It's now only a bit before noon, and I've recovered from being struck in my most precious place. Stupid rabbit creature just hit me and ran off, leaving me to cry and vomit on the ground. I also lost 6HP, bring me down to 24/30.
Do I have a Lucky System? Or do I have an Unlucky System?
No matter. I just gotta get back up and try again.
About twenty more minutes of crouching around and tracking creatures with their footprints, then my Stealth and Tracking both reach Lv5.
Both of these are useful skills. It's too bad that I haven't slain anything but a turtle. Though... they seem easy to take down. Maybe I'll test it on them if I can't catch anything in the forest.
I hear rustling again. It's close. I sneak nearer to the bushes where I can hear it and try to peak around the side. A large toad creature seems to have just arrived here and is now staying still and trying to blend in with the similar green of the bushes. It may have noticed me and is trying to hide as best as it can. I guess creatures in this world have a sense of survival after all.
Now that I know right where it's attempting to hide, I can just catch it off guard. I creep back to the other side of the bushes and stand right behind where the toad creature is hiding. Being a silent as I can, with my Hushed ability active, I slowly reach over the bushes with my stick. Once I'm close enough, I jab at the toad.
<10 EXP gained>
Heh? One hit? Is the power of a critical strike from a Legendary Stick so mighty?
I reach down and lift the toad up. I can now see its name and level.
...
Freg? Really?
...
Whatever...
And I get a new skill. One that comes with an ability right away, nonetheless.
"Open Stats."
The window appears and I check my total Stat Points. Looks like I have 3 points to spend now. I raise my LUC to 5 because I prefer my stats being intervals of 5. It just makes it look tidier.
This leaves me with 2 Stat Points left. I'll hold onto them for now. I don't know what fighting style I need or if a certain stat is necessary for a specific job. Too many unknowns. Gotta play it slow and steady.
I close the window and then look at the carcass on the ground, sitting next to my stick and shield. A thought crosses my mind.
"Open Inventory."
The window that appears gives me a few different displays. Item Box, Equipped, and Nearby. Nothing is in the Item Box or the Equipped sections. However, the Nearby sewction displays my stick, my shell shield, and
"System, how do I add items to my Item Box."
Hmm... That's neat.
(Collect)
I think this while holding my hand out at all three items. They simultaneously disappear and their names move from Nearby to Item Box.
Going off the same idea, I look at the names in my inventory and think intensely about the shell shield and the stick.
(Equip)
In an instant, those items move from Item Box to Equipped and appear in my hands. They appear in a quick flash of blueish light.
"Oh ho ho! That's pretty cool!"
————
After butchering the Freg, Gathering reached Lv5 and I gained a new ability.
I also leveled up Cooking to Lv2.
The meat from the Freg still ended up as garbage quality. I don't know what to do to make better meals yet besides leveling up the skill. The meal still managed to heal my HP back to full, though.
The meal is far from enjoyable, but it'll hold me over for a while. However, I can't stay here forever to work out how to grow stronger. It's time to decide where to go.
There's still plenty of light left in the day. It's only about noon or so. I can make it pretty far on foot as long as I know which way to go. And so I climb a tree and carefully raise myself to the top.
At the top of the tree, I can see out over a lot of the forest, but I can't see any clear paths. In the horizon is a beautiful mountain range. Beyond it is that giant tree. Perhaps I'll try going that way? Maybe I'll start some epic quest when I get close enough to the tree.
Now, with a destination in mind, I hop down from the tree and begin walking towards the mountains.
———
Since arriving in this world, I've just been trying to get my bearings straight. I learned a bunch of skills, gained a couple levels, and I even have some abilities, too.
I never did get to learn what that rabbit creature is called. I also never learned the name of that chicken.
No matter. I'll either encounter them again or I'll go on my way without ever knowing.
What's important to me, now, is beginning my new life in this strange world.
…
Also, clothes. Clothes are important. I need to get some soon.