As Thomas hauled the buck's meat and leather back to his campfire, following the tree marks he had carved earlier, the fading sunlight cast an eerie glow through the trees. His body ached, his stomach growled, and all he could think about was roasting that meat and getting some rest. That is, until he spotted the cave. It sat ominously at the side of the hill, dark and unsettling, like something straight out of a survival horror game.
"Of course there's a creepy cave. Why wouldn't there be?" Thomas muttered under his breath, eyeing it with suspicion. He readied his bow, nocked an arrow, and approached cautiously. There was no telling what might jump out of the shadows—a wild animal, a bandit, or worse.
As he stepped inside, he realized the cave was surprisingly spacious, with enough room to move around without feeling claustrophobic. Old traces of a campfire marked the ground near the entrance, suggesting that someone had used this place as a shelter before. Thomas wasn't sure whether that was a good sign or a bad one. It meant it was habitable, but it also meant he wasn't the first to find it.
His gaze shifted to the dark passage that led further into the cave. He felt a chill run down his spine. It was a tunnel of unknowns, and while he wasn’t about to go exploring it right now, he knew he'd have to keep his guard up.
"Alright, this’ll have to do for tonight," he said to himself. But he wasn’t stupid—he wasn’t about to let some lurking creature catch him off guard. He set up makeshift alarms along the passageway, using some sticks and thread he had from his supplies. If something tried to sneak up on him, he'd know.
After securing the area as best as he could, Thomas set about preparing the buck meat over the campfire. The smell was divine, a much-needed comfort after days of subsisting on small game and foraged berries. As the fire crackled and the meat sizzled, he settled into a rhythm of survival that was starting to feel oddly familiar.
But his mind kept drifting back to the dark passageway. He could feel the unknown beyond it, like the cave was watching him. The thought lingered as the sun finally disappeared, leaving only the flicker of his campfire to keep the shadows at bay.
"Better stay awake tonight," he whispered to himself, his hand resting near his bow, ready for anything the cave—or this world—might throw his way.
Thomas sat by his newly built campfire, the heat warming his face as he roasted the deer meat over the flames. It had taken him less time this go-round to get the fire going, though the memory of struggling with the sticks and dried leaves earlier in the week still irked him. As the fire crackled, sending occasional sparks into the air, he couldn’t shake a strange sensation creeping over him.
At first, he thought it was the wind, maybe a draft from the cave entrance. But this was different. Something more subtle. Something... present. He inhaled deeply and noticed it in his breath, too—like the air was thicker, almost charged.
“What the hell is this?” Thomas muttered, scanning his surroundings. Then, out of nowhere, a window popped up in his vision:
New Skill Acquired: Mana Sense.
He blinked at the message, confused. "Mana... sense?" he muttered, scratching his head. Mana was one of those fantasy buzzwords, right? Like, magic juice or whatever. Still baffled, he asked out loud, “Is this... mana?” It was ridiculous, but the moment the words left his mouth, he felt the air shift again, confirming the sensation.
Of course, he couldn’t leave it alone. Thomas activated his internet skill, calling up a search on "mana" to dig into what this new ability was all about. Hundreds of pages, guides, and forum threads popped up, and yet... he found himself quickly losing interest. Typical fantasy-world stuff, magic powers, casting spells—nothing new. He wasn’t here to become some grand wizard anyway. His thoughts turned back to more important things—like eating.
“Yeah, not dealing with that right now,” he said, waving the window away. He went back to turning the meat over the fire, satisfied with the sizzle and smell wafting through the cave. The deer leather lay spread out near the fire to dry, and he could already tell it’d make some decent additions to his makeshift gear.
But even as he focused on his meal, he couldn’t quite shake the awareness that something was different now. Mana, or whatever it was, seemed to be a part of this world in a way that he hadn’t fully understood yet. He’d deal with it later, he told himself. For now, he had bigger concerns—like not starving to death.
Besides, the leather wasn’t going to dry itself, and there were still plenty of unknowns to face in this forest. Whatever this “mana” was, it could wait until after dinner.
Thomas leaned back against the cave wall, gnawing on a chunk of bland deer meat. No salt, no seasoning—just meat cooked over an open flame. Honestly, it tasted like crap, but he couldn’t afford to be picky. Food was food, and he wasn’t about to starve out here in whatever magical forest this was. The fact that he had meat at all was a win in his book.
As he chewed, he tapped into his internet skill, binge-watching some random Netflix show to pass the time. Yeah, he was sitting in a cave in the middle of nowhere, but at least he still had Netflix, premium no less. As weird as this whole situation was, it had its perks. Premium subscriptions across the board? Free access to everything? It was like someone took his real-world internet dream and made it a reality.
“Guess this isn’t a dream after all,” he mumbled, watching another episode play out on the invisible screen in front of him. He had long accepted that he wasn’t waking up in some hospital bed anytime soon. If this was a coma, it was one hell of a vivid one. But the fact that he brought internet with him? And not just regular internet—free premium internet? That was the ultimate plot twist.
He couldn't help but test the limits of it. While Netflix ran in the background, he fiddled with some other sites. Reddit was still a shitshow, but useful as ever. YouTube was gold for survival tutorials. And Discord? Discord was real-time. He hopped into a couple of servers, messing around with the chats, answering random questions about the latest shows, and trolling a few idiots just for fun. It was like he never left his old apartment.
The thought crossed his mind—if this connection to the internet was real, could he mess with it? Hack into things? Cause some chaos? Would anyone find out if he did?
He laughed to himself, chewing another tough piece of deer meat. The idea was absurd, but the fact that it even crossed his mind made him grin. What if he just… took over the internet from this world?
“Man, if anyone ever finds out about this, they’re gonna think I’m some kind of internet god,” he chuckled, switching to a new Discord server. The possibilities here were endless, and honestly? He was starting to enjoy this strange new life. Internet, survival, and some bizarre magical abilities—this world might not be so bad after all.
As luxurious as his internet skill was, he had no real home, no soda to sip on while scrolling, and the night was still young—too young to call it quits. The cold wrapped around his barely covered body like a clingy ex, not letting up for a second. The wind? Oh, it had the audacity to bite him straight to the bone, sharp and unforgiving. Mosquitoes? Of course, they were part of this cursed package, buzzing like they owned the damn place. But at least he had his campfire—his trusty little beacon of warmth and sanity.
The cave? Yeah, half-covered. Just enough to fool him into feeling a sliver of safety. It gave the illusion of comfort, of some twisted version of "home." But that dark passageway? That gaping, black maw lurking at the back of the cave? It loomed like a bad omen, a reminder that safety was just a façade here. Anything could be crawling out of that void, and honestly, with his luck? He wouldn't even be surprised if something did.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
He poked at the fire, trying to push the cold out of his bones and not think about what might be slinking through the darkness behind him.
As Thomas idly chatted in the Discord server, he couldn’t help but marvel at how bizarre it all was. Here he was, half-naked in a freezing cave with mosquitoes trying to make him their next meal, yet still connected to the world through the magic of his Internet Skill. It felt almost surreal. His hands rested in his lap, completely still, while the system did the work for him—like his thoughts were directly typing into the chat.
He wondered how the others saw it. Did they picture him, comfortably sitting at a desk somewhere, typing away like a normal person? Probably. Little did they know that the only thing between him and the biting cold was a half-assed fire and a system upgrade that made all of this possible.
Thomas: lol yeah, totally, dude. What a noob.
The text appeared instantly, as if he had actually typed it out. He could feel the rush of information, messages popping up, streams, memes, endless distractions. The internet was his playground, and yet, here he was, physically stranded in the middle of nowhere.
"Man, this is some next-level VR," he muttered to himself, half-joking, even though no one would hear. Well, except maybe the cave monsters lurking in the dark behind him.
As he binged on YouTube videos and scrolled through Reddit threads in his mind, the familiar comfort of distraction faded when a different glow caught his eye—a pulsing blue light emanating from the dark passageway across the cave. It flickered like a beacon, almost inviting him to come closer. A part of him screamed to run, to escape into the chilly night where at least he’d have space to breathe, but another part of him, fueled by adrenaline and a wild sense of adventure, thought, Fuck this shit. If I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die.
With a resolute huff, he stood up, shaking off the creeping sensation of dread that wrapped around him. The shadows around him seemed to shift, dancing in response to the glow, and the air felt thick, charged with an unexplainable energy that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
His heart raced as he took a tentative step toward the light, the flickering blue illuminating the jagged walls of the cave. What the hell could it be? He squinted into the darkness, feeling an odd mixture of fear and intrigue. The cold seemed to seep deeper into his bones, but he pushed it aside, his curiosity piqued by the mysterious glow.
“Alright, let’s see what the hell you are,” he muttered under his breath.
Each step forward felt like a leap into the unknown, the warmth of the campfire fading behind him. As he approached, the blue light pulsed more vividly, revealing strange symbols etched into the stone walls surrounding the passageway. They shimmered like they were alive, breathing with a rhythm that matched his heartbeat.
He hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the cave, then steeled himself. No turning back now, he thought. With one final deep breath, he stepped into the dark passage, drawn by the hypnotic glow, ready to confront whatever lay ahead.
Thomas stood in awe before the massive door, its twelve-foot height looming over him like a monolithic guardian of secrets. Runes danced across its surface, glowing with an ethereal light that seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat. Could the guy who found this cave have come here and been eaten by an eldritch monster? he pondered, a chill creeping down his spine as he imagined the fate of the last curious soul to tread these steps.
The door looked sketchy as hell, but it beckoned to him with an irresistible allure. Unable to resist the call, he reached out and touched the runes. The moment his fingers made contact, a surge of energy shot through him, electrifying every nerve ending as if something ancient and powerful had awakened inside him. His mind buzzed, filled with a sense of purpose he couldn’t quite grasp.
With a mix of excitement and trepidation, he placed both hands on the door, pushing against its surface. To his surprise, it swung open effortlessly, as if it were some sort of automatic door. Torches lining the walls flared to life, casting flickering shadows that danced in the cavernous space beyond.
He stepped inside, his eyes widening at the sight of a grand staircase spiraling downward, leading into a massive hallway that stretched into darkness. The air was thick with history, echoing whispers of the past that sent shivers down his spine.
Then an absurd thought struck him. I have no home. If this place has no owner… He chuckled, the sound bouncing off the stone walls. Maybe I can avail myself of that California squatter law!
The idea felt ridiculous yet exhilarating. Here he was, a homeless dude standing in front of a potential mansion fit for a king—if he could just convince himself that this door, this hallway, was his. “Squatters’ rights!” he declared, laughing out loud as he took a step forward, determination swelling in his chest.
He began to descend the staircase, the excitement of claiming this strange new space washing over him. Who knew what secrets lay beyond? What adventures awaited? All he knew was that he was ready to take them on, one step at a time.
As he descended the staircase, the thrill of the moment bubbling inside him, Thomas couldn’t resist the urge to reach out to his Discord chat. If you were homeless and stumbled upon a sketchy mansion-like structure, would you enter it and make it your home? he typed, grinning at the thought of their reactions.
Almost immediately, replies flooded in.
User1: Hell yes! Free real estate!
User2: Absolutely! I’d throw a party!
User3: Nah, sounds like a horror movie waiting to happen. You’ll end up as monster chow!
User4: Count me in! Who needs rent, right?
The responses came pouring in, a chaotic mix of enthusiasm and skepticism. His grin widened as he read through the messages.
User5: I’d definitely go for it! Live like a king in a spooky castle!
User6: But what if it’s haunted? You gotta think about that.
User7: Pfft, ghosts are overrated. I’d take my chances!
User3: But seriously, think about it! Wouldn’t you rather sleep in a safe place?
Thomas chuckled, feeling a sense of camaraderie through the screen. Each response filled him with an odd sense of validation. Maybe he wasn’t so crazy after all. He was just doing what any sensible homeless person would do—looking for a roof over his head, even if that roof was a potential monster lair.
He typed back quickly, Thomas: Lol, I’ll just set up a “No Monster” sign at the door. Should do the trick!
The laughter in the chat felt like a warm blanket, easing the chill that had settled in the air around him. Encouraged, he continued down the staircase, the light from the torches illuminating intricate carvings along the walls—depictions of battles, strange creatures, and long-forgotten heroes.
“Maybe I’ll start a blog,” he murmured, excitement sparking in his chest. “Homeless Adventurer Squatter Chronicles.” He imagined himself narrating his misadventures, complete with stories of daring escapes from eldritch monsters.
As he reached the bottom of the staircase, he took a deep breath, ready to explore this new chapter in his life. Whatever lay ahead, he was determined to make it his own, quirks and all.
As lonely as Thomas felt in this bizarre new world, he didn’t feel truly alone. Ideas began to swirl in his mind—what if he started streaming? He could share the scenes of this incredible place, bring the adventure to life for others, even if it was just a handful of curious viewers. The thought excited him. Maybe he could be the quirky host of a wild reality show—“Surviving in a Mansion of Monsters.”
With newfound determination, he continued down the hallway, discovering multiple rooms lined with beds, each one strangely preserved. Dust motes floated in the air, but the beds looked as though someone had been keeping up with them, neatly made with fresh linens. Weird, he thought. Maybe I struck gold with this squatter deal after all.
As scary as it all was, the idea of an automatic cleaning ghost felt like an A+ score on his list of unexpected perks. “I mean, as long as someone wants to work for free,” he chuckled to himself, imagining a friendly ghost with a duster, hovering around to keep the place tidy.
At the end of the hallway, something caught his eye—a bookstand with a book glowing like a heartbeat, pulsating softly as if it were alive. Intrigued, he approached it, his heart racing in anticipation. The glow beckoned him, urging him to come closer, to touch it.
He reached out, fingers brushing against the cover, and as soon as his hands made contact, a window popped up in his mind's eye, shimmering with blue light.
[New Skill Gained: Rune Art]
Description: Ability to write runes with magical properties. Master the art of rune crafting to enhance abilities, create wards, or tap into ancient powers.
“What the actual—” Thomas whispered, eyes wide with disbelief. The thrill of gaining a new skill surged through him like electricity.
“Rune Art? Hell yes!” he exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face. This was beyond anything he could’ve imagined. Not only was he potentially living rent-free in a haunted mansion, but now he had the means to tap into some sort of ancient magic? The possibilities felt endless.
He opened the book, eager to dive into its contents. Pages filled with intricate diagrams and runic symbols unfolded before him, each page glowing softly in response to his touch. This is going to be epic, he thought, feeling the weight of destiny settling on his shoulders.
“Okay, Thomas,” he said aloud, determination lighting his eyes. “Let’s turn this sketchy mansion into a home—and maybe a magical fortress while we’re at it.”