I looked down and sighed. No answer had magically appeared on the clouds. “Ok, let’s be real. No answer is going to appear in the sky here, eh Stalker?” He just huffed and looked at me expectantly.

  “I’m done letting someone else write my story!” I said loudly and continued “Doesn’t matter if it is systems of care in my prior life or systems of being in this life” Stalker growled approvingly. I took a knee and looked him in the eyes. “It does mean, it might take a while before I get strong enough to protect us…”

  Stalker looked me in the eyes, and then swift as only a mischievous fox can be. He nipped me gently on the nose! As I sputtered and wiped fox drool of my nose. Stalker danced around in victory!

  He stopped to look up at me and emoted strong, protect and pack. I smiled and said “Right you are Stalker! You will protect us!” I watched. as Stalker, having said his piece, walked into the cave.

  That is one cool fox! I thought to myself.

  I looked around at my new world. The creek flowing into the pond. Beautiful, even serene. Strange insects buzzing around. The sounds from the forest, wind in the leaves and birds being loud and annoying. I would learn to live here! I would learn to thrive here! I would get enough power to protect what needed to be protected! And I would do it without sacrificing myself…

  …

  I took a deep breath.

  …

  Hmm? I exhaled. Nothing? No response from the system?

  Well. Ok then? Breakfast time! I turned to join Stalker in the cave, and a mighty roar shattered the sounds from the forest… Everything was silent for a second and then picked up again. An unwanted reminder that the panther was out there… Quest or not.

  A few minutes later breakfast was cooking (meat… again) and I was absentmindedly thinking about the need to diversify my diet. I really needed to find something healthy and tasty! I also needed to go hunting again soon. That would bring in experience, so I would still level up, just slower.

  I looked at Stalker gnawing at a piece of meat bigger than his head. Stalker was my friend, but also a form of power. Could I help make him stronger? I sighed… Still needed more information.

  Besides Stalker and leveling, what other forms of power were there? Allies? I almost laughed out loud, picturing a sugarmomma barbarian killing my enemies and carrying me to bed… Ehh better not go down that route! Stalker looked at me, waiting to be let in on the joke. I looked at Stalker with a slight blush. Better not scandalize the sweet innocent monster fox!

  What else could I go after? The class selection after the Welcome to Limbo quest would undoubtedly bring power! At least it would bring some needed direction for my time here in Limbo.

  I sighed feeling a bit rudderless. Gaining a profession would probably also give me some direction and add to my power. Gear! Classic litrpg and fantasy always had gear flying around!

  I wouldn’t say no to a magic armor of awesomeness, but a change of clothes would be really nice! Especially if I ever met anybody else in this forgotten world. My clothes were stained to a degree where most butchers would get an upset tummy.

  Argh… frustrated I attacked a piece of meat and savored the slightly burned gamey taste.

  Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad? I would just have to take it one day at a time!

  After breakfast I looked at Stalker and asked “Ok, my big strong protector!” I smiled “What would you like to do today?” Stalker emoted hunt excitedly and got up and was out of the cave in a second!

  Laughing I joined him outside. “Hunting it is!” grabbing my gear, I added “But we are also going to look for some vegetables, berries or fruit!” Stalker tilted his head and looked at me emoting confused.

  Chuckling I led the way into the forest.

  The day went fast. We hunted. we found something I thought might be edible berries! (It was not!) After the hunt Stalker and I relaxed at the pond. I managed to make a halfway decent shaft for my axe head, upgrading it from disturbing murder weapon to a decent tool (with murdery applications).

  It really was a pleasant day. The best so far in my time here in Limbo...

  Naturally this good fortune made me suspicious… I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. The system was quiet. No immediate reaction to my little rebellion!? As Stalker and I lay down at the fire for the night. I couldn’t help feeling a heavy mix of relief and slight disappointment. I fell asleep to the sound of crackling fire and Stalker huffing in his sleep.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The sleep didn’t last. Something had woken me up… A sound from outside the cave. Something was coming! I was instantly alert and grabbed my hand axe and dagger. This was it! The system was responding! My blood was pumping and I hizzzed silently to Stalker “Up! We are under attack!”

  A soft growling from Stalker, behind the embers of the fire place, let me know that he was up and had my back. I moved closer to the entrance and looked out into the dark night. There! Something moved towards the cave in a slow shuffling movement. It moved around on the edge of darkness.

  The size of a full-grown pig. The light from the cave reflected in dull heavy plates all over its upper body. Finally, it left the darkness and came at me in a slow shuffling run! It… It looked like a giant monstrous armadillo?

  I almost relaxed. I mean an armadillo. But it was huge and built like a tank in heavy interlocked armor plates and it was coming at me! A few meters from me suddenly my Survival Instincts kicked in and I dove for cover inside the cave.

  A long tongue shot out of the snout with enough force to dislodge earth when it hit the cave entrance. I tried to chop the tongue with my axe, but I was too slow and off balance after the dodge.

  Stalker emoted prepare at me. Then he darted past me and ran around the armadillo. He was trying to attack it from behind. I got up in front of the monster and waited for Stalker’s signal. The armadillo ignored Stalker and lunged at me with a set of crushing teeth. I easily dodged and retaliated – The hand axe scoring a hit on the hard plates, doing minimal damage.

  Stalker growled and emoted attack! As he leapt for the tail. I followed his lead and stepped up to the Armadillo and tried stabbing it with the knife and immediately followed up with an awkward underhand chop of the axe.

  My attacks landed, but couldn’t penetrate its armor. From the back I heard a whelp and a whine as Stalker flew, propelled by a hit by the tail. I got feelings of pain and danger from him.

  “Stalker!” I yelled. Silently I emoted concern, cave, prepare. The armadillo swung its tail at me! Twuuck! It hit the side of the cave entrance and Stalker slipped under it into the cave. I could see he was hurt. He emoted pain and anger. I breathed out not knowing I had been holding it. He was ok!

  The monster didn’t wait for me to check up on my friend and lashed out with a claw hitting me hard! I staggered back into the cave. The armadillo followed me. Its huge bulk almost filling the entire entrance. I cautiously backed behind the still glowing embers of the fireplace. I quickly looked to the side at Stalker, emoting prepare.

  The embers blocked the way to me, so I was prepared when the tongue shot out again! This time I braced for impact as I let the tongue hit me and I grabbed onto it (dropping my knife). I yelled to Stalker “now!”

  My vision started tinting red, the pain was bad even with my pain resistance. But a loud weirdly thin squeal rewarded me as Stalker savaged the tongue in a move that mirrored our fight against the veinblossoms!

  However, this was no wilting flower. It started pulling the tongue back and me along with it! Perfect! I emoted to Stalker let go and prepare and watched the fox let go of the bleeding and savaged tongue. as I was pulled closer, it pulled me through the fireplace and I quickly kicked the glowing embers and hot ash directly into the face and mouth of the monster!

  SQUUUUEEEEEEEEE!! The shrill sound echoed around the cave as the monster reared its head up trying to escape the burning pain. Its massive bulk made it very hard to back out and as it reared its head and front legs…

  I emoted to Stalker attack! I rushed through the fireplace, my eyes almost blinded by the red! I planted my axe in the unprotected skin on the stomach. Stalker leapt for the throat.

  The creature blinded, in pain and in panic still tried to get away from us! But we showed it no mercy. The axe falling again and again when it exposed its unarmored parts. Stalker swiftly darting around between its legs and biting and tearing!

  After what seemed like an eternity, I finally got the notification:

  You have slain a Plated Tonguemaw (lvl 5)!

  You have gained experience!

  You have leveled up; you are now level 3!

  +2 stat points earned.

  It was almost like the system was taunting me “See? See how easy power can be if you would just kill!”

  Exhausted I slid down on the ground next to Stalker. “Are you ok my brave friend?” Stalker emoted hurt and safe. Then he nuzzled my leg and looking up at me he emoted hurt? Safe? I looked at the status screen and saw 8 hp. So, I had been down to 3 hp… “yeah Stalker I will be ok”

  I looked at the corpse of the tonguemaw in the entrance. “Tomorrow we are making a door!”