Walking away from the arachnid with a huge history, Mike couldn't help but think about all of the things The Explorers Log had described the spider as. Although sometimes it was vague and sometimes you needed to explore more into an item or creature in order to get all of the information, which Mike didn't due to the Ebb Spider because he hated spiders and was afraid of them, it had never done something like give information like that on a creature before.

The thought just wouldn't get out of his head as he stared at the beautifully backgrounded screens in front of him that told so little about itself and where it came from. It seemed so mute, it wasn't even like the screens he'd seen in video games either, it didn't give him his points of 'Strength' or 'Magic'. It was almost empty actually. It never told him the benefits of leveling up, or what was instore for him, or where he even was for that matter! It just appeared and gave him a road to follow, what laid ahead was unknown.

(AN: Remember he has two screens! One for the Log and the other for Guardians!)

It simply gave him basic information like his name, age, occupation, and level. Which is amazing that it even gave him his level anyways since it seemed to be unwilling to give him anything else. Heck it even makes him search deeper and look closer at certain things in order to get all of the information!

Mike was even more confused about its origins, it didn't seem like it came from the Jack Apple as the only one he ate had made him younger, so if he had gotten it, where did he get it from? And when did he receive it? Did it come to him when he arrived in this forest, or did he gain it after that?

Thinking of all this Mike started to get slightly depressed and no longer wanted to think about it. Remembering how he got here and all that had happened then brought up some pretty recent and sore memories that he'd rather move on from, like mainly how he felt at the time that really made him want to forget as it brought a somewhat sour taste to his mouth.

Sighing and returning back to his original thought, if The Explorers Log really did change the information given just for a single time in order to explain the Ebb Spider, what did that signify?

Maybe, just maybe the background and history is a major importance to that species for a special reason he might find out in the future, but until then he'd have to just stay content with the questions he had in his mind and could only think of the possibilities that may become of them.

Turul didn't follow him to keenly and explored nearby, but away from Mike so that they wouldn't miss anything.

✵

The needlessly high trees stuck out around Mike making him feel like an ant walking around giants feet. Walking in the same pattern he had been before, Mike continued to search for something interesting.

Within in the confines of his own thoughts and the quiet whispers of the large beautifully constructed forest, Mike couldn't help but have his mind wander aimlessly. After all it had been such a long time since he had been without Turul by his side. Since the beginning of all of this actually. So left to his own devices without a sort of support, Mike started to look back on everything that happened, albeit unwillingly.

It felt like so long ago that he'd arrived here, although he really enjoyed it here and loved the thought of everything that was to come with Turul by his side. It didn't mean he doesn't miss his home or Earth anyless. You'd have to be an idiot to think this was on or near Earth, Mike knew ever since he saw the place this wasn't home, and there may be no way for him to return in his lifetime.

Mike had nothing to miss there, he didn't have any living close relatives anymore, no friends that he particularly enjoyed, and he hated his job, however he still missed it. It was his home where all of his memories of over 40 years of life resided, where he grew up and where he thought he'd die, alone and depressed, but home nonetheless. He had his memories of both joyus and tragic moments there.

His parents were his fondest memory because he loved and missed them dearly, even if they were no longer alive he'd still never be able to visit their gravestones, that were right next to each other, or look at the photos of them together with him when he was younger. He had missed the simpler times with them when they had recently passed, but now he missed the times where he was even around them at all.

There was no real reason for him to miss Earth so much besides his fond memories with his parents, yet he still felt an aching for that place somewhere deep in his heart. He knew that if he had the chance to go home and give up this fantasy esque world and Turul he wouldn't. After all this his chance and opportunity to live out a life he would be proud about!

He had one of the worlds strongest creatures and a power that would be a must have auxiliary ability for him as it allowed him to create effectively any tool on the spot. So giving up on such an opportunity would have to make him an idiot.

✵

The air seemed to be closer to winter weather on the occasions it blew by. It felt cold and Mike had a hard time feeling the tips of his fingers that felt cold and unfeeling when he pressed them against the palms of his hands.

Thinking of all of these things made Mike depressed and reminiscent of the past. The beautiful scenery with glowing mushrooms, beautiful flowers, and buzzing strangely shaped bugs under a deep and beautiful black sky with a trillion sparkling lights that dazzled and sputtered in between the trees with beauty seemed to blur in the background as he no longer paid attention to his surroundings that, even though beautiful, were not as important as his own aching heart.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Eventually Mike was pulled out of his tears that poured over his eyes and onto his youthful face as he had tripped over a large root that snagged his foot since he wasn't paying attention at all.

Sniffling a little bit, Mike slowly picked himself back up and swept away the dirt and moss that stuck to his clothing.

Sighing Mike wiped away the tears and put himself back together as he fought against the idea of continuing on with his melancolic episode.

Looking around, it seemed like he hadn't walked far from where he originally was as he could see the area in which he just was before starting his depressed mood. It seems his thoughts and mood whirled by faster than his feet did.

Walking forward once more, Mike fought against the surges of woeful tides in his mind as he focused on surveying his surrounding more scruntitly. Looking and wallowing in the beauty of this forest once again for the tenth time, Mike seemed to feel better about everything and soon started to forget about his sadness for a little bit.

After hours of searching, Turul came back empty winged, while Mike only had the Ebb Spider under his belt for the day. It seems they had hit a period of drought with finding rare things. It was strange too since they had managed to find so many cool things when they first arrived here but ever since that fight with the lightning bug King and Queen they hadn't been able to find one single thing that was worth the actual effort of going out of their way for.

Mike had already scanned all of the flora and fauna they could find as it's his job to 'explore' and 'discover'. They had been mostly uneventful.

Sighing seemed to be Mikes favourite pastime as he looked towards the very visible mountain from the sandy beach side.

The never changing sky made Mike and Turul both tired as they couldn't stifle their yawns. They had kept on searching after meeting up at the beach, together this time, and had managed to pass most of their day doing that, yet still without a good result on their endeavour.

As they sat by a warm fire that had just cooked their food for the night, Mike looked off into space. It had been an emotionally and physically taxing day for him today, he was just ready to lay down and pass out, not even bothering with planning for tomorrow.

Eating and laying down both Mike and Turul had no trouble falling asleep that night.

✵

The routine of their daily lives seemed to continue with exactly how it had been. Today they got up and, after doing the regular morning routine, they walked. For the entire day they had walked straight ahead without doing anything else besides stopping every now and again.

They once again set up their fire and food in order to sleep after walking the entire day.

✵

Mike awoke abruptly. He had heard a strange noise in the forest that leered so closely to the beach. It sounded like a laugh and cry yet it was soft, but just loud enough to awaken Mike to hear it. Shifting on the broad bear rug, Mike peered at Turul who was already awake and alert to whatever was in the forest. Turul looked unblinkingly at the forest with his scary gaze waiting for whatever was there that threatened their sleep.

However it seemed like it was all just an illusion. There were no more noises during the interval in which they kept alert, like it just disappeared, not even Turul could track it.

Before long they both had decided to just get up and start their day. They both agreed Turul wouldn't go into the forest for hunting today so they had fish from the lake for breakfast. Gathering their equipment Mike walked with Turul into the forest making sure they both stayed close today as whatever was in the forest was most likely still around and Mike couldn't be alone as he was really weak.

Today they'd continue with searching the forest, except this time they'd also keep their eyes out for any sort of strange creature.

Eventually within the confines of the forest, Mike and Turul searched seamlessly looking for materials to scan. As the searching stretched too over an hour of looking they eventually found a bushel full of fruits.

They looked like warped strawberries with large round bumps on their skin instead of their seeds. These strawberries were also silver and slightly metallic in coloration. It felt squishy sometimes and other times it felt as hard as metal.

Making sure he checked everything on the outside, Mike quickly conjured up a knife. Slicing the little fruit in half was fairly easy even though it looked like and felt like it was made of metal.

The insides were a swollen and ashy yellow, it looked revolting and inedible from any angle. Pulling up The Explorers Log Mike scanned one that he hadn't touched. The bar of progression appeared on the screen signaling that it was in the process of scanning. The process seemed to be especially slow today which made Mike pretty excited for what these fruits were.

However it was bound to be an unhappy time while waiting for the bar to finish as 'That Thing' appeared. Its sharp and yellow teeth laid a glimmer in the darkness as it smiled a wicked smile along with maddened eyes of a pure red that radiated greed at its foundation. It had weathered skin that chipped and crumbled under the slightest touch or breeze, sharp claws that were a sickly brown, and strong robust legs like those of a kangaroo. It was a disgusting existence that would forever haunt all of Mike's adventures! A species that would forever be the adversary of Mike's exploration!