Before I head out to kill larger things I think it‘s a good time to do a recap in case I die. Don‘t want to forget anything important. Let’s start with the skills, my passives

Hide presence

Lowers heart rate and breathing

You would think there was more to it than that, right?

Then there is my body building passive, which might as well just be added stats depending on much I train to be perfectly honest.

On top of that I got another passive which is essentially the equivalent of mana regeneration, except of course that it is nature energy regeneration

Energy Regeneration

passively regenerates nature energy

Really straight forward.

Then there are active abilities like

Rapid hand movement

Moves your hand back and forth at an exponentially increased rate.

Can cause self-injury if not handled correctly

This could not be more true, you see the only way to use it is by gripping something in the shape of a spear, for example.

And it goes back and forth when you activate the ability. So if I release it at the wrong time, it will end up going the opposite direction.

Then we got the whole hand movement thing which is not really an ability and works more like | gentle hands |.

When the movements are practiced it starts absorbing nature energy also known as | Nature affinity | which is not really an ability as much as it is an exercise. A training method.

I already went over nature affinity a while back so let’s leave it for now.

By the way I say I level up skills in the past, but there are no numbers to confirm this, just the feeling that it has become stronger or more efficient and so on.

| Nature affinity |

| Rapid hand movement |

| Gentle hands |

| Hide presence |

| Increased strength and dexterity |

| Energy regeneration |

I wish I had something like health regeneration or maybe a health bar. But I assume nature energy allows me to heal faster. I assume too many things.

After gathering some supplies I try to talk to the mute princess. She doesn‘t respond like usual, only gives me a little nod.

I have strapped four spears on my back and have one in hand. I‘ve also got a few smaller pointy spikes I can use to throw. I’m climbing to one of the highest points of the all-embracing tree of bounty.

The view is great, mostly trees. But I can see the south exit. To the north, west and east there is nothing but endless trees. I’m a little afraid of going north, deeper into the forest.

I lived in a small town before the launch date, there were some woody areas but nowhere close to this monstrous sized greenery.

My current location could be said to be close to the outer perimeter of the forest. I‘ve been a bit north before, got a long system of bridges in that direction.

Once I go far enough, there is this ambience that flows through the area. Like literally ambient sounds, not a feeling. Literally ambient music.

Also the monsters seem a lot more ferocious. And that‘s the direction I’m heading. To try and see if I can get some experience but most importantly, loot.

At one point on my incredibly important mission of increasing my territory I came across what seemed to be an overgrown ruins of a gas station.

That was somewhere north-east. I’m not exactly a cartographer so I won‘t be able to retrace my steps but there is a pathway through the tree‘s to it. Somewhere.

I‘ll have to keep an eye out for anymore abandoned buildings that got taken over by the forest. Anyways, I've been running along the tree-line for the better part of the day.

Only came across some smaller type critters. Like the perpetually glowing orbs. They are something similar to fairies from a distance but grotesque up close.

They taste fantastic and give you an energy boost, so I grab them when I can. Bit unsettling at first, hearing them scream while I bite down, but you get used to it.

Finally! We got something here. The surrounding trees have been struck down by something big! Giant claw marks on half broken trees or just scattered pieces lying on the thick underbrush.

Then there is the smell, it‘s not bad, it‘s like something was on fire here. A smoky smell.

I keep traveling around the area, of course I keep tying vines between the trees to mark them.

I slow down my heart beat and my breath is almost nonexistent. Slowly creeping around the circle of destruction.

The ground shows signs of something large being dragged all over the place, I assume that must be the trees.

When I finally get a better view, I see the huge pile of trees. Seems this was just a deforestation effort of some kind of monster or being.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

A lumber-beast? I can feel the cold sweat running down my neck. Something with intelligence must have been at work here.

I‘ve spotted some things in the past few months that looked forty percent human. Hybrids. For example boar standing on two legs, thick veiny legs.

I threw up in my mouth when I saw that monstrosity, how can it be that ugly? Even the now dead, private ugly couldn’t compete.

Then there was an eight legged snake-lizard-human thing, which admittedly looked really cool and strong.

The ambient music gets more dramatic as I get closer to the pile of smashed down trees. It’s. What’s the word for it? Surreal? The stench is also getting concentrated.

I sneak around the tree bunker a few times, there is a two meter-ish entrance. it's sort of round or round with edgy bits.

Clearly the builder wasn‘t going for anything aesthetically pleasing.

Let’s think this through real quick, no way in the name of the world tree am I going inside that hovel.

It probably breaks every code in the builder's handbook. Without hesitating too long I throw small stake, around three or four centimeter thick and thirty centimeter long.

It pierces into the top of the entrance, breaking a few branches but the integrity of the den holds up.

A few minutes of silence pass but there are still no suspicious movements. I throw another one, this time a full fledged world tree spear*trademarked*.

I threw with the momentum of my full strength, along with | Rapid hand movement | it shot at what I assume is close to the speed of sound, no “boom” sound but the explosion-esque did occur once it smashed inside the tree-bunker.

I aimed inside this time, instead of at the rim of the entrance. Some dust blows out but not enough to completely block my visibility. There are no other movements.

Since I’m not planning on going inside this den of horrors, I start circling around it again, moving back towards the area that had been deforested.

Once I am on the other side I notice something new. The spear blew open a hole in the tree-bunker. An emaciated furry creature is lying there dead, spear straight through its chest.

And by the good tree of life, is it disgusting. Four long muscular hands, a sturdy body and two small thick legs with hooves at the end. I can’t see its face but I can only assume it’s disgusting as well.

After a few minutes, I finally slowly make my way down, mind you, the trees are only getting bigger the deeper into the forest I go. Think I am at least twelve meters up.

I encroach closer, the beast is hundred percent dead, and I threw two extra spears at it just for good measure, double tap.

That left me pretty drained. Took a lot out of me to throw that first spear into the tree-bunker. I’ve never thrown anything that hard.

I put more emphasis on accuracy but that was kind of a blind throw. The spear I threw later on barely penetrated the beast's hide.

I had a hunch that the stranger creatures would be tougher, and it is starting to look that way. I do not plan on skinning this freak of nature but I want to get my three spears back.

It is unfortunate that the first spear is very stuck. I’m not physically strong enough to get it out, not even rapid hand movement works.

I leave one spear behind, a single tear almost escapes. It was a good spear. One of the first.

It dropped a hand. It’s from the wrist. It glows. It’s more like a paw with razor sharp claws attached. Too bad there is no information on the item.

While holding it, I feel a bit stronger. All the stats are still hidden so I depend on intuition alone.

There are also pieces of meat, which I of course left there, I could catch whatever ugly disease this thing had.

Nature boy, Cpt. Green, the prince of the forest can’t be too much on the rough side, the all-knowing tree has a certain image it needs to uphold.

I tried to move the beast, to see if there was anything underneath it. But that was impossible, it is too heavy and I am too weak.

Maybe I am being carried by my passives and rapid hand movement. Praise be to self-gratification.

I find a wide tree, shave of a few branches with a stone and rapid hand movement.

Make myself a nice little place to lie down for a while. I lost almost all my energy on that incredibly anticlimactic endeavor.

But on the up-side, the ambient music finally ceased and is barely audible anymore.

My theory is, it’s a way to tell if there is anything dangerous or maybe an event nearby.

But to be honest, you have to tune out of the noise after a while. So even if it picks up, I’m not too sure I’ll be able to detect the increase in decibels.

I start doing my nature affinity movements a few times, I often lose track of time when I start it.

I think it replaces any need to sleep, haven’t been able to sleep properly. Not since I began training when I felt like sleeping.

After I woke up I started moving again, I got some semblance of a plan. It’s simple, I saw what I think is another huge tree, like my beloved savior.

So obviously I’m going to check it out. It will probably take a few days, especially because I’m moving so slow, leaving behind a tight line of vine bridges.

It doesn't take too long before the ambient music starts ramping up. Is there a way to turn this off?

It’s already spooky enough with the whole end of days theme alongside the darkness, only a small fraction of light manages to weasel its way through the treetops.

But back on point, ambience has risen again, which probably means another beast of some sort.

Since I don’t know which way the undefined danger should be in, I have no choice but to keep moving forward.

The ambiance got louder and with a faster rhythm before it started to get slow and fade out.

I assume I missed whatever caused it. Should I go back and look for it or continue to move forward?

According to the movement of the sun it should be around six already. Just kidding, in case you forgot, we can see the time every time we open the skill menu.

I feel like I’ve forgotten to mention a bunch of stuff since we started this, uhm. Blog? No Slog for survival log? Or Plog for personal log?

All of these sound wrong so let’s call it the Survivalist guide to the galaxy..Wilderness. I got it! Beginners ongoing outing in nature aka Boon. Perfect. Boon it is.

Where was I? Right, the sidetracking or continue to what I presume will be the second most amazing tree in this forest.

Screw it, we’ll probably find a few of these events along the way. So with a steady pace I keep grabbing vines, quickly tying them in the height where the branches between the trees connect.

While I could probably with my newfound nature powers just stroll over the treetops at top speed, I want to be able to easily backtrack through this uncharted area.

Look, I realize I can just go to a high tree and find my way that way. But what if I find some kind of ruins or better yet, a dungeon! This is sort of like a game right? There have to be dungeons.

Actually. I’ve been thinking, maybe a part or the whole forest is some kind of dungeon, but I didn’t get any notification telling me it was.

Then again this game is like on hard mode, the UI is, well to keep this Boon a bit more PC, it is very poorly made.

We’re one fourth of the way there and it’s getting very dark. Camping it is! Like every night!

Made something new this time, I wrapped an area of two by two by two or close to that in vines. Then I sat down to pay homage to the great tree godmother.

Like clockwork I wake up at five in the morning. After getting a quick bite to eat I ventured on.

Few hours in and I’ve only heard the ambient music go a decibel higher a few times.

Even though the visibility in the forest leaves a lot to be desired, it does on occasion give you an odd symmetrical line of trees.

In fact if you can see the tree from above, I think you’d see something similar to a maze, you just have to connect the dots. But that would be hard to test and prove.

During those moments you can see quite far. I’ve been trying to find these corridors for a while now, to see if I could spot anything unusual.

So far, aside from the forest-den creature I've only seen a deep hole in the ground, three of me walk side by side down that hole.

And sure as hell, I wasn’t going to go down it. No risk, no reward is a thing, but going in without any proper knowledge is tantamount to suicide.

Day three on my journey, I still somehow managed to not meet any creatures face to face or face to back.

And it occurs to me now, wasn’t the whole point to actually go out and hunt things for experience?

Not even sure if there is experience but it’s just an educated guess, I mean there are levels right? And loot.

But I’m so close to the second tree now I can’t just abandon it now, I got a great feeling about it.

Should be less than an hour away. My heart starts to beat faster thinking about it. I have become the embodiment of a tree-hugger.

Reaching the tree, it is easily ten times larger than the other trees surrounding it. It really stands out.

I make swift work of climbing it, I felt a connection as soon as I touched it. Must be the nature affinity at work.

The moment I get to the flattest bit on the tree, the ambient music goes from zero to one hundred in a second flat.

I hear a loud hissing sound and smell a fishy smell. A flash of enlightenment flows through me. The last tree had a snake. But it didn’t wake up.

Having a second to think about it, it all made sense. But I should have been more cautious, because the snake is literally curled up and obviously about to jump me.

On reflex I activate my rapid hand movement and throw my spear at the snake, but I’m still far slower than it.

The spear leaves my hand when it’s only a few meters away from my face, its mouth gaping, wide open.

The warm breath pours over me. I watch in shock, as if I was admiring its pitch black fangs. A viscous, deep purple liquid shimmers with a green glint, I see my stagnant image in it.

A loud noise burst out, the spear managed to pick up speed but the accuracy has become lacking.

Spear digs a few inches into the side of the snake, forcefully pushing it off its path and I feel the wind pressure as the snake head violently passes me.

I was near the edge of the tree platform and the snake goes flying off it.

It is already grabbing onto a thick branch with its lower half. This kind of reaction speed is impressive.

Coming to my senses and reaching for a second spear, I instantly throw it at the snake.

Learning from my previous lesson. I throw it straight at the tail of the snake, hitting the part wound around the tree.

Quickly I tie the vine around my third spear and then around myself. I throw it straight into the air, the snake on route to literally gobble me up.

Before I get violently ripped into the air I put all my strength into my last spear and throw it. As it is my last chance to deter the creature. it is unstable. This is because I’m panicking.

The snake, moving incredibly fast, is already moving towards me. Again its mouth wide open.

This time the spear hits true. I had no more time to even think about what I was doing before I got pulled into the air. My shoulder dislocated and the pain is rendering me unconscious.