N/A: Yo! Author here. Drop a comment, guys—seeing more feedback is like free XP for my motivation bar. The more you spam that, the faster I'll update. Anyway, enjoy the chapter and tell me what you think—I actually feel this one came out pretty solid
The toxic rain had stopped three hours ago, leaving behind a landscape that was literally steaming. Yellowish vapor rose from every surface touched by the poisoned water, building a dense fog that warped vision beyond a few meters.
My new body felt… different. Tougher. Breathing in the toxin-soaked air only gave me a slight irritation instead of the stabbing pain from before. Plants that once could've killed me with a single brush now only left a tingling sensation.
[CURRENT RESISTANCES]
Neurotoxins: 2.5%
Cytotoxins: 2.1%
Irritants/Choking Agents: 1.8%
Blood Corruptors: 1.2%
Soul Shredders: 0.3%
...
"Aurora, I need drinkable water and food. These resistances won't matter if I die of dehydration."
"Environmental analysis complete. I've identified three potential water sources within one kilometer. However, all of them carry significant risks."
Markers popped into my vision, like some primitive but effective GPS system.
"The closest one is 400 meters northeast. A natural spring… guarded by a colony of Ambush Diggers. At least twelve detected."
"Second option?"
"Eight hundred meters west. A stream flowing from the inner mountains. Cleaner water, but the path is crawling with level 5 Sleep Vines. Exposure at that level would be lethal, even with your current resistance."
"And the third?"
"Six hundred meters south. A rainwater lagoon. No immediate predators, but the water has high concentrations of diluted toxins. Drinkable in small amounts—thanks to your newly acquired resistances."
The toxic mist swirled in strange patterns, almost alive. Every now and then, I saw silhouettes moving inside it—shapes way too big to be safe, way too quick to be plants.
I picked the lagoon. The most calculated risk.
The trip south was a masterclass in justified paranoia. Every step needed analysis: was that fallen log actually a log, or something pretending to be one? Did that branch move because of the wind, or because something was about to jump me?
Ten minutes in, I got my answer.
What I thought was a moss-covered rock suddenly stood up, revealing eight jointed legs and dripping black mandibles. A Mimic Spider—only three times bigger than the ones I'd seen before.
"Mimic Spider Alpha. Neurotoxins level 6, cytotoxins level 4. Estimated attack speed: lethal."
I didn't even have time to fully process that. The creature launched itself at me, faster than my boosted reflexes could handle. I felt its fangs drive straight through my left shoulder before I could even dodge.
The pain was instant and overwhelming. Not just muscle and bone being torn apart, but two types of venom flooding my system at once. The neurotoxins made my muscles spasm violently, while the cytotoxins began melting the tissue around the wound.
I punched it with my right arm—might as well have hit stone. It dragged me to the ground, mandibles lining up for a second bite, this time at my neck.
And in that clarity only death's doorstep gives you, I noticed something crucial: the spider had attacked from above. It relied completely on surprise and gravity for impact force.
Useful info. After I died.
The second bite ripped through my throat. Everything went black.
[DEATH REGISTERED – CAUSE: Multiple trauma by Mimic Spider Alpha]
Resistances gained:
Neurotoxins: +1.8% (total: 4.3%)
Cytotoxins: +1.5% (total: 3.6%)
New species data:
Mimic Spider Alpha: Solitary, territorial, attacks from elevation
Observed weakness: Depends on initial momentum
Confirmed strength: Exoskeleton tough as hell
…
I woke with a deeper understanding of Sothoryos hunting patterns. Dodging predators wasn't enough. I had to understand them if I wanted to exploit them.
The second trek to the lagoon was more cautious. I checked every overhead surface before passing under. Found two more Mimic Spiders, but I avoided them by giving their territory a wide berth.
The lagoon was just as Aurora had described: green, steaming water surrounded by dead vegetation. But it was water—and my body could handle it now.
I drank carefully, letting my system evaluate the toxins. The taste was metallic and bitter, but tolerable. My stomach processed it without immediate rejection.
[HYDRATION RESTORED]
Ingested toxins processed successfully
Blood Corruptor resistance: +0.3%
New resistance: Diluted Toxins lvl 1
...
N/A: Did not consume dangerous microorganisms like those in Aerea Targaryen because the toxins in this area are not compatible with those organisms.
—"Acceptable progress. Now you need protein."
As I drank, I watched the lagoon's ecosystem. It was a natural gathering point, which also meant constant battlefield.
Across the water, a family of antelope-like creatures approached cautiously. Slim but muscular bodies, long legs built for running. Their heads jerked constantly, always alert.
"Swamp Leapers. Herbivores, but highly evasive. Max speed estimated: 60 km/h. Meat probably edible."
I observed them for an hour. They always drank in groups, at least two on lookout duty. They approached from different angles every time, never repeating the same path. Pure speed and caution.
But they had a flaw: once one bolted, the whole group fled in the same direction—into a dense patch of vegetation east of the lagoon. Predictable escape route.
While I plotted my first hunt, the ecosystem delivered an unwanted lesson.
A sound like thunder ripped the air. The Leapers vanished instantly. I stayed, curious.
What emerged from the water reminded me exactly why Sothoryos had the reputation it did.
First the eyes: two golden orbs the size of plates. Then a triangular head big enough to swallow a horse. The Emperor Basilisk lived up to its name—twelve meters of black scales, rippling muscle, and a presence that sucked the life out of the air.
It slid toward shore with a grace that mocked its size. No rush. Just the absolute confidence of a predator with no rivals.
"Emperor Basilisk. Neurotoxins level 10. Cytotoxins level 8. Physical force classified as 'devastating.' Recommendation: run away. Immediately."
Didn't need to be told twice. I retreated quietly but kept eyes on it.
What I saw next changed how I viewed the entire food chain here.
The Basilisk wasn't drinking. It was setting up an ambush. Twenty minutes later, another group of Leapers came by.
The strike wasn't brute force—it was surgical. A lightning-fast side movement, jaws snapping shut on the slowest one. The rest vanished before I even blinked.
And then came the most interesting part. The Basilisk didn't eat right away. It dragged the prey to a specific spot, pierced the skin with precision, injected venom, waited, then finally began to feed.
"Aurora, why that weird sequence?"
"Analyzing… Hypothesis: Basilisk venom doesn't just kill—it pre-digests tissues and neutralizes built-up toxins in the prey. Adaptation for eating animals that might otherwise be poisonous."
Priceless info. Apex predators here didn't just kill—they adapted to beat the environment. If I could learn their tricks…
But first, I needed food.
I waited three hours until the Basilisk left, satisfied. Its hunting territory was predictable: the lagoon during high animal activity, then back into the jungle.
When the Leapers returned, I was ready.
I'd scouted a choke point along their escape path—a narrow pass between two rocky outcrops. If I positioned myself right and exploited their panic pattern…
The theory was solid. The execution? A complete disaster.
The Leapers drank. I waited. They bolted, predictably. I lunged for the last one.
Big mistake.
I'd underestimated their speed and agility. The Leaper not only dodged my pathetic tackle but launched itself straight into me. Its hind legs—built for 60 km/h—hit my chest like sledgehammers.
I heard ribs crack. My body slammed into rock. My head followed with a sickening crunch.
The last thing I saw was the Leaper sprinting off, untouched.
[DEATH REGISTERED – CAUSE: Cranial trauma, failed hunt]
Lesson learned: Speed isn't just for escape—it's a weapon.
Knowledge gained: Herbivores here are just as deadly as the carnivores.
Resistance increased: Physical trauma +0.5%
…
"Okay, that did not work."
"Indeed. Perhaps a new method is in order."
The third attempt needed a totally different approach.
Instead of direct ambushes, I used what I had: knowledge of territory patterns and environmental toxins.
The Leapers avoided certain plants. A closer look revealed why: Tear Shrubs, whose leaves released choking vapors when disturbed.
They also always drank from the same side of the lagoon—the least toxic side. And that path ran close to a cluster of Tear Shrubs.
Simple plan: turn those shrubs into a gas trap.
I cut branches (carefully, skin shielded by my resistances), spread them along the access path, and waited.
When the next group came, I triggered it. Vapors burst out, creating a natural tear-gas cloud.
The Leapers panicked, blinded and confused, running in circles instead of their usual escape route. One stumbled right toward me.
This time, I didn't go flashy. I smashed its skull with a rock. Effective. Brutal. Dinner served.
Now I get the Ambush Diggers a little better—this feels easier.Oh crap… am I camping right now?
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: First Successful Hunt]
Strategy: Environmental toxins used as tools
Prey: Juvenile Swamp Leaper
Knowledge gained: Toxins can be allies, not just threats
...
Dragging the carcass to safer ground, I threw together a makeshift fire—thank you survival TV and Aurora's input—and roasted the meat.
Yeah, I'm in a nightmare jungle, but come on, I'm not eating raw.
The meat was oddly sweet, kind of like venison with a metallic aftertaste. My body processed it fine, and for the first time since arriving here, I actually felt energy coming back.
As I ate, I kept watching the ecosystem. Everything here was an arms race. Every defense sparked a counter-offense. And every predator, no matter how apex, had its weak spot.
—"Aurora, I think I'm finally getting it."
—"Go on."
—"This isn't a world where brute strength decides survival. Adaptability and knowledge are the real weapons."
—"Explain."
—"Look at the apex predators. The Emperor Basilisk doesn't rule just because it's huge. It's because it's smart enough to neutralize prey toxins. Mimic Spiders? Not the strongest, but their camouflage makes them perfect assassins."
I finished my primitive feast and looked at the horizon, where the toxic fog lifted like sinister theater curtains, revealing more kilometers of lethal landscape.
"I don't need to be the strongest predator, or the fastest. I just need to be the most adaptable."
But even as I said it, part of me—the part that remembered being human—whispered something unsettling: When did I start talking about adaptation and self-destruction with the same clinical detachment I'd use to discuss the weather?
Was this progress? Or was I losing something essential?
The thought vanished when Aurora interrupted my little existential crisis.
"Congrats. You've developed a Sothoryos survival mindset at record speed. Most champions take weeks. Of course, most don't embrace productive masochism with this much enthusiasm."
[MISSION UPDATE: Territorial Mapping]
Current progress: 2.3 km² explored
Water sources: 3
Species catalogued: 12
Predator territories mapped: 4
Food resources confirmed: 2
New objectives unlocked:
Reach level 5 resistance to neurotoxins (current: 4.3%)
Identify and map animal migration routes
Find materials for a basic shelter
...
The sun was setting, painting the sky a sickly red. In Sothoryos, night meant a whole new roster of monsters. I'd already heard the sounds—deep roars, screams that froze blood, and whispers in languages that shouldn't exist.
"Aurora, I need shelter before dark."
"Recommendation: return to the cliffside caves. Still the most defensible spot you've found."
"What's waiting for me tonight?"
"Data is limited, but audio analysis suggests nocturnal megafauna activity. Creatures that stay hidden by day but emerge after sunset."
Heading back, I thought about everything. In one day, I'd died twice, gained new resistances, hunted my first prey, and mapped a chunk of hostile jungle.
But the biggest change wasn't physical.
For the first time, I was starting to think like I belonged here—not like a terrified outsider.
And that difference, I realized, would decide whether I'd ever build something lasting in this world… or just keep dying and respawning in a never-ending loop of basic survival.
When I reached the caves, with the first ominous shadows creeping out of the jungle, I had a new personal mission:
Not just to survive Sothoryos.To dominate it.
[END OF CHAPTER 3]
Daily stats:
Deaths: 2
New species catalogued: 3
Resistances boosted: 5 categories improved
Territory explored: +1.8 km²
First successful hunt: ✓
Strategic lessons learned: 7