Chapter 25: The Grindstone’s Gift

Noah awoke to the faint glow of his fire, its embers still flickering from the night before. His muscles ached slightly, but the soreness had become a familiar companion by now. Stretching, he opened his interface to check for the new day's quest.

"Daily Quest: Hunt two low-level aberrations. Reward: Strength and Agility experience."

"Back to work," Noah muttered.

Before heading out, he reached into his pack and pulled out the second aberration core he'd acquired yesterday. Holding it in his hand, he could feel its faint hum of energy, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.

"This better be worth it."

Noah placed the core in his mouth and swallowed, bracing himself for the sensation that followed. Warmth spread through his body like a slow tide, seeping into his muscles and bones.

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

Noah clenched his fists, feeling a slight surge of energy course through him. Every bit of progress mattered here. With his status now slightly improved, he gathered his gear, ate a quick breakfast of crimson fruit, and set off into the zone Valerie had marked.

The first aberration of the day found him near a cluster of glowing water plants. It wasn't much larger than the ones he'd faced yesterday, but its quick movements kept Noah on edge.

When it lunged, he stepped back, dodging its claws and countering with a precise strike to its torso. The aberration screeched and staggered, giving Noah the opening he needed to finish it off with a clean stab to its head.

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

Noah wiped his blade clean and pocketed the core. "One down."

The second fight wasn't much harder. Another low-level aberration emerged as he explored further into the zone. This one was faster, darting side to side in an attempt to confuse him. But Noah's growing confidence and skill allowed him to anticipate its movements.

With a quick feint, he baited the creature into a reckless lunge and struck it down with a powerful slash.

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

Breathing heavily, Noah retrieved the second core and tucked it into his pack. The fights were getting easier, but they still left him drained.

Back at his cave, Noah sat down to rest and review his situation. The daily quest notification appeared soon after.

"Daily Quest completed: Hunt two aberrations. Reward: Strength and Agility experience gained."

"Alright, let's see what we've got," he said, opening his interface.

A new notification appeared.

"New feature unlocked: Grindstone Item Box. A spatial storage system for managing resources and equipment. Items stored are preserved indefinitely and remain unperishable. Accessible through the Grindstone interface."

Noah blinked. "That's... incredibly convenient."

The message faded, and a new tab appeared in his interface labeled Item Box. When he opened it, a menu displayed an empty grid with small, numbered slots. He selected one, and a prompt appeared:

"Would you like to store an item?"

He grabbed one of the crimson fruits from his pack and watched in amazement as it disappeared in a flicker of light. The slot on the grid now showed an image of the fruit, along with its quantity.

"This is going to make things so much easier."

Noah spent the next hour transferring his supplies into the item box. The fruits, water plants, and even the aberration cores he'd collected were safely stored. With the knowledge that his food and resources would remain fresh, a wave of relief washed over him.

With his pack now empty, Noah marveled at how much lighter he felt. The grindstone was proving to be more than just a tool for survival—it was a lifeline.

Later that day, Noah decided to venture out again, now with the freedom to collect more resources without worrying about carrying everything back. The grindstone's new feature had given him a sense of security he hadn't felt in days.

As he walked through the zone, his thoughts drifted to Valerie. She'd known what she was doing when she sent him here. Between the plentiful water plants, the strange fruits, and now this new tool, it was clear she'd given him a fighting chance.

Noah's lips tightened into a determined line. He would make the most of it.

[Noah Greene – Level 8]

Strength: 23 (+13)

Stamina: 21 (+12)

Agility: 19 (+9)

Intelligence: 6

Skills:

Beginner Combat Proficiency (Lv. 4)

Basic Evasion (Lv. 3)

Energy Surge (Active)

End of Chapter 25.