The forest didn't sleep.
after the boar's corpse stilled and the echoes of the fight faded,
Ash knew the deeper wilds were watching.
He had maybe an hour before something else caught the scent.
His left arm throbbed from the fight. Still bleeding, but the flow had slowed.
He tore a strip of cloth from his shirt and wrapped it tight.
[Status: Light Bleeding → Stabilized]
[Passive Recovery: 1 HP/min enabled]
His eyes flicked to the horizon. The sun was low. He needed shelter before nightfall.
[Objective: Establish Temporary Shelter]
Requirements:‣ Walls × 4 (Wood or Stone)‣ Roof (Any Material)‣ Fire Source
Bonus: Dry Storage, Camouflage, Defensive Spike (x1)
No weapons. No allies. No safety.
Just a wheel no one else had.
Ash turned toward the deeper grove, dragging the boar's hide over one shoulder.
He had work to do.
Resource Zone: Hollow Pine Pocket
Unclaimed Territory | Foraging Tier: Low | Threat Level: Minimal
Fallen trees, scattered stones, and dense underbrush made the pocket ideal. A trickle of water ran through a nearby stream—clean, clear.
Ash scanned the area. His HUD highlighted harvestable materials in soft blue glow:
[Harvestable: Drywood Log x6]
[Harvestable: Stone Fragment x4]
[Harvestable: Moss Pelt x3]
[Scavenged: Bone Splinter x2 from Boar Remains]
He got to work.
Each swing of his crude hatchet (fashioned from bone and bark) was slow, but efficient. He gathered:
4 Logs → Wall Frames
Flat Bark Panels → Roof Cover
Stones + Moss → Fire Pit and insulation
Boar Hide + Bones → Door flap, primitive hinge, and defense spike
His Echo interface updated with each step.
[Crafting Skill: +1 XP]
[Construction Progress: 65%]
[Fire Source Pending]
He knelt beside the stream, scraping dry bark and grass into a nest. Striking two stones together, he coaxed a spark. Minutes later, a small flame danced in the pit.
[Fire Source Complete]
[Shelter Status: Basic — Tier 1]
Buff Gained: "Well-Rested (Future Use)"
Buff Gained: "Night Chill Resistance +10%"
The system chimed quietly.
A flicker of warmth—not just from the fire, but from a sense of progress. A win.
He sat down, pulled the boar's tusks from his pack, and began to sharpen one with care.
Crafting wasn't flashy, but out here, it meant survival.
[Crafting Menu Unlocked]
New Blueprints:‣ Primitive Spike Trap (Bone + Wood)‣ Bark Canteen (Moss + Bark + String)‣ Boarhide Mantle (Hide x3, Bone x2)
[Spin Token Earned — Shelter Milestone Achieved]
[Primordian Wheel: Ready to Spin]
Ash blinked. His breath caught. A second chance?
The wheel flared to life before him. Nine glowing symbols spun in a slow circle. He didn't know what force had bound this power to him—but it was his alone.
He whispered, "Spin."
The runes clicked softly into place.
Outer Slot #5 — Runic Resonance Gain +5% Echo from all sources. Permanent.
Ash exhaled. His limbs felt lighter, his breath deeper. As if some ancient thread had been pulled taut within him.
[Echo Efficiency: +5% (Passive)]
[Primordian Wheel Cooldown: 12 Hours]
He stood and surveyed his shelter: bark walls lashed with vine, a fire pit glowing low, and sharpened bones lining the entry path. Primitive—but his.
Just before night fell, the system chimed again.
SYSTEM UPDATE: ECHO WORLD SHIFT
A Wild Rift trembles nearby…Threats increase at dusk.
Echo Beasts grow restless after sundown.
[Survival Tip: Reinforce Shelter or Conceal Light Source]
Ash fed only a single branch into the fire. The flames dimmed but held. He draped spare hide over the top of the pit to conceal the glow.
The world outside stirred. Leaves shifted.
Something called once—deep, far-off. Not a boar.
He stayed quiet. Alive. Watching.
Tonight, he would sleep beneath bark and bone—but not as prey. Not anymore.
End of Chapter 2