The first night in the Jumanji world had left Lin battered, muddy, and surprisingly… awake. His body ached in ways that made every minor movement a comedy of pain.
Crystal's voice echoed from nowhere, as always dripping with mockery.
"Congratulations, weakling. You survived your first day. Barely. And only because that oversized three-headed beast decided you were a snack it didn't have the energy for."
Lin groaned, lifting himself against a tree. "Barely is putting it nicely. I think I might be allergic to survival."
"Oh, you'll learn quickly that survival is optional… dying creatively is mandatory," Crystal replied with a chuckle. "Now, move. You can sleep later when you're dead."
Lin rubbed his face, staring at the horizon. The sun was rising, casting golden light over the treetops. Despite his misery, he had to admit—the world was stunning. Trees twisted like sculptures, rivers glittered like molten glass, and creatures he'd only seen in fantasy movies roamed freely.
"And deadly," he muttered, remembering the three-headed monster.
---
Learning to Fight
The first lesson Crystal wanted him to learn was simple: survival required offense, not just flailing and screaming like last time.
"Pick up that stick," Crystal commanded. "No, the one that doesn't look like a splintered toothpick. You're going to train."
Lin reluctantly picked up a more solid branch. It wasn't a sword, but it was better than nothing.
"Good. Now strike that… thing." Crystal gestured toward a giant, sluggish frog nearby. Its size rivaled a small car, and its tongue flicked in and out like a whip.
Lin lunged clumsily. The frog leapt—and with perfect comedic timing—slapped him across the face with its sticky tongue. He fell backward into a mud puddle.
"Death count: 101," Crystal commented without pity. "You'll need to stop flailing, or your next death will be on video for the entire system network to mock you."
"I'm… learning, okay?" Lin spluttered.
"Yes, if by learning you mean dying slightly less spectacularly."
---
The Shop Unlocks First Skills
After surviving the frog, Lin noticed the system menu floating before him.
"Shop unlocked. Skills available: basic attack, dodge, sprint."
Lin hesitated. "I can actually… choose a skill?"
"Yes, genius. Now pick. And yes, the basic attack is better than your previous attempts."
He selected Basic Attack, gaining a small skill icon above his head. When he swung his stick, it glowed faintly, and—miraculously—he actually hit the frog, sending it hopping away in offense, not toward him.
"Progress! That's… something." Lin beamed.
Crystal's voice was smug. "Don't get used to compliments. You still look like a muddy pancake."
---
First NPC Encounter
As he wandered, still covered in mud and scratches, Lin spotted a figure moving gracefully through the trees.
A young woman with silver hair glinting like moonlight, dressed in light armor.
Her eyes were sharp, like a hawk studying prey… and she was watching him.
"Who's there?" Lin called, waving his stick like it was a sword.
The woman stepped closer, tilting her head. "You're… not from around here, are you?"
"Uh… no? I mean yes? I—look, I'm not really supposed to be here, okay?" Lin stammered.
Crystal interrupted: "Ah, yes. First potential ally—or someone to watch you fail spectacularly. Be polite, weakling."
The woman's gaze softened slightly. "Name's Elara. I usually avoid humans, but… you might survive if you keep trying."
"Survive?" Lin groaned. "I barely made it through day one!"
Elara's lips curved into a faint smile. "Then you have spirit… or sheer luck. Either way, I'll see if you're worth helping."
---
Training Montage (Comedic & Action-Packed)
Crystal decided it was time for actual combat training. Over the next few hours, Lin:
Learned to swing his stick with actual force, hitting small creatures without flailing.
Practiced dodging attacks, though he tripped more than he dodged.
Endured Crystal's constant insults:
"Really? That's your dodge? My grandmother dodges better in her sleep."
"Swinging like a confused monkey again, are we?"
Despite the humiliation, Lin felt a small spark of confidence. For the first time, he wasn't just running and dying—he was fighting.
Elara watched silently, occasionally offering advice:
"Lower your stance. Protect your legs."
"Don't flail so much—predict the creature's movements."
And when she smiled? Lin's heart stuttered. He was aware of it, but there was no time to think about romance yet—the jungle didn't wait for awkward crushes.
---
First Real Threat: The Ambush
As the sun began to set, a howl echoed through the trees. Shadows shifted unnaturally. Lin froze.
"Do you hear that, weakling?" Crystal's tone was serious for once. "You've attracted attention. And I'm not talking about normal forest critters."
From the shadows, three giant panther-like beasts with glowing eyes emerged, circling Lin and Elara.
Lin's first thought: I'm going to die again.
Elara unsheathed her dagger. "Stand behind me if you don't want to become dinner."
Crystal muttered: "Oh, this will be fun. Let's see if your Basic Attack actually works in real combat. Or not."
Lin gripped his glowing stick, knees shaking. Sweat dripped down his face. He glanced at Elara. She was calm, confident, and terrifying.
The beasts lunged.
Cliffhanger: Lin swung his stick desperately… and missed.
Crystal's voice echoed with wicked glee: "Ohhh… this is going to be good."