Terrifying roars echoing in the distance as Noah stumbled in shock almost running into his camping tent that was still pegged into the ground. “This has got to be a practical joke or something, this cant be happening” He frantically checked his satellite phone, only to be greeted with a no signal tone.

As the shock started wearing off a bit, Noah started to think more like his usual pragmatic self. “Well if this is a practical joke, it’s amazingly done, and I’ve definitely been got, but if it’s not… Then I need to get my ass in gear”

“First things first what do we have here”

As he gazed around the clearing the blaring green of the jungle assaulted his senses and his eyes rested on an unfamiliar combination of items. “Ah they must be the survival gear and that… helper orb? That the voice mentioned. Let’s see what I’ve been given”

He started rummaging through the rucksack and pulled out a machete, spare clothes, a flick knife, a fire striker, two canteens of water and a packaged collection of assorted foods.

“Ok, ok, that’s not a bad selection, looks like there is enough food for a few days, hopefully this civilisation is close.”

“Jackpot! I still have the bag for the tent, hmm, I glad I got the quick set-up one now.”

“hmm that voice got me to see a stat screen, I wonder if other ones exist, how about this”

“Inventory!”

Inventory

Machete

Assorted Spare Clothes

Flick Knife

3 Days Packaged Food

Fire Striker

Camping tent

2 Canteens of Water

“Holy shit, that’s amazing!”

Noah reached down and picked up the metallic orb and gazed at it intently, slowly turning it in his hands. The surface was so smooth that it didn’t look like the orb was moving at all

Skill Gained

Identify [Level 1]

Through careful study of an object you can work out the rudimentary nature of it.

A small tingling sensation started happening behind Noah’s eyes quickly intensifying to nearly unbearable levels, and then, as quickly as it started it was over

“Well damn, this is so similar to some tabletop games”

He quickly refocused on the orb and concentrated hard on seeing anything that he missed in his first look through

A new screen popped up in front of his eyes

Identify succeeded

Assistance AI

Device given to new recruits to acclimatise them to the system

A harsh light shone from the depths of the AI and a sharp voice came out

“Move!”

Reacting on instinct and no little shock from the actions of the AI, Noah threw himself backwards landing hard on his back

A Gigantic shimmering shape flew past him, hissing madly. The snake landed softly and quickly turned to launch a new attack

“AHH SHIT SHIT SHIT!” Noah started frantically rummaging around in the rucksack searching for a weapon. As the snake launched itself towards him again, he rolled to the side narrowly dodging it and miraculously pulling the machete out of the sack as he did so.

Skill Gained

Dodging [level 1]

You have learnt the art of dodging basic attacks

Noah quickly clambered to his feet and waved the machete menacingly in the snake’s general direction

“Sweet, a new skill, Now I just need one for better weapon control”

Suddenly the snake vanished from view, the hair prickling on the back of his neck, Noah twisted to the side and swung, the edge of the machete biting into an invisible body. The snake screeched in pain and surprise bursting back into visibility as it fell away from him.

Skill Gained

Intuition [Level 1]

You have learned to listen to your gut feeling

Noah leapt after the snake hacking and swinging away. The edge of the machete was starting to blunt itself on the scales of the stunned snake, the natural armour protecting from the weapon

“Gah! Why won’t you just die!”

Noah felt his anger boiling up inside him, anger at this damn snake attacking him, anger that he had been ripped from his home, anger that earth was taken from him. He forced that anger down through his arms and smashed the machete into the snake’s neck. The scales cracked, he swung again and again and again.

Some minutes later he stopped swinging, the machete, the ground and he were covered in blood. The snake slowly stopped twitching it’s neck crushed and destroyed.

Skill Gained - Uncommon

Brutal swing [Level 1]

You found a way of imbuing your attacks with your anger and delivering a massive strike

Level Up!

XP gained - Level 10 Achieved

Quilaxon Constrictor Killed