Kayra didn't know how long he knelt on the dusty ground at the mouth of the cave, staring at the sky. Those strange, intersecting shadows cast by the two suns clouded his mind. 500 years... As that number echoed in his mind, the hollow feeling in his chest grew larger.
Everything he loved, Elsa's voice, that campfire... All of it had long since faded into the dusty pages of history.
But his mourning process was cut short by an unbearable pain in his throat.
"Water..." Kayra murmured.
His voice was as weak as the rustle of a dried leaf. His throat burned as if he had swallowed a handful of hot sand. His lips were cracked, his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. After 500 years of sleep and that disgusting protein-laden meal, his body was now crying out for real fuel.
[Warning: Critical dehydration risk detected.]
[Body water percentage: 42%. Immediate fluid supplement required for continued cellular function.]
Kayra covered his face with his thin hands, the skin stretched taut over his cheekbones. "I know..." he groaned. "You don't have to tell me, I'm already burning."
[Analysis: Performing environmental scan...]
[Detection: Dense moisture and vegetation detected in rock fissures on the valley floor, approximately 400 meters below. Probable water source availability: 82%.]
Kayra looked in the direction the Guide Bot indicated—the steep slope in front of the cave. Below was a deep valley covered in reddish rocks and sparse, purplish bushes. Descending there with this frail body seemed harder than climbing a mountain.
"How am I supposed to get down there?" Kayra said, looking at his trembling legs. "My legs are like toothpicks, I feel like a gust of wind could break me."
[Guide Bot Note: Your current 'Vitality' level allows you to maintain motor skills for a limited time. However, if fluid intake does not occur, this acquired resilience will collapse in 3673 seconds.]
Kayra clenched his teeth. "So, to avoid dying, I have to go down that slope."
He struggled to his feet. Gravity felt heavier in this new world, or perhaps his body was so light that staying balanced was a miracle.
Holding onto the rocks, he took his first step down towards the valley. He flinched when the soles of his feet touched the warm ground; even the sand on the ground seemed baked under the two suns.
As he descended, he could feel the heat waves generated by the two suns in the sky on the back of his neck. The bright sun overhead bathed everything in a stark white light, while the giant red sun on the horizon seemed to be slowly cooking the world.
"You asked me to give you a name..." Kayra said, trying to distract himself from the pain by talking to the bot as he gasped for breath. "I can't think of a name for you right now, but... since you're the one keeping me alive in this state, hearing you makes me feel a little less alone."
[Name assignment pending. But priority: Reach the vegetation below. Humidity level is increasing.]
As Kayra stumbled deeper into the valley, he noticed something gleaming between the large rocks ahead. Was it just the reflection of water, or another surprise this new world had in store for him?
When he reached the valley floor on trembling knees, he saw a thin puddle of water seeping between the rocks. The sound of the water was like the most beautiful melody in the world to his ears. But just as he was about to take a step, he noticed the shadow next to the water move.
A growl echoed among the rocks.
It was a jackal; but it looked nothing like the animals Kayra knew. Its fur was patchy, its skin was bruised in places, and its veins bulged out like black poison. A tar-like fluid oozed from its eyes, trapping its gaze in a maddening hunger. The creature, clearly poisoned by miasma, drooled yellow saliva from its mouth, spreading a putrid smell with every breath.
"Bot..." Kayra said, stepping back. "This thing... it looks way faster than me. Can I outrun it?"
[Analysis: Probability of escape: 3%. Comparing current muscle mass to the creature's speed, your capture time is 4.2 seconds.]
"Great," Kayra said sarcastically, his heart pounding against his ribs. "So what do I do? Just sit and wait for it to eat me?"
[Recommendation: Initiate a counter-attack. The creature is mentally unstable due to miasma influence. If you prove yourself stronger or more ferocious than it, its survival instinct will override its hunger, and it will abandon you.]
"Attack? I'm skin and bones, Bot! That thing could swallow me in one bite!"
The jackal scraped its front paws on the ground, preparing to pounce. At that moment, with a roar full of hunger and madness, it lunged forward. Kayra panicked, crouching low, scratching at the ground with his hands as he tried to scuttle away defenselessly. Just then, his right hand hit something hard, cold, and smooth.
Without thinking, he grabbed it and swung it with all his desperation towards the jackal leaping at him.
THUD!
The hard object struck the jackal square in the face. The creature lost its balance in mid-air and tumbled onto the rocks. A pained, ear-splitting whimper echoed through the valley. Shaken by the unexpected blow, the jackal staggered; as black blood dripped from its nose onto the ground, it shot a fearful glance at Kayra.
The raw will to survive inside this frail wreck of a man momentarily terrified the beast's clouded mind.
Tucking its tail between its legs and whimpering, the creature quickly disappeared among the rocks.
Kayra collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. His chest heaved rapidly.
[Congratulations. Primary threat successfully neutralized. Your first contact with wildlife has concluded successfully.]
Kayra didn't even hear the bot's words. His gaze was locked onto the object he was still clutching tightly. When he felt its weight and smooth texture, a chill ran down his spine.
He looked at the object, now cleaned of mud and dust. It wasn't a stone.
It was a shin bone, stark white, having retained its hardness for years, probably belonging to a human. Looking at the bone in his hand, Kayra understood for the first time that he wasn't the only one who had awakened here, but he might be the only one to survive.
As he turned the stark white bone over in his hands, he felt a cold lump in his stomach. "Bot... This bone... Is it what I think it is? Were there others who woke up besides me?"
[Analysis: Negative. Bone tissue is of human origin. Carbon traces indicate a death approximately 100 years ago. The probability of others like you being in this area is near zero. This bone likely belongs to a treasure hunter or an adventurer trying to explore this place.]
Kayra took a deep breath. So, while he slept in that egg for 500 years, life had continued outside; people had come even to these caves searching for treasure. The presence of this stranger, who died here 100 years ago, was silent proof of how dangerous the world had become.
With a respectful but shuddering expression, Kayra placed the bone back into the crevice between the rocks where he found it. "So..." he swallowed, "I'm alone here."
[Confirmed. However, your current priority is not analysis, but survival. Critical water level warning persists. Please begin fluid supplement.]
Kayra leaned eagerly towards the water. He cupped his hands together, and just as he was about to bring that clear, shimmering water to his lips, alarm bells rang in his mind.
[STOP!]
With a sudden spasm in his arms, Kayra spilled the water from his hands. "What are you doing?" he shouted angrily. "Do you want me to die?"
[Analysis: Mana density in water source: 92%. Detected mana type: Wild Mana. 400% above your current body's capacity.]
"Are you kidding me?" Kayra said, looking painfully at the spilled water. "When I was eating the egg, you said that was 'mana-rich' too. That was fine then, so why is this bad now?"
[Explanation: The mana in the egg matured alongside your body for 500 years. That mana is compatible with you; your body recognizes it as part of itself. But the mana in this water is completely raw and untamed power. In your current state, drinking this water would cause your veins to rupture from the inside and your organs to be seared by mana burns. The damage it would inflict on your body is unpredictable.]
Kayra dropped to his knees. His lips were bleeding from thirst. "So I'm going to die of thirst right next to water? Give me a solution, Bot!"
[Recommendation: A filtration protocol can be initiated.]
"How?" Kayra said, looking around hopefully. "Do you have some kind of ability?"
[Answer: Negative. Use of natural elements in the vicinity is recommended. Scanning...]
At that moment, bright blue light trails, visible only to him, appeared in Kayra's field of vision. Broken blue arrow markers started flashing on the ground, starting right in front of him and leading towards the rocks on the right. These arrows showed the way, like guides floating in the air.
Stolen novel; please report.
"What's that?" Kayra murmured, trying to touch one of the arrows with his trembling hand. When he reached out, his fingers passed through the light.
[Target Identified: Please follow the marked route. 'Mana Leech' plants are located 12 meters from the cave mouth.]
Kayra followed the arrows, moving between the rocks towards a shady corner. The arrows stopped right above a cluster of spongy, purple plants that seemed to breathe, gently swelling and contracting.
The plants had small, glowing pores and seemed to absorb even the air around them.
[Warning: The Mana Leech feeds by absorbing raw mana from its surroundings. It is ideal for cleansing the mana from water. However, caution: Do not make direct skin contact with this plant. Upon contact, the plant can consume the limited mana in your body within seconds, causing permanent paralysis or death.]
Kayra flinched back. "I can't touch it? Then how am I supposed to put it in the water?"
Kayra looked at the purple, spongy plants the Bot had indicated. How was he supposed to carry these things, which could drain his life upon contact, to the water? His eyes scanned the area.
A short distance away, he saw a piece of tree bark, dried and hardened by wind and heat, curved and stiff, that had fallen from a tree.
"This'll work," he murmured.
Using the bark like a shovel, he gently scraped a few of the Mana Leech plants from their spot. The plants trembled slightly on the bark.
[Recommendation: Anchor the plant in the direction of the water flow. This way, as the flowing water passes over the plant, it will be cleansed of its mana, creating a clean stream below.]
He placed them right in the path of the water seeping from the rock, into a narrow channel where the water flowed down.
As the shimmering, wild-mana-laden water from above passed over the purple plant, it flashed intensely for a moment. The plant greedily absorbed the mana like a sponge, while the water filtering out from below had lost its threatening quality, becoming crystal clear.
Kayra couldn't wait any longer. He dropped to his knees and plunged his hands into the pristine water filtering from just below the plant.
As the first sip passed his throat, he felt every cell in his body scream and awaken. The water was so cold and fresh that as it went down his parched esophagus, it revitalized every place it passed. He filled his cupped hands again and again; he drank deeply, as if he wanted to drink all the water in the world.
The cracks on his lips softened, the heavy fog over his mind slowly began to lift. A 500-year-long thirst was ending in this small rock crevice.
[Analysis: Hydration level 15%... 40%... 65%.]
[Critical threshold crossed. Life functions stabilizing.]
When Kayra lifted his head from the water, droplets dripped from his face. His eyes could see more clearly now. He looked at the sky with two suns again; the absolute terror he had felt moments ago was slowly giving way to the thought, "I am here, and I am alive."
He took a deep breath, refreshed by the water. But this moment of peace was short-lived as the Guide Bot's screen entered his field of vision again.
[Analysis: Life functions stabilized. Updating current priorities.]
"What now?" Kayra murmured. "I just want to sit and rest for a bit."
[Notification: You do not have the luxury of rest. Your current physical state is at the 'Critical Ruin' stage. Muscle mass loss: 85%. Body fat percentage: 3%. Entering any human settlement in this form will increase the risk of 'Extermination' by 94%.]
Kayra frowned. "Why's that? I'm just a little thin, that's all."
[Analysis: Your current appearance resembles a low-level 'Ghoul' more than a human. Due to your sharp bone structure, sunken facial features, and pale skin color, the probability of the local populace directly classifying you as a 'Monster' and killing you is very high.]
Kayra froze for a moment. He remembered the razor-sharp cheekbones his fingertips had encountered when he'd touched his face earlier, how hollow his cheeks were, and the bony protrusions on his neck. The Bot was right; he didn't need a mirror, he'd already felt that the wreck he touched with his fingers didn't resemble a human. "A Ghoul, huh..." he whispered bitterly. "So, what do you suggest I do?"
[Preparing New Protocol: 'Reconstruction' Program Active.]
A complex array of graphics and lists appeared in his field of vision.
[Primary Objective: Hunting. Your body urgently requires animal fat and high-protein supplementation. Your current energy level cannot tolerate a plant-based diet.]
"Hunting?" Kayra said, looking at the thin bones in his arms. "You mean that jackal poisoned by miasma again? I can't possibly eat those."
[Answer: No. Your current targets should be creatures in the 'Consumable Prey' category. Long-eared rodents in the area, resembling rabbits, are rich in protein and fat. However, your current speed is not suitable for chasing prey. For a successful acquisition, you must use 'Ambush' or 'Trap' methods.]
[Additional Protocol: Muscle Development Guide. Following the hunting phase, with the caloric intake gained, a gradual exercise program will be initiated to increase muscle mass.]
The bot paused for a second, then a small warning icon started flashing in the corner of the screen.
[Note: Your current status is classified as 'Completely Naked.' During the thirst and hunger crises, this information was far down the priority list; but now that life functions are stabilized, this issue has risen to the top of the list. You need to find a protective layer to maintain body heat.]
Kayra stood still. When he looked down, he only now noticed that the mucosal fluid on his body had dried, and there wasn't a single thread on him. He had been so focused on the struggle for survival that he only now realized he had come into the world as vulnerable and naked as a baby.
"Damn it!" he shouted, instinctively trying to cover himself with his hands. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"
[Answer: While food and water deficiency posed a vital threat, aesthetic and thermal protection were secondary. You must find covering for yourself before nightfall.]
Under the two suns, in the middle of a wild valley, Kayra stood, skin and bones, completely naked. "Great," he said through clenched teeth. "Really great start. I look like a ghoul, I'm skin and bones, and on top of that, I'm naked..."
The feeling of nakedness became even heavier as he noticed the suns slowly descending towards the horizon. Even the slight breeze at the valley floor now stung his skin like a knife.
"Bot," he said, trying to cover himself defensively with his hands. "I can't hunt like this. I need to find something to cover myself before hunting. Also... Can I survive until morning? I mean, I ate that disgusting egg today, drank my water, but I still feel like a ghoul. Will starvation kill me in my sleep tonight?"
[Analysis: Checking life functions... Critical threshold crossed. The egg fluid and filtered water you consumed today are sufficient to sustain your metabolism's basic functions for the next 14 hours. However, this is only 'survival' mode; it is not enough for development or repair. From dawn tomorrow, you must commence hunting and the 'Reconstruction' exercise program.]
"So I won't die," Kayra sighed. "But where will I spend the night? This place is too open; if that jackal comes back, what do I do?"
[Recommendation: Using the cave you woke up in as a temporary shelter is advised. Its elevated location provides a natural defense against predators. However, a warning: The temperature on the valley floor will drop rapidly after the suns set. Before returning to the cave, you must find covering to maintain your body heat. Building a fire would increase your survival chance by 80%. However, your current muscle mass cannot provide the high momentum and energy required for the mechanical friction method. Attempting this method carries a 90% risk of fainting. Additionally, due to your low mana level, fire elemental magic is also unusable today. Therefore, your priority is to find covering that provides passive protection.]
Kayra looked back at the steep slope, the path he came from. "I have to climb that slope again? And in this state... I have nothing to start a fire with, no lighter, no matches... After 500 years, I've practically turned into a caveman."
[Notification: Searching nearby environment for materials that can provide thermal protection... Scan complete. Natural layers with high fiber content capable of providing heat insulation detected among the dried bushes approximately 20 meters ahead and in the texture of vines on the valley wall. You can create a primitive covering by combining these.]
"Great," Kayra said, his teeth chattering. "Not a caveman, I'll be dressed like a bird's nest."
"Bot, if I ever run into another human and they see me like this, what will they think I am? A ghoul-like guy, covered in leaves and branches... They'd probably run away without letting me speak, or throw things at me."
[Answer: According to database analysis, there is a high probability your appearance will be perceived as a 'Low-Level Ghoul' or an 'Insane Hermit.' However, survival is more critical than maintaining an aesthetic image. Please follow the arrows to begin combining fibers; 2400 seconds until sunset.]
Kayra followed the blue arrows the Guide Bot projected onto the ground and reached the fibrous vines in the shadow of the valley wall. With every move, his bones pressed against his skin, turning each step into torture.
"Look at this... It really does resemble a nest," Kayra said, struggling to tear off the dry fibers. Guided by the Bot, he twisted the longest fibers together and tucked the broad leaves between these weaves, creating a makeshift covering.
As he looped the fibers over his shoulders and tied them at his chest, he focused more on the wind being blocked than on what he looked like.
Just then, the Red Sun in the sky sank completely below the horizon. Half the valley was instantly plunged into a deep, purplish darkness, and the air turned cold as stone.
[Warning: First sun has set. Ambient temperature dropped by 7 degrees instantly. 1100 seconds until the second sun sets. If you cannot reach the cave before it sets, the risk of hypothermia in the open terrain is 60%.]
"The air... the air turned freezing in an instant!" Kayra said, his teeth chattering. Although the pile of leaves on him rustled and tried to fall apart, he gripped the fibers tightly.
Now the steep, merciless slope lay before him.
He raised his head and looked up at the cave mouth; the last light of the second, brighter sun was painting the cave entrance a pale gold. If that light disappeared, climbing this slope in pitch darkness would be impossible.
"Come on, Kayra... You have to get in there before the second sun sets!" he said, grabbing onto a rock.
The climb became harder with every second. The dried leaves rustled as they scraped against the rocks, each breath leaving a fire in Kayra's chest.
His hands were scratched by the sharp edges of the rocks, his weak legs trembled with every step. As the light of the second sun slowly retreated from the slope, Kayra raced against time.
"Come on... Almost there..."
Finally, just as the last remnants of sunlight were about to disappear over the horizon, Kayra threw his hands onto the dusty floor of the cave. With a final effort, he pulled himself inside, into that familiar darkness. At that exact moment, the second sun also set, and the world surrendered to complete darkness.
[Analysis: Shelter reached. Entry made simultaneous with the setting of the second sun.]
Kayra, trembling, hugged the makeshift pile of leaves wrapped around him tighter. The freezing wind from the valley floor no longer beat directly against his skin, but the silent cold brought by the darkness had begun to seep into his bones like a snake.
[Information: The geological structure of the cave walls insulates 92% of the outside wind. The fibrous covering on you creates a basic thermal layer to help preserve your body heat. Feeling intense cold in your current state is normal, but this situation does not pose a vital risk.]
In the darkness, Kayra took refuge in the Guide Bot's voice. "Still, it's so cold..." he whispered. "It's pitch black everywhere... I can't even tell if my eyes are open or closed."
[Analysis: Your current mana pool is at a critical level. My continued activity directly consumes your mana reserves. Despite being in power-saving mode, the intensive environmental scans we performed throughout the day, the constant active data transfer, the physical stabilization protocols, and the communication link between us expend more energy than your mana can regenerate. For your mana pool to be able to replenish by morning, I am going completely silent.]
The Bot's voice sounded more mechanical and distant than usual.
[Information: System control and the ability to summon me rest entirely in your will; you can call upon me anytime you need. However, for the health of your mana reserves, I strongly advise you not to call me or activate the system until dawn. Every interaction is a piece of energy stolen from your recovery process. Now, surrender yourself to the restorative silence of the darkness. Sleep well, Kayra.]
When the faint light emanating from the Bot's panel also died out, Kayra was completely alone. Now there was only the whistle of the wind from the cave entrance and his own heartbeat. The darkness was so intense that he was losing his perception of time and space.
Kayra curled up in the most sheltered corner of the cave, the part of the wall that was coldest but free from the wind. The leaves on him rustled with every breath. Trying to cope with the hollow feeling in his chest and the cold, he attempted to think about his old, comfortable life. But his mind was as exhausted as his body.
In the deep silence and pitch-black darkness, during this first harsh night after his 500-year sleep, Kayra slowly felt his consciousness fading. He had finished his first day in this new, savage world with hunger, thirst, and fear; and now he was trying to sleep in the restless embrace of the darkness.
