"Where am I?"
Aaron looked around, confusion etched across his face. Just moments ago, he had been playing a game, then everything went black. Now, he found himself standing in a dense forest, surrounded by towering trees that stretched high into the sky.
Suddenly, a torrent of information surged into his mind, nearly knocking him unconscious. The fusion of memories was so overwhelming, so agonizing, that he struggled to breathe.
Seconds later, Aaron collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
He muttered to himself, "I... transmigrated. And the body I ended up in is also named Aaron, or rather, Aaron Warwick."
His expression twisted with conflict. In his previous world, life had been simple: games, food, and sleep. But this place was clearly stuck in a medieval era, where primitive technology still ruled and magic whispered through the trees.
From the memories now embedded in his mind, he recalled that Aaron Warwick was the third son of Baron Alfred Warwick. Worse still, his mother had been a slave, an origin that marked him with shame and stripped him of any real inheritance. He knew he wouldn’t even be granted a manor of his own.
Determined not to be forgotten, he made a decision: he would become a pioneering knight, venturing into uncharted lands to carve out a territory of his own. It sounded noble, even romantic, but the truth was far more brutal. To be a pioneering knight meant facing the unknown, battling monsters, enduring isolation... but before he could even start his journey he died in the depths of the Dark Forest.
From the memories, Aaron also realized that the person who had killed the previous owner of this body was cloaked entirely in black. The figure resembled an assassin. But what puzzled him was why anyone would want to kill Aaron Warwick. He had no title, no power, and barely any influence. What threat could he possibly pose?
"Howl!!"
A chilling howl echoed through the forest, snapping Aaron out of his thoughts. His body tensed instinctively. He was still inside the Dark Forest, a place infamous for its dangers. Towering trees loomed overhead, their twisted branches blotting out the morning light. The forest was home to countless species, many of which were hostile to humans.
From the scattered rumors of villagers living near the forest’s edge, Aaron recalled tales of monstrous creatures lurking within, some even claimed to have seen trolls.
He knew one thing for certain: staying here was a death sentence.
"I need to find a safe place," he muttered, scanning his surroundings for any sign of shelter or escape.
Aaron looked up at the tall tree and decided to climb it. At least for now, it was the only idea that came to mind.
Before making the ascent, he checked his belongings. He still had 15 silver coins, a sword, a dagger, a bow with a quiver of 20 arrows, and the leather armor strapped beneath his clothes. Alongside that, he found a bag filled with dried food and a water bottle carved from wood.
He carefully slung the bag over his back and began to climb. To his surprise, it wasn’t difficult, the bark offered enough grip, and the branches were spaced just right. The realization brought a small smile to his face.
Halfway up, he froze.
A pack of wolves padded silently beneath him, their eyes scanning the forest floor. Aaron held his breath, watching them pass just below. His heart pounded, but they didn’t notice him.
He exhaled slowly, grateful for the quick decision that had likely saved his life. Had he stayed on the ground, he might have died again, this time for good.
After climbing the tree, Aaron found a thick branch and settled onto it, deep in thought about what to do next.
Just then, something strange caught his attention—a faint glow in the topmost corner of his vision. A virtual panel had appeared, displaying what looked like a map.
He blinked, confused.
"Did I transmigrate into a game world?"
"No... I didn’t. From the memories, I clearly know that no one here can access a status screen. If that were common, I would’ve known about it already."
"So how do I access it?"
As he muttered to himself, he focused on the map, and with just a thought, it opened.
Aaron was stunned.
A 2-D map unfolded before him, far more advanced than anything he expected. It displayed everything within a 1000-meter radius, while areas beyond were shrouded in black fog.
He zoomed in instinctively, and the details sharpened. The map showed not only trees and terrain, but also various useful resources: herbs, fruit trees, spices, animals, ores, and more. Most striking of all were the red dots, moving indicators that marked danger.
He tapped into the map’s inspection function and found it could identify objects and creatures, at least at a basic level.
His own position was marked in blue.
Curious, he focused further, and a status panel appeared:
Aaron Warwick (Lv. 2) (30/200 EXP)
HP: 30/30
MP: 20/20
STR: 3
DEX: 2
CON: 3
INT: 2
Skills:
Lion Breathing Mastery (101/200)
Basic Sword Mastery (90/100)
Basic Archer Mastery (70/100)
Cooking (50/100)
Experience Points: 0
Aaron stared at the panel, his mind racing. This wasn’t just a cheat, it was a game-breaking advantage. And if no one else had access to it... he might just survive in this world. Or rule it.
The thought alone was enough to make Aaron feel excited. But he took a deep breath, steadying his mind. He glanced up at the sky and saw that there was still some time before nightfall. The sun hung low, casting golden rays through the canopy.
"I should make a fire," he murmured.
It might not offer complete protection, but it could help keep wild beasts at bay, and give him a sense of warmth and safety in this unfamiliar world.
Aaron climbed down from the tree and activated the map once more, carefully inspecting his surroundings. After confirming that no dangerous elements were nearby, he began gathering dry sticks for the fire.
Unlike other forests where bushes grew wildly, the Dark Forest was different. The trees here were so densely packed that they blocked most of the sunlight from reaching the ground. As a result, undergrowth was sparse.
Only patches of grass and a few hardy wild herbs managed to survive in the dim light.