sat high in the branches of what was undoubtedly the tallest tree in the forest.
The good news was that the towering trunk was relatively close to his location. It was just a couple miles down the beach and a few hundred yards into the canopy. He should have decent odds of getting in and out without attracting the attention of anything nasty. He had no desire to meet a komo face-to-face ever again, let alone an apex predator like the lurk.
The bad news was that he still had no shoes, and the awe-inspiring tree dwarfed the tallest sequoia redwoods on Earth. If Nick fucked up and fell from even a fraction of that height, he would be dead the instant he hit the ground, or at least break every bone in his body. Which still meant that he was dead, but his demise would come with a complementary side order of excruciating pain.
Despite the risk, he really wanted to get up there if he could. He was in desperate need of better clothing, basic tools, and, most important of all, a weapon. Additionally, the view from the top of the great tree would provide him with a wealth of information. Knowledge of the island’s terrain would be invaluable when planning out the days ahead.
The first step is to determine if free-climbing the trunk is even possible. Getting close enough to evaluate the situation shouldn’t pose too much of a risk if I keep my eyes open. If this works out, I might walk away with loot, and be able to survey more of the shoreline than I could by continuing along the ground.
His decision made, Nick began walking down the beach, heading for the spot where his path through the forest would be as short as possible. Twenty minutes later, he was there. He climbed the edge of the shore and stopped before the tree line, peering into the shadows layered beneath the canopy.
In this part of the forest, the trees grew thick. Their trunks were close enough together that their branches overlapped. Although the density limited his visibility, it would be impossible for a creature as large as the lurk to penetrate. The trees here appeared coniferous, featuring green needles, long limbs, and textured bark. Their foliage smelled of pine and citrus, along with a hint of something that he had no vocabulary to describe.
The army of trees dominated the local landscape, forming a verdant roof that blocked out most of the sunlight. Here and there, errant sunbeams wove their way through paths opened by wind stirring the branches. Radiant columns that winked in and out of existence from one moment to the next.
Due to the trees’ supremacy, the undergrowth was sparse enough to pass through without forging a trail. Nick was pleased to discover that the bed of needles carpeting the raw earth was blessedly soft, since they had looked jagged enough to slice into his bare skin.
If nothing caught him by surprise, he would be able to maneuver here better than he could on the sandy shore—although the extra mobility wouldn’t help him much if he ran into something like a tiger. The thought of encountering a predator that he couldn’t outrun made his heart race, almost convincing him to turn back.
Stop imagining the worst-case scenario and focus on the tangible problems in front of you. The ones you have the ability to solve. You need to internalize that the risk-versus-reward calculations from your old life are nothing but a hindrance here. This situation is deadly serious, but it’s also remarkably similar to a game.
You must get stronger and learn the rules of this System-governed reality as fast as you can. At least until you can keep your head above water. Fear will always be useful, but you have to rewrite its meaning in your head. Instead of running from the things that frighten you, you need to do whatever will offer you the greatest chance of survival over the long term. Even if it scares the shit out of you now.
By the end of Nick’s impromptu pep talk, his eyes had adjusted to the gloom beneath the canopy. Instead of wasting any more time or giving his imagination another chance to psych him out, he took a deep breath and stepped into the forest, the needles and loam adding a slight spring to his step.
He advanced as silently as he could. He wasn’t particularly quiet, but his bare feet and the soft flooring prevented him from announcing his presence to every creature living in the forest. At least he hoped that it did.
As he crept deeper into the woodlands, he kept his eyes roving from one side to the other. Lanes appeared between the trunks with one step, then vanished with the next, creating the illusion that the trees were dancing all around him.
Nick held his left hand cupped to his ear to boost his hearing. He gripped a stout stick of driftwood in his right, prepared to use it as a crude club as a last resort. Every gust of wind that swayed the branches, every chirp, crackle, and snap, sent a jolt of adrenaline surging into his bloodstream.
This tension in the air is my new normal. I might as well start getting used to it. It’s only a fraction of the stress of an actual battle, and acclimating myself to a hostile environment is the first step in learning how to fight. Despite his trepidation, he encountered nothing scarier than a pair of squirrels arguing overhead. Or whatever passed for a squirrel on this planet.
Twenty nervous minutes later, he arrived at his destination.
The network of trunks gave way to a wide clearing, letting Nick breathe a bit easier as the visibility improved. After a cursory inspection, it was clear that this was the domain of the king of the forest, at least as far as its vegetation was concerned. The sheer scale of the towering tree was mind-boggling, and the base of its trunk was hundreds of feet across.
After scanning the area as thoroughly as he could, he stopped to take a break. He drained half of the water in his canteen and polished off his coconut to bolster his blood sugar. He needed to be in top shape to tackle the challenge ahead. After taking one look at the trunk, he was certain that he could climb it if his body didn’t give out along the way.
The origin of his newfound confidence was twofold. First, the bark of the tree was riddled with cavities and protrusions. Natural texture that would offer him numerous handholds and footholds. The second reason was that after about twelve feet, branches began growing out from the trunk, forming what had to be thousands of individual limbs.
While picking out a path for his ascent, Nick noticed that the needles close to the trunk were a different color, rust red instead of evergreen. He wondered if they were there to process a different frequency of light or served some other purpose. Shrugging to himself, he lowered his gaze and then slowly circled the base, looking for tracks or droppings that would reveal the presence of beasts living in the branches above. Except for a few white stains that appeared to have been left by gulls, he discovered nothing of the sort.
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Before he began climbing, he reviewed his strategy one last time. This is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. Move too fast or too slow and you will waste energy that you can’t afford to squander. Never commit your weight without testing out a new hold. Always have a plan for what you will do if any given branch or section of bark gives way. Never pull yourself up with one hand. Stop to rest from time to time on stable branches and abort the operation if it looks like you won’t make it to the top before you run out of juice.
Since you’re out of shape, this is going to be an ordeal no matter how well you perform. Keep an eye out for anything flying nearby and creatures capable of climbing the tree. If you’re careful, this might be a real windfall, he concluded. Poor choice of words, but you know what I mean.
To prevent himself from hesitating further, Nick picked out a series of holds leading up to the branches, gripped a knob on the trunk, and started climbing.
Supporting the weight of his body was easier than he had anticipated. He really was stronger than before and had lost some of his flab. Although the climb was tiring, he didn’t exhaust himself as quickly as he had feared.
Seven handholds and five minutes later, he was up to the level where the branches began. He let out a sigh of relief as he looked down at the ground below. While this was still a rather risky situation, at least nothing living in the forest could reach him up here. Unless it’s something that can climb. Like, oh, say a tiger.
He bit his tongue to punish that unhelpful part of his psyche and returned his attention to the task at hand. The mechanics of climbing the tree were even easier than Nick had hoped. The bark was rough and slightly tacky. It was perfect for gripping, and the countless branches were easy to balance against.
The tricky part was finding a clear route for his ascent. The tree’s limbs were so dense that they formed a solid wall in many places, blocking his way forward. He was forced to circle around the trunk time and time again, seeking breaks wide enough to squeeze through.
That was when the world suddenly grew brighter. The needles changed color, shifting from dull red to vibrant green. Nick looked over his shoulder, squinting to protect his eyes from the sunlight washing over his face. Without realizing it, he had climbed above the level of the canopy. He looked out across a vast sea of branches. A roiling ocean of living wood, stirred by the pervasive breeze that blew across the island.
He paused while waiting for his eyes to adjust, taking a sip of water after stabilizing himself between two branches. From this height, all he could see was the verdant green of needles, the gray-green ocean beyond, and the radiant blue sky above.
Looking out from the level of the treetops created the illusion that he was standing on the ground. Like a mole tunneling up to the surface from the deep earth below. But he didn’t have time to enjoy the view. While he had made significant progress, he still had another two-thirds of the way to go.
After firming his resolve, Nick turned to face the bark and continued to climb. By now, the main branches were as thick as the trunks of lesser trees. They formed a network of overlapping limbs that looked like a great highway in the sky. As he climbed higher, he wondered if this tree was special or just incredibly ancient, not that it mattered in the end.
Although nothing happened that made him turn back, his adventure was not without incident. Twice, pieces of bark that had seemed stable gave out under his weight, sending chunks of wood spiraling down to the forest floor far below. The sight filled him with electric jolts of adrenaline as he imagined himself falling beside them. Once, a branch broke beneath his feet, although he had only been using it to support half his weight. He shifted his stance before he lost his balance, but it left his heart pounding.
By now, Nick was growing short of breath and his muscles were shaky, despite his newfound vigor. His arms had become disconcertingly leaden, no matter how long he stopped to rest, and he was beginning to wonder if this had been a bad idea after all.
But when he looked up, he saw that he was almost there. If he was able to scale one last section of trunk, which was now only a bit thicker than the base of a regular tree, he would make it to his destination. A long branch near the top of the great tree. He locked his gaze on that final stretch of bark, which was only a fraction of the distance he had already climbed.
He had refused to look down for some time now, to reduce the chance of vertigo, and he didn’t look now. Nick narrowed his focus to encompass only the series of handholds he needed to reach the top, refusing to allow his mind to process just how high he was.
He almost psyched himself out anyway. But ten sweat-soaked minutes and a few uncomfortably close tests of balance later, he hauled himself up onto the branch. He held onto the trunk for dear life while he pulled himself back together. First things first. It’s time to see if there really is a chest up here; then you can check out the view.
He was worried that he had been mistaken—that the glint was cast from water or sap—and he had risked his life for nothing. But when he had recovered enough energy to inspect the trunk beside his feet, Nick’s toes brushed against what appeared to be an iron plate embedded into the bark. It was offset from the base of the branch; otherwise, he would never have been able to see the reflection from down on the shore.
A pair of hinges protruded from one side of the plate. There was a handle on the other, as if he had stumbled across the mailbox of a giant eagle. With a sigh of relief, he adjusted his grip, sat down on the broad branch, and then pulled on the bar. He was worried that it was locked. But the panel opened smoothly, revealing a cavity cut into the trunk, roughly one foot on each side.
Inside the nook sat two objects. The first was a simple scrap of paper, like the one he had found inside the wooden chest at the bottom of the spring. The second was a thick leather belt. Nick trapped the paper against the belt before the wind could blow it away, then fished it out so that he could read the words.
Congratulations! You have discovered an Exploration Reward Chest (Iron).
Two tutorial knowledge points have been awarded.
Contents: Adventurer’s Toolbelt (Uncommon).
These toolbelts are a staple for explorers and travelers of all stripes. This durable leather belt features numerous pockets and loops to secure a range of tools and comes stocked with several useful items.
Modification: Self-maintenance.
This item will clean and repair itself over time as long as its core remains intact.
Nick had been hoping to receive a weapon, or at least a pair of shoes. But after pondering the item for a minute, he decided that it was honestly a great find. The belt was certain to be useful in the days ahead. It was the only modified item that he had seen, other than his wand. Better still, it came packed with tools, which would give him something to work with beyond rocks, sticks, and his bare hands.
It was interesting that the reward provided a brief description and not just a name, likely due to its uncommon rarity. He was curious what an item core was—the first time that he had come across the term.
Focus on the task at hand. It doesn’t matter right now. He could worry about the details later, once he was safely back on the ground and out of the woods. He slipped the belt into the pocket of his bathrobe and took a few deep breaths, bracing himself for what came next.
Wrapping both hands around the tree for support, Nick turned his head to look out over the island, jaw dropping in wonder as he surveyed the terrain far below his feet. He laughed in exhilaration. While being up so high with only the strength of his arms tethering him to the trunk was terrifying, it was also thrilling.
Flocks of gulls rode the steady sea breeze, unaware of their observer from on high. A powerful gust of wind threatened to pluck him from his perch, sending adrenaline coursing through his veins. But he refused to panic. He had made it up here in one piece, and now it was time to claim the rest of his prize. Upgrading his mental map of the isle.
Nick raised his gaze to the horizon, taking in the endless ocean. Sunlight glinted off the rippling waves, texturing the sea like filigree. Here and there, he could see the green and brown of other islands, although nothing that looked like it connected to the mainland. Not that he had any reason to believe there was a continent anywhere nearby.
Out in the distance, he spotted snaking banks of purple-green clouds, bellies swollen with the promise of rain. He could smell a hint of something strange riding a warm gust blowing in from that direction, off-putting in a way that he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
Fortunately, the storm didn’t seem to be heading toward the island, but it reminded Nick that he needed to finish his scouting run as quickly as he could.