The pale light of dawn finally crept into the cave. Ars had survived his first night. He felt tired and sore, but he was still alive.
He crawled out of the cave, greeted by the fresh morning air. His ankles were still swollen, but the pain had subsided to a dull throbbing.
The white marble tower still stood majestically in the distance, unshaken, a silent promise.
He had to find water. Remembering the lessons from the survival games he had played, he knew that water tended to flow downhill. He began to move down the hillside, using his stick to support his weight.
After about half an hour of agonizing searching, he heard the most beautiful sound in the world: the trickling of water. He followed the sound and found a small, clear stream, its water flowing swiftly over smooth rocks.
He almost cried with relief. He lay down on the riverbank and drank his fill, feeling the cool water wet his dry throat and refresh his tired body.
He washed his face and hands, cleaning the blood and dirt from his fight yesterday.
Hunger began to gnaw at his stomach. He spotted some red berry bushes near the river. In the game, they were Sunberries, low-level stamina recovery items.
But this wasn't a game. Were these berries safe? Doubt made him hesitate. One wrong move could mean a slow and painful death from poison.
For now, he decided not to take the risk. Water was more important.
After resting briefly by the river, he continued his journey toward the tower.
He moved slowly, always alert, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings, his ears picking up every sound. He had learned his lesson. This world wouldn't give him a second chance.
That afternoon, while resting under the shade of a large tree, he noticed something out of place. Among the protruding tree roots, there was a rock whose shape was too regular, too square to be a natural formation.
Driven by curiosity, he approached. He swept away the moss and leaves covering the stone. It wasn't just a stone; it was part of a ruined foundation. A ruin.
He looked around and realized that he was in the middle of the remains of a small building. Most of it had been swallowed up by the forest, leaving only a few foundation stones and one collapsed wall. In the middle of the ruins stood a small, weathered stone altar.
It was an ancient temple.
Ars approached the altar cautiously. On the flat surface of the altar was an engraving. The engraving had been worn away by time, but the image was still clearly recognizable.
It was an image of a young man in traveler's clothes, carrying a small bag at the end of a stick slung over his shoulder.
He stood cheerfully on the edge of a cliff, a small dog jumping at his feet. His eyes were fixed on the sky, as if unaware or unconcerned of the precipice below him.
Ars's heart pounded. He recognized the image. It was the classic depiction of the same Arcana card that had appeared in his mind yesterday.
The Fool.
Beneath the engraving was a line of writing in ancient script that he should not have been able to read. Yet, strangely, the words formed clearly in his mind as if he had known them all his life.
The Wanderer began without a destination, Zero was his treasure, and the world was his path.
Ars reached out his trembling hand and touched the carving. When his fingertips touched the cold stone, he felt a faint vibration.
Not a physical vibration, but a deep energy, a resonance that felt familiar at the core of his being. It felt like an invisible string connecting him to this ancient temple had just been plucked.
Suddenly, his system panel appeared before him on its own, displaying a new notification.
[ You have found the Seed of Destiny ]
[ New ability acquired: Eye of the Observer (Passive) ]
Ars read the notification with wide eyes. He quickly checked his status panel.
[ Eye of the Observer (Passive) ]: Allows you to see basic information about objects, creatures, or items by focusing your attention. The greater the potential or power of the target, the more blurred the information becomes.
To test it, he stared at the Gloomfang Fang in his hand and concentrated. A small information window appeared beside him.
[ Gloomfang Fang (Damaged) ]
Quality: Poor
Description: Fang from a young Gloomfang Wolf. Its serrated edges can be used as an emergency weapon or low-level crafting material. Damage caused by improper retrieval has significantly reduced its value.
Then he tried it on a red berry in a nearby bush.
[ Sun Berry ]
Quality: Common
Description: A fruit commonly found in temperate forests. Edible. Restores a small amount of stamina and relieves hunger. Side effects: none.
Ars felt like he had just been given the key to unlock the entire world. This was analytical ability, a skill that was invaluable to a gamer like him.
This was the first tangible proof of his "Unlimited Potential." His ability did not grow by killing, but by discovering... something. Discovering places like this.
He looked back at the carving of The Fool on the altar. His arrival in this world, and the Arcana bestowed upon him, were clearly no coincidence.
There was a pattern, a purpose, even if he couldn't yet see the bigger picture. He wasn't just a lost Nael. He was Ars. He was The Fool. And according to the ancient writing, the world was his path.
The hunger that had gripped him earlier now felt insignificant compared to his hunger for answers.
The mystery of his existence here was no longer a frightening burden, but a challenging adventure.
He picked a handful of Sunberries and put them in his mouth. They tasted sweet and slightly sour, and he could feel warm energy spreading throughout his tired body.
With new strength and renewed purpose, Ars stood tall. He gazed toward the marble tower in the distance.
The tower was no longer just a random destination; it now felt like part of the path he must take.
He took his staff, ignoring the pain in his ankle. Fear still lingered, hiding in the corners of his heart, but now it was accompanied by something else: a burning determination.
The Fool's journey had truly begun. And his first step away from the forgotten temple felt more steadfast than ever before.