Ren slowly opened his eyes, only to find himself lying on the soft, damp ground of a vast and unfamiliar forest. The air was thick with the fragrance of moss and blooming flowers, and yet it carried something else—an invisible energy, faintly humming, almost alive.
Above him, tall, ancient trees stretched toward the sky, their trunks wrapped in vines that glimmered faintly in the sunlight. Strange glowing spores drifted lazily in the air. From somewhere deeper within, he could hear the crisp chirping of unknown birds, their calls filled with notes that no bird from Earth could ever sing.
Mixed with their melody came the deep roar of a waterfall, the water crashing endlessly into a flowing river. The sound was strangely soothing, even in his confusion.
Ren's breath quickened as panic gripped him.
This isn't Earth… Where am I?
Then—
Ding!
A soft chime rang in his head, and before his eyes a transparent blue interface unfolded. Elegant, glowing tabs floated neatly across the display.
---
✨ [ Eden Genesis System Initialized ]
Status
Inventory
Construction Module
Skill Tree
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Ren froze, his eyes wide. "A… system?"
He reached out hesitantly, but his fingers passed right through the glowing panel. Biting his lip, he focused his will on the word Status. The interface shimmered, then changed instantly.
---
✨ [ Status ]
Name: Kizuki Ren
Race: Human (?)
Level: 1
Health: 100/100
Stamina: 50/50
Mana: ♾️ (Unlimited)
Strength: 8
Agility: 9
Endurance: 8
Wisdom: 10
Charm: 15
Skills:
Universal Language Comprehension
Appraisal
---
Curious, Ren willed himself to expand the skill.
Universal Language Comprehension (Passive): Allows understanding and use of all languages, including those of elves, dragons, and gods.
Appraisal (Active): Grants the ability to analyze the nature, effects, and danger of objects, plants, and creatures.
Ren's jaw dropped. "That's… absurd…"
Before he could think further, his stomach growled loudly. Hunger cut through his awe.
"Right… food first."
Around him, the forest teemed with bushes of berries and branches heavy with colorful fruits. They looked enticing, but Ren hesitated. Not everything would be safe.
He reached for a cluster of red berries and activated his skill.
---
✨ [ Appraisal ]
Crimson Berry – Edible. Restores minor stamina.
---
Relieved, he popped one into his mouth. Sweet juice burst across his tongue. His hunger eased slightly. He tested more plants, finding some edible and others poisonous. He ate sparingly and gathered a small supply into his hands.
---
✨ [ New Skill Acquired ]
Food Collection (Basic): Increases efficiency and care when gathering edible plants.
---
Ren blinked, startled at the new notification. "I… get stronger just by surviving?"
Still, food was only half the problem. He looked around the forest, the shadows stretching longer as the sun began to dip. "I can't just stay in the open… there could be beasts at night."
He reopened the interface and chose the Construction Module.
---
✨ [ Construction Module ]
Available Blueprints (Basic):
Wooden Hut (Requires: Logs ×50, Vines ×10)
Campfire (Requires: Stones ×5, Branches ×5)
Storage Crate (Requires: Logs ×10)
Simple Bed (Requires: Logs ×10, Leaves ×10 – uncomfortable)
---
Ren clenched his fists. "Alright. Shelter first."
He grabbed a large stick and began striking at a tree. His movements were clumsy, the wood heavy, but determination burned in him. After several exhausting minutes, the tree gave way and toppled.
---
✨ [ New Skills Acquired ]
Woodcutting (Basic): Efficiency in chopping wood increased.
Axe Handling (Basic): Proficiency unlocked when using axes.
---
Breathless but encouraged, Ren dragged the logs toward the glowing circle marking the hut's foundation. Each time he dropped them in, they vanished into light, the blueprint tallying his progress.
Hours passed as he cut vines, stacked logs, and fed resources into the system. Piece by piece, a small wooden hut formed—its walls rough but sturdy, its roof layered with bark and leaves. By the time the last beam clicked into place, twilight had already swallowed the forest.
He quickly gathered stones and branches, arranging them into a campfire near the hut's entrance. With a spark of friction, flames flickered to life, painting the clearing with warmth and light.
Inside, Ren assembled a simple bed—little more than a wooden frame covered in leaves. It was hard, crude, and far from comfortable, but better than the cold forest floor.
As night fell, the cheerful chirping of birds was replaced by distant howls and eerie shrieks. Shadows moved in the treeline. Heart pounding, Ren shut the wooden door and sat on his bed.
Exhaustion overcame him. Despite the hardness of the frame beneath him, he whispered, "…I made it through my first day."
And with the fire crackling faintly outside, Ren drifted into uneasy but safe sleep.
---