Survival

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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.
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+8 bloody fur
--------------

Next... I need the crafting system.

A panel pops up:
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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.
"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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