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Chapter 5: What Remains
The forest didn't feel the same anymore.
Or maybe—
I didn't.
I stood there for a while after the sounds faded, my body still tense, waiting for something else to appear.
Nothing did.
Only the river moved, quiet and steady, like everything that just happened didn't matter.
My breathing slowly settled.
Not normal.
But better.
I looked down at my hands.
Still shaking.
Still dirty.
"…I'm still alive."
The words felt strange.
Like they didn't fully belong to me yet.
My gaze shifted behind me.
To the creature.
The one that almost killed me.
For a second, my body tensed again, expecting it to move.
It didn't.
It just lay there, heavy and still.
Different from the others.
Even now, it felt… larger than everything else.
A faint flicker appeared in front of my eyes.
[Entity Identified]
[Name Assigned: River Stalker]
[Threat Level: High]
"…River Stalker…"
So the system named it.
That meant—
There were more like it.
I exhaled slowly, looking away.
I should leave.
That was the smart choice.
Find somewhere safer.
Keep moving.
But my body didn't.
Instead, my eyes drifted back to the creature again.
Then to the river.
Then back.
My stomach tightened.
Hunger.
Sharp.
Unavoidable.
"I haven't eaten…"
I didn't know how long.
But my body did.
And it wasn't going to ignore it.
My gaze stayed on the creature.
The thought came quietly.
"…Can I eat this?"
I didn't answer.
Because thinking too much might stop me.
And stopping—
Wasn't an option.
Not here.
Not anymore.
I walked toward it slowly.
Each step felt heavier than it should.
When I got close, I crouched down.
Up close, it felt even bigger.
Stronger.
Wrong.
My hand hovered over it.
"…It's just food."
I said it again.
More firmly this time.
Then I touched it.
Warm.
I pulled back slightly, instinct kicking in.
"…This is crazy."
A quiet breath left me.
But I didn't step away.
Instead, I looked around.
No tools.
No fire.
Nothing.
"…I'll manage."
I picked up a sharp piece of stone again.
Slowly, uncertainly, I began.
It wasn't clean.
It wasn't skilled.
It took time.
More than I expected.
My hands slipped more than once, my arms growing heavier with every movement.
But eventually—
I had something.
Not much.
But enough.
I carried it closer to the river and set it down.
Then I paused.
"…Wait."
Eating it like this—
Raw—
My stomach tightened at the thought.
Back then…
Food was always cooked.
Warm.
Safe.
Normal.
Now—
I looked around again.
Dry leaves.
Small branches.
"…Fire."
The word felt strange in my mouth.
But it made sense.
If I could make fire—
I could cook it.
Make it… easier.
Safer.
I gathered what I could.
Dry leaves, small twigs, a few larger sticks.
My movements were slow, clumsy, but careful.
Once I had a small pile, I sat in front of it, staring.
"…Now what?"
I frowned slightly.
I had seen it before.
People making fire.
But actually doing it—
That was different.
I picked up two sticks.
Rubbed them together.
Nothing.
Again.
Faster this time.
My hands slipped.
"…Come on…"
I tried again.
And again.
Time passed.
My hands started to hurt.
My fingers felt weaker.
The sticks barely warmed.
No spark.
No smoke.
Nothing.
I clenched my jaw.
"Why isn't it working…?"
I changed angles.
Tried hitting stones together.
A sharp sound.
But no spark.
Again.
Still nothing.
Frustration built slowly.
Not loud.
Not explosive.
Just heavy.
Like everything else here.
"…I don't have time for this."
My hands dropped slightly.
My energy was already low.
Wasting it like this—
Was dangerous.
I stared at the small pile of useless wood.
Then at the meat beside it.
Then away.
"…Forget it."
The words came out quietly.
Not angry.
Just… tired.
I picked it up again.
Sat back down.
For a moment, I just stared at it.
Then—
I ate.
At first, my body resisted.
Every instinct told me not to.
But hunger didn't care.
I forced myself.
One bite.
Then another.
It wasn't good.
It wasn't easy.
But slowly—
That didn't matter.
I kept going.
Because I needed it.
After a while, I stopped.
Not full.
But not empty anymore.
I leaned back slightly, breathing slow.
Then—
Something changed.
A warmth spread through my body.
Subtle.
But real.
The tightness in my muscles eased.
The pain from earlier dulled slightly.
My breathing steadied.
"…What is this…?"
I looked at my arm.
The place where I had been hit.
It still hurt.
But less.
Much less.
A faint message appeared.
[Effect Applied]
[Minor Regeneration Acquired]
I stared at it.
"…So even this…"
Even eating mattered here.
Everything mattered.
I leaned my head back, closing my eyes for a moment.
A memory surfaced.
Faint.
Sitting at a table.
Food in front of me.
Normal food.
Something I never thought about.
"…I didn't even care back then…"
Now—
It was everything.
My eyes opened again.
The forest returned.
Dark.
Endless.
Unforgiving.
I pushed myself up slowly.
My body still tired.
Still weak.
But not as bad as before.
My gaze shifted one last time to the River Stalker.
"…Thanks."
Quiet.
Simple.
Then I looked ahead.
The forest waited.
And this time—
When I stepped forward,
I didn't hesitate.
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