Stone Village Ruins

You might be wondering what makes him so confident discussing all this without panicking.

One reason—he now understands something about skills.

When he gained {Archery}, he realized skills could be acquired in multiple ways.

One way—gaining them in an instant, as if sent into hyperdrive.

The other—developing them over time, acquiring them through intense concentration or sheer luck.

It's hard to define what kind of concentration is needed. That's how he got {Archery}.

He's unsure if just practicing without a defining moment would be enough.

Now, his confidence stems from acquiring a new skill based on this understanding.

He's been focusing on every action, striving for perfection.

His belief—the closer to perfection, the easier it is to gain a skill.

Experience matters. So does luck.

He's been absorbing knowledge from others, learning their specialties.

He's one of the first in the group to grasp how skills are learned.

He doesn't know how long it'll take for the others to realize it, but he must get ahead—fast.

The result? A new skill.

Alex played a role in this.

Cayne had been running since the moment he arrived in this world.

To capitalize on it, he asked Alex for guidance—sprinting techniques, posture, breathing. Everything.

Then, a few days ago, while traveling alone and practicing, he encountered a wolf.

An adult wolf—far more dangerous than the others.

He had already sprinted a lot, was deep in the jungle, and exhausted. But survival won out.

He ran like his life depended on it—because it did.

Luckily, the wolf didn't chase him far. But he didn't stop running.

Somewhere between exhaustion and instinct, something clicked.

His body and mind were beyond spent, yet he kept going.

He recognized the feeling—an accumulation of effort reaching its peak.

This time, it was clearer than when he gained {Archery}.

It felt like completing a cycle—previously irregular, now smooth and fast.

Then, the screen flashed before his eyes.

"Name- Cayne

Mortal Human

Mortal- {Quick Hands},{Calculation},{Archery},{Sprint}"

A new skill.

{Sprint}—different from Alex's {Running}.

It allowed him to move at extreme speed for a short distance. But not for long.

Perfect for escaping danger. His survival chances had just skyrocketed.

Another thing he noticed—the physical enhancements he had been feeling since arriving in this world had increased significantly after gaining a new skill.

Conclusion—having more skills mattered.

And Robert? He was pulling ahead.

A significant advantage.

Of course, Reid might be his equal—or even stronger.

With that, Cayne returned to camp, hiding any sign of change.

Two days later.

Steven and Alex brought news.

They had spotted an old structure across the river—a village made of stone.

Excitement surged through the group. This could be a major breakthrough.

The decision—only those capable of fighting would go.

Everyone wanted to, but it was dangerous.

Final team—Cayne, Robert, Alex, and Reid.

After crossing the river and traveling for two hours, they spotted it.

A stone village.

It was small—ten to fifteen houses, many crumbling.

The buildings were entirely stone, but the two central structures were well-preserved.

Likely the most important buildings.

But there was one problem.

A predator.

A lion lay atop a stone platform in the middle of the village.

That's why Steven and Alex hadn't ventured inside.

They had to kill it.

Before coming, they had planned for this.

Cayne pulled out a bag—inside, his remaining poison.

He injected it into a large rabbit. Hopefully, enough to kill the beast.

Throwing the rabbit near the lion, they retreated to a distant tree.

The lion sniffed the air.

Cayne had made a cut on the rabbit to let the blood flow, ensuring the scent spread.

The lion approached, sniffed, then tore a chunk from the rabbit and swallowed.

A moment later, it recoiled, shaking the corpse in irritation.

Plan… partially successful.

Would the poison be enough?

Anxiety gnawed at them. Their one chance.

Robert spoke. "Looks like your plan failed."

Cayne replied calmly, "It worked—partially. Look."

They turned their eyes to the lion.

It was staggering, trembling.

"This is our chance," Cayne said, voice serious. "We attack now."

Hopefully, no one dies.

At least—not me.