The forest air was thick and heavy, saturated with the scent of damp earth, moss, and decaying leaves, slowly swirling beneath the night sky.
Lucas hugged the five branches he'd broken off the Moonwood tree tightly against his chest, moving carefully through the forest where towering trees cast sprawling shadows. The high canopy overhead blocked most of the moonlight, letting only broken shards of silver trickle down, scattering like a fractured river across his path. The surroundings were unnervingly silent, broken only by the faint, solitary crunch of dead leaves beneath his boots.
Glancing down at the branches in his arms, Lucas sighed helplessly. "Five lousy sticks... not even enough to build a decent shelter," he muttered under his breath, as if afraid his voice alone might disrupt the fragile silence.
Just then, a long-overdue mechanical chime echoed in his mind.
[System Prompt: Novice Task - Additional Reward Settlement Completed.]
[Energy Points (EP) +5. Current EP: 5/50.]
[Hint: Energy Points can be used to unlock system functions. Continue to accumulate through exploration, gathering, and survival actions.]
A faint, semi-transparent blue screen floated into his peripheral vision:
[System Interface]
Energy Points (EP): 5/50
Unlockable Function: Basic Storage Module (requires 50 EP)
Current Task: Search for Edible Resources (Ongoing)
Lucas raised an eyebrow."Strength points get delivered instantly, but energy points need to queue up? This system's got some real personality," he muttered dryly. Despite himself, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. At least here, even small efforts seemed to be recognized.
Adjusting his grip on the Moonwood branches, he continued deeper into the unknown forest. Not far ahead, he stumbled upon a fallen ancient tree, its bark riddled with moss and decay. Among the twisted roots lay several coarse, rough-looking branches, their surfaces damp and dark, exuding a faint musty stench.
Curious, Lucas crouched and picked up one of the heavier sticks, snapping it sharply in half. A crisp crack echoed unnaturally loud in the quiet. He instinctively looked up, waiting for another system notification. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds passed. Nothing.
Finally, a cold, emotionless line of text floated into view:
[System Prompt: Ordinary Material Gathered. No energy feedback detected.]
Lucas stared, then glanced from the dull stick in his hand to the faintly glowing Moonwood branches cradled against his chest. The difference was obvious. Ordinary wood, while sturdy, might be useful for starting fires or building makeshift shelters—but to the system, it was inert, worthless.
Moonwood, though... Even now, the branches pulsed with a faint, almost living shimmer. The energy inside them seemed to stir the very air.
Making a mental note, Lucas tucked the rough branch under his arm as backup and pressed onward. The night deepened, and a moist chill seeped insidiously through his clothes. He shivered, pulling his jacket tighter around himself.
The darkness around him seemed almost alive. The oppressive silence grew thicker, until he could practically feel unseen eyes watching from the shadows. His instincts screamed a warning: he needed a fire—not just for warmth, but for protection.
Finding a small clearing surrounded by ancient trees, Lucas quickly piled together dry grass and dead wood, using the rough stick he had salvaged earlier. After several fumbling attempts, a small, flickering flame sprang to life.
Carefully, he fed the fire the ordinary wood. The flames devoured it eagerly, but within minutes, the fire guttered, reduced to a weak, smoldering glow. Lucas frowned and reached for one of his precious Moonwood branches, hesitating for only a second before placing it into the dying fire.
Immediately, the fire stabilized. It burned slower, brighter, and somehow stronger. Within the dancing flames, Lucas could see faint threads of silver mist curling upward, shimmering as if carrying some hidden power.
[System Prompt: Special Material - Moonwood. Basic energy release trait detected. Potential for future skill derivation.]
Lucas blinked in surprise. Not only did Moonwood burn longer, but its combustion released usable energy. A spark of possibility flared in his mind. If even a simple branch could affect the environment like this... what else might he uncover?
The firelight flickered gently across his face, casting away some of the night's chill. Lucas crouched beside the fire, soaking in its warmth for a short while. His body, stiff and tired from the cold, finally began to relax just a little.
But he didn't allow himself to linger too long.
He stood up again, slowly, and carefully used his foot to scatter the firewood and glowing embers, smothering the flames. In a forest like this, even the smallest light could attract the wrong kind of attention—and he wasn't eager to find out what lurked just beyond the fire's reach.
Dusting himself off, Lucas adjusted the Moonwood branches in his arms, drew in a deep breath, and stepped once more into the forest's deepening shadows.
Then, not long after, he climbed over a small hill tangled with vines and undergrowth. Just as he was beginning to settle into a quiet rhythm, a familiar chime rang softly in his ears:
[System Prompt: New Area Discovered – Edge of the Glimmering Forest. Reward: Energy Points +5. Current EP: 10/50.]
Lucas's lips curled into a faint smile.
As long as I keep moving… I'll carve out something that's mine, bit by bit.
He crouched down, brushing aside a curtain of dense vines—but before he could take another step, the nearby grass rustled, just once.
His body tensed in an instant. Every muscle locked.Instinctively, he raised the Moonwood stick in his hand like a weapon.
The wind had stopped.
Tree shadows rippled slowly under the moonlight,and from the darkness ahead,something unseen crept silently closer.