Finally some Help

Arthur's laughter faded into a weary sigh as he lay on the forest floor, staring up at the thick canopy. His body ached, his breath came in ragged gasps, and his hands still trembled from the adrenaline rush. Yet, despite everything—the near-death experiences, the monstrous predators, the sheer absurdity of his situation—he had survived.

For now.

The eerie silence that followed his battle with the shadow panther made his skin crawl. It was as if the entire forest was holding its breath, waiting to see if he would make a mistake. The fallen tree groaned under its own weight, pinning the creature beneath its massive trunk. The panther still twitched occasionally, its ragged breaths audible beneath the woodpile.

Arthur forced himself to his feet, wincing as his ribs protested. He needed to move. Staying in one place was an open invitation for something worse to show up.

"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Step one: Don't die. Step two… find somewhere safe."

His eyes swept the area, scanning for any signs of shelter or a vantage point. The forest was dense, the towering trees casting long shadows that stretched unnaturally. Every rustling leaf, every whispering breeze felt like a potential threat. He knew he couldn't afford to rest in the open.

Then he spotted it.

A rock formation loomed ahead, partially hidden by the dense foliage. It wasn't a proper cave, but the jagged boulders had formed a small alcove, just large enough to provide some cover. It would have to do for now.

Arthur stumbled toward it, his exhaustion weighing him down. Every muscle screamed in protest, but he forced himself forward, step by step. By the time he reached the rocky outcrop, his legs threatened to give out. He collapsed against the cool stone, pressing his back against it as he took in his surroundings.

It was a good spot—elevated slightly, giving him a better view of the forest floor. If anything approached, he'd see it coming. More importantly, the overhanging rock provided some cover from above. The last thing he needed was something swooping down on him in his sleep.

His stomach growled angrily, reminding him of another pressing issue—food.

"Great," he grumbled. "All this leveling up and system nonsense, and I still have to deal with basic human problems."

His thoughts drifted back to the stream. Water was taken care of for now, but he needed something to eat. Preferably something that wouldn't try to eat him first. His eyes drifted to the nearby foliage, searching for anything that remotely resembled edible plants.

That's when the system chimed in.

Ding!

New Skill Unlocked: Foraging (Lv.1)

Arthur blinked. "Wait, seriously? That's a skill?"

His vision shifted, and suddenly, the forest around him seemed… different. Certain plants and berries were now highlighted in faint green, while others were marked with a dull red glow. Instinctively, he understood—green meant safe, red meant dangerous.

A grin tugged at his lips. "Alright, now we're talking."

Pushing himself up, he followed the green highlights, plucking a handful of small, blueish berries from a bush. They looked suspiciously like blueberries, but he wasn't about to question the system's judgment. Popping one into his mouth, he chewed cautiously. It was surprisingly sweet, with a tart aftertaste that made his mouth water.

He wasted no time gathering more, stuffing his pockets with as many as he could carry. They wouldn't sustain him for long, but they'd keep him going for now.

As he worked, his mind wandered back to the panther-like creature he had defeated. The way its fur had shifted unnaturally, the way its eyes had glowed—it wasn't a normal animal. It was something else. Something unnatural.

And that worried him.

Because if a creature like that existed here, then what else was lurking in the darkness?

Arthur sighed, leaning against the rock as he popped another berry into his mouth. "I need more information," he muttered. "I need to figure out where the hell I am."

The system had been oddly silent on that front. No grand explanation, no lore dump, no convenient map. Just stat points and skills. He had been too busy surviving to question it before, but now, the unknown gnawed at him.

He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to focus on the immediate problem—getting stronger. He couldn't afford to be caught off guard again. He needed weapons, armor, real skills beyond throwing rocks and running for his life.

A sudden rustling in the bushes snapped him out of his thoughts.

Arthur tensed, his body reacting before his mind could catch up. He reached for a nearby stone, gripping it tightly as he pressed his back against the rock. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat deafening in the silence.

The rustling grew louder. Closer.

Then, a voice.

"Oi, you dead or just lazy?"

Arthur's eyes widened. A person?

The branches parted, revealing a figure stepping into view. A young woman, clad in rough leather armor, her dark hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. She had a bow slung over her back and a short sword at her hip. Her piercing green eyes locked onto him, filled with curiosity—and just a hint of amusement.

Arthur blinked. "Uh… what?"

She crossed her arms, cocking an eyebrow. "You look like you just wrestled a Shadow Panther and barely lived. And judging by that mess back there, I'd say I'm right."

Arthur swallowed. "You—saw that?"

The woman smirked. "Saw the tree fall. Figured either you were a lunatic or really, really lucky."

Arthur let out a dry chuckle. "Bit of both, I think."

She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Name's Lyra. And you are?"

Arthur hesitated. Should he trust her? Then again, what choice did he have?

"…Arthur."

Lyra nodded. "Well, Arthur, welcome to the Wildlands. If you don't want to end up as monster chow, you might want to stick with me."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "And why would you help me?"

Lyra grinned. "Because you look like you have no clue what you're doing. And honestly? That's entertaining."

Arthur groaned. "Great. I'm a walking joke."

She chuckled. "Come on, newbie. Let's get you somewhere safe before another panther decides to make you its dinner."

Arthur hesitated for only a moment before sighing. "Fine. But if you try to rob me or sacrifice me to some cult, I'm throwing another tree."

Lyra laughed. "Noted."

And with that, Arthur took his first steps into a much larger world.