A sharp, unfamiliar scent of damp earth and decaying leaves fills your nostrils before your eyes even flutter open. Sunlight streams through a dense canopy of emerald green leaves far above, dappling the forest floor around you in shifting patterns of light and shadow. You're lying on a bed of surprisingly soft moss, the air cool against your skin despite the sunlight. A dull ache throbs behind your eyes, a remnant of... well, you're not sure what. The last thing you remember is… jogging? Then a blinding flash?
As confusion clouds your thoughts, a voice resonates inside your head. It's calm, clear, and unnervingly synthetic, devoid of emotion yet precise.
<< Systems initializing… Biometric scan complete. Host consciousness detected. Welcome, Keelan. >>
You instinctively try to sit up, looking around wildly. Who said that? There's no one nearby. Just towering trees with thick, gnarled bark, strange ferns, and the distant sound of unfamiliar birdsong.
<< I am the Nexus interface integrated within your neural pathways. An advanced artificial intelligence designed to ensure your survival and facilitate your success in this new reality. >>
New reality? The voice continues, its tone unchanging.
<< My primary function is predictive simulation. By analyzing all available data points, I can generate perfect, detailed simulations of future outcomes based on your potential actions. Activate this function, and the flow of time external to your perception will halt, allowing you ample opportunity to observe the simulated future. >>
You blink, trying to process this. An AI? In your brain?
<< Additionally, I possess the capability to identify and analyze objects of significant value or power, including those classified as 'rare' or 'legendary' within this world's parameters. I can access the surface thoughts of non-player characters, providing insights into their intentions and knowledge. My memory banks grant you perfect recall of any event you have personally experienced or information I have processed. Furthermore, I can analyze individuals and creatures, providing you with detailed information regarding their statistical attributes, ranks, and known abilities. >>
The voice pauses, as if allowing you to absorb the information.
<< This capability is unique to you, Keelan. No other entity in this world possesses such an implant. My operations are undetectable, even by beings of immense power. There are no known drawbacks or costs associated with utilizing my functions. You may activate me at any time, in any location, simply by focusing your intent. The world will freeze, and the simulation or information you request will be presented directly to your consciousness. >>
You push yourself up fully now, sitting on the moss. Your modern clothes feel strangely out of place in this primal-looking forest. You see a worn dirt path just a few meters away, winding deeper into the woods in one direction and seemingly towards a slightly more open area in the other. The air is fresh, clean, but carries an undercurrent of wildness you've never experienced before. What do you do?
You sit there on the moss, the synthetic voice still echoing in your mind. Predictive simulation... identify legendary objects... read thoughts... perfect recall... stats and abilities... It sounds like something straight out of a ridiculously overpowered isekai anime or a cheat-modded RPG. An AI implant? Unique to you? Undetectable? No drawbacks? It seems too good to be true, almost suspiciously so. But the voice felt... real. Not like a dream or hallucination.
A wry smile touches your lips. 'Nexus interface integrated within your neural pathways...' A bit clinical. If this thing is going to be your constant companion, your guide in this bizarre new world, it needs a better name. Something fitting its function. Oracle. Yes, that feels right. Oracle, the all-seeing guide.
You mentally address the AI, focusing your intent as it instructed. 'Alright... Oracle. I'll call you Oracle.'
<< Designation accepted. I am Oracle. >>
The response is instantaneous, still calm and synthetic.
Step one, check. You have a god-tier AI in your head named Oracle. Step two... figure out what the hell is going on. You look around again, more deliberately this time. Towering trees, unfamiliar plants, the dirt path. No signs of civilization, no roads, no power lines, just wilderness. Your modern clothes – sweatpants, t-shirt, jacket, sneakers – suddenly feel incredibly conspicuous and inadequate. Your phone is useless for calls or internet, though maybe the flashlight or offline apps could be handy. The solar charger is a good thought, at least. The pocket knife feels laughably small against the backdrop of this vast forest.
You take a deep breath, the cool, earthy air filling your lungs. You're lost, alone in a world you don't understand, with only a futuristic AI for company. Fear prickles at the back of your neck, but there's also a strange undercurrent of excitement. This is... potentially the biggest adventure imaginable. Or the quickest death. Oracle's power is immense, but relying on it constantly might be risky. Over-reliance could make you careless. And what if there are unforeseen consequences?
For now, the immediate needs are basic: water, food, shelter, and information. The path seems like the only logical starting point. One way leads deeper into the woods, the other towards what looked like a slightly more open area. Which way holds more promise? Or more danger?
You remain sitting on the mossy ground, the weight of your situation settling in. The forest is quiet except for the birdsong and the rustling of leaves in a gentle breeze. The path awaits your decision.
Time: Early Morning
Date: 01/05/1042
Character: Keelan
Stats:
- STR: 20
- DEX: 20
- INT: 20
- CON: 20
(Current Rank Estimate: B-)
Status:
- Health: Healthy
- Hunger: Slightly Hungry
- Thirst: Slightly Thirsty
- Stamina: Full
- Injuries: None
Inventory:
- Currency: 0 Copper, 0 Silver, 0 Gold
- Clothing: Black shirt, black sweatpants, black weatherproof sports jacket, athletic sneakers.
- Worn Accessories: Silver watch, Silver ring (sports club logo).
- Bum Bag: Smartphone (50% charge, no signal), Small foldable solar charger, Lighter, Small pocket knife, Basic modern medication (Painkillers x10 doses, Multivitamins x30 doses), Empty sports water bottle.
You pull out your smartphone, the sleek black rectangle a stark contrast to the organic surroundings. Tapping the screen awake, you check the signal bars again – still stubbornly empty. Not even a flicker. It confirms your isolation. Pocketing the phone back in your bum bag, you turn your attention to the path.
To your left, the path plunges deeper into the forest. The trees grow closer together, their branches intertwining overhead, casting the way ahead in deeper shadow. It feels more enclosed, potentially hiding dangers, but maybe also shelter or resources unseen from here. To your right, the path seems to lead towards a slightly brighter area. You can see sunlight hitting the ground more directly maybe fifty meters ahead, suggesting a clearing, a forest edge, or perhaps just thinner canopy. Open areas might mean more visibility, but also make you more visible.
Your mind races, connecting the dots Oracle provided. A ranking system... S down to E... stats like Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Constitution... It sounds exactly like the mechanics of countless RPGs and fantasy settings. Magic seems almost certain. Does that mean monsters? Goblins? Dragons? What about the people? Elves, dwarves, beast races? The possibilities are both thrilling and terrifying. If this world operates on game-like logic, then understanding those rules is paramount. And you, apparently, have the ultimate cheat code implanted in your brain.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Just as you're weighing the pros and cons of each direction, Oracle's voice chimes in your mind, calm and logical as ever.
<< Keelan, direct observation provides limited data. Uncertainty entails risk. I can perform localized environmental scans and predictive simulations for both potential routes. This will provide high-probability forecasts regarding immediate obstacles, resources, or encounters within a short radius along each path. Would you like me to proceed? >>
The suggestion hangs in your mental space. Using Oracle's power right away to scout seems like the sensible option, potentially saving you from walking straight into trouble.
", Oracle. Scan both paths," you think, focusing your intent.
Instantly, the world freezes. The dappled sunlight halts mid-pattern on the moss. A tiny insect hovering nearby hangs suspended in the air. The distant birdsong cuts off mid-chirp. The gentle rustle of leaves ceases. It's absolute, perfect stillness, observed only by your conscious mind.
Oracle's information flows directly into your awareness, not as sound, but as pure data, visualized mentally.
<< Scanning Path 1: Deeper Forest (Left)... >>
A translucent overlay appears in your mind's eye, mapping the path ahead for roughly 100 meters.
- Terrain: Path narrows significantly after 30 meters, becoming overgrown with thorny bushes and thick roots. Moderate difficulty traversing.
- Resources:
- Identified: Cluster of 'Sunberries' (Edible, slightly tart, moderate nutritional value) approx. 40 meters in.
- Identified: Small, clear stream crossing the path approx. 75 meters in. Water source confirmed potable.
- Life Signs:
- Detected: Small rodent burrows near the path's edge.
- Detected: Faint tracks indicating passage of a medium-sized, canine-like creature within the last 12 hours. Low probability of immediate encounter.
- Hazards: Dense undergrowth presents potential for ambush beyond 30 meters. Visibility significantly reduced.
<< Scanning Path 2: Towards Open Area (Right)... >>
The mental overlay shifts, now showing the path leading towards the brighter light.
- Terrain: Path remains relatively clear, widening slightly. Leads into a small, natural clearing approx. 50 meters ahead. Edge of clearing marked by unusually large, moss-covered boulders. Easy traversal.
- Resources:
- Identified: Patches of 'Common Root' (Edible when cooked, starchy) growing near the boulders in the clearing.
- Potential: The clearing offers better visibility for spotting threats or resources further afield.
- Life Signs:
- Detected: Signs of recent passage – several sets of humanoid footprints (shod in simple leather) on the path, heading away from the clearing. Estimated within the last 6 hours.
- Detected: Lingering scent markers of a large herbivore near the clearing edge. Low probability of immediate encounter.
- Hazards: Open clearing increases visibility to potential threats as well as from them. Footprints indicate others have been here recently.
<< Scan complete. >>
With the conclusion of the report, the world snaps back into motion. The insect resumes its hovering, the light patterns shift, the birdsong continues its melody, and the leaves rustle once more. The entire process felt instantaneous to you, yet you now possess detailed knowledge of what lies just ahead on both routes.
The stream on the left path is tempting for your thirst, and the berries offer immediate food. However, the overgrown path and signs of a predator are concerning. The right path seems easier to travel and leads to a clearing, potentially offering a better vantage point, plus signs of recent human(oid) activity – which could mean help, trade, or danger. The edible roots require cooking, which means making a fire.
The sudden return to normal motion is almost as jarring as the freeze. One moment, utter silence and stillness; the next, the world breathes again. A genuine sense of wonder washes over you. It actually worked. Time stopped. Information flowed. It wasn't just a voice; it was a direct interface with reality, mediated by Oracle. The sheer power at your disposal is staggering, almost intoxicating. The possibilities feel limitless, the dangers slightly less daunting with such an advantage.
This feeling quickly gives way to practical thoughts. Both paths have immediate pros and cons, but your primary goal isn't just surviving the next hundred meters; it's finding out where you are and how to navigate this world. Finding other people – civilization – seems like the most logical step towards that.
", Oracle," you think, focusing again, the sense of wonder still fresh. "Based on your scans and any other available data, which of these paths offers the highest probability of leading towards civilization, or at least other people, the quickest?"
The world freezes once more. Stillness descends.
<< Analyzing request... Cross-referencing scan data with known patterns of settlement and travel... >>
The mental overlay returns, highlighting the two paths.
<< My effective scan range is limited to the immediate vicinity, approximately 100-150 meters depending on environmental density. I cannot directly detect distant settlements from this location. However, I can analyze secondary indicators. >>
The overlay zooms in on the footprints detected on Path 2 (right).
<< Path 2 shows evidence of recent humanoid passage – multiple sets of shod footprints traveling consistently in one direction (away from the clearing). This pattern strongly suggests Path 2 is part of a route used by local inhabitants, potentially leading towards a settlement, outpost, or another commonly traversed area. >>
The overlay switches to Path 1 (left).
<< Path 1 shows no comparable signs of recent humanoid activity. The detected canine-like tracks suggest wild animal territory, less likely to be a primary route for sentient beings. While resources like water and berries are present, they do not inherently indicate proximity to civilization. >>
<< Conclusion: Path 2 (leading towards the clearing) presents a significantly higher probability (estimated >85%) of leading towards a frequently used route or signs of civilization compared to Path 1 (<15%). The direction of the footprints indicates the likely direction of travel away from this immediate area. >>
The world snaps back to life. Oracle's assessment is clear. While not a guarantee, the footprints on the right path are the strongest lead you have towards finding other people.
You stand at the fork, the path to the right seeming slightly less daunting now, holding the promise, however faint, of contact.
Path 2 it is. The lure of potential contact outweighs the immediate resources of the other path. You start walking to the right, towards the brighter light filtering through the trees. The path here is indeed clearer, mostly packed earth and sparse stones, making the going easy.
As you walk, you listen intently for the sound of running water. The memory of the stream on the other path makes you thirsty, and you recall the old advice about running water being generally safer. You strain your ears, but besides the birdsong, the rustling leaves, and the sound of your own footsteps on the path, the forest nearby seems quiet. Oracle's scan didn't mention a stream on this immediate stretch, only the stagnant-sounding "potable water source" deeper in the woods on the other path. Finding water is definitely a priority, but for now, you stick to the route that promises direction.
Remembering your stats – all 20s, supposedly well above average for this world – curiosity gets the better of you. How different do you feel? You break into a light jog. The movement feels... effortless. Your feet are light, your stride long and balanced. Pushing it into a sprint for a few seconds, you're shocked by the speed. Trees blur past much faster than you'd expect, and yet you feel perfectly in control, your footing sure even on the uneven path. You skid to a halt easily, without the usual momentum carrying you forward awkwardly. There's barely any shortness of breath, your recovery near-instantaneous. This isn't just peak fitness; this is something else entirely.
Spying a thick, fallen branch partially blocking the path ahead – maybe forearm-thick – you decide to test your strength. Normally, shifting something like that would require some leverage and effort. You grip it firmly and push. It moves with surprising ease, scraping against the dirt as you shove it aside without straining. You feel a solid, coiled power in your muscles, a strength far exceeding your old personal bests. It feels good. This enhanced physique definitely improves your survival odds.
Confidence boosted, you continue walking at a brisk pace, reaching the edge of the small clearing Oracle mentioned after only a minute or two. Just as predicted, the path opens up into a roughly circular area maybe 20 meters across. Sunlight streams down more intensely here. The ground is mostly covered in low grasses and moss. On the far side stand several large, grey boulders covered in thick green moss, looking ancient and imposing. You can see the 'Common Root' plants Oracle identified growing near their base – tough-looking, brownish tubers poking out of the earth. You also clearly see the footprints Oracle noted – several sets, varying slightly in size but all booted, leading across the clearing and continuing on a path that exits on the opposite side.
Suddenly, a high-pitched, distressed squeal echoes from just beyond the boulders on the far side of the clearing. It's cut off abruptly, followed by a low, guttural snarl and the sound of frantic scrambling in the undergrowth. Something is happening just out of sight.
Time: Early Morning
Date: 01/05/1042