Alas, a false Sky!"
"I wonder what time period this is. Hilichurls everywhere in the forest?"
"No Adventurers to clear them?"
Ryan lay on a stone in the pond, gazing at the starry sky, sighing.
Beautiful scene, yet no peace to enjoy it.
Wet firewood bundled beside him, drenched.
He dared not sleep exposed; the stone island in the pond felt safe.
Hilichurls dissolve in water, can't swim.
Here, he feared no melee Hilichurls attacking in his sleep.
The firewood? Meant for a Bear Grylls-style shelter, but it wouldn't hold, so he circled it around him against crossbow bolts.
He ate another Sunsettia.
Strength returned slightly.
In this elemental world, Sunsettias seemed to carry power, or his mutated body was special.
Wounds healed after eating.
Energy from his stomach flowed through his blood.
His body strengthened; he could game all night if he had a phone.
Forest darkened, wild boars rooted trees.
Ryan praised his wise choice.
"Braised pork, grilled fish!" he murmured, sleepless, staring at water and forest.
Faint blue lights flickered.
"Hmm?"
Eyes widened. "Small Lamp Grass?!"
"Whispering Woods."
Ryan's face lit up.
"So this is where I am?"
He stood, recalling the game map, looking south.
Thankful he noted the sunset's direction, else he'd lose east from west.
"Close to Mondstadt City!" Ryan clapped, stood on tiptoe, but saw no distant lights, then lay back down, dejected.
Whispering Woods in reality was vast, easy to get lost.
Teyvat's scale to reality, one to thousands?
Ryan scratched his head.
He'd check again tomorrow.
After a peaceful night, Ryan woke on the stone, back sore, hands and feet cold, but energy surged, exhilarating.
No Hilichurls nearby, he swam to shore.
Wringing out clothes, he let them dry.
Ate two leftover Sunsettias and bitter Dendro Slime for breakfast.
Washed hands, rinsed mouth.
Targeted the Black-Back Bass again.
Sharpened a forked branch on a stone, making a three-pronged fish spear.
Eyes sharp, locked on a Bass.
"Hmph!" Still, swift, he missed.
Undeterred, he waited for the fish to settle.
Calculated water refraction, aimed at a plump Bass.
Before, he'd fail a hundred times.
Now, transformed.
Body coordinated, muscles and bones in sync.
He'd hit if he thrust.
Three breaths, spear fell silently, piercing the Bass, water splashing.
"Success!"
Ryan flung the fish onto grass, grabbing it.
Visions of braised, fried, boiled, steamed, spicy flavors danced in his mind.
Then, reality hit.
No pot, no fire, no seasonings.
"Raw…?"
Stomach growled, mouth watered.
In Teyvat, ten meals a day weren't enough.
Post-exercise, he could devour a wild boar.
"Fire drill? Fire Flower? Borrow from Hilichurls?" Ryan's ideas spiraled.
He twisted grass into rope, hung the Bass.
Dressed, he checked his reflection.
Short-haired, holding a stick and fish.
Not handsome, not ugly, clean, pleasant.
Black shirt, dark shorts, Mushrooms in pockets.
Barefoot.
"If my clothes weren't durable, I'd look like a refugee!" Ryan chuckled.
Yesterday's injuries healed, body fitter than a gym-goer, except his weak left hand.
Sneezing, he walked south, resuming exploration.
Bypass Hilichurls, reach Mondstadt City.
Half an hour later, heart pounding, he hid behind a tree.
A main road ahead.
Hilichurl watchtowers with Pyro and Cryo archers.
A Geo Samachurl with a staff.
An Anemo Abyss Mage lecturing Hilichurls.
Teams of Hilichurls marched south.
Ryan held his breath until most passed, leaving three or four, then retreated.
They were heading to Mondstadt City. Following meant annihilation.
The pond was safest, with food and water.
Wait for rescue or Knights of Favonius to clear Whispering Woods.
Not fruitless—he found an Adventurer camp.
Tattered tent, flints, pot, shriveled radishes, empty box.
A note on the box in Teyvat's common tongue and Mondstadt's script, like English and Italian.
Ryan, illiterate, didn't know it read: "Stormterror ravages the town, Hilichurls gather, growing numerous! Successors, hurry back to the city!"
He packed the note, dismantled the tent, took everything.
Roadside too dangerous for camping.
Avoiding Hilichurls, he returned to the pond.
A green figure in white stockings appeared, humming, eyeing the firewood.
Squatting to wash his face, "Ugh, it stinks!"
Wind carried a foul smell from the grass.
"Hilichurls lack karma, leaving dung with grass elements." Venti covered his nose, noting elemental traces.
He washed elsewhere.
"Something's off; an outsider's scent in the Wind!"
"Roar!" A dragon's cry interrupted.
"Dvalin!" Venti exclaimed, Anemo surging, body lifting.
Sky darkened, storm hit Whispering Woods.
Ryan's face changed. The earth-shaking roar felt close. He saw a massive winged creature sweep the sky.
Leaves swayed, plants bowed, branches spun into tornadoes.
"Dvalin?"
Ryan was stunned; the game's clumsy dragon was
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