Kenji woke with a wince, shifting on the cold, unyielding stone floor of the small cave. Bruises ached across his back, his arms throbbed, and the wolf pelt he’d been clutching provided little relief against the night’s roughness. Birds chirped outside, their song echoing into the cave—a stark reminder that he was no longer home. He wasn’t in his bed, or even his world.
“Man… I miss my bed. And my warm room… and my actual life,” he muttered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “What kind of nightmare did I get myself into?”
With a sigh, he stretched and sat up, glancing around the cave. The events of the last couple of days replayed in his mind like some hazy, absurd dream: the wolves, the boar, that mad dash for his life. The unrealness of it all clashed with the very real aches in his body, every bruise and muscle strain reminding him, You’re not ready for this.
“Alright, Kenji, think,” he murmured, pulling himself to his feet. “Basic survival, right? Food, water, shelter.” He tried to recall survival shows, those video games where surviving was easy. The problem was that reality had no tutorial mode.
A familiar grumble in his stomach interrupted his thoughts.
“Okay, step one: food.” He rubbed his growling stomach, gazing out into the forest. “Now, if only I knew how to find any…”
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Stepping cautiously out of the cave, Kenji scanned his surroundings. The morning sunlight spilled through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the forest floor. Just a few feet away, he noticed some bushes dotted with small blue berries.
“These look kinda like blueberries… or maybe not.” He squinted, racking his brain for any tips about edible plants from science class or video game lore. “Well, here goes nothing,” he muttered, plucking a berry, sniffing it cautiously before popping it into his mouth. It tasted slightly tart, not too bad. He waited a few seconds for any alarming side effects, then cautiously plucked a few more.
A soft chime echoed in his mind, surprising him.
[System Notification: Survival Instinct Activated: Foraging] [Small boost in awareness of edible plants.]
“Wait… did I just unlock a skill from eating berries?” he muttered, looking around as if the notification would explain itself. “Guess that’s one upside to this whole RPG mess.”
He continued picking and eating, though he knew berries alone wouldn’t be enough. His stomach rumbled for something more substantial, and he realized that if he was serious about surviving, he couldn’t just rely on random bushes forever.
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Hours passed as Kenji wandered deeper into the forest, his eyes scanning for any hint of food or even a trail that might lead him out. The more he searched, the more he felt the depth of his inexperience. Every distant rustle made him flinch, and every shadow seemed to hide some lurking danger.
“People in games make this look easy,” he grumbled, ducking under a branch and rubbing his sore neck. “They just go out, kill some monster, loot some food, and it’s a feast. Here, I’m out here hoping a berry won’t kill me.”
He shook his head, frustration pressing down on his shoulders. “Alright, fine. Think logically, Kenji. There has to be a plan. Just… find something useful. Anything.”
Turning a corner, he spotted a small stream trickling through a patch of grass. The sight of fresh water lifted his spirits—if only for a moment.
“Water… one of the basics,” he said with a hint of triumph, moving closer. “At least I don’t have to worry about dehydration.”
He cupped his hands, scooping up the cool water for a long, satisfying drink. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, leaning back and watching the world pass by. Birds flitted from branch to branch, and the gentle babbling of the stream filled the air.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Well, here’s something I never thought I’d miss—cafeteria food,” he muttered with a small smile. “I’d trade this wild berry diet for a mystery meat sandwich any day.”
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Kenji’s focus sharpened as he moved cautiously through the dense forest, his eyes keenly scanning for any hint of food. Hunger gnawed at him, every sound or flicker of movement in the underbrush setting his heart racing.
"Alright, come on, Kenji… you’ve got this," he whispered, gripping his dagger tightly as he peered around the trees.
Then he spotted it—a small creature foraging in the bushes, oblivious to his presence. It looked like a bizarre mix between a squirrel and a rabbit, with tiny antlers and a bushy tail that flicked back and forth. For a second, he just stared, marveling at the strange sight.
“Please be edible…” he muttered, crouching low and steadying his breathing. His heart thudded against his chest as he inched closer, palms beginning to sweat. He raised his dagger, ready to strike.
Just then, the creature’s head whipped around, and it locked eyes with him. Letting out a high-pitched squeal, it sprang away in a zigzag pattern.
“Wait—no, come back!” he hissed, stumbling after it. His heart sank as it dashed away through the bushes, just out of reach.
In a last, desperate attempt, he lunged forward, swiping his dagger. He felt a slight resistance as the blade grazed its side, and the creature skidded to a halt, its tiny eyes narrowing with what looked like annoyance.
“Oh, you want a fight?” He tightened his grip, a nervous grin spreading across his face. “Alright, let’s do this!”
The creature darted forward, baring surprisingly sharp teeth and nipping at his ankle. He yelped, barely dodging a second bite. “Whoa! You’re feisty, huh?”
He struck back, lunging and swinging his dagger in quick motions. The creature darted left, then right, evading his blows with ease. His strikes grew wilder as exhaustion crept in, but he wasn’t about to give up—not after coming this close.
Finally, with a feint, he caught the creature off guard, his dagger slicing down as it let out one final squeal before vanishing into a wisp of light. Panting, Kenji clutched his dagger, a faint smile spreading across his face.
[System Notification: Quest Complete—First Hunt] Reward: 10 XP, Basic Hunting Skill Unlocked.
A new notification flashed in his field of vision.
[Basic Hunting Skill]: Allows tracking and engaging small animals. Increases awareness of nearby creatures.
He let out a slow breath, staring at the screen. “So… I actually did it. I’m learning how to survive.”
It was just a small victory, but out here, it felt like a huge accomplishment.
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As the sun sank lower, casting a warm glow over the forest, Kenji felt the weight of exhaustion pressing on him. The reality of facing another night alone in the wilderness crept in. The memory of his uncomfortable, nerve-wracking sleep last night sent a shiver down his spine.
“Alright, Kenji. Think smart,” he muttered, scanning the trees. “The ground’s too risky… higher is better.”
He spotted a tree with sturdy branches, slightly higher than the one he’d slept in before. After a bit of effort, he climbed up, settling onto a thick branch and wrapping himself tightly in the wolf pelt. The bark was rough against his back, and the wind cut through the leaves, but at least he wasn’t on the ground.
“Not exactly luxury living, but it’ll do.” He sighed, leaning back and clutching his dagger. Every rustle in the leaves made his heart pound, a constant reminder of the creatures lurking nearby.
A soft chime echoed in his mind, pulling him from his thoughts.
[System Notification: Fear Survival Instinct Activated] [Temporary Agility and Reflex Bonus +5 in dangerous environments.]
He felt a strange comfort from the skill, as though the world acknowledged his fear and offered a means to survive. Despite his exhaustion, his senses felt sharper, his mind clearer.
The minutes stretched into hours as he lay there, his eyes scanning the ground below. The forest seemed alive in the silence, every faint sound—a low growl, a distant rustle—setting his heart racing all over again.
“Just another night out here, alone in the wild… all part of the adventure, right?” he whispered to himself, clinging to the humor.
Looking up, he caught a glimpse of stars blinking into existence. These stars were different, brighter, with unfamiliar constellations. For a moment, he wondered if anyone back home could see these same stars—or if they even knew he was gone.
"Bet my friends are… playing games or complaining about math class," he murmured with a faint smile. "And here I am, trying not to become some monster’s midnight snack."
As darkness deepened, the night’s quiet beauty filled him with a calm he hadn’t expected. It was as if, even in this strange world, the stars offered him a reminder of the life he’d once known. He leaned back, letting the steady rustle of leaves lull him into peace.
At least I made it through another day... Tomorrow, I’ll figure out the next step
Clutching his dagger, he let the system’s notifications fade from his mind and drifted into a light, uneasy sleep, resting as best he could in the stillness of the forest.
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TO BE CONTINUED...
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END OF EPISODE 4