Chapter 11 - Food

Nex crouched low, his gaze scanning the thick undergrowth that surrounded him like a sea of green chaos.

Each leaf, vine, and branch seemed to hide something, whether useful or deadly, he couldn't yet tell.

His eyes flitted from one plant to the next, searching for anything that resembled food. The jungle was abounded with wild growth, but experience had taught him that only a small fraction of it was safe to consume. The rest? A gamble with death.

Sweat trickled down the side of his face as he consulted the mod's notes on his wrist interface, letting the system do some of the work. A glowing annotation caught his eye:

[Enlarged blueberries (Edible)]

[Description: These blueberries can only satisfy hunger, not replenish energy, but fortunately, they are quite abundant in the wilderness. ]

Nex sighed as he glanced up at the nearby bush covered in the plump blue fruit. He plucked one and rolled it between his fingers.

Shrugging, he popped it into his mouth. The taste was as uninspiring as the description, a bland, slightly bitter nothingness. Still, it was enough to stave off hunger for a while.

[A/N: He could've eaten those creatures he killed. I'm sure he would've been fine. Probably.]

As he wandered deeper into the dense trees, his boots crushed the occasional stray vine underfoot.

The jungle's sounds filled the air, chirps, rustles, and the distant calls of creatures he hoped wouldn't come any closer.

His eyes lit up when he spotted a small tree bearing familiar yellow fruits. A quick glance at the system confirmed what he already suspected:

[Tree fruit]

[Description: Widely found in the wilderness. It's the most common food in this area.]

"These again," he muttered to himself, plucking the fruits and tucking them into his pocket.

They were simple, reliable, and entirely unremarkable, just what he needed. He didn't have the luxury to be picky.

Despite his small haul, his foraging results were far from ideal. Most of the fruits he came across either caused nausea, dizziness, or far worse.

The few that were outright toxic had their own grim warnings plastered across the Mod's display.

As Nex moved on, memories of his training days surfaced. His instructor's stern voice echoed in his mind:

"Survival isn't about being the strongest. It's about lasting through the trial. If you're still standing by the end, you've won."

Nex's lips curled into a wry smile. The old man had been right. Here in the wilderness, survival wasn't about heroics or flashy combat, it was about endurance. Sometimes, the greatest skill was knowing when to avoid a fight.

He paused by a low bush dotted with small, golden berries. Plucking a few, he placed them carefully in his pocket, whispering under his breath, "At least food isn't a problem here."

He knew the real danger wasn't hunger, it was what hunted in the shadows.

A flash of color caught his eye, drawing his attention to a patch of vibrant, pink-and-white flowers blooming near a cave's entrance.

At first glance, they looked harmless, almost delicate, but the mod's alert made him stiffen:

[Caution! Toxic plant identified.]

[Ivy flower]

[Description: The pollen of these flowers is a potent paralytic toxin. If inhaled, paralysis is permanent. These flowers use creatures as fertilizer. Proceed with extreme caution.]

His stomach twisted at the warning.

As if on cue, a small frog leaped into the patch, its tiny body vanishing into the flowers. Seconds later, it twitched once, then lay still.

He watched, grim-faced, as the vines began curling around the unfortunate creature, pulling it closer.

"This place is full of nasty surprises," he muttered, taking a step back.

After gathering what he needed, Nex made his way back to the Fenrir's hollow cave.

It wasn't much, but for now, it was his only refuge. The cave reeked of blood and death, the metallic tang still clinging stubbornly to the air despite the passing hours.

The corpse of the Fenrir lay undisturbed.

He glanced at it briefly before heading toward a dry, shadowed corner where he could settle for the night.

This cave was his temporary territory, at least until the dangers of the jungle forced him to move.

He leaned back against the cold, jagged wall, his muscles aching from the day's efforts.

Rest was necessary, but he knew better than to sleep too soundly. The jungle didn't rest, and as the day dipped below the horizon, its true dangers would awaken.

Most survivors in unknown lands learned quickly to stay vigilant during the night. It wasn't just superstition, it was survival.

Darkness brought predators that hunt in the shadows. Nex had been through enough to understand that trusting the night was foolish.

His body ached for sleep, but his mind wouldn't let him relax completely.

His gaze drifted to the Fenrir's corpse again. His thoughts wandered to his right arm.

He flexed his hand, fingers curling and uncurling almost reflexively. The memory of his hand being severed was fresh in his mind, vivid and raw. And yet, here it was, attached and functional as if nothing had happened.

"I'll figure it out later," he muttered, shaking his head to clear the thought. There were too many unanswered questions about his strange awakening, but for now, survival took precedence.

Outside, the sky shifted to twilight. The air grew heavy, almost oppressive, and Nex couldn't shake the feeling that the jungle itself was alive, watching his every move.

The distant sounds of the jungle grew louder as night approached, low, guttural roars echoed through the trees, mingled with sharp snarls and eerie cries.

Somewhere far off, a human scream pierced the stillness, filled with desperation and fear. Nex tensed, his instincts kicking in as his ears honed in on the sounds.

"Someone else is out there," he muttered.

His hand hovered near his weapon, fingers brushing the cold steel. The cries were distant, but if they came closer, he'd have to act fast.