A dull, throbbing ache pulsed through Leo's head.
His body was numb, wet, and bruised.
Slowly, his senses came back to him.
The sound of torrent water. The scent of dampness. The feel of stones against his flesh.
He opened his eyes—
And flinched at once.
His right eye stung.
Memories flooded back.
The Bloodclaw Ursan. The fight for survival. The claws tearing into his face.
Then the fall.
His hand instinctively shot up, fingers tracing over his wound.
A jagged cut crossed his right eye, encrusted with dried blood.
Leo drew a harsh breath.
He was alive.
But for how long?
Stranded
He forced himself to sit up, his body protesting violently.
His clothes were soaked and in tatters. His wounds pounded.
But he had no time to rest.
He glanced around.
The river he had fallen into still churned angrily behind him.
Barren cliffs loomed on either side.
Ahead of him, a maze of thick trees stretched into the unknown.
And between the outcroppings of rock, a black cave entrance gaped like an open maw.
Leo shuddered.
He was alone.
The camp, his classmates …
Rika…
Were they alive?
A wave of exhaustion washed over him. He couldn't think about it now.
Survival first.
He took a breath and booted up God's Eye.
Nothing.
Or rather—
Nothing normal.
A shock of stabbing pain cut through his brain, and for an instant, the world shook.
Blips of yellow text flashing across his vision.
And then—
The world rotated.
He saw… details.
More than before.
The river?
•Water Source: Potable (Risk of parasites: Low).
•Current Speed: Dangeorus. Do not try to cross.
The nearby vegetation?
•Wild Bitterleaf (Edible, soothes nausea).
•Ironbark Vine (Tolerable, may be used in rope-making).
Even the cave?
•Untested Ground. Unknown Dangers. Potential for Shelters.
Leo's eyes widened.
This… was not the same God's Eye.
Before, it only gave him general information.
Now?
It was richer. More accurate.
Why?
He recalled the day he lost his eye.
Was this a result of his injury?
He clenched his fists.
A talent meant to appraise.
A talent everyone mocked.
But now, for the first time, it felt like an asset.
He exhaled shakily.
Good.
Now he had a fighting chance.
Survival Instincts
His stomach growled.
Leo sighed.
Food. Shelter. Fire.
Priorities.
He gathered what he could with caution.
• Bitterleaf for food.
•Ironbark Vines to use as rope.
•Dry bark and twigs to use for starting fires.
Then, with cautious steps, he approached the cave.
His fingers clutched a solid rock firmly.
Just in case.
The air grew cold as he stepped inside.
His footsteps echoed off the wet stone walls.
It wasn't large—only a small tunnel into deeper darkness.
Safe enough for the night.
He let out a sigh of relief and set down his gathered materials.
Then, his eyes flashed to something out of place.
A strange mark on the cave wall.
It was pale, dusted with powder, but unmistakably carved out by something Intelligent.
Leo's heart pounded.
This was no typical cave.
It was more.
His hand swept over the old symbol—
And his God's Eye flipped on automatically.
Decoding…
Ancient Ruins Spotted.
Caution: Sealed Relic Within.
Leo froze.
A relic?.
His heart pounded.
He was too exhausted, too injured to even consider this now.
But tomorrow.
He would find out what was deeper inside.
For now
He needed rest.
He huddled in a corner and used his gathered things as a bed.
The next day, he would begin his real adventure.