The faint light of dawn filtered through the giant leaves of the forest, casting irregular shadows over the clearing where Zarkrion Volcanius had spent the night.
The air was fresh, filled with the earthy scent of moisture and the distant sound of unknown creatures moving through the undergrowth.
After three days in this world, he had already learned to ignore any noise that wasn't a direct threat. His body, although still strange and new to him, felt lighter, more adapted… more alive.
In front of him, on the ground, lay the results of his efforts: a set of enormous leaves spread out carefully, a thick and long vine, and the frying pan beside the kitchen knife he had acquired with his Appreciation Points.
Both utensils were in excellent condition, almost shining under the light. He had bought them to survive, not to cook like in his old world, but in circumstances like this, any tool was perhaps valuable.
Zarkrion took a deep breath.
Although his body had taken on a more human form, it still retained part of his draconic appearance: the horns, the red wings folded on his back, the tail, and the intense glow in his eyes. However, what had changed the most about him wasn't his appearance… but his determination.
Wasting no time, he grabbed one of the giant leaves and placed it over his body, adjusting it as though it were an improvised garment.
Then he wrapped the long vine around his waist, tying it firmly to hold that natural skirt-like clothing.
"Perfect…" he murmured, adjusting the knot.
His torso was left exposed, showing his pale human skin and the muscle definition marked by the essence of the dragon. He was a strange hybrid, but it was his new identity.
Next, he took a smaller vine, tied it skillfully around his chest, and let his frying pan and kitchen knife hang from it. Despite how rustic the setup was, he looked prepared for a hunting expedition.
"Alright," he exhaled firmly. "I'm ready for the hunt."
Just then, the familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind, as mocking as always:
["Wow, what's with the sudden change? You look more motivated. Yesterday you were practically dying of worry."]
Zarkrion frowned. He wasn't in the mood for sarcasm.
He completely ignored the system and stepped toward the edge of the clearing. When he took the first step outside the area, he felt an invisible pressure run through his body, as if he were passing through a thin layer of energy. Surprised, he stepped back slightly and extended his hand toward that invisible boundary.
His fingers touched something… a soft, crystalline surface, like a wall made of vibrating air.
"What is this?" he muttered. "It's as if there's… a barrier."
The system appeared again, this time with a more explanatory tone:
["That's because there is a barrier. Thanks to the mana of the Giant Tree, a protective field was created that prevents the impurities of the Black Forest from entering. And, from what I see, no monster can get in either."]
Zarkrion's eyes lit up with relief and fascination.
"Not only is this place clean and healthy… it also has a barrier that protects me from the outside. In a way, I really am fortunate, it seems."
Satisfied, he crossed the barrier and began walking deeper into the forest. One end of the long vine remained tied to the enormous tree, allowing him to use it as a guide. He didn't plan on getting lost; he had already learned his lesson from past experiences.
He had prepared everything the previous night: the leaves, the tools, the natural rope. And also his mind. His sudden change in attitude hadn't been random… but triggered by a deep memory from his life on Earth.
As he walked, the sound of the forest accompanied him, but Zarkrion was immersed in his thoughts.
He remembered university. His culinary career. The smell of spices, the steam from the pots, the long hours perfecting recipes. Everyone admired his talent. Everyone had huge expectations for him.
And that was precisely his downfall.
The assignments, the group projects where he ended up doing everything by himself, the professors using him as an example. Every dish had to be perfect, every practice was a silent competition where he was the target. But he never had time for himself. Each day brought more pressure, more weight, more anxiety building in his chest.
And when he began to fail, when his body could no longer endure…
People drifted away.
They excluded him.
Those he had helped countless times turned their backs on him.
Stupid excuses. Avoiding glances. Cheap lies.
Zarkrion inhaled deeply, but not out of sadness… rather with a resolve that meant a lot to him.
The past. It was already the past, it would not return. It was better to focus on the present, on what you're living, and thus forge a better future where you avoid the mistakes already made.
'The words my mother used to say.'
"That's why it's better not to expect anything from anyone…" he murmured to himself. "No matter what you do. If you're not strong enough to survive alone in the world… then you'd better get your act together. Because no one else will do it for you."
There was no victimhood in his voice. Just a small release.
After walking several minutes, he reached a more open area. From a natural elevation in the terrain, he looked down and saw a pack of wolves wandering through the bushes.
Black Hound Wolves. They didn't seem to notice him.
Zarkrion touched the vine connecting him to the tree, checking its tension.
"It's still fine… I haven't gone too far."
The blue window appeared before him.
…
…
[APPRECIATION SYSTEM – INFORMATION]
Race: Black Hound Wolves
Rank: E+
Level: 10
…
…
"It's not that bad," he said, smiling. "They're only nine levels above me. If I'm careful, I might kill one or two."
Without wasting time, he jumped from the elevation toward the pack.
The wolves reacted immediately. Their yellow eyes gleamed with ferocity, and they all charged at him as one.
Zarkrion unsheathed the knife and frying pan in a swift motion.
The fight was brutal.
Frying pan blows that rang like metallic bells. Precise cuts of the knife slicing open fur and flesh. Zarkrion dodged, spun, retreated, advanced, used his wings for momentum. The ground trembled under the force of bodies colliding.
When silence returned to the forest, more than twenty wolves lay dead or agonizing around him.
Zarkrion, covered in blood and gasping, still held his weapons firmly. He was hurt, but standing. Finally standing tall.
One last wolf, trembling and wounded, looked at him in terror. It lowered its ears, closed its eyes, expecting death…
But it never came.
When it opened its eyes, Zarkrion was already walking away, carrying the bodies of the dead wolves on his shoulders.
The injured wolf stared at him for several seconds, as if it had seen something far more monstrous than itself.
A new notification appeared before Zarkrion as he walked.
…
…
[Congratulations – You have acquired experience]
You killed 20 wolves of level 10 (Class E+) while being of a lower level thanks to your strategy and cunning.
+780 EXP]
[You leveled up: Level 1 → Level 20]
…
…
"Did I really level up that much…?" he whispered, stunned.
The system appeared immediately, proud of itself.
["That's because you're not like the adventurers and hunters of this world. You're an anomaly, and you possess a system. That's why your level increases 5 times faster, and you gain more experience."]
Zarkrion's eyes widened in surprise.
"So… if I get serious about my missions, I'll be able to gain a lot of experience and ascend even faster."
When he returned to the Mana Tree, he set the bodies aside and sat exhausted against the trunk.
"I'm exhausted…" he murmured before sleep consumed him.
He slept deeply until he woke up startled, with a fierce roar erupting from his stomach.
"I don't feel well…" he growled, bending slightly. "It's been five days since I arrived here and I haven't eaten anything."
He looked at the raw meat beside him. He remembered cutting it before sleeping.
His wounds… were gone. He touched his arms and torso. The skin was clean, regenerated.
"It's because of the tree… of course…"
Without thinking twice, he grabbed a piece of raw meat and devoured it desperately. His jaw seemed stronger, his fangs slightly sharper.
"So delicious…" he said, swallowing without breathing. "I love eating… I'm sooo hungry!!!"
[The Appreciation System is worried]
["Hey? Are you okay? Could you at least chew a little before swallowing, don't you think?"]
Zarkrion ignored it blatantly.
Suddenly, a rain of notifications appeared.
…
…
[You have acquired the skill – Night Vision]
[You have acquired the skill – Stealth]
[You have acquired the skill – Speed]
[You have acquired the skill – Enhanced Senses]
[You have acquired the skill – Steel Claws]
…
…
Zarkrion stepped back in surprise.
The system spoke again:
["I'm glad for you. You already have your own abilities. That means you won't be a crybaby wimp anymore."]
Zarkrion frowned.
"If you don't know how to congratulate… better keep your mouth shut."
"So… I'm level 20. Now I'll have more advantage when hunting."
His nails began to extend like metallic claws. He watched them in fascination.
The next morning, Zarkrion was running at full speed through the trees, knife in hand, chasing a new pack of wolves. He moved his body with an animalistic speed, attacking without mercy. The wolves fell one by one.
[You have acquired +360 EXP]
[You leveled up: Level 35 → 45]
The resources he had obtained, although peculiar and unknown, he knew were useful, so he decided to store them in his infinite inventory.
Three days had passed since that first battle. With his new abilities, leveling up had become easier. Although he still hadn't completed the tutorial, he already knew most of the area and had acquired several useful skills.
Then the notification appeared:
…
[Time limit – 23 days]
…
"Oh… the tutorial mission," he remembered. "I had forgotten. Still, I've gotten a lot of resources these days; they'll be very useful to complete it."
…
…
[Appreciation System – Activated]
[Status Window]
Host: Zarkrion Volcanius IV
Level: 45
Rank: C+
Race: Dragon
Age: 500 years
Strength: B+
Speed: D+
Endurance/Durability: D+
Attack: B+
Magic: Fire
Unique Skill: (Yet to acquire)
Class: (Yet to acquire)
…
…
"My stats have increased so much lately… it's impressive," he said as he reviewed everything.
Then he looked at the forest and murmured:
"I think I should already leave this area and start exploring higher-level zones…"
His stomach growled desperately for food.
"But that'll be tomorrow. I'm hungry."
He returned to the Giant Tree. While eating raw wolf meat calmly, he looked at the empty place; he was already getting used to all of this.
"Now that I have so many Appreciation Points… I should take advantage and start building my home."
The system appeared, mocking:
["Are you finally interested in your home?"]
Zarkrion nodded.
"Anyway, I already had it planned… so let's proceed with the process."