Though he was too excited to go back to sleep, Nick eventually closed his eyes. He soon entered a light trance, breathing deep while taking it all in. He came out of it a few hours before dawn. By the time that he rose to his feet, the stars were fading fast, as black sky gave way to the deepest blue.

Determined to make the most out of his day and take the first step toward surviving his tutorial, Nick began to stretch out while planning his next move. Despite everything he had experienced, he felt remarkably refreshed, thanks to his Survivor trait. He was weary and sore, but his body hurt less than he expected.

Pax was right, I’m healing faster than before. The scabs covering his feet were noticeably smaller, and his bruises had faded, as if he had received them days earlier instead of mere hours.

He was already growing thirsty again, but there was moisture inside his mouth and his skin felt supple. Judging by his experiences the day before, he could walk for at least ten miles before he grew weak. Nick had time to locate a reliable source of water, though there wasn’t a moment to waste. His odds of living through the day had risen considerably, if he could avoid crossing paths with any of the island’s predators.

He needed to head back to the stream and rehydrate as quickly as possible, then move on to finding food, shelter, and something he could use to defend himself.

That was when Nick remembered his profile. He’d managed to kill the big lizard, maybe it was enough to raise his level or skills. Feeling a jolt of enthusiasm in spite of his situation, he walked over to the obelisk and tapped the display. However, it was still too dark to read. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make out the words. Further complicating matters, the screen was on the side facing west, in the shadow of the edifice. It would be another few hours before it was light enough to make out the screen.

Although he was feeling better, he couldn’t afford to wait that long. With his life on the line, every minute was a precious resource, and the temperature would rise by the middle of the day. He would have to get a drink first, then check out his profile as soon as he got back. By now, it was light enough to make his way along the beach, thanks to the white sand being so easy to see. Nick picked up a few rocks, grabbed the biggest stick he could find, and started walking. He was taking it slow, but wanted to put a few miles behind him before dawn.

On the way, Nick ate half of his remaining coconut, the nutritious meat filling his muscles with energy. As he chewed, he tried viewing the situation through the lens of his gaming background. Although his life was on the line, this tutorial shared elements in common with the games he had played for thousands of hours. Enough to help him organize his thoughts and decide on a course of action.

Before I dive into the weeds, I should come up with a system of reference. I wasn’t given an ability like identify or analyze, so I don’t know the real names of any of these plants or animals. But I can’t keep thinking of them as ‘the predatory reptiles that kind of remind me of Komodo dragons,’ or the ‘way-too-intelligent supersized lemur-like creatures.’ Even ‘palm-like trees’ is kind of annoying.

I need a shorthand reference like the one I’m using for the lurk. Lemurs and hrm… Komodo dragon, komo. Komos, lemurs, and palm trees it is. Same thing goes for anything else I find until I learn its proper name. Nick nodded to himself, realizing that he’d already been doing it with the coconuts and seagulls without noticing.

With his naming convention out of the way, his next goal was to analyze everything he’d seen in his environment, helping him to minimize his risks and maximize his gains. After decades of gaming, Nick had learned to pay close attention to a level’s design while he was learning how to conquer it.

Some games are intended to be beaten, while others provide escalating challenges until a player is overcome. Some hold your hand early on, introducing you to its mechanics in a clear progression. Others are like playing in a sandbox, where you tinker with the pieces and learn from their interactions, offering a thousand paths forward with no clear expectations.

Regardless of the details, in any game, there’s always a way to advance using the hand you’re dealt, at least during the preliminary stages. Thus, there should be a way out of this mess somehow. Nick just needed to live long enough to find it. Moving on to the details he had observed, the forest was clearly a different biome than the beach.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

In a normal ecosystem, that wouldn’t mean anything special. But within this gameified environment, the woodlands were likely home to more dangerous creatures and offered superior opportunities and resources. Since he was still level zero and had little information to work with, for now, Nick would stick to the beach as much as possible while fleshing out his map of the area. Except for a short journey into the southern forest to find the stream’s source.

Shifting topics to the dangers he had uncovered thus far, he hoped that the lurk would remain on the north side of the island and that the komos ranged far to the south. Regardless of the boundaries of their respective territories, Nick had no choice other than to make his way back to the stream and face the lizards once again. He hadn’t spotted any coconuts on his way back to the obelisk, and the brook was the only source of fresh water he had discovered so far.

Now that he had witnessed the komos’ abilities firsthand, if he was diligent, he thought that he could avoid being drawn into another trap. He couldn’t afford to get into another fight. Not until he knew his enemy better and was armed with a proper weapon. Something better than rocks and sticks. That thought reminded Nick that he might have one already, and he took the wand out of his pocket to consider.

By now, thin bands of ginger and gold were peaking over the eastern horizon and color was bleeding back into the world around him. The gulls awoke and took flight, and the cries of the lemur tribe reverberated across the misty morning air.

Since it was light enough to make out the details, Nick gave the wand a thorough inspection. Now that he knew the device was the real deal, he was determined to unlock its secrets. He felt certain that the three gems mounted along its base were significant, but no matter what he tried, he couldn’t get it to do anything. He resolved to keep trying every time that he took a break, since the wand felt alive in a way that he couldn't quite describe. Like the device was sleeping but would be ready to wake soon.

As he rounded the southwestern corner of the shoreline, there was one last matter that he wanted to ponder. To probe the holes in his memory and make an educated guess as to what was missing. Perhaps even cobble together a theory as to why.

I can’t remember how I got from my bedroom to Pax’s office or what happened at the end of the orientation, including why my feet were so cut up. I think I can recall most of the details about my daily life. The office building that I worked in after college. The bike I got last Christmas. But it’s hard to focus on the people I know, especially my friends and family.

Recalling interactions in the distant past was easy. But trying to concentrate on recent memories was like reaching for the stars from the bottom of a well. Like something was stopping Nick from thinking about his loved ones in the present. The weird thing was, he had the sense that the System was doing it for his own good. Protecting him from something that he wasn’t ready to face.

At least his ability to reason and sense of agency seemed intact. The holes were only a few scattered fragments of his psyche. He had a vague impression that the rest would come back to him soon, and that he wouldn’t be happy when it did.

By now, Nick was approaching the last stretch of sand where he’d seen the tribe the day before. His plan was to locate the edge of the komos’ territory, the border they shared with the lemur tribe. Once he was as close to the stream as he could get without having to run or fight, he would wait until the lemurs were scouring the southwestern shore for crabs, then head back to where he’d spotted the grove bordering the streambed.

If he was attacked, he would retreat and lure the komos into the lemurs’ territory, then let the beasts fight it out. Then repeat the process until the way forward was clear or the lemurs grew tired of his antics. But Nick was hoping that he wouldn’t have to do any running or fighting today.

While the komos were willing to work together while hunting large game, they were sizable predators. He was hoping that each had their own established territory. If that was the case, his path upstream might still be unguarded. At least until the other beasts in the area realized that five of the lizards had been erased from the picture.

Nick journeyed east while watching the sunrise, taking it easy to conserve as much energy as he could. His muscles throbbed and his bruises ached, but the pain was manageable, and he enjoyed the warmth of the sunlight bathing his skin. He was still worried about getting sunburnt, but his arms were only a tad pink after a full day of exposure, so hopefully it wouldn’t be too much of a problem. He decided to carry a frond with him anyway. A bit of shade would help keep him from sweating so much.

Half an hour later, he was nearing the edge of the lemurs’ territory. When he came to a stop at the top of a tall dune, he spotted several members of the komo pride in the distance, sunning themselves along the southern shore. He had been hoping that they preferred to remain in the forest, but it was clear that the predatory lizards had claimed a section of the coast as well.

Wary of their color-changing ability, Nick carefully scanned the surrounding sands to make sure none were lurking nearby. Before he was ready to risk following the stream once more, he wanted to learn as much about the predatory komos as he could.