I needed a plan.

If I wanted to get to the city, I could either go left, get below the cliff, walk around 5 kilometers in the forest and get around the lake.

I could alternatively go right, walk along the cliff edge where the trees are more sparse, get past a river, and then hope there is a way to get down from the cliff.

The first option is longer and has a risk of getting me lost but feels more reliable.

If there's a way to get down from the cliff, the right option would be a lot faster and safer, but it's a big if. I don't see any stairs or other contraptions from here, although it could just be because it's too far away to recognize.

I'm in no hurry as in both cases, I know I'll be able to get some water before I die of thirst. Also, even if I went with the first option, I bet I could still make it there before nightfall.

Okay, the more I think about it, the better the first option seems. Even If there was no way to get past the lake, it doesn't look to be that large, so I could probably just swim across it.

The second option is too uncertain. For all I know, if I picked it: I might have to turn back and take the first option after seeing that there is no way down from the cliff (other than dive-bombing it over 300 meters into the lake).

Done making up my mind, I start walking along the left cliff edge. As I walk, I frequently scare away the same red birds I saw earlier. I'll just call them Phoenix birds.

Every once in a while, there are larger Phoenix birds as big as Sea Eagles back home on Earth. I'm relieved they aren't hostile, as even two of those bigger ones could likely mess me up pretty bad.

❖❖❖

In just 30 minutes, I descend into the green sea of leaves below the cliff. The forest floor on the ridge was a lot brighter than here below. The swaying leaves make the shafts of sunlight shimmer in the darkness.

"How ominous," I say out loud.

I start walking to the city, occasionally making sure I'm facing the right direction by looking at the light shafts.

Some annoying mosquito-like insects are flying around, trying to suck me dry, but luckily they're pretty easy to slap dead. I didn't see any of these suckers up on the ridge, so they must not like the sun or wind that much.

Along the way, I also see a few odd mushrooms lazing about in the shade.

The eerie atmosphere was forcing me to be on high alert, which turned out to be a good thing as while I was scanning my surroundings, I caught an odd shape in the corner of my eye.

I snap my head in the direction, and about six meters away, I see a pair of large pointy ears and piercing eyes staring back at me from behind a rock.

My heart rate instantly soars as I realize I had just narrowly escaped an ambush. A few steps forward and, my back would have been entirely at the thing's mercy.

After recognizing that it had been seen, the thing ever so slowly began sneaking closer. Now that it was out from behind the stone, I could see it.

It was around mid-thigh high, and its form resembled that of a cat. It had no fur, but instead was covered in dark brown scales, with black spots. Its head was elongated with feline ears on top. The creature's paws were webbed with two-centimeter claws at the tips.

It made absolutely no sound as it snuck; if I wasn't looking at it, I'd have no idea it was even there.

There is absolutely no way I could outrun that thing. It also looks like it could climb. It tried to ambush me and even now isn't rushing at me. I bet it's trying to scare me into turning away.

"Hey now, I see you. Don't come any closer," I say in a deep voice while trying to look as big as possible.

The beast stops mid-stride and just stares at me. I really wish I wouldn't have to fight this thing. I died once already.

"Good, that's right, you don't want to fight me. I'm over twice as tall as you, and I see you. Just turn away. Go get an easier prey," I continue, still speaking in a deep voice.

'Okay, Derek, if it attacks: Make it bite your hand, poke its eyes out, and try to bash its head in with a stone or choke it out... Easy... Totally not hard at all. You can do this,' I try to pump myself up while still talking to intimidate the beast.

The beast looks at me as if judging whether I'd be worth the possible injury. Then it takes a few steps back and begins walking away, occasionally stopping to see if I had followed or turned my back to it.

Cold sweat poured down my neck: "That was close... Way too close..."

While keeping an eye on the beast, I take a look around to see if any other possible dangers are lurking nearby.

Then, after it is completely out of sight, I change my course a bit so that we're not going in the same direction.

"What the hell was that anyway?" I sigh.

"Identifying," Guide's voice rings out in my ear.

Then after a few moments, a blue text panel appears before me.

Lurker - Level 3

A carnivorous amphibious reptile specialized in ambushes and sneaking.

Startled, I jump back a bit, but the box follows my head movement perfectly, always staying centered.

"Oh, this is new! What is it?" I ask, waving my arm through the screen.

"The text in front of you is one of my functions. Its purpose is to provide you with information about your immediate surroundings. The screen you see does not exist and was created by artificially sending your brain signals to perceive it floating a meter from your face," Guide replies.

"I really wish you would stop messing with my brain. It's disturbing," I whine, still occasionally glancing around for the Lurker.

"If you wish to do so, you can turn me off or change the way you receive information from me. Current customization settings are:" the voice cuts out, and the blue screen in front of me changes to a new one.

Customization settings

Gender: Male Female None

Inquiries: Sound Sight Direct Auto

Identify: Sound Sight Direct

Stats: Sound Sight Direct

Notifications: Sound Sight Off Auto

"No need to change, I'm just complaining, but what does that Stats part mean? Also, what does the Direct setting do?" I ask after reading the new panel.

"The Stats command tells you your current status, skills, and stats. You can bring up the Stats menu by thinking about the word Stats. If you select the direct setting, I will not send your brain signals to make you perceive things, but will directly alter your brain to know the requested information. This is the most efficient way but may sometimes lead to slight... difficulties,"

Note to self: Never use the Direct setting.

Anyway, let's see this Stats menu: Stats.

Stored notifications

Perception +1

New skill: Mental Fortitude

New skill: Intimidate

Level up: Intimidate (Lv. 1 > Lv. 2)

Status

Human - Level 1

Name: Derek Carter

Age: 21

Sex: Male

Stats

HP 100/100 - MP 99/100 - SP 78/100

Vitality: 10

Strength: 10

Endurance: 10

Agility: 10

Perception: 11

Mind: 10

Free stat points: 0

Skills

Passive:

Linguist - MAX

Mental fortitude - Lv. 1 (new)

Active:

Guide - Lv. 1

Intimidate - Lv. 2 (new)

The blue window blinks into existence as expected, but it's accompanied by another window showing notifications I assume I got in the ambush.

Good to know my view won't suddenly be blocked by a giant blue window mid-fight.

Now that I think about it, this all reminds me of something...

Oh, yeah! It's similar to one of those games my great-granddaughter Emily showed me! She is such a sweet kid. One day she brought one of those portable gaming devices to the hospital and taught me how to play... but now is not a good time to get sidetracked. I need to focus on the present.

The stats at least look pretty self-explanatory. I bet strength shows how strong I am, agility, how fast and nimble I am, etc.

It also looks like you can get more stats and even skills if you do hard actions like noticing the Lurker or managing to intimidate it.

I'm guessing I got the Guide and Linguist skills when I got transported here.

Another intriguing thing is that the Guide skill didn't say "MAX". That probably meant that it could be leveled up.

With a thought, I close the window and continue walking towards the city.

I need to get to safety before nightfall, and a more in-depth analysis of the status panel could wait.

I might have noticed that Lurker in daylight, but I'm pretty damn sure I won't see it coming at night.