System 101

I gingerly poked at the screen in front of me, it glitching slightly as I did so with my fingers going through it. Seemed like it was as real as this jungle place was. Which didn't say much…

[Welcome Player to System 101]

[After losing your life in the previous world, you've been selected for a second chance at life. Your task is to complete quests and make this world a better place. If you do so, you'll be granted a wish from this system. Otherwise, your soul will be sent back to the underworld.]

[Do you accept this challenge?]

[Yes] [No]

I gazed at the screen dumbfounded. I was dead, but how? Don't tell me I cracked my head open on the ground. That would be a stupid way to die…

[30 seconds remaining]

[If Player does not make a choice, they'll be sent back to the underworld and another will be chosen.]

[10 seconds remaining]

"Yes!" I screamed as I clicked on the yes button.

[Confirmed… Processing…]

This system was giving me no chance to think things over. Still, if I had a chance to continue living, I would. There wasn't much to live for back home, but it didn't mean I didn't want to die.

Even if it meant being bound to some stupid system that wanted me to complete some quests. Hopefully, the quests wouldn't be too bad. Besides, that wish thing seemed interesting. I wondered what it could do…

[Processing Complete]

[Quest 1: Survive the Jungle]

[Welcome to the Beastworld. You have entered a dangerous jungle filled with ferals and wild beasts. Survive the jungle and find a village within 10 days.]

[Reward: Newbie Starter Pack] [Penalty: System Shop Permanently Locked]

[Time Remaining: 9 Days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, 50 seconds ]

"Just my luck..." I muttered to myself as I glared at the screen.

I landed up in some Beastworld and in one of the most dangerous places possible. At least that was if my knowledge of what kind of world this was was correct. Of course, if this world was anything like the novels back home, then there was another thing to worry about…

Reverse harems.

I wasn't against them or anything, but as someone who hadn't really done well in relationships with one person, the thought of juggling a relationship with multiple people scared me.

But that was an issue for another day. 

Right now, I needed to move my ass before something dangerous found me. I could have a panic attack once I was safely away from ferals and wild beasts. 

Besides, the system had distracted me long enough and seeing as the time limit was the only screen hanging in my face, I knew it would be of no use to me. Seemed I was going to have to do this surviving thing old school.

— — —

Ahi watched from the jungle canopy as the strange female trekked through the jungle. He had caught her sweet scent while lazing around in a tree and decided to see what it was.

Once he spotted her wandering around, Ahi quietly followed her for some time, waiting for the perfect chance to snatch her. But her sudden shout and weird actions stopped him and instead he decided to continue watching her.

He was intrigued by what she was doing, silently wondering what a female was even doing in such a dangerous place. No even beastmen came to these parts of the jungle. Yet this small female was walking around with no fear at all.

Was she a sheltered female?

No, that wouldn't explain how she got so far into the jungle. Or the weird objects she had and strange clothing she wore. Ahi was so confused by her and wanted to know more.

Seemed he'd watched over her for now. She was quite entertaining in this boring place.

— — —

It had been two hours since the system gave me that damn quest and I was exhausted. The jungle seemed never ending and the heat was becoming unbearable. I normally didn't mind hot weather, in fact it was my favorite type of weather, but the humidity was horrible.

I was sweating everywhere and my clothes stuck to my skin, making me feel icky all over. I needed to find a water source quickly so I could bathe and get rid of this horrible feeling.

But first, I needed to take a small break and observe my surroundings.

Maybe it was just my nerves being overwhelmed by this whole situation, but I couldn't help but feel that something was watching me. I could just be sensitive though.

After all, ferals were considered the worse of the worst in almost every Beastworld novel there was. Yeah, there were some exceptions to the rule, but it would be my luck that I got attacked by some scumbag feral. 

And I wasn't ready for that trauma.

This whole thing had given me enough already that was just waiting for me to process. Sighing at the thought, I sat down on a large rock nearby and decided to focus my attention on getting some water and bug spray.

I had been lucky enough not to get eaten by any bugs yet and didn't want to push my luck anymore. The horrible smell may also help keep others away. Gosh, the smell was nasty.

Once I was bug sprayed, I checked my food supply and water. I had about five liters of water left and three days worth of food if I stretched it. Guess, dinner was going to be a little bag of trail mix.

Shaking my head, I quenched my thirst before getting back up. I couldn't sit in one place for too long. Besides, I wanted to walk a bit more before making camp. I heard the sounds of trickling water in the distance and was hoping it wasn't just my imagination. 

And after about ten minutes of walking, my heart screamed with joy at the sight of a huge waterfall running into a small river. This was perfect.

I could follow along the river, keeping some distance away because of the wild beasts. There was bound to be a village near this water source. It was an important resource in such a primitive world so villages were likely to build near a river like this.

I headed closer to the river after checking there were no animals drinking water nearby. But halfway, I suddenly came to a stop, fear shooting through my body as I watched some kind of crocodile rise from the river.

My hand went to my pocket, grabbing my taser, although I wasn't sure how it was going to help. At the same time, the massive crocodile stopped and transformed into a man with short, dark brown hair and bright green eyes. 

Why of all things did it have to be a beastman?! I could kiss my quest goodbye…

The beastman interrupted my mini meltdown as he smirked and said, "Hello female."