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2. Survival

  The first problem right now is the environment. In Elvis Arcane, I've died more to the environment than to monsters.

  "Body status," I say.

  ------------------------

  Overall body status: Fine

  Hunger: Fine

  Thirst: Fine

  Injury:

  Forearms sore muscle(-10% atk)

  Status Ailment:

  Cold(-10% dex)

  ------------------------

  That's right...debuffs.

  The state of my character is very important or I will get countless annoying debuffs. Some of them can even kill me.

  Beneath the breastplate, there is some fur padding to mitigate the cold. I throw a glance at the corpses.

  ...

  "I'm sorry, brothers," I say and loot their bodies, taking their armour fur for myself.

  --------------

  +8 bloody fur

  --------------

  Next... I need the crafting system.

  A panel pops up:

  -------------------

  Available crafting options: 1

  (Fur-filled armour)

  -8 bloody fur

  -1 fur armour

  Estimated Crafting Time: 10 seconds

  [Craft]

  --------------------

  I press craft and an arrow materializes in the air, pointing at the fur and then to the armour.

  I follow the instructions and stuff the fur in my armour, evenly spreading them out.

  ---------------------

  Crafting Successful!

  +1 Fur-filled armour

  +10 cold resistance

  ---------------------

  "Phew...that feels better."

  The crafting system in Elvis Arcane requires the player to do everything manually and the player is vulnerable to attacks when crafting.

  Now, I need to know where I am.

  There isn't such a convenient feature as a minimap. The player needs to have a good sense of direction or bring a map.

  On my waist is a small pouch, acting as my inventory.

  Open inventory.

  -------------------

  Inventory Space: 10/10

  -1 rock

  -1 dagger

  -1 flint

  -1 small steel

  ------------------

  Great! Flint and steel can help me start a fire but why was I carrying a rock??

  I throw the rock out and check the bodies of my comrades. After 10 minutes, I finally find a map from a corpse wearing golden armour.

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  "This must be the commander," I mumble.

  *tsst...*

  !

  I heard something...

  Shit, something is here!

  I don't have time to run! I'm too slow and weak to fight too!

  As last resort, I dig in the snow and attempt to bury myself with corpses again.

  *CLICK!*

  "Ack...fuck..."

  Blood drips down my middle finger, part of my fingernails broke off.

  ------------

  -5 hp

  Status Ailment "Bleeding" is applied.

  ------------

  I dig myself a hole under the corpse and roll up into a ball before slightly kicking the snow, forcing the area to cave in and burying me below the corpse.

  1 minute later, footsteps and muffled growling can be heard.

  It's probably Snow Wolves, a fast and ferocious beast. At my current level, even one of them can instantly kill me.

  ...

  To wait, I rest for a while and close my eyes.

  =============================

  "Ngh..." I groan.

  Loud howling rings in my ears.

  ----------------

  You have rested for 1 hour.

  +5 hp

  Hunger: Fine -> Mild Hunger

  Thirst: Fine -> Thirsty

  "Bleeding" Status Ailment removed.

  "Cold" Status Ailment added.

  -10% dex

  Body Status:

  Mild Lumbago

  -----------------

  Lumbago? Ah right, it's back pain because of my sleeping position.

  I push the corpses aside and stretch my body.

  "Haachew!!" I sneeze.

  Damn it. It's a blizzard.

  I can barely see the surroundings but the wolves left. I should too.

  I take more fur and wrap it around my face before leaving.

  Although foggy, I can see some mountains near.

  "Please let there be a cave," I pray as I venture closer.

  20 minutes later, my prayers were answered but not to my advantage. The cave is too small only a rabbit can fit in.

  Tch...

  As I quickly rack my brain for solutions, a familiar silhouette came into sight.

  I follow it and found a rocky statue carved as a dwarf with his right arm transforming into a tentacle-like monster.

  ...!

  I remember this! This statue is related to the main mission of the protagonist, the first campaign quest for the main story starts with finding this statue.

  And near the statue...

  I go around to the back and find a map.

  !

  Yes! That's right, this is the pathway to the abandoned dwarf kingdom, an ancient city within the mountain overtaken by monsters.

  Although it is dangerous, it should be fine if I set up a camp at the entrance.

  Since I memorized the map and landmarks, I quickly left and found the cave easily.

  An eerie atmosphere ejects from the cave.

  ---------------

  The atmosphere tears at your soul.

  -2% overall stats.

  ---------------

  Right, there's this debuff too.

  Regardless I'm only going to stay at the entrance. As a start, I use my dagger to gather wood for a campfire.

  Let's see... I need to manually gather tinder, kindling and also the fuel wood. Dead wood should be a good dry source of wood.

  It took me 3 hours collecting before I finally settle down and make my fire, striking the flint against the steel and lighting the tinder. The fire slowly spreads as I lightly fan some air into the spark.

  "Finally..." I say and sit on the rock, breathless. The fire burns wildly.

  ...

  "Ahhh..."

  It's tiring...but the warmth rewards my hard work.

  Exhaustion gives a massive debuff of 20% stats reduction. I should sleep...

  Unable to contain myself, I doze off into a deep sleep.

  =============================

  The next morning, the blizzard passed by and so did my fire. I am greeted by a loud growl from my stomach.

  -----------------

  You have rested for 7 hours.

  Hunger: Mild Hunger -> Hungry

  -10% overall stats.

  Thirst: Thirsty

  -5% overall stats.

  -----------------

  Yeah yeah, I know. I push the panel aside.

  Since this is the first campaign mission, the protagonist should pass through here soon with backup. I have to survive until then.

  -------------------

  A Main Mission has been created!

  Survive until the protagonist Rena reaches the cave.

  Reward: 5000 exp, 1 free stat.

  Failure: Death

  --------------------

  ...

  I have a bad feeling.

  Whenever the game gives out missions, some bad things usually happen.

  "Whatever, I will just deal with it when it comes," I say and stand up.

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