Jin sat near his fire, gnawing on the last piece of roasted rabbit. It was satisfying, but not enough. He needed a stable food source. Hunting was unpredictable, and he couldn't rely on luck forever. He needed to explore deeper into the forest.
Determined, he ventured further in, pushing past the dense foliage. The air grew heavier, filled with a strange warmth, and then he saw it—a massive, ancient tree towering above the rest. Its sheer size left him breathless. The bark radiated a soft glow, and the roots twisted like the veins of the earth itself. There was something alive about it, something beyond normal nature.
Curious, he decided to climb. If he could get high enough, he might get a better sense of his surroundings. Gripping the rough bark, he ascended carefully, his arms and legs burning with effort. When he finally pulled himself onto a sturdy branch, the sight stole his breath away.
The forest stretched endlessly, its green expanse rolling like waves toward distant mountains. The sky above was a shade of blue more vivid than anything he had ever seen on Earth. The air was crisp, filling his lungs with a freshness that felt almost… rejuvenating.
A rare moment of peace washed over him.
Then his foot slipped.
Panic surged as he plummeted. Instinctively, his mind screamed for something—anything—to stop his fall. At that moment, his mana surged, and wind howled around him. His descent slowed just before impact, sending him rolling onto the forest floor rather than crashing into it.
Gasping, he sat up, his breath unsteady.
"That was close... I could have died." Then it hit him—"Wind? Did I just... use wind magic?"
He held out his palm, focusing on the sensation from before. A small gust swirled around his fingers.
Skill Acquired: Basic Wind (Magic)
Effect: Create a gust of wind. Sometime it's sharp so be careful.
A grin spread across his face. Another element—another step toward mastering his power.
But before he could celebrate further, his eyes caught something unusual through the trees. Half-buried in the earth, covered in vines and moss, were ancient ruins. Weathered stone structures jutted out at odd angles, whispering of a forgotten age. He stepped closer, and suddenly, his Appraisal skill activated.
—
[??? Ruins]
An ancient structure lost to time. Information unavailable. Warning: Presence detected.
—
Jin frowned.
"Presence detected? What do you—"
The ground trembled.
A deep, grinding sound echoed through the clearing as the earth itself seemed to shift. Then, from the rubble, something moved.
Dust and debris cascaded from its massive stone frame as it stood, towering over him. The shape was unmistakable—a humanoid figure, its height could be over a few meters, carved of ancient rock, its eyes glowing with an eerie light. And above its head, glowing letters burned into his vision.
[Ancient Guardian Golem – Level 89]
Jin froze.
His mind went blank. His body refused to move. Every instinct screamed at him, louder than ever before.
RUN.
He didn't need to be told twice. Spinning on his heel, he bolted into the trees, his heart hammering. The ground shook with every step the golem took, but… it didn't chase him. It simply watched, as if acknowledging his presence—but nothing more.
Jin didn't stop running until he was far, far away.
Gasping for breath, he collapsed onto a nearby rock. His chest rose and fell in ragged breaths, sweat dripping from his forehead. His legs trembled—not just from exhaustion, but from the lingering fear.
"That thing… I would've died if it even moved toward me."
The reality of it all weighed down on him. He couldn't afford to get careless. He had to stay sharp, had to keep growing. Never let your guard down. Never.
Just then, a flicker of light drew his attention. His status screen appeared.
—
New Skill Acquired!
[Survivor's Instinct] – Enhances reaction speed and perception in life-threatening situations.
—
Jin frowned. So that's why he had reacted so quickly back there. It wasn't just fear—his body had adapted, sharpening itself in the face of danger.
Then, another notification popped up.
—
Skill Upgraded!
[Major Element Magic] – Increases efficiency and control over elemental magic. Reduces mana consumption and improves elemental transitions.
—
Jin blinked.
"Wait… does this mean I can use magic more smoothly now?"
Testing it out, he raised his palm and summoned a small flame. Immediately, he noticed something—the fire felt stable, more responsive. He willed it to fade, then shifted to wind magic. The transition was seamless, effortless. There was no wasted mana, no sluggish delay between spells.
His lips curled into a smirk.
This world was terrifying, but it was also full of possibilities. And he was just getting started.
The third day arrived with a renewed sense of purpose. After the terrifying encounter at the ruins, Jin knew he couldn't afford to keep wandering aimlessly. He needed a place to call home, a secure base where he could plan, train, and survive. The colossal tree, with its overwhelming presence and warmth, seemed like the perfect location.
After a quick meal of roasted meat and fruit, he stood beneath the massive tree, gazing up at its towering form. This was it—his foundation, his stronghold. He envisioned a proper home, not just a hole in the ground. But first, he needed to secure the area.
Using his newly refined earth magic, Jin began shaping the land. He manipulated the soil to raise a solid perimeter, forming a sturdy wall around a square kilometer of space. This would serve as his first line of defense. It wasn't impenetrable, but it was a start. He reinforced it further by weaving thick wooden stakes along the top using his wood magic, making climbing over it a challenge for potential threats.
Satisfied with the perimeter, he turned his attention to the heart of his base. His house would be built near the colossal tree, using a combination of hardened earth and strengthened wood. With his knowledge of architecture from Earth, he envisioned a durable structure—simple yet functional. Walls rose from the ground, shaped and smoothed by his magic. Thick wooden beams supported the framework, and fire magic helped harden and refine the material, making it more resilient.
The left side of the house became his designated food storage. He dug an underground cellar, keeping the temperature cool for preservation. Wooden shelves lined the walls, soon to be filled with dried fruits and smoked meat. On the right, he planned his weaponry—a separate shed where he could store and maintain his tools for survival. He took a step back and frowned.
Right now, the only weapon he had was his horned spear. It was decent—strong and sharp enough for hunting—but nowhere near enough for proper defense. If he ever faced another high-level threat like the golem, a wooden spear alone wouldn't save him. He needed real weapons. Metal ones.
That realization pushed a new goal into his mind. He had to find a source of metal ore, smelt it, and forge proper tools. But that was a task for another day.
For now, he continued working, shaping the land and refining his magic through practical use. He crafted a small training area near the weaponry—a cleared field where he could practice combat. A stone circle marked the center, where he could eventually set up training dummies. He even molded a simple bath area near a small water source, using water magic to direct and purify the flow.
By the time he finished, the sun had begun its descent. His body ached; his mana reserves nearly depleted. Staggering into his newly built home, he sat by the fire and tore into his meal. As he ate, he noticed something—his mana pool had increased again. The constant usage of magic was strengthening him, expanding his capabilities. It was exhausting, but the progress was undeniable.
Leaning back against the sturdy wooden frame of his house, Jin exhaled. This was only the beginning, but he had taken his first real step toward survival. Tomorrow, he would begin his search for metal.
Because if this world was as dangerous as he suspected… he would need more than just magic to survive.
Jin sat on a sturdy log near his newly built home, turning the horned spear in his hands. It was the only sharp weapon he had, and while it served him well, it wouldn't be enough. The world he was in was filled with unknown dangers, and relying on a single spear felt reckless. He needed real weapons—swords, knives, tools. But to craft them, he needed metal.
The thought made him sigh. Metal wasn't just lying around waiting for him to pick it up. He had a general idea of where ores could be found—mountains, caves, or even riverbanks—but he wasn't sure if this world followed the same rules.
Still, he had to try.
He started by scanning the area around his base, using Appraisal (EX) on scattered rocks and minerals. Most were just common stones, but then he came across something unusual. A dull, dark-colored rock near the colossal tree emitted a faint magical signature.
—
[Unknown Ore] Composition: ??? —
"Figures," Jin muttered.
His Appraisal (EX) skill wasn't strong enough to identify it fully. Still, anything with a magical signature had potential.
But mining with his bare hands was out of the question. He needed tools. Earth magic could help, but it was still too crude for precision work. The best option was finding exposed deposits—something naturally separated from the earth. That's when he thought of the riverbank.
Water had a way of washing things out over time. If metal ores existed nearby, the river would be a prime location to find smaller fragments or even natural nuggets. Plus, he needed a proper water supply for his reservoir, so two birds with one stone.
By midday, he reached the river. Clear water rushed past smooth stones, glistening under the sun. Kneeling, he sifted through the smaller rocks. Most were nothing special—quartz, granite, and regular pebbles. But then…
A dark greenish rock caught his eye. Jin picked it up and used Appraisal.
—
[Copper Ore]
A raw mineral containing traces of copper. Requires refining.
—
His lips curled into a grin. "Finally."
It wasn't iron, but it was a start. Copper was still metal. With enough of it, he could make basic tools and weapons. And if he found tin, he could even make bronze, which was better than nothing.
Excited, he continued his search, grabbing anything that stood out. That's when he stumbled upon something unexpected—white, crystalline formations clinging to a rock. Appraisal activated on instinct.
—
[Natural Rock Salt]
A mineral rich in sodium. Enhances food preservation and body functions.
—
Jin blinked, then let out a short laugh. "Salt? Well, I won't complain."
It was a luxury he hadn't even considered yet. With proper seasoning, his meals would improve drastically. Not to mention, salt was crucial for survival. His body needed it, and now he had a reliable source.
Armed with new discoveries, he returned to his base, his mind already racing with the next steps. Refining copper wouldn't be easy. Charcoal alone might not be enough to melt it properly. He needed to build a forge. Something that could reach high temperatures.
And as he sat by his fire that night, staring at the ores he had gathered, one thought became clear—
Surviving in this world wasn't just about fighting.
It was about building.