I pushed through the underbrush, feeling like each branch and leaf had a personal grudge against me. Seriously, why did they all seem to grab at my clothes? The forest was like a dark, whispering thicket, not exactly the ideal place for a solo midnight stroll. Those creepy howls? Yep, they’re still there, calling me like sirens. I scanned the woods, desperate for any sign of safety. And then I saw it. Over there, a tree with low-hanging branches. It looked like my ticket out of this nightmare.

“Okay, buddy, time to climb,” I told myself. Another bone-chilling howl, closer this time. Great. I had only seconds. I lunged for the lowest branch, stretching my fingers to grab hold. But my sweaty palms betrayed me, and I slipped off the bark, crashing back to the ground. Pain shot through every bone in my body. I gasped, the air knocked from my lungs, but there was no time to wallow. Gritting my teeth, I scrambled to my feet and tried again, my muscles straining with the effort.

“Ugh, come on,” I groaned, barely getting the words out. My fingers dug into the bark, but again, they slipped. I hit the ground even harder, the rough forest floor scraping my skin. Now my palms were burning, and each failed attempt stung worse than the last. Heat rose in my cheeks, and my shoulders slumped. The underbrush kept tripping me up like the trees were laughing at my struggles.

“Who am I kidding?” I muttered, brushing off dirt and leaves. As I lay there, memories started flashing before my eyes, taking me back to my kindergarten days. I could hear the carefree laughter of Mai and the other kids as we played hide and seek. I remembered trying to climb a tree back then too, thinking it would be the perfect hiding spot. But just like now, I couldn’t do it. I fell while the other kids climbed with ease.

I still remembered Mai’s voice, taunting me with cruel laughter. She called me weak, her words cutting deep. She said I would never be strong enough to climb anything, let alone stand up for myself. Even now, her words stayed with me. Lying on the cold ground, I could almost hear her voice again, reminding me of every failure.

I shook off the memories and refocused on finding another hiding place. A thick undergrowth a few yards ahead. It would have to do. I crawled into the foliage, hoping it would hide me from any wandering monsters. It would be an hour or two before completely dark, and I decided to wait until then to find a better spot.

Crouched in the bushes, I started thinking about how I ended up in this weird virtual world. I remembered the orientation session where the system explained the game’s mechanics. We were supposed to go through a tutorial phase before entering the live game to compete. Questions filled my mind. Why was I chosen for this? Was it because of my life-ending car accident that I had been given a second chance in this virtual realm? Were the other players here for similar reasons, survivors of their own tragedies?

Lost in thought, I was snapped back to reality by the sound of swishing leaves nearby. I froze, holding my breath and praying that whatever it was would not find me. Time appeared to slow down as I listened for more movement. Eventually, the sounds faded, leaving only the wind through the trees. I shifted slightly and checked my player status. The blue screen appeared, showing my information.

***

Akira Sakamoto (Aoi Player)

Level: 2

Class: Marksman

Subclass: Gunner

Title: Lover of Peach

Health Points (HP): 40 — 100%

Mana Points (MP): 300 — 100%

Strength (STR): 1

Dexterity (DEX): 2+1

Wisdom (WIS): 2

Charisma (CHA): 1

Intelligence (INT): 30

Luck (LUK): 1

Free Stats Points: 2

Overall Prestige (P): +120% (Max 1000%)

***

Pressing my lips tightly together, I pondered why my Intelligence (INT) stat was so high. Shouldn’t my DEX and WIS stats be higher, given my ninja reflexes and perceptiveness? I mean, I saved a lady and her daughter from being run over by a speeding car once. My reactions had been sharp then, like a cat on caffeine. But my INT stat? That didn’t seem to align with that side of me at all. I had always assumed high INT was better suited for a Mage or Support class. So, why did the System give me high points for it? Did I choose the wrong class? Did the System shortchange me again? My eyes fell on the information regarding one of the elements associated with INT.

***

Craftsmanship: Measures skill in crafting and artisanal pursuits, influencing a character’s ability to create weapons, armor, magical items, or other objects of value. Characters with high craftsmanship are skilled artisans and can produce high-quality goods sought after by others.

***

And then it clicked. I remembered now. All those times I spent in woodwork and metalwork classes back in school. I had excelled in those lessons, my hands skillfully shaping anything my sensei assigned. From the simplicity of birdhouses to the complexity of small furniture and garden tools, I honed my skills with every project. Each piece I created wasn’t just an assignment; it was a proof of my growing expertise, a way to channel my creativity into something physical. It wasn’t long before I became the top student in class, a position that filled me with quiet satisfaction.

Those hands-on experiences were more than just practice. In fact, they were opportunities to sharpen my technical skills, build my problem-solving abilities, and ignite my imagination. Whether I was carving wood or shaping metal, I learned to adapt, innovate, and think critically about how to transform raw materials into something functional or even whimsical. I had crafted a hand-sized figurine of Mai as a playful birthday gift.

Honestly, I intended it as a lighthearted joke. I had sculpted it with exaggerated… you know, those assets of hers. But of course, this is Mai we’re talking about here. Her reaction was still unforgettable. Her eyes had widened in mock outrage before she hurled the figurine back at me, hitting me on the head. The bump it left was a token of her fiery temper.

Without thinking, I reached up and rubbed the spot on my forehead where the lump had once been, as if I could still feel the traces of the impact. In that moment, the strange, hostile world around me faded away, replaced by the warmth of that memory.

A slight movement in the underbrush made my body flinched. Emerging from the gloom was a creature that resembled a rabbit, but this was no ordinary woodland animal. It was at least three times the size of a normal rabbit, its long ears twitching with every sound in the forest. The creature’s white fur was dotted with patches of rainbow-like blue. It moved with a weird grace, its eyes glowing a striking, almost unnerving red. They seemed to pierce through the dim light, giving it an unearthly presence.

“Well, this is new,” I whispered to myself, absorbed by the rabbit’s appearance. The creature didn’t seem hostile, but I knew better than to assume safety based on looks alone. I summoned one of the marble-like rocks from my inventory, ready to defend myself if necessary. I kept my stance relaxed, allowing myself to react quickly if the situation changed. My eyes locked onto the creature, tracking its every move, trying to gauge its intentions.

The rabbit twitched its nose, tilting its head to one side as if trying to make sense of me. The movement only deepened its unknowable charm, making it seem less like a threat and more like a curious stranger. It took a step forward, the weight of its body barely disturbing the forest floor, then another. I felt my breath catch, my grip tighten around the rock in my hand. The distance between us was shrinking, and I steeled myself, ready to react.

The creature paused, its red eyes studying me. Is it friendly? I considered the possibilities. Perhaps this creature wasn’t a foe, but something I could tame, or at the very least, avoid fighting. A part of me dared to hope that this world had creatures I could bond with, you know, like those familiars in anime fantasy shows. Deciding to take a chance, I slowly extended my hand, palm open and facing up, trying to convey that I meant no harm.

“Easy now, buddy,” I said. The rabbit-like creature sniffed the air, inching closer. For a long moment, neither of us moved. Then, with a cautious hop, the creature approached my outstretched hand. I brushed its soft fur with my fingers. The feeling was like touching a cloud, its fur incredibly soft and warm.

I exhaled slowly, a smile forming on my lips as the rabbit nuzzled my hand gently, but its eyes remained locked on mine.

“Maybe this world isn’t so bad after all,” I thought. The creature’s calm manner and friendly approach gave me reason to believe that not everything here in this game was out to harm me.