### CHAPTER 5
With the new morning, our protagonist felt a rush of emotions. Excitement? Or perhaps anxiety? Today’s adventure weighed heavily on his mind. Rising from the grass, he approached the barrier that separated him from the forest.
“Today is the day. May luck be with me so that I can survey the surroundings,” he murmured to himself, his voice tinged with both hope and uncertainty.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, he took a decisive step outside the barrier for the first time since arriving in this world. The moment his foot crossed the threshold, the world around him shivered. The tremble was so subtle that only someone paying close attention could sense it. The world seemed to rejoice at his presence, but he would only understand this later.
Unbeknownst to him, his emergence had not gone unnoticed. The forest’s creatures responded with a symphony of calls and cries. Taking a deep breath, he filled his lungs with the dense, invigorating air that seemed to pulse with energy. He felt power surging through him, confirming his suspicions.
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Curious about his newfound strength, he approached a tree and touched it. To his astonishment, a part of the tree tore away effortlessly under his touch. A small tiger-like creature watching from the shadows was equally shocked, its eyes widening in a human-like expression of disbelief. Without making a sound, the creature fled, leaving our protagonist unaware of its presence.
Joy and relief washed over him. “At least with this strength, I can survive for now,” he thought, a smile spreading across his face. “Even without a system or cheat-like ability, this power will be a great help.” From an outsider’s perspective, the sight of a five-year-old tearing apart a tree would have been shocking indeed.
Assured of his ability to retreat to the safety of the barrier if necessary, he ventured into the forest. His goal was simple: to observe his surroundings within a one-kilometer radius. He moved as quietly as possible, marveling at the oversized insects, dog-sized rabbit-like creatures, and trees as tall as the Eiffel Tower. Strange fruits and other wondrous sights filled his vision.
As dusk approached, he returned to the safe zone, reflecting on the day’s events and planning for tomorrow. “Tomorrow, I’ll try those fruits within my reach. I haven’t eaten anything in the five years since I was born. I need to eat. I’ll collect water from those giant leaves—they must hold some. Maybe I can make a cup from the leaf to store and bring it back. If I’m lucky, I might even hunt a small animal. I really miss meat and cooking.”
Speaking to himself, he lay back on the ground and soon drifted into sleep, unaware that a creature had watched his every move that day.