'Host! I think it's another creature that fears water. Normally, it's supposed to have come out and, you know… tear you into tiny pieces by now. But for some reason, it's still lurking inside the forest. So what other reason could there be except… maybe it's scared of the water, since you're standing near it.'
"Well, at least that's good to know," she muttered. "But seeing as it won't even come out to grab food practically delivered to its doorstep, I don't think we can lure it into the water or anything like that. And since there's no way I can cross to the other side anymore… I'll eventually have to enter the forest to find food."
She exhaled shakily. "We're basically at a dead end right now."
'So… what do you want to do, host?'
Lavayla didn't reply at first. Her eyes slowly swept the treeline. Nothing moved, nothing breathed, but she felt something watching. The silence was deceptive here.
She swallowed.
"Do you have a weapon? Like… a gun?"
'I'm sorry, but there is no weapon like that here. Remember that we are in a primitive world, so the things available to you in the early stages will be weapons suited to the primitive world.'
"And… what are they?"
The system spoke slowly, almost gingerly.
'Well… they are primitive-suitable weapons, but not exactly Stone Age level. Think of them as early-stage craftable or purchasable tools — things you can realistically use here.'
Lavayla braced herself. "Just tell me."
'Fine, host~ here they are.'
A bright chime rang inside her mind — ding! — and the system panel snapped open in front of her eyes, glowing with cool blue lines listing the weapons.
Sharpened Metal Spear: A long-range thrusting weapon. Durable, efficient, and able to pierce most mid-tier beast hide.
Reinforced Metal Knife: Light, sharp, and easy to conceal. Good for close combat or emergency survival.
Weighted Throwing Axe: Short-distance, high-impact weapon. Can stun or cripple beasts if thrown correctly.
Primitive Iron Sword: A crude but functional blade made from naturally occurring ore deposits found in this world.
Bone-Edge Machete: Crafted from high-density beast bone fused with metal shards — tougher than it sounds.
Metal-Tipped Arrows & Bow: Not elegant, but powerful. Capable of penetrating tougher hides.
Spiked Club: Heavy, brutal, and very effective for beating things trying to eat you.
Hardened Shield: Made from beast carapace and bark resin. Durable enough to block mid-tier strikes.'
Lavayla stared at the empty air as the list scrolled in front of her.
"…System."
'Yes, host?'
"You said primitive."
'They are!'
"These are not primitive. These are…" she waved her free hand.
'Host, you asked for something useful. And these are the early-stage options here! Everything in this world is bigger and stronger — Stone Age tools would snap like twigs. So of course the starter weapons need to be stronger too.'
Lavayla gritted her teeth. "Okay. Fine. Great. Then tell me — how many points does the cheapest one cost?"
The system made a slightly guilty noise.
'Uhh… the cheapest one is the Reinforced Metal Knife. It costs… 6,000 points.'
Lavayla went very, very still.
"Six. Thousand."
'Yes, host~!'
She inhaled, "So if I buy one knife, I'll only have 4,500 points left. In a world where apparently I need to collect points just to stay alive."
'W-well, host, the knife is very good—'
"System, at this rate, I'll be too broke to survive."
Before the system could protest, another soft growl rippled through the trees — closer this time, vibrating through the ground beneath her feet.
Lavayla tightened her grip on the baby. "System, is the knife the only thing I can afford that won't get me killed instantly?"
A beat.
'…There is one more option.'
Lavayla blinked. "…One more?"
'Yes.'
"…And?"
'Well… it's not a weapon, per se… but it is a survival item.'
"Okay." She hissed. "What the hell is it?"
'A Defensive Barrier Charm!'
Lavayla paused. "…A what?"
'A one-use charm that creates a temporary physical barrier around you for two minutes. Completely impenetrable. Even high-tier predators can't break it.'
Her heart jumped. "Okay. That's actually useful. How much is it?"
'…14,000 points.'
Lavayla silently considered jumping into the river and letting it take her.
"System," she whispered tightly, "I swear on the goddamn sun, if you try to upsell me right now—"
The bushes directly behind her exploded with movement.
Lavayla's heart slammed against her ribs and she cursed.
A creature stepped out of the shadows. It moved with that lethal, predatory gaze. Its eyes, molten amber with a vertical slit, glowing like twin lamps locked directly onto her.
Its body was long and powerful like a tiger, but built with the sleek fluidity of a leopard. Golden-black rosettes were scattered over deep burnt-orange fur, and its muscular shoulders rolled with every step. A long tail flicked behind it, spotted and ringed, balancing its massive frame.
The creature opened its jaw, growled loudly making her flinch, and she saw curved fangs longer than her fingers.
Its breath steamed in the cool air.
And just then, she noticed there was a deep gash in its flank, crusted but still raw. Something huge had slashed it, and not too long ago.
Injured. Hungry. Desperate.
Lavayla was no zoologist, but even she knew: an apex predator that's both hurt and starving becomes something ten times more dangerous.
"System," she whispered, "what. The hell. Is that?"
'Host… that is a Lirralk Beast. One of the stealth apex predators in this region.'
"It's looking at me like I'm a snack."
'Host, I cannot lie to you… to it, you are actually a very, very fine snack. Especially since it needs energy to start healing that injury.'
The Lirralk lowered its body slightly, muscles rippling under blood-streaked fur.
Its pupils narrowed as it inhaled her scent. Then it started circling her, and she had no choice but to turn and step back slowly.
Every time it stepped forward, she instinctively stepped back.
"System. I need a weapon. What's the strongest thing I can get right now that can actually pierce that thing's hide?"
The system hesitated, then displayed a single item in glowing red letters:
[METAL-TIPPED BOW & ARROWS]
Precision. Penetration. Beast-tier durability.
Pierces up to MID–HIGH TIER hide.
Cost: 12,000 Points
Lavayla stared at the number. "I only have ten thousand five hundred."
'Yes, host~ which means you will be entering… a temporary point debt.'
"How temporary?"
The Lirralk crouched slightly, its tail flicking behind it. It didn't rush her — just watched her, closing the distance inch by inch, ready to spring. Lavayla could see its claws now — retracting and extending, clicking against the soil.
She had maybe five seconds before it pounced.
"System," she breathed, "buy it."
'Purchase confirmed! You now owe the system 2,000 points! Host, please work hard to repay your debt before the interest system unlocks.'
"What do you mean by intere—"
But she didn't get to finish, because the bow materialized in her hand in a burst of light — sleek, dark, perfectly balanced, the metal-tipped arrows shimmering in the sunlight.
The Lirralk lunged the same moment the weapon appeared.
Lavayla didn't have the luxury to think or calculate anything. She raised the bow with both hands, and drew back the string with every bit of strength she had.
The beast was already in the air when she released.
The arrow shot forward with a sharp whistle—
THWIP—