Chapter 24: The Hunt Begins

The day was far from over, and Noah felt the weight of the daily quest looming over him. The system had made it clear: two aberrations needed to fall before night. Sitting by the fire, he glanced at the edge of the bioluminescent zone Valerie had marked on his map.

"Time to get moving," he muttered, gripping his knife tightly. His stamina had recovered enough, and he refused to let fear dictate his actions.

Steeling himself, Noah ventured out into the open. The eerie stillness of the alien terrain stretched before him, the faint glow of the water plants dotting the landscape his only light. His steps were cautious, his eyes scanning every shadow for movement.

The first aberration came quicker than he expected.

A low growl echoed behind a cluster of jagged rocks. Noah froze, his instincts flaring as a hunched figure emerged from the shadows. The aberration was smaller than the one he'd fought the day before, its body riddled with glowing fissures that cast it in an unsettling light.

"No time to think. Let's do this," Noah muttered, tightening his grip on the knife.

The creature lunged, claws slicing through the air. Noah sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the strike, and countered with a slash to its side. The aberration screeched, ichor dripping from the wound as it turned to face him again.

It charged again, but Noah was faster. Ducking low, he drove his knife into its chest, feeling the creature's body shudder as it collapsed at his feet.

"Hostile eliminated. Reward acquired: Aberration Core (x1). Strength and Agility experience gained."

Noah wiped his blade clean, his breathing steady as he retrieved the core from the aberration's remains. He pocketed it and straightened, scanning the horizon.

"One down. One to go."

As he continued through the zone, Noah noticed something peculiar. A cluster of strange, bulbous fruits dangled from a series of vines wrapped around a rocky outcropping. The fruits were a deep crimson, almost translucent, and pulsed faintly as though alive.

Cautiously, Noah approached and sliced one from the vine. It was soft to the touch, with a faintly sweet aroma. He hesitated for a moment, then took a small bite.

The flavor was surprisingly pleasant, a mix of tangy and sweet that reminded him of berries back on Earth. As he swallowed, a notification appeared.

"Edible resource consumed. Basic sustenance restored. Minor stamina recovery applied."

Noah's eyes widened. "That's a game-changer."

He quickly harvested as many of the fruits as he could carry, stashing them in his pack. Between the water plants and these fruits, he felt a surge of relief. At least he wouldn't starve.

His second target found him shortly after.

Noah heard the aberration before he saw it—the sound of claws scraping against stone sent a chill down his spine. The creature crawled out of a crevice, its glowing eyes locking onto him. This one was slightly larger than the first, its movements more deliberate.

"Alright, buddy," Noah said, raising his knife. "Let's get this over with."

The aberration circled him, its growls low and menacing. Noah kept his stance firm, waiting for the creature to strike. When it finally lunged, he sidestepped and slashed at its arm, ichor splattering across the rocks.

The aberration recoiled, hissing in pain. Noah didn't give it a chance to recover. He charged forward, landing a solid kick to its midsection and following up with a stab to its torso. The creature thrashed violently, but Noah held firm, driving the blade deeper until it went still.

"Hostile eliminated. Reward acquired: Aberration Core (x1). Strength and Stamina experience gained."

Panting, Noah sat back on his heels, wiping the sweat from his brow. His second core of the day glowed faintly in his hand. Without hesitation, he consumed it, feeling the now-familiar warmth spread through his body.

"Aberration Core consumed. Strength +1. Agility +1."

Noah allowed himself a small smile. He was getting stronger. Slowly but surely.

The sun—or whatever passed for it on this planet—was beginning to fade, the bioluminescent glow of the terrain growing more pronounced. Noah made his way back to his cave, his pack filled with the crimson fruits and the satisfaction of completing his daily quest.

Just as he sat down by the fire, a system notification appeared.

"Daily Quest completed: Hunt two aberrations. Rewards applied: Strength and Stamina experience gained."

Satisfied, Noah checked his updated status.

[Noah Greene - Level 7]

Strength: 21 (+12)

Stamina: 19 (+11)

Agility: 17 (+8)

Intelligence: 6

Skills:

Beginner Combat Proficiency (Lv. 4)

Basic Evasion (Lv. 3)

Energy Surge (Active)

End of Chapter 24.