The real hunt

Hunting machines was the goal for the day. I desperately needed parts to craft my own arrows and perhaps some extras to study and improve just like the Oseram. What kind of man would I be if I didn't dream of crafting a badass cannon one day?

With my loyal Focus (which, honestly, deserves a name), pinpointing the right parts to sell for shards or trade wasn't too hard. The real challenge was finding someone willing to trade with an outcast like me. Maybe Krest would be willing, but I hadn't seen him yet. The Nora Embrace was far larger than the game design hinted, and tracking down a wandering trader felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.

That morning, I woke in high spirits, determined to leave my mark on the world. After stoking the fire to cook something later, I geared up. Today wasn't about survival, it was about the real hunt.

The Hunt Begins

With everything I needed, I set out in search of Striders. They were my main target since they'd run when scared or hit, making them less dangerous than other machines. If I could hit the blaze canister on their back, I'd have a good chance of taking one down and finally killing my first machine since arriving here.

The thought of bigger machines looming in the future sent a chill down my spine. But I shoved those fears aside.

'Not today. That's a problem for five or six years from now.'

I thought 'Is about the first kill and maybe some XP to get my first skill.'

After about an hour of searching, I spotted my targets, three Striders grazing peacefully, their metal bodies gleaming in the sunlight. The best part? No Watchers nearby.

I activated my Focus to scan the area and confirm we were alone. Perfect. I marked their routes, noticing one of them occasionally took a longer detour than the others. This was my chance. I'd wait for the right moment to strike and aim for the canister, blaze was invaluable, and I'd need it for fire arrows.

As I crouched in silence, observing the Strider's movements, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of these machines. The craftsmanship of Gaia and Hephaestus was breathtaking, machines designed to terraform a dying world, yet elegant and intricate, more art than mere tools.

But this wasn't the time for admiration. It was kill or be killed in this world, and the Strider had wandered just far enough from the others. Now was my moment.

I let my arrow fly, aiming for the canister. It struck, but not with enough force to ignite it. The Strider hesitated, confused, giving me time to nock another arrow. The second shot hit its mark, dislodging the canister. The machine staggered, then began to flee. I fired again, hitting its left leg, but my arrows didn't pack enough punch to bring it down entirely. One more arrow hit it square in the rear, but it was too late, the Strider escaped, limping but alive.

Still, I'd earned a small victory. The blaze canister lay on the ground, intact. I picked it up carefully, storing it away. Next time, I vowed, 'I'll hit that canister with enough power to take the whole machine down.'

I wasn't ready to give up. Activating my Focus, I tracked the Strider for another hour. Now isolated and limping, it was clearly searching for a Watcher. I couldn't let that happen.

Drawing my bow, I fired again, hitting its hindquarters. The second arrow struck its left leg, and the machine collapsed. I sprinted toward it, spear in hand, and attacked its lens relentlessly until it stopped moving.

I had done it. I'd killed my first machine at the age of ten. For two hours, I'd hunted the beast, and now its broken form lay before me. My well deserved spoils gleamed in the sunlight.

"YEAH! HAHAHA!" I screamed, unable to contain my excitement. This was the first of many kills to come. There was still so much to learn, so many skills to master, but this was a damn good start.

I didn't linger. Using my Focus, I salvaged the best parts I could. Striders didn't offer much metal for arrows, but I managed to recover the ones I'd used. The true prize, however, was the blaze canister. With it, I could craft fire arrows essential for future hunts.

All that remained was finding a trader willing to deal with me.

"What a beautiful day," I muttered, grinning to myself as I packed up and headed back.

The world had no idea what was coming.