When my eyes opened again I expected to see either fire and brimstone or the emptiness of the Void. What I didn't expect to see was floating blue boxes in front of me, nor the sun shining down upon my skin. The soft grass and the cool breeze was just icing on the cake really. Groaning as I raised myself up into a sitting position, I tried to move the boxes away by swiping through them. My hand just went through them, the screen shifting like pixels around it, but the actuall movement seemd to work in moving the screens. Now they were stacked up to the side of my vision and I could finally look around.

  I seemed to be a in wide glade. Vibrant green grass stretched for dozens of feet around me ending in a thick oak forest on all sides. Looking at myself I could see I was dressed in what appeared to be a rough cotton shirt and leather pants held up by a drawstring. My skin was still pale as ever, and running my hands to my hair confirmed the long black locks were still present. I even had a small leather string keeping it pulled back thankfully. My physical fitness seems to have been improved as well. At least my muffintop was gone thankfully. Seeing a lack of any immediate threats or signs of life, I took a moment to look at the bright blue sky above me, relishing the fact I was breathing again. After a few minutes of deep breathing, I finally decided to address the elephant in the room and look at the floating boxes.

  I felt my expression go flat on reading the newest screen. On one hand, most would be quite upset about being treated as a test dummy with no say otherwise, but my situation allowed for much more positive thoughts. I wasn't religious in my last life, and my main exposure was to the abrahamic religions, so if the afterlife did exsist I would be slated to either Hell for being un-babtized, or slated to Limbo. So the fact neither of those happened and I indeed got to live again, even if at the behest of some unknown higher power, was good enough for me. Pressing the X at the corner, I started reading about what exactly the product was.

  Interesting. Can't say I'm completely new to this concept, I was a avid reader of translated novels were systems were common, as well as the Litrpg/Gamelit genres, not to mention certain fanfics that used similiar devices. I think I'll enjoy this new life very well. Nodding to myself, I close the screen and immediately notice a small circle in the corner of my vision, and I decide to try focusing on it.

  Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

  My eyebrows raise as I see the lack of the name, but decide to come to it later. Scrolling through the pages of perks I start picking some that I think would most help my current suvival. While there are some truely interesting ones, and others that would be fun to have, I need to focus on being able to protect myself, survive in my unknown environment, and communicate with anyone I come across.

  There we go. I got the Soul weapon to defend myself, and the ideal of a growth type weapon, even one as slow as the Least version, is a wonderful long term investment. Inventory would allow me to store my weapon, and up to 10 pieces of meat. Carvivores stomach is so that I won't have to expose my location or prescence to anything by being forced to cook any meat I come across, and to captilize that I picked up Nightvision, so idealy I will never have to bother with a campfire or torches for now. Omni-Speak is because otherwise I would be hopeless with learning the language of this new land. With how varied languages are on Earth, it's only to be expected how different these will be, and I was always bad with learning new languages.

  Opening the second small circle that appeared when I bought Inventory, I pulled out my new spear. It looked like shit. It was a simple flint triangle on the end of a large rough textured stick banded together with vines. I gave it a few experimental stabs and spins. Satisified that dispite it's looks it wouldn't fall apart on me, I start looking around for any idea as to where to go. Seeing a sline decline to the east I smile and start walking.

  Within a hour I'm deep into the forest, little light filtering in through the heavy canopy. I've been slowing down for the past few minutes because I could sense something wrong in the air. Something in the atmosphere tingling my senses, causing the hairs on my arms to stand up and goosebumps to appear. I come to a full stop and without making any sudden movements I try to look around, only to suddenly feel a extreme piercing pain in my left shoulder. Rolling with the momentum of whatever hit me I try to scramble to my feet while calling my spear to my left hand. With a quick glance to my shoulder I see a arrow had pierced right through to the other side of me. Eyes widening I have just enough to leap the right to avoid a second arrow. Scrambling behind a tree I look at the arrow and then at the direction I think it came from to see a small green creature holding a bow with a wicked grin on its face.

  Hissing at the pain in my shoulder I tighten my grip on the spear before rushing at the creature, hoping to catch it off guard. I saw it eyes widen before it scrambled for a wooden sword at its side, barely able to get it up in time to wrack the tip of my spear to the side. My inexperience cost me as I was caught off guard by the motion, and quickly had to hop back from one of the creatures wild swings. It laughed to it self and quickly lunged at me. Sidestepping the creature I bring the shaft of my spear onto it's back, knocking it to the ground. Spinning my spear around I sink the spear head into it's back, causing it to scream out in pain. Wide eyed in fear that it's screams would attract more enemies, I quickly stabbed it over and over again,a manic energy overtaking me.

  It takes me far longer than I'm comfortable admitting that the creature was dead. It's back shredded from my spear stabs, it's black blood spreading in a puddle beneath it and soaking the front of my body. Gasping for breath I slowly back away from the body, before the draining adrenaline and the quickly cooling blood coating me cause me to fall to my knees and puke my guts out. It wasn't the fact I just killed something. I was pragmatic to admid it was a life or death situation, and it obviously instigated the combat. My body just wasn't prepared to the ruse of chemicals and the shock of being shot. I cursed when I remembered the arrow in my shoulder, quickly realizing I was losing blood quickly. Tearing off strips of my shirt, I quickly broke off the arrowhead before pulling the arrow out the other side, hissing and cussing the entire time. Wrapping the wound as tightly as my inexperienced hands could, I stumbled to my feet.

  Glancing at the dead body, my face set in a grim expressions, I started to walk away as fast as my injured shoulder would let me. I needed to get away from the blood as soon as possible, and hopefully some water I could clean my wound. This world has already shown itself to be a cruel place, though something inside of me already knew that. It would be tough surviving, but so much better than my old life. The chance to grow, to live off my skills alone, to experience magic, and test the limits this system would give me. It'll be interesting times ahead, that's for sure.