Chapter 4 - Bruh and Thor

Vast expanse of lush, verdant jungle, its towering trees reaching towards the heavens like ancient sentinels guarding the secrets of the earth.

The foliage was a vibrant spray of greens, with leaves of every shade and hue shimmering in the golden sunlight that filtered through the dense canopy above.

Shafts of light danced through the branches, casting ethereal patterns of shadow and light upon the forest floor below.

Crystal-clear streams meandered through the undergrowth, their babbling waters a soothing melody that echoed through the verdant glades.

Exotic flowers bloomed in riotous profusion, their intoxicating scents perfuming the air with their sweet fragrance. Birds of every color and description flitted through the canopy.

The air was alive with the sounds of the wilderness, the chirping of birds, the rustle of leaves, and the distant roar of unseen creatures echoing through the trees. 

Kai found himself enveloped by a symphony of sights, sounds, and sensations that transported him to a realm of unparalleled beauty and wonder.

But it was not just the visual splendor of the jungle that captivated Kai; it was the sense of immersion that made it feel so real. He could feel the warmth of the sun on his skin, the cool breeze ruffling his hair as it whispered through the leaves.

The earth beneath his feet was firm and solid, each step sending vibrations reverberating through his body. And with each breath, he could taste the rich, earthy scent of the forest, a heady blend of moss, damp earth, and fresh vegetation.

This was no mere virtual simulation; it was a living, breathing world teeming with life and adventure.

Attention, Survivors!

Behold, as the sun rises on the untamed wilderness of the Primordial Epoch, let the echoes of the ancient world guide your path.

In this First Age of Ages Online, survival reigns supreme. The law of the jungle dictates that only the strongest and most cunning shall endure.

Players must navigate the treacherous jungles, face off against prehistoric beasts, and overcome the challenges of a world in its infancy.

Remember, you have only four lives to spare. Choose your actions wisely, for every decision could mean the difference between life and death.

The Primordial Epoch will endure for one month, offering adventurers ample time to explore its mysteries and conquer its dangers.

And let us not forget, today marks the official commencement of the Ages Online Grand Launch Tournament. Prepare yourselves, for the adventure of a lifetime awaits!

May the fates favor the bold, and may the journey ahead be filled with glory and triumph. Good luck, brave adventurers, and may the best among you emerge victorious!

[ Log Updated - Control Basics ]

[ Log Updated - Ages : Primordial Epoch ]

Kai's gaze flicked to the corner of his vision as the notification popped up, signaling the update to something called the 'Log'. But he already knew what this was as he has played parts of the game when he was testing it for bugs. With a single thought Kai summoned the log window and cleared the notifications with a practiced ease. 

'Now, for a survival situation an a RPG game, the HUD is pretty ambiguous. And by ambiguous I mean there is no HUD. Except for a semi-transparent menu icon in the upper left corner of his eye. Huh? Interesting.' It was the same when he was debugging the game but he thought that was the case because it was the test version. But the real deal was the same too.

Curious Kai opened the menu icon again with just a thought -

[ Inventory ]

[ Map Log ]

[ ??? ]

[ Mastery ]

[ Social ]

[ Achievements ]

[ Settings ]

[ Help ]

[ Log Out ]

"Yep - no HP, no MP, no EXP, no Currency and no Levels. Just an inventory. A map that is completely grey except for the 50m radius around me and below it were his current co-ordinates."

Log currently had two entries - [ Control Basics ], [ Ages ].

"I know what the [ ??? ] is ( its a secret ). Also, No Skills and Abilities just something called Mastery."

"Social - I guess Friends and stuff."

Achievements were empty too. And we all know what the rest is.

"Sigh, Now lets get the party started, shall we?"

Kai then opened the social window with a single thought once again.

It had 4 options - [ Search Player ] [ Friends ] [ Party ] [ Chat ]. Kai tapped on the search player icon.

Please enter the name of Player.

He typed. - T, H, O, R.

THOR,  and pressed enter

[Player] - THOR (online)

- Add Friend -

Kai clicked on - Add Friend -

/////////////////

On the other side of the jungle - you can kind of see the silhouette of a young man high up in a tree. A pack of Smilodons could be seen prowling beneath the tree, their amber eyes glinting with hunger as they circled the base of the tree.

Andy found himself in a precarious situation. High in the branches of a towering tree, he clung desperately to the rough bark as the ground below teemed with danger.

With each passing moment, the beasts grew bolder, their low growls sending shivers down Andy's spine. But he refused to yield to fear, his mind racing as he scanned the dense foliage for any sign of salvation.

"So, uh, as you can see, I'm kind of in a bit of a tight spot here."

His eyes darted nervously between the screen displaying his stream chat and the pack of Smilodons prowling below. The chat was alive with activity, a chaotic mix of mockery and genuine concern.

"What should I do, guys?" Andy's voice wavered with uncertainty as he scanned the messages flooding his screen. "I mean, I know you're all having a laugh at my expense, but seriously, I could use some help here."

The chat scrolled by in a blur of text -

[

SwordMaster69: Bro, just jump down and wrestle them like a true warrior!

MageOfMayhem: Use your magic powers. Oh wait, you're not a wizard Harry!

TacticalTurtle: Andy, don't panic. Just throw some nuts or berries at them. They love snacks!

SneakySparrow: Scan the area for any signs of other players or NPCs who might be able to help. Teamwork could be your ticket out of this hairy situation.

NinjaNoodle: Quick, Andy! Do a backflip and land on their backs. It's the only way to assert dominance.

FearlessFeline: Pretend you're a big cat too! Show them who's boss by meowing loudly and asserting your dominance.

DaringDaisy: Channel your inner Tarzan, Andy! Swing from the branches and make a dramatic escape.

MysticMage20: Andy, do you have any rocks or sticks around? Try throwing them in the opposite direction to distract the Smilodons and make your escape.

AdventurousAntelope: Have you tried offering them a peace treaty? Maybe they just want to chat and exchange hunting tips!

]

"Come on, guys, I know this is entertaining for you all, but I could really use some real advice here. Should I try to sneak past them, or maybe make a run for it? I don't know how much longer I can hold on up here."

Just then his HUD flashed with a notification -

[Player] - BRUH - wants to add you as a Friend.

- Accept -

- Reject -