First of all, I want to apologize for the lack of updates. I was going through a difficult time—I didn't have the time or the motivation to write. But here I am again, and I'll try to publish more often. Please leave any comments or observations on the chapter; it helps me know that there's someone out there reading. I'll leave you with the chapter—see you later.
Ping!The sound of a notification shattered my brief moment of existential emptiness.
My consciousness hovered above the corpse I had just left behind. The vision was blurred, as if seen through murky water. I could distinguish my body sprawled across the black sand, head crushed by the jaws of something far too fast to process.
Then, a glowing screen appeared.
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED!] → Welcome to the world.
— Congratulations, Player. You have been successfully transported.
— Immediate Death Recorded: 00:00:43 seconds.
— Cause: Cranial trauma by Sothoryos Basilisk.
— System Tip: Don't do that again.
—Great… not even a full minute and I already unlocked the achievement for "dying like an idiot." We're definitely off to a wonderful start.
I pressed the screen with my drifting consciousness. It dissolved, revealing a new one beneath.
[INITIAL CHECKPOINT ACTIVATED]
Objective:
— Stay alive long enough to identify at least one species.
— Get familiar with your temporary physical body.
Rewards:
— Unlock main mission.
— Minor genetic trait: Environmental Resilience +0.5%
A soft, synthetic female voice emerged from the void.
—Hello, I am Aurora, your personalized virtual assistant. My mission is to help, guide you, and… most likely witness your repeated suffering. A pleasure.
—Tip: breathe just enough and move carefully. Here, even the plants have homicidal instincts.
—Perfect, such a motivational welcome. Can you start by explaining what the hell is going on?
—Of course. Although let me check available functions… Pause …Oh, perfect. Almost everything is locked until you complete basic missions.
—Starter pack? Any initial perks?
—Sorry. The system deems it unwise to hand you resources until you prove you won't die instantly upon receiving them.
—A guide with limited functions and zero resources. This feels more like punishment than a tutorial.
—Why not both? Orion has a twisted sense of humor.
A new screen appeared:
[NEW MISSION: BASIC SURVIVAL]
Objective:
— Survive more than 5 consecutive minutes.
— Identify at least 3 species in the environment.
Aurora's Advice:
— Everything here evolved to kill.
— Observe behavior patterns.
— Distance is your friend.
Rewards:
✔ Access to basic body regeneration.
✔ Information on identified species.
This time, I didn't move right away. I observed.
The beach curved unevenly to either side. Behind me, the sea was a blue so dark it looked like ink, waves breaking in yellowish foam. Ahead, a wall of dense vegetation that seemed to move of its own will.
But there was something else: trails. Paths carved through the undergrowth by local fauna, marked by trampled plants and broken branches.
—Aurora, are those trails safe?
—Define "safe." They're less lethal than cutting through untouched jungle, but still deadly.
I slowly walked toward the widest trail. Each step deliberate, scanning the ground for natural traps.
At five meters, I found the first one.
A perfectly circular hole, the size of a barrel, covered in what looked like normal grass. Only visible because the "grass" was a shade off from the surroundings.
—Natural trap. Ambush predator?
—Likely. Sothoryos is notorious for its subterranean fauna.
I grabbed a rock and tossed it at the center of the covered pit.
The "grass" collapsed instantly, revealing a hole three meters deep. At the bottom, something shifted. Something big, with many legs and mandibles snapping hungrily.
—Noted: the ground lies. What else should I know?
—Look up once in a while.
I glanced up just in time to see a greenish mass the size of a car dropping straight at me.
I threw myself aside. The creature slammed down where I had stood seconds before. It was like a giant spider, but covered in moss and leaves, perfectly camouflaged as falling vegetation.
It reoriented quickly and lunged at me with shocking speed.
I ran.
No dignity, only pure panic, as the creature chased me, producing a sound like branches snapping a hundred times louder.
I managed to outdistance it by leaping across several pit traps, until it finally stopped and climbed back into the canopy, waiting for the next unlucky prey.
[Ping!]
[SPECIES IDENTIFIED: 2/3]
— Pitfall Burrower: Subterranean arachnid, ambush hunter.
— Mimic Spider: Arboreal predator with plant camouflage.
—Just need one more species to complete the objective. And I'm still alive after… how long?
—Eight minutes, thirty-two seconds. A personal record.
The trail led me deeper inland, where vegetation grew denser and oppressive. Trees rose like twisted towers, covered in vines and leaves dripping strange dew. The ground sank under each step, like walking on damp flesh.
Invisible insects buzzed. Distant shrieks echoed. The air was heavy, sweet and rotten. My skin grew coated with a sticky film, sweat that didn't feel like mine.
This isn't survival… it's walking inside a living trap.
Then, the ground exploded beside me.
A thick worm, skin translucent and wet, burst from a hole. Its circular mouth, ringed with hooks, snapped open and shut with a wet click. It lunged at me like a fleshy spear.
Instinct made me stumble back. The worm grazed my side, tearing skin. Pain seared my ribs.
—Move, idiot! —Aurora shouted.
I rolled clumsily, barely escaping as the worm slammed into a tree. Its mucus spread across the bark, and rot crept instantly through the wood.
—New species discovered: Juvenile Ambush Crawler. Herbivore in youth, predator at maturity. Recommendation: move faster.
—Sure, want to lend me better legs? Or maybe a healing kit?
The worm lunged again. I tried to dodge, but my body was too slow. Impact smashed my chest. Sharp pain. Then—nothing. Darkness.
…
I woke gasping, floating above my fresh corpse. Aurora spoke casually:
—Death recorded. Death number two. Pulmonary adaptation: +0.2%. Respawn in progress.
—Do you know how humiliating it is to get crushed by a worm after surviving giant spiders?
—Much less than you think. Come on, try again. You've already identified three species.
[Ping!]
[MISSION COMPLETE: BASIC SURVIVAL]
Stats:
— Species identified: 3/3 ✓
— Survival time: 23 minutes, 7 seconds
— Deaths: 2
— Peaceful encounters: 0
— Fights avoided: 3
[REGISTERED SPECIES]
✔ Pitfall Burrower: Subterranean arachnid ambusher.
✔ Mimic Spider: Arboreal predator, perfect camouflage.
✔ Juvenile Ambush Crawler: Corrosive worm, impact hunter.
[REWARDS UNLOCKED]
✔ Basic Body Regeneration (no memory loss on death).
✔ Trait: Survival Instinct, Lv.1.
✔ Species Database (basic access).
…
Later, I noticed a group of black birds circling overhead. Enormous, thin wings, glowing red eyes. They didn't swoop down—just followed my advance.
—Dosko Carrion Birds. They won't attack… just wait for you to die.
Perfect. I had an audience.
I stopped for a moment, trying to process. The creatures I'd seen all moved with brutal speed: the basilisk struck like lightning, the worm shot up like a spring, the spiders moved with lethal precision. Me? I felt slow, clumsy, prey.
If I stay the clumsiest animal here, I'll die a thousand times before achieving anything.
I stared at my hands, then at the living jungle around me. Each beast had what I lacked: speed, resilience, instinct.
Aurora, as if reading my mind, added:
—The system requires a minimum of 15 species observed for full physical adaptation. Want to run faster? Learn how they run. Want endurance? Watch how they survive here.
I smirked bitterly.
—So basically, I have to become Frankenstein of the jungle.
—That's one way to put it.
…
The landscape shifted. Trees grew sparser, stranger. Some had bark that faintly glowed. Others bore "fruits" that tracked me with shifting eyes.
Then I saw it.
At first, I thought it was a rock. A green-and-brown mass the size of a horse, unmoving among the vegetation. Then it moved.
It rose, revealing a massive head with curved horns and eyes glinting with primitive intelligence. A quadruped body covered in scales that changed colors to blend with the jungle. No wings, but unmistakably draconic.
A Drake.
It studied me with curiosity. No aggression. Just… interest.
—Aurora, what is that?
—Scanning… Partial match. Temporary classification: Draco Terrestris, a wingless wyvern subspecies. Danger level: Medium-High.
The Drake stepped closer. I stepped back. It paused, tilted its head, and let out a deep rumble—almost like a purr.
Was it… friendly?
Aurora hesitated.
—Insufficient data. It may see you as threat, prey, or simply… curiosity.
I sat slowly, making myself less imposing. The Drake seemed to approve, lowering itself to the ground, watching me.
We sat like that for minutes, studying one another. Its scales formed fractal-like patterns, shifting subtly with light. Its eyes were intelligent, though instinctive rather than rational. Its claws looked built for both digging and killing.
Then, a roar shattered the air. The ground trembled.
The Drake's scales flared red with alarm. It growled, both at me and at the approaching presence.
The jungle parted.
A colossal ape emerged—over eight meters tall, gray fur scarred, arms long enough to rip a man apart with one swing. Its chest heaved with each bellow. Its yellow eyes burned with primitive fury.
—Aurora… what the hell is THAT?
—Sothoryos Shadow Giant. Apex predator, highly territorial. Danger level: Immediate extinction.
The Drake and I reached the same conclusion: run.
We bolted in opposite directions. The Giant, confused by two targets, chose the bigger threat—the Drake.
What followed wasn't slaughter, but it wasn't equal either. The Drake fought back with agility, dodging brutal strikes. A deadly dance of predator against predator. But the Giant had size, strength, and fury.
I fled until I found rocky cliffs, caves too narrow for giants. When I dared to look back, the Drake had managed to wound the beast's leg, but was bleeding badly in return. Both retreated, unwilling to risk death.
The Drake glanced at me once from afar, let out a sound like a farewell, and vanished into the jungle.
[NEW MISSION AVAILABLE: TERRITORIAL MAPPING]
Objective: Explore and map 1 km² of territory. Identify resources, dangers, and points of interest.
Warnings:
— Toxic rain forecast in 2–3 hours.
— Megafauna activity detected north.
— Toxic vegetation zone confirmed west.
Rewards:
✔ Access to basic construction.
✔ Map of explored area.
✔ Possible first settlement location.
—Aurora, that Drake… do you think I'll see it again?
—Drakes are territorial but nomadic. If it survives its wounds, it may return. Altruistic behavior detected. Unusual for Sothoryos wildlife.
I sheltered inside a cave on the cliffside, overlooking the cursed jungle.
—Aurora, after everything I've seen, one thing's clear: if I want an empire, I first need a body that can actually survive this green hell.
—The system allows it. Each death adapts you. Each species teaches you. You just need to live long enough to learn.
—Then I guess the game has only just begun.
[REGISTERED SPECIES SO FAR: 5/15]
✔ Sothoryos Basilisk (lethal).
✔ Pitfall Burrower (subterranean trap).
✔ Mimic Spider (arboreal camouflage predator).
✔ Juvenile Ambush Crawler (corrosive worm).
✔ Draco Terrestris — Drake (potential ally).
✔ Shadow Giant (territorial apex predator).
✔ Dosko Carrion Birds (patient observers).
Deaths recorded: 2
Total survival time: 47 minutes, 23 seconds
Lesson learned: In Sothoryos, survival isn't about avoiding death—
…it's about earning the right to keep trying.
[The translation was made with the help of AI, so I'm sorry for any spelling mistakes.]