The silence of the deep woods was a welcome relief after the adrenaline-fueled escape from the Shadow Cat. Lucas found a defensible alcove in a rock face, a shallow cave barely large enough for him and Kael. The immediate, primal fear had subsided, leaving behind the cold, clear hum of pure analysis. He had survived. He had confirmed his Talent was real. But survival was a temporary state. Dominance was a long-term project.
Before he could formulate a new strategy, he needed a baseline. He needed to stop thinking like the esports pro he had been and start thinking like the Tamer he now was. He needed to read his own code.
He sat down, the rough stone cool against his back, and called up his System Interface. "Full status display," he commanded mentally.
The familiar blue panel expanded, no longer just showing his health and a pathetic experience bar, but a detailed, and deeply discouraging, character sheet.
[Player: Lucas Thorne]
[Level: 2]
[Class: Tamer]
[Talent: System Insight]
## Core Stats
[STR (Strength): 5 | AGI (Agility): 6]
[VIT (Vitality): 5 | INT (Intelligence): 12]
[DEX (Dexterity): 7 | LUK (Luck): 5]
He stared at the numbers. They were, in a word, abysmal. His physical stats—Strength, Agility, and Vitality—were at the bare minimum for a human male. His Dexterity was slightly higher, which might help with aiming or delicate tasks, but it was still laughably low. His Luck was perfectly, depressingly average. But then there was his Intelligence. Twelve. For a Level 2 character, that was an anomaly, an outlier so significant it couldn't be a coincidence. It was the one clear advantage the System had granted him. His mind, as it had been in the real world, was his only real weapon.
Next, his summon. "Kael, status," he murmured. The pup, who had been resting at his feet, looked up, and its own stat block appeared in his vision.
[Summon: Kael]
[Species: Forest Wolf Pup | Level: 1]
[Loyalty: 25%]
## Core Stats
[STR: 6 | AGI: 8]
[VIT: 4 | INT: 3]
[DEX: 5 | LUK: 5]
Again, the numbers were terrible. Kael was slightly faster than him, but his Vitality was so low that a single solid hit from a Level 3 monster could kill him. The 25% Loyalty was a stark reminder that this bond was new and fragile. He had a weak summon with a tenuous connection to him.
Finally, his equipment. He analyzed each piece, and as he did, his [System Insight] provided the hidden data layer that no one else could see.
[Item: Simple Staff (White Grade)]
[Physical Attack: 1-3]
[System Insight: The staff is carved from a branch of an Ironwood sapling. It possesses the hidden trait 'Poor Mana Conductor'.]
[Item: Worn Linen Tunic (White Grade)]
[Physical Defense: 2]
[System Insight: The linen is interwoven with strands of Silverleaf Herb. It possesses the hidden trait 'Minor Magic Resistance (1%)'.]
[Item: Championship Match Flare (Used)]
[A one-use cosmetic item. It has been expended.]
[System Insight: The casing is made of a lightweight, heat-resistant alloy. Can be repurposed for crafting.]
Lucas let out a long, slow breath. The full picture was bleak, but it was also clear. His physical stats were a joke. His summon was fragile. His gear was trash. A direct, physical confrontation with almost anything in this world was a losing proposition. This was the 'game' the System had set for him. A game of overwhelming, almost impossible odds.
And it was a game he now knew how to win.
His new strategy crystallized in his mind, a multi-layered plan built on the foundation of the data he had just gathered.
Avoid Direct Combat at All Costs. His stats confirmed it. He was a "glass cannon" without the cannon. Every fight had to be an ambush, a trap, or an execution of a critically weakened foe.
Intellect is the Primary Weapon. His high INT was the key. It likely fueled the power and clarity of [System Insight]. Every decision must be based on the superior information his Talent provided.
Kael's Evolution is Top Priority. The pup was his only real partner. The note on his status screen—[Growth Potential: High. Requires specific catalysts to unlock]—was the most important quest in the game. Unlocking that potential was the only way to gain a real combat asset.
Resource Everything. The hidden traits on his "trash" gear proved that nothing in Arcadia was what it seemed. Every rock, every plant, every defeated monster was a potential source of unique materials for a future where he could craft his own advantages.
He felt a renewed sense of purpose, a cold, sharp focus that cut through his earlier despair. He had a plan. He had a path. Now, he needed a starting point.
He focused on Kael's status again. Specific catalysts. The phrase was a breadcrumb. Where did he begin? He stood up and looked around the small clearing, his eyes now seeing not just a forest, but a database.
"Kael, come," he said. He began to walk, but not aimlessly. He moved toward a patch of thick bushes where several [Forest Rabbits] were grazing. He had no intention of fighting them. He was hunting for information.
He focused, using [Analyze] on the nearest rabbit.
[Forest Rabbit | Level 1]
[A common, non-aggressive herbivore.]
Then, the green text of his Talent shimmered into view.
[Primary Diet: Grasses, Roots, and Wildheart Berries.]
[Hidden Note: Wildheart Berries are a known growth catalyst for young, canine-type monsters.]
There it was. The first key. The first piece of the puzzle. He didn't need to grind levels senselessly. He needed to find [Wildheart Berries]. And to find the berries, he needed to follow the rabbits.
Lucas looked at Kael, a new, determined glint in his eyes. Their quest had just begun.