He closed the HUD with a flick of his hand, the screen vanishing as he trudged forward, still unsure of what came next but knowing he couldn't stop here. He had to keep moving.

But as the adrenaline from the fight continued to fade, Elias felt the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him, heavier with each step. His legs felt like lead, his hand throbbed from the makeshift bandage, and his mind was still reeling from the goblin's death. The image of its lifeless body flashed through his mind, forcing him to stop in his tracks.

I'm not ready for this.

He looked down at the dagger still gripped in his hand, slick with blood and dirt. His breath came in shallow, uneven bursts, and his limbs shook from fatigue. He wasn't just tired—he was drained, emotionally and physically.

The thought of finding the Goblin Chief right now was absurd. He'd be dead in minutes if he tried to fight again. He wasn't even sure how he'd survived the first encounter. His eyes darted around the dense forest, searching for anything—something—that could offer him a chance to regroup.

Food, water, shelter. Focus on surviving, not fighting.

It was almost like a mantra, something to keep him grounded in the chaos of this world. Elias took a slow, deep breath and started moving again, this time with a different goal in mind. He had to find somewhere to rest, something to eat, and maybe even a source of water. Only then could he think about the task Hecate had set for him.

As the forest darkened with the setting suns, the shadows around him seemed to stretch, growing longer and deeper. The eerie quiet returned, but now it felt more oppressive than before. Every sound—the rustling leaves, the creak of branches—set his nerves on edge.

There's no way I can sleep out in the open like this.

His eyes scanned the trees, looking for some kind of shelter. He needed a place to hide from whatever else was lurking out here, a place where he wouldn't be so exposed. Maybe even a place where he could start a fire—if he could figure out how.

He wiped the sweat from his brow, the weight of his exhaustion bearing down on him, and continued deeper into the forest.

Elias pushed forward, his breath ragged and shallow as the forest thickened around him. The steady rustle of leaves and occasional snap of twigs underfoot were the only sounds breaking the uneasy silence. His head pounded, and every step felt like a monumental effort, but the thought of finding water spurred him on.

After what felt like hours of trudging through the dense trees, he heard it—a faint, rhythmic sound in the distance. His heart leapt, and he quickened his pace, pushing through the undergrowth with renewed urgency. The sound grew louder, the unmistakable rush of flowing water.

Moments later, he broke through a line of trees and found himself standing on the banks of a wide, slow-moving river. The water glistened in the fading light, reflecting the last slivers of the twin suns as they dipped below the horizon. For a moment, Elias just stood there, staring at the water, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.

Water. Finally.

He dropped to his knees at the river's edge, dipping his hands into the cool water and splashing it over his face. The shock of the cold against his skin helped clear the fog in his mind, if only for a moment. He cupped his hands and brought the water to his lips, drinking greedily, the cold liquid soothing his parched throat.

After drinking, Elias glanced at his bandaged hand. The makeshift bandage was filthy, blood seeping through the torn fabric. I should clean this, he thought. He carefully unwound the strip of cloth, wincing at the sight of the dried blood and dirt stuck to his palm. Biting down on his lip, he dipped his injured hand into the river, letting the cool water flow over the cut.

The pain stung at first, but the water was refreshing. As the blood washed away, he gently rubbed the wound clean, watching the red streaks disappear in the current. He took a few more moments to splash water over the wound, then set his attention on the dagger.

It was still slick with goblin blood, a reminder of the fight he had barely survived. He dunked the blade into the river, watching the dark stains swirl away in the water. Once it was clean, he wiped it dry on his tattered sleeve, feeling a slight sense of calm as the last remnants of the battle were rinsed away.

As the initial rush of relief faded, the practical side of his mind took over again. I need to make a place to sleep. The thought of spending the night in the open still made him uneasy, but at least here by the river, he had water and a bit of natural cover from the trees. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing.

Elias scanned the area, his eyes settling on a small patch of ground near the riverbank, partially sheltered by a fallen tree. It would have to do.

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I need something to sleep on. The thought of lying on the bare ground, vulnerable and exposed, sent a shiver down his spine. He remembered the dagger in his hand—his only tool for now—and glanced around at the trees and bushes nearby.

Branches. Leaves. Anything soft enough to make a bed.

Determined, Elias stood and made his way toward a nearby cluster of small trees. The branches were thin and flexible—perfect for weaving together some kind of makeshift bedding. He gripped the dagger tightly, the blade now clean but still holding the weight of its earlier use, and set to work.

With awkward but determined swings, he began hacking at the branches, cutting down several that looked like they'd be enough to form a basic structure. His hands shook slightly, the strain from the earlier fight still lingering, but he forced himself to keep going.

New Skill Unlocked: Foraging (Level 1)

Look at you, gathering like a pro! Soon, no berry or twig will be safe from your keen eye.

Elias paused, blinking at the notification as it popped up in his peripheral vision. He couldn't help but let out a weak chuckle at the sarcastic tone, though the humor was fleeting. I'll take whatever I can get at this point.

With the branches gathered, he made his way back to the small clearing near the riverbank and began laying them out, using the thicker ones as a base and layering the thinner, more flexible branches on top. It wasn't exactly comfortable, but it was better than sleeping directly on the ground.

He grabbed a handful of larger leaves from nearby plants and spread them over the branches to add a bit of padding, hoping they'd provide some insulation against the cold earth.

The whole process took longer than he'd expected, his exhaustion slowing him down, but when he finally stood back and looked at his improvised bed, it wasn't half bad. It wasn't much more than a pile of branches and leaves, but it was something—something that felt like progress.

At least now I can rest without lying in the dirt.

Elias wiped his brow and took a deep breath, the scent of fresh water and damp earth filling his lungs. His muscles ached, and his hand throbbed dully beneath the now clean bandage, but for the first time since arriving in this strange world, he felt a small flicker of satisfaction. He had managed to survive, if only for another night.

As he arranged the last of the branches and leaves, his stomach growled—a sharp reminder that water wasn't the only thing his body needed. He glanced around the forest, scanning for any signs of food. Berries, roots—anything that wouldn't poison him.

Foraging, he thought. I'm definitely not a survival expert, but I need something to eat.

Cautiously, he ventured a few steps away from his makeshift bed, keeping the river within sight. His eyes darted from plant to plant, hoping to spot something recognizable, something that wouldn't leave him regretting every bite. He knelt down, examining a small cluster of bushes with dark berries clinging to their branches. He hesitated, unsure of whether they were safe, but his hunger gnawed at him.

He reached out and plucked one of the berries, eyeing it closely. It looks fine enough, he thought. Still, his gut twisted with uncertainty. As if on cue, his HUD pinged again:

Identify Skill Required to Confirm Edibility

Current Skill Level: Unavailable. Proceed with caution!

Elias grimaced at the warning, feeling his frustration rise. So, no help there either. He glanced again at the berry in his hand and then at the bush full of them. His stomach rumbled once more, louder this time. He needed food.

It's just one berry… What's the worst that could happen?

With a final, frustrated sigh, he tossed the berry into his mouth and chewed. The taste wasn't sweet, but it wasn't terrible either. Encouraged, Elias ate a few more.

For a moment, it seemed fine. He felt a small wave of relief as his hunger eased, the gnawing ache in his stomach subsiding. But the sense of satisfaction was short-lived.

Suddenly, the HUD pinged sharply.

Warning: You have been poisoned.

Not everything in nature is your friend. Be careful what you eat!

A second ping followed immediately after:

Berry Identified: Gravetwist Berries

Often used in minor poisons. Consuming even a small amount can induce nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting.

Effects: Immediate nausea, intense vomiting, minor poisoning.

Elias's stomach twisted violently. A sharp, burning sensation spread through his abdomen, and his eyes widened in horror. "No, no, no…" he muttered, staggering back toward his makeshift bed. His stomach lurched, and before he could stop it, he doubled over, vomiting violently onto the ground.

The pain was immediate and all-consuming. His entire body convulsed as wave after wave of nausea and pain wracked him. He could barely catch his breath between the retching, his throat burning as bile rose over and over.

He collapsed onto his hands and knees, clutching his stomach, barely able to think beyond the searing pain tearing through him. His vision blurred as tears welled up in his eyes. I should have waited, he thought bitterly. I should've known.

The vomiting wouldn't stop. Hours passed—or at least, it felt that way. Time became meaningless as he wretched, the poison working its way through his system. Every few minutes, his stomach would spasm, forcing up nothing but bile until he was dry-heaving and trembling uncontrollably.

His body was drenched in sweat, the cold night air chilling his skin as the pain finally began to fade into an unbearable exhaustion. Elias's limbs grew weak, his muscles aching from the strain of the constant convulsions. His entire body screamed for relief, but none came.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the retching slowed, the pain becoming a dull throb in his gut. Elias lay there, curled on the ground, his breath ragged, every inch of him trembling. His vision swam, and the world tilted dangerously.

He tried to stand but collapsed back onto his makeshift bed, the little energy he had left draining away.

"Stupid…" he mumbled, barely coherent. His eyelids grew heavy, his body too weak to move. I can't… keep this up.

As the pain slowly dulled into a manageable ache, Elias felt himself slipping away, darkness creeping in around the edges of his vision. His body was too drained to keep fighting, and finally, mercifully, he passed out from the exhaustion and pain.