Chapter 26: Pushing Forward

Noah moved carefully through the dense terrain, his senses on high alert for any signs of movement. The weight of his empty pack was no longer a burden, but the persistent hum of tension in his chest reminded him that danger was always near. The grindstone's new item box had made his survival easier, but the challenges ahead remained steep.

As the sunless, ash-gray sky loomed overhead, Noah worked his way deeper into the zone. His goal today was simple: hunt more aberrations, gather resources, and begin fortifying his position at the cave. He needed to prepare for the long term.

The area Valerie had marked for him was vast, stretching far beyond what he'd already explored. It seemed endless, with jagged rock formations jutting from the ground like skeletal remains of some ancient battlefield. The occasional glow of the water plants offered the only reprieve from the oppressive dimness.

As he ventured further, he noticed new types of vegetation—a tangle of twisted, vine-like growths with small, bulbous fruits hanging from them. Curious, Noah plucked one and examined it. The fruit's skin was dark green with faint speckles of blue, and it felt surprisingly heavy for its size.

He hesitated. "Is this safe?"

The grindstone chimed.

"Unknown item detected. Initiating analysis..."

Noah watched as a faint glow enveloped the fruit in his hand. After a moment, the grindstone's familiar text appeared in his vision.

"Analysis complete. Item identified: Nutri-Fruit. Edible. Restores stamina and sustains hunger for up to eight hours. High nutritional density."

A smile broke across Noah's face. "Well, that's convenient."

He picked several more of the fruits, placing them into the item box. If they were as useful as the grindstone claimed, he wouldn't need to worry about food for a while.

Continuing deeper into the zone, Noah soon spotted movement in the distance. Two low-level aberrations prowled near a rocky outcrop, their insect-like limbs clicking against the ground as they searched for prey.

Noah tightened his grip on his blade and crouched low. The aberrations hadn't noticed him yet, giving him the advantage.

He moved carefully, circling around to position himself behind them. As he closed the distance, his heart pounded in his chest, a mix of adrenaline and fear coursing through his veins.

When he was close enough, he activated Energy Surge, feeling the familiar burst of power ripple through his body. He lunged forward, driving his blade into the back of the nearest aberration.

The creature let out a shriek, its legs spasming as it collapsed. The second aberration whipped around, its jaws snapping at Noah. He barely dodged, rolling to the side and coming up with his blade ready.

The aberration lunged, but Noah was quicker. He sidestepped the attack and struck its side, the blade slicing cleanly through its tough exterior. The creature staggered, and Noah delivered the finishing blow with a downward slash.

Both aberrations lay motionless at his feet. He exhaled sharply, wiping the sweat from his brow.

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

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

Noah crouched down and retrieved the cores from each creature, holding them up to inspect their faint glow.

"These things are basically my lifeline now," he muttered, placing them into the item box.

By the time Noah returned to his cave, the dim light had faded into near-darkness. He'd spent hours exploring the zone, gathering Nutri-Fruits, hunting aberrations, and mapping out the terrain. His pack might have been empty, but his item box was steadily filling.

Sitting near his fire, Noah pulled up his grindstone interface to check his progress.

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

[Noah Greene – Level 9]

Strength: 26 (+15)

Stamina: 23 (+13)

Agility: 22 (+11)

Intelligence: 6

Skills:

Beginner Combat Proficiency (Lv. 4)

Basic Evasion (Lv. 3)

Energy Surge (Active)

Noah leaned back against the cave wall, feeling a small sense of satisfaction. His progress was slow but steady. Every fight, every core consumed, and every resource gathered was another step toward survival—and, hopefully, a way back home.

His gaze hardened. He wasn't going to die here. He couldn't.

With renewed determination, Noah closed his interface and began planning his next steps.

End of Chapter 26.