Dex searched through the foliage finding some berries, mushrooms and other plants that perhaps could be used for food. At least comparing it to his implanted knowledge of Earth. Dex just had no way to know if it was accurate here, maybe bright spotted mushrooms he ignored were safe to eat and the bland looking one’s toxic. Too make sure he’d have to try them one by one with enough time in-between no weird effects happen. Dex had experimented with shrooms back in college, it was not an experience he wanted to repeat, ever.
He sorted through the assortment of berries, mushrooms and plants laying them out in front of him. Dex had collected what seemed to be 3 different type of berry, 4 different mushrooms and 2 plants. Not sure where to start Dex decided to try the berries first, he picked one of the black berries he’d collected the most of and inspected it, taking a closer look at the berry there seemed to be something in the berry almost as if it was a night sky with stars shining in it.
Dex squeezed the berry a little so some of the juice came out of it, he took the berry’s juice and spread it a bit over his wrist waiting to see if anything would happen. After what he thought to be at least half an hour with nothing happening he again squeezed a bit more juice out of it, this time dabbing it on his lips. Again, waiting for around half an hour and no detrimental effects happening as far as he was aware he finally popped it into his mouth and slowly chewed it.
The taste he’d describe as sweet and tart, the after taste lingering longer than he’d expect. Cleaning his mouth with his tongue he’d notice almost a dust lingering as well but it quickly dissolved. He again waited to see if any detrimental effects would occur. None happened, at least I got something safe to eat. He glanced at the clearing around him, where the shadows normally obstructed the view through the bushed. It was almost as if he could pierce them with his gaze, occasionally catching a glance of something sneaking around. Soon after the shadows returned as to what they were. Blinking in confusion he wasn’t sure what just happened and popped another of the black berries in his mouth, this time he kept focusing on the shadows. They parted as quickly as he swallowed the berry, allowing him to see some of the green creatures scuttling around in the bushes. The effect seemed only to last for quite a few minutes before dissipating. Interesting, wonder how it would look like at night.
Filing the thought away for now. He took another of the three berries he had found, this one had a pearlescent shine to it as if it was a pearl. Repeating the process of the first berry he found no effects so far as to putting the juices on his skin and lips. He popped the berry in his mouth, the taste of vanilla struck immediately as well of hints of honeysuckle. He sat down cross-legged and just let his mind wander a bit before focusing. Damn… I’ve died and got reincarnated he let the thought wash over him, instead of panic he remained calm. A tinge of sadness was also there, Maria, Tommy, Larissa, I’ll never see them again will I. While the sadness sat there on the edge it didn’t take over. Dex sat there for quite the time before a shiver ran through his spine and returned to the presence. Did... did I just meditate. Dex was sure that had happened and didn’t mind the calm it eventually gave him.
Taking the last type of berry left, it looked like it was shimmering in the light, he started the process again, however an immediate effect occurred as he squeezed it. Seemingly uncontrollable spasms occurred throughout his right arm. Trying to control it and even grabbing his right arm with his left it seemed to be of no use until finally the effect ran his course. Holy shit… Dex sat there for a bit staring at his arm. I completely lost control of it not a little but in its entirety.
He collected all the shimmering berries and threw them as far as he could. There was no doubt in his mind that eating one of those would cause a whole lot of trouble for him. Suppressing that thought he wondered what could happen with the mushrooms and plants. Eating a few of the safer berries to get back some spend energy. He looked at the small collection of mushrooms, all which looked fine to him, heavily relying on the knowledge he received.
He collected 4 different mushrooms from around the clearing and near the small pond area where the tree foliage casted a dark shadow. The first mushroom he had spotted easily, giving off an otherworldly glow. Another of the mushrooms he had walked past several times, its near complete translucent appearance, with wisps of something flitting through it within. Both mushrooms he instinctively did not trust, due to the appearance of both. And his experience with the shimmering berry put him on edge.
The other two were a bit more normal to their counterparts, one had almost a rust like cap and seemed to take a bit to break apart. And the last, well describing it as a flower would work were it not for the main stem the almost petal like cap connected too. A small realization struck him, how am I going to test if these are even safe. Pondering on the thought for a little while he had no obvious answer for it. Besides the clothes on his back, his waterskins, he had no real utensils for cooking them.
With a defeated sigh he grabbed the only thing that could be called a utensil, his gladius. He cut the mushrooms in small bits. Dex grabbed one of the flowers like cap and put it in his mouth and slowly started to chew it. A delicate floral taste with hints of sweetness hit his taste, an earthy undertone was present, swallowing it, he noticed the lingering aftertaste and Dex had to restrain himself to eat more of the flower like mushroom. Grabbing a bit of the rust like cap, he threw it into his mouth, the hearty, meaty, taste he noticed directly, as well as how dense it was. Reminding him of a nicely cooked steak with a side of mushrooms. Almost immediately grabbing another, a feeling of being completely full hit him. Huh that … his thought was interrupted as a message popped up.
Objective #2 cleared!
Generating rewards…
Rewards:
Basic cooking kit:
Frying Pan
Cup
Utensils:
1x knife (non-combat)
1x spork
1x spatula
1x kindle box (low-quality)
Extra rewards…
Due to experimenting with the flora in the core dungeon an extra
Is granted by the Screl, 1x skill:
Identify
Dex stared at the message for a while. Motes of golden light materializing the items in front of him. I don’t feel like I got a ski.. his thoughts interrupted as a ball of golden light slammed into his head. Dex rolled around reeling from the impact, his eyes having a burning sensation that as soon as it came too him disappeared. FUCK That hurt… Dex pulled up himself together and opened his status screen.
General
Attributes
Name:
Dex
Health:
100/100
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Race:
Human[?]
Strength:
10
Class:
None
Dexterity:
10
Level:
0
Endurance:
10
Exp-gain:
54%
Stamina:
100/100
Skills
Traits
Identify
0%(Lvl. 1)
None
N/A
Excited to test his first actual skill, he glanced to his collection of berries, mushrooms, and plants. He realized that he had no idea how to use a skill. Will it be like with my status screen, he started thinking about -Identify- as he did when trying to first open his status, looking directly at one of the glowing mushrooms he sat aside.
Identify:
Name: Etherfungus
Type: Hallucinogenic
Safety: Dangerous
Effect: unknown
He read the screen and immediately was happy he didn’t try to eat one of those mushrooms, if only for the hallucinogenic effect. Dex did find the information from -Identify- lacking a bit. He glanced at the translucent mushroom, again focusing on -Identify-.
Identify:
Name: Phantom Toadstool
Type: Hallucinogenic
Safety: Below Dangerous
Effect: unknown
A puzzled look set on Dex face as he read the last line. Below dangerous… not quite sure of the meaning of the wording, he decided not to tempt fate and let those be as well, for now. He grabbed one of the black berries with the night sky and stars and focused on -Identify-.
Identify:
Name: Starshadow Berry
Type: Effect boost
Safety: Safe
Effect (available due to ingestion): allows eater to see
in near darkness.
Well, that explains why I could see through the shadows at least. Dex quickly identified the rest of the berries and other flora he had collected. The pearlescent berry explained what happened when he ate one.
Identify:
Name: Moonstone Berry
Type: Effect boost
Safety: Safe
Effect (available due to ingestion): Enhances meditation
and dream recall
Glancing at the rust like capped mushroom.
Identify:
Name: Ironspore Mushroom
Type: Effect boost
Safety: Safe
Effect (available due to ingestion): Enhances durability.
The flower like mushroom had similar effects too the moonstone berry.
Identify:
Name: Blossomshrooms
Type: Effect boost
Safety: Safe
Effect (available due to ingestion): Promotes relaxation and stress relief
Dex took the two plants he collected from passing through the small, wooded area between the clearing and the pond.
Identify:
Name: Aurora Vines
Type: Effect boost
Safety: Safe
Identify:
Name: Dreamshade Ivy
Type: Effect boost
Safety: Below Dangerous
Well, I can make probably a tea out of the first one, the dreamshade… lets just leave that for now. Dex looked around and noticed the light was getting dimmer than it was before. He realized he had been sitting there for quite some time testing with what little he had. As he glanced over what he had, he realized he had no real way to keep everything together and move safely through the woods surrounding him. If night was starting to set in, he needed to move quick to either make or find a decent shelter for the night. Not really wanting to find out what lurks around here at night, Dex simply thought.
He thought a bout it a bit and stood up, grabbing his gladius he started in a circular searching pattern. Hoping to cover at least a decent amount around the clearing he’d arrived in. Starting in the same direction he found the pond; he moved what he thought to be north then moving counterclockwise. He found plenty of big sticks, which he placed towards the clearing hoping to find them more easily once back there. After completing the circle around the clearing, he’d found nothing that could be called a shelter and made the decision to make his own, either near or in the clearing itself.
Moving to collect the bigger sticks he’d found he picked a tree to setup a basic shelter. Using the vinelike plants as a rope to secure it he made a basic lean to shelter with the opening facing the clearing, hoping for a bit of camouflage so the woodland creatures had a harder time spotting him and hoping he’d spot them in the clearing before they’d get to him. It took a while to set up even with the knowledge implanted in his brain, it didn’t equal to having done it before. It became harder to work as night slowly set in and he ate some of the Starshadow berries to continue working without much difficulty, he finished in an hour or so. Collecting some fallen leaves and laying them down on the ground as bit of cushion.
He laid on them, and just stared out into the clearing still having the effects of the berries it made it a bit difficult to get too sleep. Without realizing when he drifted off to sleep, missing the message that he’d completed the 3rd objective.