"In short… let's check the supplies first!"
This wasn't Shaka's first time traveling between worlds. Compared to his first experience arriving penniless as an unregistered four-year-old, the current situation was far better.
"First, the phone. A pack of instant noodles, sausages, a lunchbox, and a bottle of purified water…"
These could serve as emergency rations. The surrounding environment was clearly a forest wilderness, and without understanding the state of this world, maintaining basic energy intake was crucial.
"As for weapons and equipment… a tennis racket, three tennis balls, and weighted sandbags."
To keep up with those so-called "monsters," Shaka had never stopped training his body. It was precisely because of this relentless self-discipline that he became acquainted with [Shadow] in the chat group.
According to Shadow:
You've shed the role of a mere passerby. You're now someone worth remembering.
I'm the main character!
"Unfortunately, unlike that guy, I don't have a crowbar or anything equally convenient…"
After thoroughly searching his belongings, aside from the items he'd already sorted out, there was only a backpack containing a spare set of sportswear. Not a single book.
After all, Shaka had been busy pursuing "mystery" and gathering group members how could he possibly have time to study?
Having received a second chance at life, after becoming a light-novel author and achieving financial freedom, he preferred spending time learning things that genuinely interested him.
For example seeking the invisible boundary.
Besides, didn't normal people just leave their books in their school desks?
"These are the only things I can make use of."
Shaka glanced at the categorized items and began reorganizing them.
He placed his phone somewhere easily accessible, so it could be used as a "bomb" in an emergency. Even if it wasn't used as a weapon, as a commodity, it could still help Shaka earn his first pot of gold in this world.
"Let's get out of this forest. I've got a bad feeling about it."
He scanned the rustling woods around him and tightened his grip on the racket.
The tennis racket was nearly eighty centimeters long. It could cover his chest and head, giving this "weapon" both offensive and defensive properties.
After calming down from the excitement and unease of transmigration, Shaka checked the sun's position and chose a direction to move in.
Thanks to an athlete's physique, he quickly adapted to the complex forest terrain, his pace gradually increasing.
Two hours later, the sun was already sinking, yet Shaka still hadn't made it out.
"This forest is bigger than I thought…"
As dusk fell, he found a hollow tree near a river and decided to stop for the night.
"The forest is dangerous at night. Even with my survival training, I can't let my guard down. I don't know what kind of world this is or what kind of enemies might appear."
"I might need to prepare for living here long-term."
Sitting inside the hollow, Shaka took out the dry grass and wild fruits he'd gathered along the way. Glancing at the instant noodles from the convenience store, he felt slightly reassured.
"The temperature difference between day and night is pretty big. First priority starting a fire."
That wasn't a problem.
Shaka gathered dry firewood nearby, piled up the hay, then grabbed his racket and stepped back a short distance.
He pulled a tennis ball from behind him and tossed it lightly into the air, leaping after it,
"Take this!"
The high-speed spinning tennis ball shot off the racket and landed in the haystack in the blink of an eye. The extreme rotational speed generated intense friction, and wisps of white smoke began to rise.
The moment the ball bounced away, Shaka rushed forward and blew hard on the smoking spot. He'd placed some fire-starting plants there earlier, and soon, a flame ignited.
"It's not quite at the level of murderous tennis, but lighting a fire is still pretty ordinary… just kidding!"
There was no way an ordinary person could pull that off.
Still, with fire, water, and instant noodles, tonight's survival was secured.
Before long, the rich aroma of seasoning drifted out of the lunchbox, making Shaka frown.
"The smell's too strong… I shouldn't have bought braised beef."
In the stillness of the forest, that scent was far too conspicuous.
Cursing his carelessness, Shaka quickly covered the lunchbox, added cold water to cool it down, and tried to disperse the smell as much as possible.
He'd only taken two bites of noodles when he suddenly froze.
Rustling sounds came from the surrounding bushes.
In the darkness, pairs of red-glowing eyes slowly opened, sending a chill down Shaka's spine.
"Damn it… that was fast!"
He put down the lunchbox, grabbed his racket, and held it defensively, eyes locked on the figures emerging from the trees.
As they drew closer to the firelight, Shaka finally saw their forms.
"Goblins…"
A common monster in Western fantasy worlds, less than a meter tall, weak, usually smaller than human children, but
Goblins that roam across different worlds do exist.
Shaka's vigilance increased.
"Gabu!"
The goblins ignored Shaka completely, their attention wholly consumed by the tempting aroma of food.
A dozen or so goblins shoved one another as they rushed toward Shaka's dinner.
Seeing this, Shaka let out a quiet breath of relief.
Their intelligence was low, well within what he could handle.
Bang!
Shaka kicked a charging goblin square in the chest, sending it flying three meters. He followed up with rapid kicks, knocking down several more. But their numbers were overwhelming his racket was knocked aside in the chaos.
In the end, at the cost of losing the sandbag strapped to his arm, Shaka finally brought them all down.
"Phew… just regular goblins. Maybe even weaker than normal."
Some of the more severely injured goblins dissolved into clouds of black smoke, an abnormal phenomenon that gave Shaka a vague idea of something but before he could investigate further
Whoosh!
Bang.
"Hiss—!"
A stone slammed into Shaka's temple. Blood slowly trickled down.
"There are more!"
He covered his wound and turned to see another group of goblins this time carrying wicker baskets, casually tossing stones in their hands.
That was the weapon that injured him.
Before Shaka could react, the five goblin throwers were already grinning and hurling stones at him.
"I'll deal with them."
He raised his arm to block and dodged as best he could, but one or two stones still struck him, drawing a sharp grunt of pain.
Shaka dove behind a large tree, his gaze locking onto the racket lying nearby.
In one smooth motion, he rolled, grabbed it, and snapped his eyes toward the goblins' position.
Five stones flew toward him at once.
He swung.
"Explosive Wave Ball!"
Bang!!!
The instant racket met stone, a crimson light flashed in Shaka's eyes.
"Don't underestimate slice of life, you bastard!"