{DAY 4}

“Angel!? Where have you been!?” A female voice shouted… or it would've been shouting if not for the fact that it was barely even above 30 decibels, “Are you okay? What happened to you? You've been gone a couple of days?”

The origin of the voice was a pony. A pastel one, with yellow fur and soft pink hair. A pair of wings closed by her sides and a strange tattoo of three pink butterflies inscribed onto both sides of her rear, her forest green eyes currently piercing into a pure white rabbit.

The bunny began to squeak in response and she nodded her head, before her eyes widened in shock.

“You got lost in the Everfree?” Her tone softened even further as she walked close and hugged the small critter as it nodded, before it continued its squeaking, “When you were getting hungry, you ate a few mushrooms, only to be chased by a wolf!?”

She immediately became even more sombre, if that was possible, her hoof caressing the head of the tiny beast as it hugged her back.

That was until she realised something missing from the story, as she picked up the creature and quickly floated into the sky.

“W-where did it go? Is it still here!?” She seemed incredibly frightened by the prospect of the wolf coming here, as her custard coloured ears became pinned against her head.

The rabbit began squeaking yet again, and the pony began to float down slowly, “You’re saying that you managed to outrun it after it caught you eating…?”

A frown appeared on her brow, as she touched down, releasing the bunny, “What did I tell you about lying Angel…?”

The rabbit began squeaking again, waving its paws wildly to reiterate its point…

“Are you sure you’re not lying…?” Her brows furrowed further, and she gave a strangely scary look towards the critter, before it slumped down slightly and squeaked a bit more, “You heard a thwap and looked behind you to see the wolf caught in a rope? But you were so scared you ran away without thinking?”

“Why didn't you just say so?” The pony sighed as the bunny squeaked yet again, before walking into the small cottage nearby, smiling warmly at the animal who hopped with her “It's okay Angel, no need to be embarrassed. Being scared is normal, let's get you some food…”

{DAY 7}

The past two days had been quite uneventful.

Filled with more tedious hard labour than anything. The 5th day was filled with me tanning the leather in a mixture of hot water, wolf fat and mushed brain, before placing it on a stretching rack.

I decided against eating the parasite infected wolf, placing its carcass next to a trap,so I can use its meat for something else.

I also collected a shit ton of seashells by the lake, crushing them with a stone to form Calcium Carbonate.

Using some more animal fat, I made some proper soap and had my first shower in what felt like years.

Day 6 was a bit better. The leather had finished tanning long enough for it to be wearable. I fashioned it into a kind of skirt. It wasn't big enough nor was I good enough at sewing to form it into a proper pair of clothes, but it WAS good enough for this.

I also managed to make an actual iron axe. Using the leg of the dead parasite wolf as a handle. I got the fire pretty damn hot using the eye. Sadly I had to use one half of it completely, as it had turned a charred black and became much stiffer, losing its jelly-like properties.

I’m still trying to find ways to fill it with energy again but no luck…

Also no level ups, which is pretty sad.

And that leads me to today.

“One week done…” I groan out, looking into the dishevelled roof of my so-called home, strands of light hitting my face from the holes.

The sun was at its peak, and assumedly, it's hottest.

From what I could tell, it was the middle of summer…

I got up, crawling out of the tiny shelter before taking the axe I had gone to bed next to, and placing it in my emergency rope belt, next to my stone knife.

The weight of both my newfound clothing and iron axe pulled down on me in a comfortable manner.

“I was expecting it to be more itchy but it's surprisingly manageable. Not nearly as soft as polyester or cotton, but still better than nothing…” I moved myself to the river, washing my face and stretching out, numerous small cracks coming out of my back.

Today I'll just spend my day making a basic fishing rod…

I feel like meat SO fucking BAD!

If I had a fishing hook I could probably go towards the lake and get myself a few fish…

Or if I made a stone spear I could fish like that.

I looked towards the numerous pots and bowls I had put over the fire yesterday.

I had a bit of time yesterday, so it was only natural to make use of it.

Using a stick, I pulled out the pieces of pottery, putting out the flames underneath the two large pots.

I had a total of three big pots and 5 bowls, which is just more storage so that's great.

I had said that once I got an axe, I would start working on a proper home… but I first need to do some maths…

Considering the space I have, as well as the size and thickness of the trees here…

Times by four walls… Plus a proper roof… add in the floors…

I need to cut down approximately 80-ish trees…

Because the iron axe I have is quite simple, I won't be cutting down the thick trees over here, but instead some younger thinner trees.

Still, that's a lot…

Whatever, I should be able to get it built in a month.

Once I cut down a tree, I'll probably get a skill for it, which I can invest in with that skill point I've been saving, before having both that and Craftsmanship carry me to victory in normally impossible times!

God I love having a system sometimes…

No, rather, I love having a system, period.

Now let's get to work.

I didn't know much about tree felling.

Like at all.

Well the best way to learn is research. And since I can't do that, the second best is repetition.

I can theorise though.

Everything in this world can be explained with mathematics and science.

I'm assuming tree felling will just be geometry and physics.

I'll do something I haven't done in a while…

That being, making a mental diagram.

If I keep cutting in one place, then the tree will fall on top of me. In order to get it to fall the desired direction, I should start with a notch in said direction, before flipping and making another above it.

The centre of gravity should be able to bring it down naturally…

But that'll take a lot of time…

I know that some people are able to fell a shit ton of trees over the course of a day, and the method I listed seems a bit wrong for that…

What if instead of making two notches and letting gravity do it, I use it as a kind of hinge and twist the axe whilst it's inside the tree to speed up the process?

That might work…

I took the axe out of my rope waistband and began to swing at the closest tree near me.

It dug deep into the wood, before I began to pull…

I ended up using most of the strength in my arms to try and remove the axe head.

If I had used a regular stick, instead of the parasite leg, it would've most definitely snapped.

I managed to pick it out.

Alright, don't use too much force this time…

I swung yet again, this time at a downwards angle to meet the previous chip.

And it did so.

I began to swing again and again and again and…

Well you get the picture.

It took me a while to create the notch.

And a shit ton of energy.

I was absolutely boiling at the moment, as I tried to rub off the sweat formulating all over my face.

I brought myself to the other side and began to bring the sharp end of the axe to a bit higher than the notch I had previously made.

It took me a few hours of work in total, but I managed to make a deep thin cut in the wood. I began to twist the handle with all the strength I could muster as the oak began to creek…

”TIMBEEEER~!”

I've always wanted to do that.

I walk over to the branches of the felled tree, before chopping them off.

Half an hour later I had completely finished.

All I was left with was a stump and a nice log.

Now for the big reveal…

“Status”

I skimmed down to the skills section, as a smile crawled onto my face.

[Available Skills: Enhanced Senses, Spatial Awareness, Tree Felling]

IT WORKED!

Fuck yeah!

I quickly pick up the skill, and read through its description.

[Tree Felling: 200% Increase in Tree Felling Speed]

I know I'm repeating myself but...

I don't know how I would survive without you, my beloved system!

I bring myself to the forest and take a deep breath, closing my eyes, before I begin my massacre against the forest.

{DAY 26}

I lay across the floor, every muscle in my body absolutely exhausted.

I had done quite a lot over the past 19 days.

My approximation was wrong, it required a few more trees than I had initially expected.

I thought I had finished a few days ago, but no, I was wrong…

I looked towards the little “cabin” I had made…

Cabin is a stretch, it was literally just all walls…

No levels up again, after all I've been doing manual labour, not research.

My stats haven't increased a single digit, because again, no levels up…

And nothing was caught in my traps since that first wolf…

“Ugh~” I groan out to myself as I rolled around on the ground, “I don't wanna work anymore!”

“I wanna read books! Meet people!” I stared at my unfinished hut and put my palms against my river eyes, before sliding down to my mouth.

Whatever, it's not a choice. I probably could've used my time better, but honestly? I don't care. I was too used to having a roof over my head to not resist the temptation of a home…

I'm so close too…

I've made a makeshift door and finished up with the floor as well…

I just need like ten more trees for the roof…

My gaze wandered towards the three or four tree stumps before me.

I had decided against chopping anymore trees close to my home. Call it vanity but I want a proper backyard as well.

I'm worried about so many dumb things when I'm supposed to be surviving…

It's hard to do this by myself, if I had another person I would've been able to finish by now and start actually working on meeting new people.

But I have noticed something weird…

Throughout this entire time I haven't pissed or shat once.

I don't know if I'm just constipated or something, but judging from the lack of discomfort in my stomach, it may just be a case of me being a game character.

One thing I've noticed about my body, is that no matter the physical ailment, I'll almost always wake up fully regenerated.

I stared down at my right hand, a single finger missing.

A mishap with my axe, cutting off my favourite finger…

I can't flip people off anymore which is such a shame…

I managed to cauterize the wound by putting my axe over the flame and pressing against my now giant stub.

Pragmatism really came in clutch, otherwise I might have gotten it infected whilst I was writhing in pain.

My grip strength has suffered majorly because of it…

I could probably just make a prosthetic… IF I HAD THE TIME AND RESOURCES!

It's fine…

I don't know how much longer I'll be stuck out here. Years, days, months, hours, decades… It wasn't a bad decision to try and make home so early.

At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Whatever… Just get it over with…

{DAY 29}

”¡VIVA!”

DONE. I'M DONE. I’M FINISHED. FINALLY!

Oh my god I may have gone insane if it took any longer.

An empty, dark home with nothing inside, the walls packed with clay for its insulating effects.

It was decently big, one floor with no walls of about 5² Metres of pure open space. 4-ish metres tall walls and no lights.

But it was done.

Completed.

Finito.

It'll take me a day to bring everything inside, but until then, I was able to relax…

Author's Note

Sorry if the chap seems a bit rushed, but I'm speeding up the pacing a bit.

It took so god damn long to write this because I initially just wrote the entirety of Day 5, but it was WAAAAAAAY too short.

I'm sick asf (because OFC I get sick right when I gain motivation), and I've had my mock Art GCSE's which sucked the creativity AND soul out of me.

Six Hours cooped up in a room, a surprise how I'm not insane.

I gotta do it again on Monday so it's a bit too early to say that.