The sun beamed down on me from directly overhead.

The effects of the poison had worn off, leaving me deeply underwhelmed, to say the least. The worst I felt over the last twenty minutes was searing pain, but that only lasted for a minute or two, and then it was followed by a prolonged, dull ache slowly rescinding back to normalcy.

I shook my head and sighed, knowing that my exploit was quickly obsolescent.

[User: Henry Miller]

[Race: Juggernaut]

[Class: Survivor]

[Lv: 0]

[Xp: 0/100]

[Body: 24]

[Mental: 24]

[Senses: 14]

[Magic: 0]

[Skills: Racial ability (Uncanny Regeneration), Racial ability (Stomach Pocket-Dimension), Class ability (Fearless Resolve), Class ability (Survivor's Senses), Class ability (System Appraisal)]

[Traits: Racial trait (Starting attributes are unaffected by this race), Class trait (Attributes don't increase by leveling up), Class trait (Starting attributes are unaffected by this class), Class trait (Incapable of receiving stat upgrades from quests)]

My Mental attribute had only raised by one point and didn't show any sign of rising any higher. It was apparent that I had become at least partially immune to the toxin.

I hadn't even needed Charlotte to cast her detoxifying spell on me as my body neutralized the poison with its own antibodies. I had adapted and was going to need something with a much more potent concentration of the toxin if I were to keep benefitting from this method any further from it.

Charlotte silently watched me with cute puppy dog eyes.

"Don't worry, I'm better now," I reassured her with a warmhearted smile.

Charlotte raised her hand, placing it against my chiseled bare-stomach and activating her healing magic.

I stuttered, "U-uh, you don't have to—"

"Just in case," she retorted with a lighthearted grin.

"O-Okay. Thank you."

Charlotte looked up at me and smiled before returning her focus back to her palm pressed against my bare-stomach.

Maybe it was a bit pointless, but I thought it best to just let her do her thing. I did want to tell her I was becoming immune, but that would've made her feel like she wasn't helping, so I remained silent waiting for her to finish using her detoxifying magic on me.

Charlotte backed away as I shuffled my torso back into my white tee.

I stood up, brushing the dirt off the hind of my sweatpants, proposing, "How about we go find more of those mushrooms?"

Charlotte silently nodded, grabbing my hand as I pulled her back to her feet. She bobbed her head in thanks and followed after me grasping the base of my shirt.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

***

Charlotte rested hoisted upon my shoulders as I stepped through the snow-covered brambles and dense flora.

She looked embarrassed that I was carrying her upon my shoulders like some kid, but she was tired of walking, and I didn't want to turn back, so it was only natural that things turned out like this. In a way, her small size was convenient in that she could do such things as this without it being too strenuous.

My pockets were filled to the brim with mushrooms, among other herbs and ingredients. The brain-rot glowshroom was surprisingly common despite having such oddly specific effects. I would've expected health or mana-restoring herbs to grow more.

The implications of this were that certain plants only grew in certain climates or areas, which could have meant that the System was actually trying to create real working ecosystems.

I dorkishly grinned as things started to click together in my head.

I thought it was odd how we just so happened to encounter an arctic variant of dire-wolves in a snowy northern environment and how the Roc had migrated north while it was just becoming spring-time. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized how impressive all of what the System was able to pull off.

Ecosystems work off of a highly delicate balance that naturally formed over many hundreds of thousands of years. Now the System had to prove that this manufactured ecosystem could maintain an equilibrium.

Charlotte tugged my shirt collar, nervously mumbling, "I need to…"

Confused for a moment, I stood in silence, waiting for her to finish her sentence.

"I need—"

"Sorry, here," I indicated my understanding while setting her down.

I scratched the back of my neck, awkwardly saying, "Go ahead. I'll stand guard."

"Don't look, okay." She ordered in a demanding tone.

I nodded, "Of course."

I leaned up against a tree trunk as Charlotte stepped out of sight, walking a far enough distance to where she thought I wouldn't have been able to hear her. However, my improved Senses let me hear perfectly.

I plugged my ears with my fingers and closed my eyes.

Suddenly, I felt a dangerous presence dead ahead of me. Opening my eyes, I saw a colossal polar-bear standing on its hind legs while sniffing for the trace of a scent it had picked up on.

[Species: Cave Bear]

[Variant: Arctic]

[Lv: 6]

[Body: 42]

[Mental: 6]

[Senses: 36]

[Magic: 0]

[Skills: n/a]

"Shit."

I threw my jacket and shirt to the ground beside me as I prepared for this unforeseen but nearly-assured bout with death.

The cave bear seemingly noticed me and fell back to his feet, slowly approaching with a calm expression and intimidating presence.

I sighed, knowing full-well I was at a severe disadvantage against the hulking-mass.

Keeping my eyes locked with the bear's, I yelled out, "Charlotte, get out of here!"

I had hoped that the cave bear would get scared off by my shouting—like an ordinary bear would—but now it seemed even more aggravated.

Its movements sped up to a charge, carrying the weight of goliath under each and every mighty step. Despite how clumsy it looked as it ran, somehow, the beast managed to dodge and weave through the densely compact forestry while still retaining remarkable speed.

It was extraordinary, but I couldn't waste any more precious seconds contemplating it.

[Quest Name: Kill the Allured Cave Bear]

[Requirements: Kill the allured Cave Bear within five minutes]

[Reward: 30 coins]

[Penalty: Ability (Suicide Alternative)]

I blocked out every thought clouding my mind and focused solely on the enemy in front of me. I knew the move I had to make to win this, and I'd only have one shot.