Chapter 2: Territory Integration

“Profession successfully chosen: Hunter. Initial equipment has been issued.”
“Personal territory generated successfully.”
System notification ended.

High above the earth, tens of thousands of meters in the sky, a one-meter cubic block of soil appeared, hovering in midair.

Han Xing stepped onto it, feeling as if he were walking on grass, though the great height beneath made his legs weak with vertigo.

In his hands, a faded wooden bow had appeared without his noticing, and at his waist hung a quiver holding ten wooden arrows.

Information about the items appeared before his eyes:

[Wooden Longbow (Common): Quality - Rough, Attack Power 6~8, Special Effect - None.]
[Note: Crafted from oak and cow sinew. When fully drawn, it can damage ordinary level-1 creatures.]

[Arrows x10 (Common): Quality - Rough, Attack Power 1~2, Special Effect - None.]
[Note: Made by sharpening wooden sticks.]

Han Xing gripped the longbow tightly, feeling a surge of confidence now that he had a weapon.

He glanced around and noticed many clouds of varying sizes and colors floating nearby in the sky.

Some clouds were as massive as mountains, while others were merely the size of a table, comparable to Han Xing’s own territory.

He knew the game’s mechanics: each cloud concealed a floating island, and all early resources—food and water included—had to be obtained from these islands.

If he didn’t explore the other floating islands soon, he would succumb to thirst or starvation in no time.

Han Xing began maneuvering the square block beneath his feet forward.

After more than ten minutes, his lips had started to dry.

Though the clouds seemed close, the actual distances were vast. At his current basic block’s speed, he could barely move ten kilometers in an hour—less than three meters per second.

Though the speed of travel would increase as his level rose, it was painfully slow for now.

Another ten minutes passed before Han Xing finally approached a small cloud emitting crackling electric currents. A system prompt appeared: “An active lightning elemental force is present inside. Enter?”

Lightning elemental force? Monsters inside?

Han Xing hesitated but ultimately decided to forgo it.

After all, unlike a mobile game where death means revival, the system had clearly stated that each player had only one life.

He steered his tiny block in a different direction and continued drifting forward.

-----

When he slowly neared a dark gray thundercloud, the system warned, “An evil force seems to be hidden within. Enter?”

Danger! Abort!

Han Xing changed course again and drifted onward for another twenty minutes.

An hour had passed since he entered the game. Traveling between islands consumed not only physical stamina but also a large amount of mental energy.

Suddenly, Han Xing’s vision twinkled with gold stars, and his throat felt parched.

Checking his status, he saw a change in his condition:

[Status: Thirsty, Mentally Exhausted.]
(Note: You need to rest soon; fatigue impairs your control.)

“Rest? How can I rest up here at this altitude?”

Han Xing gritted his teeth, his frustration growing.

Even if he could overcome his fear of heights, the initial territory was only one meter square—too small to stretch out. Any careless move would send him plummeting to his death.

Han Xing wasn’t alone in this predicament. Within less than an hour, at least a million players had fallen to their deaths from the sky.

“No, I have to explore the islands quickly and expand my territory!”

He shook his head to clear it, mustering his willpower to scan the nearby clouds once more.

At that moment, he spotted a cloud drifting behind him, about the size of his own territory, tinged with a faint green glow.

After a few minutes, Han Xing finally approached it. The system prompt arrived: “Weak life force detected within. Enter?”

Hmm? Hope at last!

Han Xing’s spirits lifted, and without hesitation, he clicked to enter.

The cloud dissipated, revealing a square patch of soil wrapped in lush green grass.

In its center grew a tree less than a meter tall, but with a trunk as thick as an adult’s thigh. Its dense canopy was heavy with many red fruits.

[Berry Tree: Shrub species. The berries can be eaten directly to replenish hydration and satiate hunger.]

Han Xing felt as if he had found a savior, tears welling in his eyes.

He rushed to the berry tree and began stuffing the red berries into his mouth greedily.

The fresh, crimson juice burst forth, a balanced taste of sweet and tart, like a blessing of rain to his parched throat.

-----

A few berries later, the gnawing hunger and thirst inside him eased.

Han Xing counted the remaining berries—over twenty, each about the size of a strawberry. If rationed carefully, they could last him at least two days!

At that moment, a system prompt appeared:

“Would you like to merge this land into your territory?”

Han Xing clicked yes immediately.

[Merge successful. Your territory has expanded.]

System notification ended.

Han Xing saw that his original one-meter cubic soil block had transformed into a two-by-one-by-one-meter rectangular block, with one square of soil now supporting the berry tree.

Though his hunger and thirst were resolved, his spirit remained weary.

Leaning against the leafy canopy of the berry tree, he slowly lay down to rest.

Half an hour later, Han Xing opened his eyes.

He realized he had somehow rolled to the edge of his territory, one arm dangling off the side—he was moments away from falling!

“Ahh!”

Han Xing gasped sharply, instantly alert and filled with dread.

“Damn, even sleeping isn’t safe. How are those restless sleepers supposed to survive?”

He grumbled internally, the sense of danger intensifying again.

Humans cannot forgo sleep, yet no one could guarantee they wouldn’t unconsciously shift or roll while asleep.

With such a tiny initial territory, even the slightest movement could send them plummeting to their deaths.

Therefore, their top priority was to explore the clouds and expand their territories to ensure their survival.

Thinking this, Han Xing scanned the surrounding clouds once more.

He had already explored many nearby clouds, most of which concealed dangers—monsters.

Han Xing knew that to survive, he would have to face these monsters sooner or later. It was better to take the initiative while he was still in good condition.

“But for now, I can leverage my advantage to boost my combat strength!”