The first rays of Aethelgard's sun, a softer, more diffused light than Earth's, filtered through the shimmering canopy, painting the forest floor in hues of emerald and gold. Alex had spent the rest of the night in the temporary shelter, the Genesis Core's gentle pulse a steady rhythm against his back. Sleep had been fitful, punctuated by every rustle in the undergrowth, every distant, unfamiliar call of a creature. The dead Gloomfang Squirrel, dragged out of sight, was a chilling reminder of the world he now inhabited. Survival was no longer an abstract concept; it was a hungry, clawed reality.
His current EP stood at 9.3. Just 0.7 away from unlocking "Basic Repulsion." He needed more resources, more EP. The thought of venturing further out, beyond the immediate safety of his clearing, filled him with a cold knot of dread, but he knew it was necessary. Stagnation meant death in this new world.
"Alright, Core," Alex murmured, patting the pulsating Genesis Core. "Time to earn our keep."
He spent the next hour meticulously absorbing essence from every available log, stone, and even patches of the glowing moss. He worked with a quiet desperation, his muscles aching, his mind hyper-focused on the System UI. Each "+0.1 EP" was a tiny victory, a step closer to a shred of defensive capability.
[Wood (Common): 29][Stone (Common): 21][Evolution Points (EP): 9.9]
"Almost there," he muttered, his breath hitching. He spotted a gnarled, ancient-looking root protruding from the earth near the edge of the clearing. It looked denser, older. He knelt, placing his hand on it, and focused the Core's absorption.
A stronger hum resonated through his palm.
[Wood (Common) +1][Evolution Points (EP) +0.2]
[Evolution Points (EP): 10.1]
A triumphant chime echoed in his mind, louder and more resonant than before.
[Genesis Core: Basic Repulsion (Unlocked!)][Basic Repulsion: Active ability. Briefly emits a localized burst of energy from the Genesis Core, pushing back minor threats and creating a small zone of safety. Cost: 2 EP per activation. Cooldown: 10 seconds.]
Alex felt a rush of relief, a genuine, physical lightness in his chest. A combat ability! It wasn't much, but it was something. "Finally," he breathed, a genuine smile touching his lips for the first time since the Starfall. "Now we're talking."
He decided to test it. He focused on the ability, imagining a burst of force. The Genesis Core pulsed, and a faint, shimmering green ripple expanded outwards a few feet before dissipating. It didn't seem powerful enough to destroy anything, but it could certainly buy him time or create distance. A valuable tool.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Alex ventured out of the shelter, looking for more resources. He moved cautiously, his senses heightened, constantly scanning the alien foliage. The forest was eerily quiet, save for the gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional, distant chirp of an unseen creature.
He moved deeper into the woods, following a faint game trail that seemed to wind between the obsidian trees. The ground here was softer, the moss thicker, and the air grew cooler. He absorbed more resources, slowly accumulating EP.
[Evolution Points (EP): 12.7]
Suddenly, a faint sound, different from the ambient forest noises, reached his ears. It was a low moan, barely audible, followed by a soft whimper. It sounded… human.
Alex froze, his heart leaping into his throat. Human? Here? He hadn't seen anyone else since the Starfall. He hesitated, his strategic mind weighing the risks. It could be a trap. It could be a creature mimicking a sound. But it could also be a survivor.
Curiosity, and a desperate longing for another human presence, won out. He moved slowly, carefully, pushing aside the thick, glowing vines that formed a natural curtain.
He emerged into a small, shadowed hollow. The air here was heavy, tinged with the coppery scent of blood. And there, slumped against the base of a massive, gnarled tree, was a young woman.
She looked to be in her early twenties, perhaps a bit younger than Alex. Her clothes, what was left of them, were tattered and stained with dirt and blood. Her dark hair was matted, and her face was pale, streaked with grime. One leg was twisted at an unnatural angle, and a crude, makeshift bandage around her calf was soaked crimson. Her eyes, wide with pain and fear, were fixed on something in the shadows beyond her.
"Hey!" Alex called out, his voice rough. He immediately regretted the suddenness of it.
The woman flinched violently, her eyes snapping to him. A flicker of terror, then a desperate, fragile hope. "Please… help," she whispered, her voice weak.
Before Alex could respond, a low growl rumbled from the shadows. A creature emerged, larger than the Gloomfang Squirrel, its body a dark, sinuous blur. It was a [Shadow Stalker (Adult) - Threat Level: Moderate]. Its fur was a deeper, almost velvety black, and its eyes glowed with an intense, predatory red. It moved with a silent, deadly grace, its claws extended, clearly ready to finish off its injured prey.
Alex didn't hesitate. He knew the drill. This wasn't a game where he could just observe. This was real, and someone needed help. He activated "Basic Repulsion."
"Get back!" he yelled, focusing the Core's energy. A stronger pulse of green light erupted from his hand, directed at the Shadow Stalker.
The creature shrieked, a sound of surprise and irritation, as the invisible force slammed into it. It was knocked back, tumbling several feet before scrambling to its feet, snarling. It hadn't taken damage, but it had been momentarily stunned and pushed away from the woman.
[Evolution Points (EP) -2.0][Evolution Points (EP): 8.1]
"Damn, that drains fast," Alex thought, but he kept his focus. The Shadow Stalker was circling now, its red eyes fixed on him, assessing the new threat.
"Can you move?" Alex shouted to the woman, already moving towards her. He knew he couldn't fight this thing head-on with just a club. He needed to get her to safety.
"My leg… it's broken," she whimpered, trying to push herself up, only to collapse with a gasp of pain.
The Shadow Stalker lunged again, faster this time, aiming directly for Alex. He reacted instinctively, activating "Basic Repulsion" once more, pushing it back.
[Evolution Points (EP) -2.0][Evolution Points (EP): 6.1]
"Stay still!" Alex commanded the woman. He knelt beside her, his mind racing. He couldn't carry her and fight. He needed a distraction, a way to get her into his shelter.
He looked at the Genesis Core. It was back at his clearing, too far. He needed to lure the creature away, or somehow get her to the shelter.
"What's your name?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Elara," she gasped, her eyes wide.
"Elara, I'm Alex. We need to move. I have a shelter, but it's back in my clearing. I'll draw it away, you try to crawl." It was a desperate plan, but the best he had.
The Shadow Stalker snarled, its black fur bristling, preparing for another charge. Alex knew he had to act. He grabbed a heavy, pointed stone from the ground.
"Hey, ugly!" he yelled, throwing the stone with all his might, aiming for its head. The creature easily dodged it, but it drew its attention.
As the Shadow Stalker prepared to pounce, Alex activated "Basic Repulsion" one last time, aiming it directly at the ground in front of him, creating a small, jarring tremor. It wasn't meant to hit the creature, but to disorient it.
[Evolution Points (EP) -2.0][Evolution Points (EP): 4.1]
The Shadow Stalker hesitated, its footing momentarily uncertain. Alex seized the chance. He turned and sprinted back the way he came, yelling, "Come on, Elara! Follow the glowing moss!"
He heard a pained grunt from behind him, then the scraping sound of Elara trying to drag herself. The Shadow Stalker, enraged, let out a furious roar and gave chase, its red eyes fixed on Alex.
Alex ran, weaving between the trees, his lungs burning. He could hear the creature gaining on him, its heavy paws thudding on the moss. He risked a glance back. It was closer than he thought, a dark blur closing the distance.
He burst into his clearing, gasping for breath, and dove for the shelter entrance. The Shadow Stalker was right behind him, a terrifying shadow. Just as its claws swiped at his leg, Alex twisted, rolling into the shelter. The creature slammed into the fibrous wall, its snarl turning into a frustrated roar.
He turned, panting, and saw Elara, dragging herself slowly but surely towards the clearing, her face a mask of agony. The Shadow Stalker, momentarily deterred by the shelter, turned its attention back to her, seeing the easier prey.
"No!" Alex yelled. He had no more EP for Repulsion. He grabbed the makeshift club from last night, his hands clammy. He had to go out there.
But then, the Genesis Core pulsed with a stronger, more urgent rhythm. A new prompt flashed in his UI, unexpected and vital:
[Genesis Core: Emergency Protocol Activated - Threat to Potential Follower Detected.][Temporary Ability Unlocked: Heartwood Sprout - Defensive Tendril (One-time use). Utilizes stored Wood (Common) to manifest a binding tendril. Cost: 10 Wood (Common).]
"A defensive tendril?" Alex's eyes widened. He had 29 Wood. He had to try.
"Elara, keep moving! Get to the shelter!" he screamed, focusing on the new ability.
As the Shadow Stalker lunged at the injured woman, the Genesis Core flared with an intense green light. From the very ground beneath Elara, thick, glowing roots erupted with astonishing speed, wrapping around the Shadow Stalker's legs, binding it tightly.
The creature roared, thrashing wildly, tearing at the tendrils, but they held firm. It was momentarily immobilized.
[Wood (Common) -10][Wood (Common): 19]
"Now!" Alex yelled, scrambling out of the shelter, the makeshift club clutched in his hand. He rushed towards the struggling Shadow Stalker, his fear replaced by a surge of desperate resolve. He swung the club, aiming for its head, again and again, putting every ounce of his adrenaline into each blow. The creature roared, its struggles weakening as the blows landed.
Finally, with a last, shuddering gasp, the Shadow Stalker went limp, its red eyes fading. Another faint, greenish mist rose from its body, drifting towards the Genesis Core.
[Shadow Stalker (Adult) Defeated!][Evolution Points (EP) +15.0]
Alex stood over the fallen creature, panting, the club heavy in his hands. His entire body trembled, but a wave of exhilaration washed over him. He had done it. He had saved her.
He turned to Elara, who had finally dragged herself to the edge of the clearing, watching with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"Are you… are you okay?" Alex asked, rushing to her side. He knelt, examining her leg. It was clearly broken, a sharp bone protruding beneath the torn flesh.
"I… I think so," Elara whispered, her voice still shaky, but a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. "You… you saved me. What was that… that green light?" She gestured weakly towards the Genesis Core, now pulsing calmly within the shelter.
"That's… a long story," Alex said, a small, tired smile forming on his face. "For now, let's get you properly inside. We need to get that leg looked at." He carefully helped her, supporting her weight as she hopped on one leg, guiding her into the temporary shelter.
As Elara leaned against the root-woven wall, wincing in pain, Alex looked at his UI.
[Evolution Points (EP): 19.1]
And a new notification:
[Potential Follower Secured. Loyalty: Low (Due to injury and fear). To increase Loyalty, ensure survival and provide sustenance/care.]
Alex looked at Elara, her face pale, her breathing shallow. He had his first follower. But a broken leg in a world like this was a death sentence without proper care. He had food and water listed as zero in his UI. He had to figure out how to get them. Quickly. Survival was a team effort now.