Let the Hunt Begin


    Jim spent the rest of the night perched in the tree, his senses attuned to every rustle, every distant howl. Sleep was fleeting, coming in short, restless bursts. Each time he dozed off, the memory of glowing silver eyes haunted him, jarring him awake.


    By dawn, his stomach rumbled in protest, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since before the attack. Hunger clawed at his insides, but he ignored it for now. His priority was finding a safer shelter—something more permanent than a tree branch.


    With stiff limbs, he climbed down, his body feeling slightly sore despite the system’s enhancements. He landed softly on the forest floor, crouching for a moment as he scanned the surroundings. The forest was eerily quiet. No howls. No rustling beyond the occasional breeze stirring the leaves. Still, he wasn’t going to take any chances.


    Jim set off, moving carefully through the woods. As he walked, he went through the information stored in his mind, sorting through the system’s knowledge. He needed to know more about how it worked and how he could gain experience faster.


    Ding.


    System Guide Updated.


    A new window popped up before him, displaying additional details:


    Ways to Earn Experience:


    <ul>


    <li>


    Combat (Higher-tier creatures grant more XP)


    </li>


    <li>


    Survival (Foraging, crafting, and shelter-building)


    </li>


    <li>


    Dragon Affinity Actions (Currently Locked)


    </li>


    </ul>


    Jim frowned. Dragon Affinity Actions? That confirmed what he had been wondering—this was supposed to be dragon rider training, yet he had not unlocked a single skill related to dragons.


    He sighed. That was a problem for later. For now, he had to focus on survival.


    Searching for Food and Shelter


    By midday, he came across a rocky hillside with several openings at its base. One of them seemed deep enough to serve as a temporary home. He cautiously approached the entrance, his improvised club gripped tightly in his hand.


    The cave was small, just wide enough for him to stand inside with a bit of room to move. It smelled of damp earth and moss, but there were no signs of immediate danger. No bones or claw marks that suggested it was home to a predator.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    "This will have to do," he murmured.


    After gathering some dry leaves and branches, he managed to construct a rough bedding area in the corner. It wasn’t much, but it was better than the cold forest floor. Once satisfied, he turned his attention to his next issue—food.


    He recalled snippets of information from the system about edible plants. Carefully, he searched the underbrush, examining berries and roots. A blue notification confirmed whether a particular food was safe or toxic.


    Ding.


    Foraging Skill Unlocked: Basic Survival Instinct (Passive).


    The moment he picked a handful of berries, a new message appeared:


    +1 Experience Earned.


    Jim blinked. "I can gain experience from this?" It wasn’t much, but every bit counted.


    Encouraged, he spent the next few hours scouring the area, collecting berries and other edible plants. The meager points trickled in, slow but steady. Still, he knew he couldn’t survive on berries alone. He needed meat.


    Hunting for Experience


    The system had provided some rudimentary knowledge on hunting small animals. Using a sharp stone, Jim fashioned a crude spear and set traps near a clearing where he had seen rabbit tracks.


    Hours later, his patience paid off. A rabbit had wandered into one of his traps. He hesitated for only a moment before delivering the killing blow. The act left a hollow feeling in his chest, but survival outweighed sentimentality.


    Ding.


    +5 Experience Earned.


    Skill Unlocked: Basic Hunting (Passive).


    "At this rate, I’ll need to catch a hundred rabbits just to level up once," Jim muttered.


    Still, he spent the next three days refining his skills. His hunting improved, and his movements became more efficient. He even managed to craft a better spear using hardened wood and a sharpened stone.


    Each day, he checked his status. His experience was growing steadily, but he needed more.


    The Need for Bigger Prey


    On the third night, Jim sat by a small fire outside his cave, chewing on roasted rabbit meat. His body felt stronger than before, his agility sharper, his instincts more refined. But he had hit a wall.


    "If I want to survive, I need to hunt bigger game," he mused.


    Rabbits weren’t going to cut it. He needed something larger, something that would give him a significant experience boost.


    The problem was, the forest was filled with creatures far more dangerous than rabbits. The wolves were proof of that. If he made the wrong move, he could easily become prey instead of predator.


    His fingers tapped against the hilt of his spear as he considered his options. The system had mentioned that higher-tier creatures granted more experience. He needed to find something strong but manageable.


    That was when another thought struck him.


    If this is a dragon rider training ground, why haven’t I learned anything about dragons yet?


    Three days, and not a single clue about bonding with a dragon, controlling one, or even sensing their presence. His talents said ‘Dragon Rider,’ but so far, he felt more like a struggling survivalist.


    He glanced up at the sky. Was he alone in this? Were there other candidates in this training ground? If so, where were they? He had seen no signs of human activity, no footprints, no voices.


    The thought was both comforting and terrifying.


    Jim clenched his fist. He would be patient. If the system had more to reveal, it would in time. For now, he had one goal—to hunt something bigger.


    He extinguished the fire, gathered his weapons, and prepared himself. His real training was about to begin.