Not like the usual passing of clouds or the slow descent of evening—this was unnatural.
The warmth of the sun faded, swallowed by a creeping blackness that spread across the sky like ink in water.
"An eclipse?" he muttered, his voice barely audible in the sudden, eerie silence.
A monstrous roar tore through the air, a sound so massive, so primordial, that it felt like it didn't belong in this world. The very ground trembled beneath Nathan's feet, sending tiny dust particles drifting down from the dirt walls surrounding him.
What the hell was that?!
It wasn't just one creature.
All around him, a chorus of terror erupted—birds shrieked as they took off in panicked flocks, unseen beasts howled and bellowed from the depths of the forest, and even the insects that had been buzzing nonstop fell silent.
The entire ecosystem reacted at once.
Something was coming.
A deep shiver crawled up Nathan's spine, his body trembling on instinct. He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the raw, unfiltered fear surging through his veins. His brain screamed at him to run, hide, do something—but his legs refused to move.
The only reason he wasn't outright panicking was because of the hole he had fallen into earlier.
A stroke of luck? Maybe.
Time stretched painfully.
Minutes felt like hours. Maybe they were. Maybe it had only been seconds. He had no way of knowing.
The oppressive darkness pressed down on him, suffocating, overwhelming. His lungs felt tight, as if he was being crushed under some invisible weight.
The eclipse ended, and just like that, the heavy pressure vanished.
Sunlight poured back into the world, illuminating the dirt walls around him. The noises of the forest cautiously returned—birds chirping hesitantly, small creatures rustling through the undergrowth.
As if whatever unspeakable thing had just passed was finally gone.
Nathan exhaled sharply, his chest rising and falling as he forced air back into his lungs.
"...What the hell was that?"
His hands were still shaking. He curled them into fists, trying to steady himself.
Even though it was gone, an unsettling prickle of dread still lingered in his gut.
That wasn't just some random monster.
It was something else.
Something that made an entire forest react in terror.
And it was out there, roaming freely.
He needed to get out of this hole—fast.
But there was a problem.
The walls were too steep, too smooth. The damp soil crumbled under his fingers whenever he tried to get a grip. His pathetic human strength wasn't enough to climb out.
A rustling sound snapped him out of his thoughts.
Leaves fluttered down from above, carried by the wind, landing near his feet.
"...Could my skill work here?"
"Damn it, I feel like a goat... and I didn't even win an award."
His lips curled in mild frustration. Joking to himself didn't change the fact that he was starving.
Gritting his teeth, he grabbed one of the fallen leaves and shoved it into his mouth.
Absolutely disgusting.
Dry. Bitter. Like chewing on old paper dipped in dirt.
He nearly gagged but forced himself to swallow.
> You have consumed [Forest Essence Leaf].
New skill acquired: [Adaptive Photosynthesis].
A blue window flashed in front of him, displaying the skill's description.
> [Adaptive Photosynthesis] – Level 1
Allows the user to absorb sunlight to restore stamina. While stationary, minor health regeneration activates. Effectiveness scales with light intensity and exposure duration.
Nathan stared up at the sky.
"...So if I bask in the sun, I recover faster?"
He stepped directly beneath the sunlight filtering into the hole. At first—nothing.
Then, slowly, a change.
The exhaustion faded. His body felt... lighter. The gnawing hunger dulled.
"Holy shit, this actually works."
It wasn't flashy, but for a regular human, this was huge.
If he could sustain himself on sunlight alone, that was basically a cheat code for survival.
The sun wouldn't always be there.
"...What happens if it rains? Or if I'm trapped in the dark?"
> Due to first-time skill activation, the Skill Development feature has been unlocked!
Choose an evolution path:
1. [Chlorophyll Boost] – Increases stamina and health regen speed when exposed to sunlight.
2. [Nocturnal Photosynthesis] – Allows energy absorption from moonlight (lower efficiency).
3. [Energy Storage] – Store solar energy for later use when no light is available.
Nathan's eyes gleamed.
If he could store energy, he wouldn't have to rely on sunlight 24/7.
Without hesitation, he selected [Energy Storage].
> Skill [Adaptive Photosynthesis] has evolved into [Energetic Photosynthesis].
> [Energetic Photosynthesis] – Level 1
Absorbs sunlight and stores energy for later use. Stored energy can restore stamina, accelerate healing, or temporarily boost physical performance.
A new sensation pulsed through Nathan's body—
He clenched his fists. It wasn't much yet, but it was something.
"With this... I won't be helpless when night falls."
Even trapped down here, he had gained an ability that could keep him alive.
But he still needed to escape.
Nathan looked up at the sky, frustration creeping in.
"I have to get out of here... but how?"
[Energetic Photosynthesis].
"...If I can store energy, can I use it for more than just recovery?"
> Stored energy can be used for:
1. Stamina Recovery – Restore minor fatigue.
2. Minor Regeneration – Heal small wounds faster.
3. Temporary Physical Enhancement – Boost strength and reflexes for a short time.
Nathan's grin widened.
"Physical enhancement... If I boost my strength, maybe I can jump out of this damn hole!"
It wasn't much, but it was possible.
And when the time was right—
Get the hell out of here.