The sun had already started to dip below the horizon when Alex found a small clearing not too far from the wolf's remains. His legs wobbled with each step, and his sword felt twice as heavy as before.
"Alright, chat," Alex muttered, plopping onto the grass, "I think that's enough cardio for a lifetime."
Pixel's cheerful voice rang in his head.[Pixel]: Congratulations! You survived your first mid-level monster. Most new players die within ten minutes.
"Wow, thanks for the pep talk," Alex said, rubbing his sore shoulders. "Love the confidence boost."
The chat lit up on his HUD:
[Viewer1]: BRO LEGIT SWEATED FOR HIS LIFE[Viewer2]: He's built like a twig but somehow alive 💀[Viewer3]: Wolf should've won, lowkey.
Alex sighed but then chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. But guess who's still breathing?" He jabbed a thumb at his chest. "This guy."
Camp Setup
The clearing had a pile of fallen branches. Alex started dragging them together.
"Time to play Boy Scout," he muttered.
Pixel chimed in:[Pixel]: Need help with fire-starting? I can generate a step-by-step tutorial.
"Pixel, unless you can spawn a lighter, no thanks."
[Pixel]: …Processing request. No lighters available. Closest item: 'Flint Stone.'
A small icon blinked in Alex's inventory. He blinked. "Wait, I actually have one?"
[Pixel]: Viewers donated it during the wolf fight.
Chat spammed:
[Viewer4]: YOU'RE WELCOME[Viewer5]: WE SAVED YOUR BUTT AGAIN[Viewer6]: 1 gifted sub = survival item, lol
Alex laughed, pulling the flint stone from his inventory. "Okay, I take it back. You guys are lifesavers."
He scraped the stone against a branch until sparks caught. Soon, a crackling flame licked upward, bathing the clearing in warmth.
He sat back, letting the glow soften the darkness creeping in. "Not bad. My first campfire in another world."
Dinner Time
Alex's stomach growled loud enough to startle a bird out of a nearby tree.
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you," he muttered. He pulled out the crimson berries he had picked earlier and popped a few into his mouth.
[Viewer7]: Man's eating berries like a Skyrim NPC.[Viewer8]: Careful, bro, hope they're not laxatives 💀[Viewer9]: IRL mukbang stream when?
Alex laughed, nearly choking. "Stop making me laugh while I eat. I don't want my cause of death to be berry inhalation."
Pixel chimed in:[Pixel]: Berries restore HP, but they're not filling. You'll need protein soon.
Alex groaned. "Don't tell me I have to… hunt again."
[Pixel]: You do. But don't worry. Tomorrow, I'll generate a quest to guide you. For now, rest.
Alex sighed in relief. "Okay. Tomorrow problems for tomorrow Alex."
The Vulnerable Moment
With his hunger dulled and the fire crackling, Alex leaned back, gazing at the unfamiliar stars above. They glittered brighter than the ones on Earth. Some pulsed faintly, almost like blinking eyes.
The chat quieted down too, with fewer spam messages. Someone wrote:
[Viewer10]: Lowkey… this is cozy.[Viewer11]: Yeah ngl, kinda beautiful.[Viewer12]: Rare moment: streamer not screaming for his life.
Alex smiled faintly. "Yeah… cozy. Haven't felt this calm in a long time."
For a moment, his entertainer mask slipped. He wasn't just a streamer talking to thousands of viewers—he was Alex Carter, a guy who used to stay up late grinding for viewers on Earth, dreaming of making it big.
He cleared his throat. "You know… before all this, I thought I was a failure. Tried streaming for years, barely got ten viewers. Always thought maybe I wasn't funny enough, or good enough."
Chat paused, then trickled in slower, more thoughtful comments:
[Viewer13]: Damn, relatable.[Viewer14]: Bro we here now tho.[Viewer15]: Don't sell yourself short—you're amazing.
Alex chuckled softly, looking into the fire. "And now, here I am. Different world. Monsters want me for dinner. But somehow… you're all here. Watching me. Supporting me. I don't know if I'm lucky or cursed."
Pixel's voice softened.[Pixel]: You're lucky. Because you have an audience that believes in you. Don't forget that.
Alex swallowed hard. For an AI, Pixel knew exactly when to hit the heartstrings.
Foreshadowing in the Flames
The peaceful moment didn't last long. A faint glow shimmered beyond the treeline. Alex narrowed his eyes. It wasn't firelight—it pulsed like a living flame.
"Uh… chat, you see that?" He pointed the camera.
[Viewer16]: OHHHH WHAT'S THAT[Viewer17]: Boss fight loading?[Viewer18]: Bro don't check it, horror movie rules!!
Pixel's tone turned serious.[Pixel]: Warning. Unknown energy detected. Recommend caution.
The glow flickered once more, then disappeared. The forest fell silent.
Alex's heart pounded. "Yeah… nope. Not dealing with that tonight." He stoked the fire higher, as if light could shield him from the shadows pressing closer.
Dreams of the Past
Eventually, exhaustion won. Alex curled near the fire, using his jacket as a makeshift pillow.
His eyes fluttered shut, and soon he drifted into sleep.
In his dream, he was back on Earth—sitting in front of his old computer, the glow of his monitor painting his tired face. Chat messages scrolled by, but there were only five or six people watching.
He muttered into the mic: "Thanks for sticking around, guys. Maybe one day… more people will care."
The screen warped, and suddenly, thousands of messages flooded in, just like today. Except… the faces behind the usernames were blurred, their voices distorted.
A whisper echoed: "Fame has a price…"
Alex jerked awake, cold sweat on his forehead. The campfire had burned down to embers. The forest was quiet again—but the unease in his chest lingered.
Morning Plans
As dawn crept over the treetops, Pixel's cheerful tone snapped him out of his haze.[Pixel]: Good morning! New quest available: 'Forage or Perish.' Objective: Collect enough food for three days' survival. Reward: Inventory Expansion Slot.
Alex groaned. "Pixel, you have a terrible sense of timing."
[Pixel]: I'm programmed for efficiency, not empathy.
Chat laughed as Alex stretched his stiff body.
[Viewer19]: Bro got roasted by his own AI.[Viewer20]: Pixel MVP 😂[Viewer21]: Streamer L, AI W.
Despite the teasing, Alex smiled. A new day meant new chances—not just to survive, but to keep growing.
He picked up his sword, slung it over his back, and looked toward the forest again.
"Alright, chat," he said, energy renewed. "Day two in another world. Let's make it count."
The stream timer blinked on, chat went wild again, and Alex took his first step into another chaotic adventure.
But far away, beyond the trees, a pair of golden eyes watched him. The same glow from last night flickered faintly.
And this time, it was moving closer.