Congratulations! Your「WALKING」skill has increased to Level 12

As you drift through the empty asphalt streets of an abandoned city, you take notice of how frequently the textbox pops up. In just a few hours of walking, you've raked in tons of levels.

You consult your leatherbound journal and check how much you've grown.

Unlocked Skills Progress Reading 10/100 Speaking 3/100 Listening 37/100 Observing 36/100 Walking 12/100 Cold Resistance 24/100

Your listening and observing skills in particular have received massive boosts. This can be attributed to your constant usage of sight and sound. Surveying the region ahead does call for both.

In any case, you do not seem compelled to enter any of the buildings around you. They are dilapidated, ancient, and ominous. You are fearful as to what horrors these ruins hold.

Besides, shards of glass are abundant by the entrances to these structures, and as you lack proper footwear, walking around mindlessly is certain to cause injury.

Staying on the road, you occasionally come across the husks of vehicles from a bygone era. They've been reduced to hunks of rusted metal however, and you pay no mind to them.

Suddenly, your nose catches a whiff of something sweet.

Congratulations! Your「SMELLING」skill has increased to Level 1

You turn to the source of this alluring scent and spot a bush hanging off a nearby skyscraper. It is ripe with berries.

Your stomach growls at the prospect of a meal, and you awkwardly scurry over to investigate this fruit-bearing shrubbery.

Reaching the foot of the berry bush, you drop your journal and pluck one of the fruits off its stem and inspect it. Its crimson sheen is enticing, and you salivate profusely before hastily scarfing it down.

One bite and its flavor coats your tastebuds. It is sweet with a hint of sourness. And you continue to forage for more.

Congratulations! Your「FORAGING」skill has increased to Level 1

Berry after berry you devour. The juices leak from your mouth and drip off your chin onto your chest and cloak. You are not the cleanest eater.

Then, your ears pick up rustling from the thicket beside you. You cast your attention toward this sound and are met with a peculiar little creature on all fours.

Its ears are pointy like yours, yet it is small and covered in fur. It possesses a long fluffy ringed tail and shares a color with your silver tresses. And in its protruding mouth is your book.

"T-that, belong me..!" you point at the fox-like animal and ask for your journal back. It turns its nose up and walks away.

Frustrated, you take matters into your own hands and break into a sprint. From the animal's perspective, you are a large beast with a line of blood dribbling down your chin. It freaks out and hits the ground running.

And a lengthy chase ensues.

Congratulations! Your「RUNNING」skill has increased to Level 2

Inevitably, your legs begin to give out though.

Congratulations! Your「RUNNING」skill has increased to Level 5

And eventually, you learn the full extent of your stamina and you collapse onto the ground, exhausted.

The animal cautiously approaches you and places the journal by your head. It then sniffs you and steps back.

You look up, realizing it is waiting for you.

"Huh..?" you weakly get up and face the animal. Out of wariness, you swiftly grab your book and keep your distance. It sits down, watching your every movement. There's not a trace of hostility in its eyes.

"Why... no listen?" you angrily ask it. "Why run when I say belong me?!"

It does not answer. It simply stares at you blankly.

You hearken back to the floating light's words and reach a fitting conclusion.

"I sorry. You skill too low for us converse equal. I understand."

Your sentiments are sincere. This animal is no different than you when were trapped in the void.

Congratulations! Your「SPEAKING」skill has increased to Level 4

You leave the animal to its own devices and resume harvesting the berries. And after a while, you successfully pick the entire bottom layer clean. You slap your stuffed belly and lick your lips clean. Never before have you felt this satisfied.

Returning to the animal, you notice a pitiful expression on its face. Its eyes are downcast and its mouth is dripping with drool. You are reminded of yourself.

Feeling bad for the poor soul, you go back to gather some more berries. Alas, the only ones remaining are far out of your reach. You try shaking the bush to force some out, to no avail.

You lament your lack of stretchy arms and mull over ways of attaining the clusters of fruit without mutating a set of unholy appendages.

While you stroke your chin and look to the sky, the animal walks up to you carrying a branch in its jaws. It seems eager to play again.

"What you problem?! I thinking!" you shoo it away.

Then, it hits you. Literally. With the stick.

Congratulations! Your「BLUNT RESISTANCE」skill has increased to Level 1

Annoyed, you try to take it away from the animal, but it cleverly evades just as you lean in to grasp its branch. You make multiples attempts and keep failing. It always seems out of reach.

This time, it hits you. Metaphorically speaking. You come up with an idea and scramble about the place to make it a reality.

The animal tilts its head, confused by your abrupt enthusiasm. It thinks your brain was in your leg, and that hitting it caused you to go bonkers.

Nevertheless, you come back with a bundle of twigs and branches. As there are plenty of trees in the vicinity, it takes you mere minutes to collect these wooden rods off the sidewalk.

You take one good look at the animal's tail and nod to yourself. Out of nowhere you pounce on it and pluck a few strings of hair off its tail. The animal yelps, surprised and understandably bewildered.

It zips away and stands its ground against you, gnarling its teeth and growling.

It stops once it realizes your fixation on the sticks and strands of fur.

"Hm... how this..?" you quietly think to yourself whilst sitting down. Your murmurs mean nothing to the animal though, who thinks you've lost your marbles.

Following a period of silence though, you stand up and loudly cheer, "It done!"

The animal comes closer and cranes its neck to see what the commotion's about. But all it can see is three branches tied together by tail fur.

To you though, this is your first step into craftsmanship. By combining these sticks, you've effectively fashioned a crude wooden staff. With this, you aim on reaching the berries you otherwise couldn't have reached.

Congratulations! Your「CRAFTING」skill has increased to Level 1

And you pick the berries with ease using the hooked tips of your makeshift staff. They fall nicely into your open palm, and you turn back to greet the animal.

It is still heedful of your actions and stays where it is.

Holding a clump of berries in your hand, you crouch down and stretch your palm out to the animal.

"Come... I give." you beckon the dubious beast.

Though you two got off on the wrong foot, you can't help but derive pleasure from interacting with another being. The mean textbox, though disrespectful and verbally abusive, did provide you with some much-needed companionship when in the void.

The thought of being lonely only became apparent upon coming to this world.

And now in front of you, is the first existence you can not only see and converse with, but the first existence you could truly sense. A being with a presence as tangible as your own.

And a being you hope you can call a friend.

The animal slowly nears you, with wavering trust in its black beady eyes. Once its snout presses against your fingers, you take a deep breath and start all over again.

"You... belong... me..."

Congratulations! Your「TAMING」skill has increased to Level 1

As the sun sinks beneath the horizon, you can't help but keep your gaze on your new friend. Together you wander through these remnants of a lost civilization.

And although the air grows chillier by the minute, the warmth emanating from your newfound companionship allows you to soldier on unfazed. No matter what happens from now on, you'll at least have each other.

That is but the fate of the nameless seer. Roving through paths once trodden upon.

No longer alone though, shall you travel.